The Voice of Valdez

Chapter 4

Leo

I'm back in the dark room.

I'm sitting on the ground.

"Hello, Leo." Says a voice.

I think about who it reminds me of.

"I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to help you." It says again.

It's male, about my age. It has a Texan/Spanish/American accent all at the same time.

"Who are you?" I ask.

My voice sounds a lot like his.

"I'm you." He replies.

"Me?" I question, skeptically.

"Well, the post-amnesia you." It thoughtfully adds.

"What do I call you?" I ask.

"Call me Val." He replies.

"I thought I-, WE were Leo."

"Well, I used to tell people my name was Val. It's short for Valdez. That's our last name." Val says. "And I thought it would be less confusing for you."

"Oh." I reply, nodding.

"You need to get back." Val tells me.

"Will you come too?" I ask.

"Yeah. But.. don't tell the others I'm here." He slowly speaks. 

"I won't." I confirm.

I feel myself slowly fade away.

***

"Leo!" Yells Piper.

I suddenly remember everything that happened before I passed out.

I start to panic.

(Btw, I'm gonna have Leo/Val in these thingies: ')

'Calm down, it's okay. Saul isn't here. It's just me.'

(When I do > That means Leo is talking to Val, not just Leo talking to himself. But Val CAN hear Leo's thoughts.)

>It hurt so bad. So, so, bad.<

'I know. I'm so sorry you had to go thought that again.'

>WE. We had to go through that again. You had to, too.<

'It's okay man. It's okay.'

>Thanks, Val.<

'No problem.'

"What happened?" Hazel asks.

>What do I say?<

'........ Tell them that you just got really freaked out because you didn't know anyone and Jason tackled you.'

"I got really freaked out cause I don't know anyone, and Jason tackled me." I repeat.

'Not exactly!'

>Oh. Sorry.<

They seemed to consider this. They all look at each other, and nod.

They believed it.

"I'm SO, SO, SO sorry, Leo." Jason says.

"It's cool, man." I reply.

'Really?'

>No.<

Jason looks relieved.

'Ha. Ha. You're almost as good of a liar as I am.'

>Wow. You were so sarcastic it almost sounded true.<

'It's true. I AM amazing at sarcasm. It's basically my second language.'

>Third. You have English, and Spanish. And Texan is in a category by itself...<

'It's nice to have someone to talk to.'

>Same.<

"Leo? You spaced off again." Annabeth says, with a stern expression.

>Oh crap.<

'What?'

>I don't want to tell you. You'll get mad.<

'Leo. What. Did. You. Do?'

>I may or may not have let it slip about the whole drug thing...<

'LEO!'

>I told you you'd get mad.<

'I'm not mad.'

>Sure. And I'm in love with Mrs. O'Leary.<

'Ha. But seriously. FIX THIS!'

>Okay, okay. Give me a minute.<

"Leo! Seriously. Pay attention." Piper barks.

'Sounds like Piper.'

>I KNOW RIGHT?<

"So, Leo, I think we all need to have a little chat." Annabeth raises her eyebrows, and gestures to the group.

>I got it!<

'What?'

>Do we have any blackmail info on Annabeth?<

'I see where you're headed with this..... AHA! Ask her about the song Let It Go.'

>Why?<

'Trust me.'

"Annabeth, do you happen to like he song, Let It Go? From Frozen?" I sweetly asks.

She pales.

"No. Of course not. And you know what, we can have this conversation later. Bye, Leo!" Annabeth speaks in a rush and runs out of the room.

>You are totally telling me the story later.<

'Scouts honor.'

>Yeah, yeah. Now what do we do?<

'I don't know. Why are you asking me?'

>You ARE me.<

'...'

>...<

'I have an idea.'