The Skeletons In The Closet

Chapter Sixteen

Idea inspired by AutumnRainbow5 Thank you so much! I never even thought to do something like this, but I loved the idea!

Connor's POV

I really thought I wouldn't have to do one. Since Travis and I came from the same family and we have basically the same past, I thought I was in the clear.

But as soon I saw the two of us, nine and ten, running up Half-Blood Hill, I figured I wasn't exempt from the showing of my past.

And this particular incident still gave me nightmares.

I still don't know what the actual monster was called, but I do remember her clearly. Anyway, I watched with everyone else as our two young and terrified figures raced up the hill.

I found myself inch closer to Travis. He noticed and shot me a look. He doesn't remember much of that night, but I certainly do.

The monster that was chasing us that night could fly. She had razor sharp claws on her hands and a bloodthirsty gaze.

"Travis, are we almost there?" Nine year old me whined. "Connor—" Travis was cut off as the monster swooped and caught him by the shoulders. He shrieked and I screamed.

"Travis!" Next to me, my brothers eyes were wide. He shot me a look. By that time I was clinging to his arm.

The monster took him high into the sky, stopping only to drop him. I screamed in terror. Even now I had to flinch away, burying my face in Travis's shoulder.

But then a miracle happened. Of course I knew it was coming, but practically everyone else gasped in surprise. Because a tree reached out it's branches to catch the falling Travis. It coddled him and gently set him down on the ground. He'd passed out by that point and young me ran to him, crying.

But the monster wasn't done with us yet. It came in for a pass at me, but I summersaulted out of the way. It left three deep gashes on my bicep.

I hardly paid it any mind, still set on getting to Travis. "Watch out!" I heard a girl scream. She dashed out of where she was hiding and shoved into me, knocking me out of the way of the monster who had taken another dive.

Katie threw herself in front of me and brandished a knife. She was only eleven at the time, but still incredibly brave. She'd saved both our lives, Travis from the fall and me from the monster.

I saw Katie take Travis's hand from the corner of my eye and blushed, disentangling myself from Travis. Katie from the past jogged over to where the two of us were and examined Travis, unconscious.

"Help me carry him," she said. She grabbed Travis under his arms and I grabbed his feet and we slowly made our way up the hill. Once to the top Katie spotted a few people.

"Luke! Beckendorf! A little help?" The two sprinted to the border. I got a lump in my throat seeing them again, especially so young. It hurt.

Beck and Luke took Travis from Katie and I and ran him off to the infirmary. Katie put her hand on my shoulder and steered me in the direction of the Big House.

"What's your name?" She asked. "I'm Katie."

"I'm-I'm Connor. A-and that's m-my brother...my brother Travis," I answered her, my voice shaky from crying. I could see the blush on my cheeks. I was embarrassed to be crying in front of her.

She smiled and together we followed the three boys to the Big House. "Let's go meet Chiron," she said.

Jason turned to me slowly. "Is that why you're scared of flying?" He asked. I blushed and looked down, nodding.

Travis squeezed my shoulder. "You good?" He asked. I smirked. "Good," I answered.

"Good," He said with a smile.

Who's next?