The Third Camp Trilogy: The Chaotic End

Chapter Seven: Carrie

"The gods are sending you to school?" Neptuna questioned.

"No, worse." I sighed.

"Worse? What's worse than school?"

"A few places. But I have to go."

"How long will you be gone?"

"A while. Few weeks maybe."

"At least tell me where."

"I can't or you'll worry."

"That makes me worry more than not knowing." She raised an eyebrow at me.

She had a point there, but still...

"Trust me, you don't want to know... Grace!" I yelled.

From the other room Grace threw a backpack to me. I shouldered it and started walking away.

From behind me I heard a gasp.

"Wait! They— They can't be sending you there, c-can they?"

"Yeah." I called over my shoulder.

"B-But— No!"

I didn't answer. I shut the door and was on my way.

I was soon standing at the edge of my worst nightmare.

Tartarus.

I took a shaky breath.

Darkness.

Pain.

Fear.

It all came back to me. I had no idea what visit this would be, either my tenth or my twentieth or more, I nearly shuddered at the thought of not knowing. Each time was worse, worse than the last, worse than every single visit before.

"Carrie."

Suddenly, Neptuna's voice tore me from my flashbacks. I turned and she was there, looking worried.

"Neptuna?"

"Carrie, I'm not going to let you go down there alone."

"Wh— You're not coming."

"Yes, I am. You're not going down into that literal hellhole alone."

"I forbid you from coming."

"You can't do that!"

"As your praetor, yes, I can."

"That's not fair." She pouted and crossed her arms.

"Nor is life." I shrugged, then shot a grappling arrow into the roof of the cavern, over The Pit, and fastened the rope around my waist.

I got ready to lower myself down.

Neptuna grabbed me by the front of my shirt and kissed me. We stayed like that for a bit before I pulled away.

"Come back safe. Please." Neptuna looked almost pleading.

I nodded and continued lowering myself downward.

After Neptuna had disappeared from sight above me, I heard her call down to me.

"If you die down there, I swear, I'll kill you!"

"I don't think that's how it works!"