The blazing storm

Chapter 9

They arrived at the Apollo cabin.  Darcy showed them her back and she was rushed in.  The cabin smelt like antiseptic and macaroni and cheese.  She was asked to lay face down on a bed and felt warm fingers gently pull her shirt up again.  They skimed the cuts and Darcy tried not to cry out.  They stung with every touch.  

"We need to sterilize them." A boy said.  From the corner of her eye, Darcy saw two Apollo kids standing above her.  They looked concerned.  "We need to put her under."

The girl pulled a thin needle out of a medical bag and filled it with clear liquid.  Darcy recoiled.  "Don't. " She hissed. 

Leo rushed over and took her hand and squeezed it tightly.   "She's always been afraid of needles." He said to the girl.  He looked back at Darcy.  "They need to sterilize the wounds, and it's going to hurt if they don't give you the pain medication."

Darcy looked at the needle.  It looked threatening; too long and too pointy.  She bit the inside of her cheek.  "Will the needle hurt?" She asked.

The Apollo girl shook her head.  "It will pinch for a second, then you won't feelna thing." 

Darcy took a deep breath and squeezed Leo's hand.  The girl positioned the needle over Darcy's shoulder.  "It helps if you relax your muscles."

Darcy shook her head.  "Just do it."

She felt a pinch that felt more like a knife and the poison being pushed into her veins.  She held Leo's hand tighter and she was surprised he wasn't complaining. 

The pain stopped all at once.  A thick mist invaded her brain, inhibiting her from moving. 

4 1/2 years earlier
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"Where are they?" The Cyclops asked again. 

Darcy gritted her teeth.  "China."

The blade sliced down her back again.  Darcy didn't want to cry.

"I'm going to ask you one.  More.  Time." The Cyclops snarled close to her ear.  Hus breath smelt foul and he would occasionally spray her with spit.  "Where are they?" He yelled in her ear, pressing the blade to her skin. 

Darcy bit the inside of her cheek.  "Japan."

The Cyclops bellowed in rage and sliced her back again.  This time, Darcy let out a short scream.  That slash felt deeper than the others.  The Cyclops ripped her of the splintered wooden table and dragged her back to the cage. 

He threw her in and James caught her, cradling her in his arms, being sure not too touch her back. 

She heavy metal door slammed and they were basked in darkness once again. 

Darcy sat there shivering, gripping James' shirt.  The back of her thin shirt was ripped open and blood stained her back and the remnants of her slashed shirt. 

"You ok?" James asked.  He stopped himself.  "No, you're not."

Darcy shook her head again against his shirt.  "We need to get you out of here." He said. 

She looked up into his golden eyes.  "You too." 

James looked down at her.  "We'll get out together."

Present day
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The thick mist started to clear from Darcy's head.  She was still in the Apollo cabin on her stomach but the pain in her back was only a dull throb now.

Leo was sitting cross-legged on the floor watching Darcy intently.  When he saw her eyes open he sprung to his feet.  "You're awake!" He said happily.

They didn't have much time to regoice because an Apollo kid burst into the cabin.  "New camper!" He said happily, bouncing around the cabin.  He couldn't be any older than ten years old.  "Maybe he'll be an Apollo too!"

Darcy didn't hesitate.  She pulled her shirt back over her back, ignoring the annoying tugging sensation from her cuts and bolted out the door.  She ran straight to the big house, Leo close at her heels. 

She stumbled up the porch steps and ran into the screen door that was pulled across the opening of the door. 

"Whoa!" Leo steadied her.  She didn't thank him, she was too focused on getting up to Chiron's office. 

Once she pried the screen door open, she ran up the stairs and burst through the door leading to Chiron's office. 

Chiron jumps.  "You have got to stop doing that!" Chiron frowns at her. 

She ignores him.  Her eyes settled on the blonde boy sitting in the chair across fron Chiron's desk. 

James stood up.  They stood there staring at eachother for a few seconds.  Darcy felt warm tears spill onto her cheeks.  She wasn't sure if they were if relief or joy or both.  She broke into a smile and laughed and cried at the same time.  James smiled back at her, tears forming in his eyes as well. 

"You're ok." Darcy whimpers. 

James smiles, the scars on his face crinkling.  "You too." 

Darcy couldn't take it anymore.  She flung herself into his arms and they automatically kissed.  It felt so natural.  Somewhere deep inside, past the lost memories, she knew that she and James were in love.  It didn't matter if she couldn't remember why.  Once they pulled away, Darcy turned to Leo. 

"James, this is Leo." She said golding her hand out towards Leo. 

Leo took a step forwards and gave a crooked grin. 

James stepped towards Leo.  "So you're Leo." He looked at Leo closely.  "Leora talked about you a lot."

Leo frowned then grinned again.  "Oh you mean Leigh?" He asked happily, but then rubbed the back of his awkwardly.  "So um, when did you um, see her?"

James wrapped his arm around Darcy's waist and hugged her to himself.  It was what they would do when they were left alone in the cage.  It was for comfort and to let eachother know that they would protect eachother.

"On Olympus." James said.  "She said to tell you that she loved you and she will see you soon."

Leo looked uncomfortable.  "She's on Olympus?"

James nodded.  Leo's eyes darted towards Chiron.  "I gotta go..." He bolted out the door.