Apologies

Chapter Five: Percy's POV

I woke up early that morning, around six AM, and hoped the night before was just a nightmare. I sat up, and knew it wasn't. I had bruises all over me, blood dripping from my lower lip and forearm, and I was wrapped so tightly in vines that I could barely breathe. When I attempted to sit up, the vines only got tighter. I groaned, then immediately wished I would've just kept my mouth shut. Everything was blurry and my eyes were stuck half shut. I couldn't see anything, but I heard a door open as fast as lightning and the laughter of a maniac.

"About time you wake up, Perseus." The voice was cold and hard. It sounded like a madman. It gave me the chills. The voice definitely didn't sound like Mr. D's, but I knew it was.

I attempted to smile. "Wow, Mr. D," I said. "You actually got my name right." I still couldn't see anything, but I knew he was probably giving me the death stare. I regretted saying that, but honestly, I couldn't help it. It sort of just slipped out of my mouth.

I felt the vines tighten again. I screamed in pain, but it was muffled from the cloth that was shoved in my mouth. I tried to fight against the vines, and they tightened so much I thought I felt a bone crunch. Then everything went dark again.

•••

When I woke up again, I was careful not to make a noise. My eyes were half shut and swollen, and my vision was blurry, but I noticed I was no longer in the Big House. This place was unfamiliar. I looked around, and my jaw dropped in horror.