The Forbidden Land {A Pertemis Story}

Chapter 10: A Secret Room

Third Person POV

Apollo ran towards Ally. As he did so, he felt like everything in the world just stopped moving. He knew he left her, but he still cared for her deeply.

Artemis and Percy ran towards them as well. Apollo was already there, putting his hands on Ally's stomach, trying to apply pressure to close the wound. "Is there anything we can do to help?" Percy asked.

Apollo replied immediately. "We should take her to the hospital wing."

They both nodded. Apollo picked her up bridal style just as Thalia ran over to join them. "What happened?"

"It's all my fault," Apollo mumbled as he continued running with Ally in his arms. Thalia didn't ask any more questions when she noticed Ally in Apollo's arms. Artemis and Percy were hot on Apollo's heels.

Apollo quickly set Ally down on a bed the second they arrived to the hospital wing. He put his hand on Ally's stomach again and watched as the magic within him flow out of his fingertip, slowly but surely stitching Ally's stomach.

Apollo let out a sigh when Ally's stomach almost healed but his magic suddenly stopped. "This is the best I could do," Apollo said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "She will need to heal on her own."

Everyone nodded and slowly approached the bed. Percy went first. "You are the best sister I have ever known. Please get better soon."

"You are a good hunter and a good friend," Artemis said before she left with Percy.

Thalia stepped forward. "I hope you get better soon Ally. You were the best friend I could ever ask for."

She followed Percy and Artemis out of the hospital wing. Apollo sat down beside Ally. "I'm so sorry for what I said. I shouldn't have said anything and asked you not to come and help your people. I was being selfish. Could you ever forgive me?"

A tear slid down his cheek as he said this. He intertwined his hands with Ally's. He pulled a chair up beside her bed and planned on staying there until she woke up.

...

Ally felt like everything in her body was burning. Her stomach especially. She didn't really blame Apollo for making her lose focus, she blamed herself. She was trained by her father for a reason. She was trained to become the best of the best.

She felt like she was floating around in an empty space as she watched a memory unfold. A memory that brought tears to her eyes.

"Come on Ally, you got this," Her father encouraged eight-year-old' Ally as she almost hit a bullseye.

"It's too hard," Ally whined to her father. "I can't do this."

Her father walked towards her and put a hand on her shoulder, using his other hand to lift her chin up. "Ally, nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it. Remember, I'll always believe in you."

Ally smiled before she lined up her aim again. She notched an arrow onto her bowstring and pulled back. She aimed at the target. In, out, in, out, she kept repeating in her head as she continued breathing steadily.

She released the arrow and found herself holding her breath. The arrow sailed straight forward, and hit the bullseye.

Ally jumped up and down excitedly. "I did it! I did it!"

"Great job!" Her mother said, as she went to the pair and hugged her. Her father wrapped his arms around the two of them. Ally smiled and leaned into their embrace.

Ally smiled at that memory. Suddenly, she noticed the burning in her body felt better, but then she felt like she really needed to sleep. She heard shouting that sounded really far away.

"Come back," She heard one people said.

"Don't leave us!" Another cried.

Then, a few seconds later, there was silence. But the silence didn't last for long though. She felt like she should sleep. She should sleep forever, she almost closed her eyes, until she heard a voice speak. It sounded more like an echo than a voice though. "I know I said I am sorry already but I want to tell you one last time. I am so sorry for everything I have ever said to you. I was being selfish. Now you are here dying because of me. I distracted you! I'm so sorry. Words can't describe how guilty I feel right now."

Ally felt like she should get back to this voice. Then an image came to her mind. So clear, a name popped into her mind. Apollo. She needed to get back to her family, she thought. She wasn't going to die there. She found herself using Apollo's voice as a guiding light. She followed it. She heard her friends, her family. Most importantly, she heard her mother's voice, singing the song she had sung to her ever since she was born.

As the moon shine brightly in this lonely night,

I will always be here, don't you cry.

The star shines brightly, lighting your day,

I will always be here, to guide your way.

She found strength as she continued going through the memories of her whole life. She heard voices, telling her not to give up.

I love you, She heard everyone say at the same time. Her family, her friends, her lover. That was the strength she needed for the one final push. She was free. Bright light greeted her and she opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was Apollo's blue eyes. Ally gave his hand a gentle squeeze, startling Apollo. "I'm back," She whispered to him.

Since Ally had first awoken, everyone wanted to see her. Apollo himself had confirmed that she was far too gone to be saved. But Ally lived anyway.

Since that day, Apollo has put Ally on bed rest. He wouldn't let her get out of the bed at all except to go to the restroom.

One day, Ally couldn't stand it anymore, she knew it was for her own good but she couldn't help it. She felt something calling her near her room.

So one night when Apollo fell asleep beside her, she sneaked out of the hospital wing. She made her way through the familiar halls of the palace, glad to be somewhere other than in the hospital wing. She saw a soft light up ahead behind a painting and she pulled the painting away.

What she saw surprised her. A secret door. "Wow," Ally exclaimed quietly to herself before stepping into the door. It was surprisingly unlocked.

She walked down the stairs of the secret room, going down and down and down. When she finally reached the bottom, it was so dark it was hard to see. She felt around for a switch. She finally felt it on the far end wall. She flicked the switch and a dim light turned on.

"What is this place?" She whispered to herself. She saw a desk and a journal on top of it. With curiosity, she opened the journal. She was met with her mother's familiar writing.