Sophia Jackson: Hero's Daughter

Chapter Five

"Dakota?" I reached my hand out and touched her ice cold skin. I watched as her face chifted between her own, and the eidolon's. With every resistance, something else died. Dakota killed to live. 

Logan had his sword drawn behind me. I took out my own knife, my shaky hands barely able to hold it. 

"Chiron...!" I screamed. Dakota moaned in pain, and a scream came out of her mouth. It echoed throughout the room. 

"AHHHHRRRRRGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The monster inside of her was forced out. He literally ran right into Logan's sword. 

"Nice," Logan smiled, kicking around the dust. Dakota was slumped over on the ground now, panting. 

"Are you okay, Dakota?" I asked, kneeling down to her level. Her eyes opened slowly, and her hair was still soaking.

"Wha- what happened?" So we told her the story. Dakota cried. I tried to help her, but it was no use. 

"Hey, I- I managed to save half of your picture." I handed it to her, but that only made her cry more. I looked to Logan for guidance, but he just shrugged. Boys.

"Dakota, what does this picture mean to you?" I asked. I honestly wanted to know what had almost driven her to death.

Dakota dried her eyes, but the tears kept coming. 

"I'd love- to tell you-but-but I just can't!" She ran off into the rain. 

"Dakota wait!" I ran after her, but something held me back: Logan's arm.

"Listen, I know you want to help her, but honestly, she's in no emotional state for that. Just... just let her go." I looked at him, eyes wide. How could he say that? How can you let your best friend leave, and not go after them?

"I don't care, Logan. You're clearly not a very good friend!" I yelled as I ran off. I saw Dakota's figure sitting on the dock, curled up in a ball. The rain sprinkled on her dark hair, which was now slightly matted. I took a seat next to her and dangled my feet into the water. 

"Dakota... Logan told me not to come after you. But to be honest, you're my best friend right now, and I need you. We need you for this quest, too. Please just tell me what happened." Dakota's face glanced at mine from under her hair. She wiped away one last tear, then began her story.

"When I was little, we- we would go to the beach on rainy days and sit on the dunes and listen to the water. I'd run around and play with my parents, and my brother... It is the happiest memory of my childhood. But then my mom died, in a car crash, protecting my brother from the windshield. I was so young that I didn't understand he was the cause of my mother's death. Then my dad died when I was 8, two years after my mom, in a fire in our house. He was trying to save my brother because he couldn't get out. My brother was saved, but my dad... he suffocated from the smoke." I put my arm around Dakota's shoulders and cried with her. It wasn't even my loss, but I could just feel the pain she'd been feeling most of her life. 

"Dakota, that- that's horrible, I'm so sorry. I wish I could-" 

"No. That's the thing- I'm not finished yet. There's still more." So I listened to the rest of Dakota's story. The rest of Dakota's life. The rest of Dakota's heart.

"My brother.... he promised my dad thathe would protect me if anything ever happened to him. So when my dad died, my brother was 14. As I got older, he held me when I was sad, and went with me to every relative's house that could take us. First my grandpa's, but then he died. Next my aunt and uncle, but they had to move to Nigeria. Then my second cousin's aunt's house, but she got arrested. By that time, I was 11 and had been to nine different houses, not including the ones I just said."

"Oh my god, Dakota, I'm sorry..." 

"Then one day, my brother took me back to the beach we went to as little kids. We stood there, in the rain and lightning, right by the water..." I saw tears rolling down Dakota's face, and all I could do was pray.

"My brother was struck by lightning and died right there in the water." Dakota's face was wet with tears, and they didn't stop. I understood now why she'd seemed slightly off with Logan, slightly off even with me. My grandfather, and Logan's father, were the cause of Dakota's brother's death. 

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Author's Note:

Hey guys! This is just a quick chapter I wanted to get up before I go to guitar. I'm so sorry this took so long to get up! My life got really busy really fast, with finals right around the corner. How is/was your school year? I cant' wait for school to be over, honestly:)

So, as many of you know, I created my own CHB website, and the link is now on my bio... well, so far, I've only gotten 3 campers, so... yeah :( If you want to join, you can actually do it in the comment section if you want, or PM me! I want to get as many campers as possible for Capture the Flag tonight!! 9 PM Eastern, 6 PM Western! Be sure to join by 5 or 6 Eastern Time (it's currently 3:22)! 

TO JOIN ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS:

1. Godly Parent:

2.Name (this can be fake!!! You don't have to use your real name!):

3. Email (just for me to use):

4. Traits/Weapon Choice:

Please join, I'd really appreciate it! I'll enter everything into the website for you guys if you want. THanks!

I'm going to aim for the next PATF chapter to be up tonight, and the next chapter of this, HD, up tongiht as well, but we'll have to wait. I'll be posting on Twitter/Instagram whether or not this will actually be happening.

Thanks guys!

Question of The Chapter: What did you think of Dakota's backstory? What should be Logan's?

XOXO 

~PercyAnnabeth20owl