The Harvest Trials

Chapter XI

Jason

I sat alone in the cell all day with Piper and Reyna. We were the only one's that had absolutely nothing going on the entire day. Friday(today) and Sunday are like that for me. It's a really nice rest, though it is super boring. I just feel so guilty that I'm sitting here doing nothing when everyone else is either in a Harvester, on the field, or in the lab.

But I was double-shifted for the Harvesters yesterday, so maybe it's their way of giving me a break. But it doesn't make sense and it makes me feel sick. Because Percy is double shifted today. And Monday. He has a Harvester shift every fucking day except Saturday, and even then he's on the field. They don't seem to think it's important to let him rest.

Hazel is in the field today. The field is out in the real world, doing work to kick-start the environment. Her job is to summon as many jewels and minerals as she possibly can, and after a week of Harvesters, I can't even fathom how exhausting that must be.

Percy, Frank, and Will should be coming back from their  Harvester shift pretty soon. Only about a half hour left. Then Percy gets a three hour layover before heading to the seven o'clock shift. I've definitely noticed a shift in Percy. All he ever does is sleep. He used to stay up a little to talk, but he has zero energy for anything anymore. Leo said that the Harvester drains, or extracts, the demigod essence from you. It just so happens to be extremely miserable, uncomfortable, and exhausting. Leo also said, if given time, you can heal. 

In Everette's eyes, we are his resources. In the world of science, there are two types: renewable and nonrenewable. Things like coal or oil are nonrenewable because they are used up faster than they can be produced. Solar energy is renewable because it will never run out. Trees are tricky because they are renewable if we are careful. We can always plant more. But if we use them faster than they can be produced, then they become nonrenewable. 

We are like the tree. If given time, we can heal and keep going. We are renewable. But Everette is using us up too fast. He is not giving us the time to heal, especially not Percy. And the dangerous part is that we are crossing into the nonrenewable resource. Because once we're done, we're done. And that thought terrifies me.

Leo and Nico are in the lab, the place where they do experiments and tests and all that crap. Leo is typically in there because of his fire. They try to find a way to manipulate his fire, or use him to heat the compound or whatever messed up reason they give. 

Nico's there because Everette's especially intrigued by his shadow travel. He wants to develop a way for normal people to be able to travel as fast as Nico can through the shadows. No one here seems to understand that our powers are ours  and they can't be copied. We were born like this and they can't take it away. The only thing that's gotten close to doing its job is the Harvester, and that's only because Leo made it.

As for the Drop Zones, Reyna is apparently scheduled to leave for the desert tomorrow. She tries to act tough, but I know her enough to know she's terrified. According to Piper's data and our pattern we figured out, Cecil Markowitz would be on his way to Chernobyl today. Connor Stoll is already there, he has been for three days. Alone. Travis Stoll and Clovis something are on Hashima Island. They won't be expecting Valentina Diaz until Sunday. 

And I can only hope that Calypso and Rachel are together in Mexico, and that when Reyna goes tomorrow she'll be able to find them. I just have to hope for the best. 

Back to the present, I sat with my back against the wall with Piper's head on my shoulder. We had been talking in hushed tones since Reyna got out of the shower. She was currently huddled in the corner sleeping. 

Typically, Harvester, lab, and field shifts are about the same length so at four o seven, the door busted open and everyone piled in. Everyone looked pretty dead on their feet. Leo took one look at Percy and threw his arm over his shoulder and helped him to the bathroom. "Let's brush your teeth, dude."

Once everyone got done freshening up, a few taking advantage of the three curtained off showers, we settled in a group. Percy was already making his way to his corner, using the wall to walk himself there. He was shaking, either from exhaustion or the cold, I don't know. 

"Hey, Perce, it's warmer over here," I said, beckoning him over. He changed course and sat down on my other side, falling asleep almost instantly, tipping until he was using me as a pillow. Piper and I shared a look. It was so horrible and it hurt to see him like this. But at least he was taking advantage of the three hour rest he got. 

After awhile, the colder it got, the closer we got to each other. We snuggled into each other to keep warm. Three hours went by faster than they should have. By that time, Percy was moved to the middle of our doggy pile, warm and safe. 

But the agents came anyway. We all stiffened. Hazel put a protective arm around Percy, who was still fast asleep, though restless. 

The agents came forward, three of them in total, and began shoving us out of the way to get to Percy. "No, please, he needs a break," I begged. They'd grabbed an arm and hoisted him up. He was still limp in their grasp. "Stop! You're overworking him! He needs to rest!" I protested. Despite all our struggles, he was pulled away from us all the same. 

And I can assure you, that is the worst feeling in the world.