Hidden Half-Bloods

Chapter Five: The Unraveling

After too long of a walk, the six demigods decided to make camp and rest. At this point they were all starting to smell, so James and Megan's added stinks didn't make much of a difference. Even so, the two stuck over to one side of the tiny chamber, huddled together in silence. They had passed out almost immediately after sitting down.

Riley had agreed to take first watch, so after she made sure that Nolan was comfortable, she settled herself in the center of the oblong chamber, staring out at one of the dark tunnels. She rested her head on one of the many metal pipes zigzagging through the room, letting out a long breath.

"Thank you." Kalan sat down next to Riley, now dressed in Gabi's spare pair of shorts and camp t-shirt. Over the course of their walk from Antaeus' arena to here, Riley had learned that Kalan was also another hidden half-blood, a daughter of Demeter, goddess of the harvest. She had fallen into the labyrinth one day in the early summer and had been down here ever since. Riley didn't know how she could still act so sane. Whatever she had been through, Riley was just glad to have another friend with them, especially one that was more experienced in fighting matters. Kalan was more toned than the last time Riley had seen her, voice stronger and personality hardened. She had no trouble carrying Nolan's double-bladed axe over her shoulder and was the first to use it against any monsters they came across.

"You're my friend." That reply was enough to make Kalan smile, her stiff expression loosening.

"It's nice to know that some things haven't changed. I look forward to seeing Camp Half-Blood, by the way. At this point, I don't know if I could even go home, so at least I have your camp as my backup." As Riley watched her friend speak, she realized that Kalan now seemed a lot older than sixteen. She had aged in this labyrinth. Maybe she should be the one leading this quest. "I'm sorry to hear about Redd." Kalan added quietly after a moment of thought, eyes turning sad when she looked over at Megan and James. Riley nodded, hands clenching into fists. Redd hadn't deserved such a premature quest. He would never know if they finished their quest, or if they saved the world or not.

"I just wish I knew what happened to him." James had spoken only on a need-to-know basis, whereas Megan hadn't spoken at all.

"From the short time that I knew him, he was a nice guy. It's horrible that he had to die down here." Riley took Kalan's hand, and they sat in silence, an unspoken agreement between them as they mourned for their fallen friend. Riley couldn't remember the last time that she had prayed, but when she closed her eyes that night after her watch ended, she prayed to Hades to send Redd to Elysium, the heavenly afterlife.

~

Today Nolan was able to walk on his own, although he was still in quite a bit of pain. He was slightly miffed that everyone ganged up against him to vote that Kalan would continue to carry his axe, but he let it slide. If he was honest with himself, he was so weak right now that he wouldn't be able to lift the axe. The poison from the serpent was continuously sapping his strength, although Riley had told him that he was on the healing side now.

"I'm worried." Nolan jumped, hitting his head on the low ceiling as Gabi appeared beside him. "Geez, control yourself." She huffed as she steadied him with a hand. Nolan glared down at her, but she ignored him. "If we're attacked by a monster that would've usually taken six of us to beat, I'm as good as dead, and the odds of that happening are through the roof since we're in this maze." Nolan couldn't believe what he was hearing. Gabi could plainly see how scarred James and Megan were, how injured he was, and yet she was only worried for herself. "I just don't want to end up like Redd, okay?" At that, James and Megan halted, making Nolan and Gabi stop.