Children of Olympus: Selection.

Chapter 51*

Monday morning I was finally able to move the rest of my body without help. I was currently sitting cross legged on the hospital bed doing assignments that Mrs. Holloway had the decency to not excuse me from. You'd think being locked away, tortured, and poisoned would be good cause to not have to do work, but this lady seemed to deem those lousy excuses. I was pretty sure I could have been in a coma and on the verge of death and I wouldn't have gotten excused.

Oh wait. That's exactly what just happened.

Zagan had gone to eat breakfast in his room with his siblings. I still wasn't able to have live visitors. Zagan was keeping Owen updated for me because the doctor didn't want me to have too much mental strain.

"What exactly are you doing?" He asked as he reentered.

I looked up with a crooked smile, "Battle plans. Mrs. Holloway has sent yet another assignment. It would be easy if we didn't have to follow everything in this journal," I groaned, holding up the war journal.

"You shouldn't be doing work," Zagan said, eyeing the book warily.

"Eh, it's a good distraction."

I wasn't lying. My brain hadn't been my friend in the past few days, and it was nice to have a way to vent. Zagan frowned at that though. "A good distraction from what?" He asked, taking the book from my hands and placing it on the bedside table.

It was my turn to frown, "Give it back," I whined reaching out for it like a toddler.

"Not till you answer my question." Zagan sat down across from me and took my hand.

I looked away, not wanting to meet his gaze. I hated feeling like a burden. That was the truth of the matter. I knew he wouldn't like that answer though. He'd try and make me feel better, but I didn't think anything he would say would help.

"I'm fine, Z. I just don't like feeling helpless is all," I said, finally snatching the book back and finishing off the map. Zagan took it all and handed it to the guard outside.

"Now will you just pay attention to me," He asked with a smirk.

"Hmm," I hummed, "Tempting offer, but I think I'll have to pass. The doctor said your parents are coming in today along with the selected."

I laughed as his face went red. "You're kidding?"

"Nope," I said, "That's what you get for taking my stuff."

He pouted, backing off to his bed as Hazel and Frank stepped inside, immediately going to hug their son. I smiled as I watched them interact, though I couldn't help the stab of jealousy I felt. I wished my parents could run in and hug me.

Hazel turned to me, and her smile grew. She rushed forwards and hugged me too. "It's good to see you awake and moving," She said.

"Yeah, it's great to see you too," I said, praying she wouldn't ask how I was doing.

Both Frank and Hazel took seats on Zagan's bed as he sat with me once more to start retelling what had happened. We both had agreed that my brother would be the second to know everything about while I was alone, but for now we could tell his parents what had happened while we were together.

It took nearly two hours before we were finished. Lunch had been served, but I was barely eating. Who could eat while reliving torture?

Zagan reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder, "V, you need to eat."

I nodded, taking a sip of the smoothie I had, but not even touching the salad or chicken on my plate. He looked at me with a look of disappointment, and I forced myself to eat just a little more.

Hazel and Frank soon had to leave for a meeting which should have meant a peaceful afternoon. Maybe I'd even slip a nap in there somewhere.

Not.

It was now time for the selected to reunite. I honestly wanted to ask to be dragged out of the room, but then I remembered that I could see Angel, Layla, and Cassidy again, and I held my tongue.

They all entered and almost all of them were crying. I had to bite back a gag at that before snorting softly at Brittney throwing herself at him.

"I'm really feeling the love here," I teased, watching Angel break ranks and sit next to me.

"Well, I think most of them were happy to lose some competition."

"And you were worried?" I asked, smirking as she turned to glare at me.

"Of course I was. No one knew if you were dead or alive." Angel said.

"She's not wrong," Cassidy added, joining us once she realized how long it would take for Brittney to finish her reuniting.

I didn't respond as Angel and Cassidy started talking over everything that had happened the last few weeks. Even Layla joined a few minutes later.

Brittney was still clinging to Zagan. She had mascara running down her face, and I nearly lost it. Zagan met my eyes with a look that cried help me, and I started laughing. Every eye turned to me. "Look, she's not supposed to be overstimulated, Brittney I'm going to need you to step outside."

"Why can't she leave?" Brittney sobbed, "She's taken you from us once. I can't let it happen again."

"Girl, I'd leave if I could, but you wouldn't understand what it's like to be unable to walk," I said, not really regretting it even after Zagan shot me a look.

Brittney huffed and stepped out of the room which allowed for the other girls to all crowd him instead.

Finally what seemed like hours later, they were all just sitting calmly around. "I have an announcement," He said causing the heart monitor I was connected to to start beeping extremely fast. "It's nothing bad," He continued, "I just wanted to say that because I have lost the last few weeks with you guys, I will not be eliminating down any time soon. Please don't worry if I don't spend a ton of time with you guys."

"It may seem like I'm playing favorites right now, but I promise you I'm not. I would do the same thing for each and every single one of you. Now it's time for everyone to get to dinner and for the doctor to come back so I will see you all tomorrow."

All the girls left, and I took a breath of relief as the doctor did a quick check up. He then left, and Zagan slipped onto the hospital bed with me. "I don't think the doctor likes this," I teased, resting my head on his shoulder and yawning.

"Hmm, you don't seem to mind though, so I'd say I'm still in the clear."

I chuckled slightly at that before closing my eyes and falling asleep. It had been a long day, and I had a feeling that I had an even longer week ahead of me.