For the Better

Chapter 10 ~ A Hard First Night

Brooke's Pov
Nico, Leo, and I returned with some firewood. We set it up like a tepee and had Leo set it on fire. It was pretty cold outside so I was glad for the fire. Again, there was a long awkward silence. Nico broke the silence, "Well I'm tired, like always. I'm going to sleep."

Within 5 minutes, Nico was passed out and snoring. Leo and I started laughing hysterically at him. "How can he sleep like that?" We laughed. "I don't know." We continued laughing. Leo and I made eye contact for about two seconds. My eyes widened and I immediately frowned. "Brooke?" I looked down. I didn't want to meet his eyes again, or even take a chance of it.

"Yeah?" I asked. I can tell Leo is still looking at me. "What's wrong?" I shook my head. "Okay, fine. We have to learn to get along, you know. Do you think I forgot you don't like me? Because no, I didn't. If we are going to be on this quest together, we have to learn how to get along," Leo said to me firmly. He seemed mad now. I still didn't answer.

"Well then. Goodnight." After 7 minutes, yes I counted, Leo was asleep. I couldn't sleep so I decided to take a walk. I'm never going to forget what I saw. I looked into Leo's eyes and saw part of his past. I didn't want to, but it happened. I feel sorry for him. It must've been hard for him. I heard and saw everything that happened.

Leo liked like he was about 7 or 8 years old. Maybe 9. He was at a mechanic shop with a woman. I'm guessing she was his mother. They had closed up shop but they seemed to be cleaning up. Leo was helping his mom. They seemed to be having fun. It was actually quite adorable.

I saw Leo's mother helping him hammer in a nail on the side of a shelf. After that Leo's mom sat him on top of a counter. I faintly heard Leo's mom say, "Stay here mi hijo (my son). I'll be right back." She walked into a room and closed the door behind her. The next thing I saw wasn't too pleasant.

A woman walked into the room. No, she didn't walk into the room, she appeared in the room. She laughed a horrifying laugh. "Hello Leo Valdez. I am Gaea. I shall kill you and your mother." Leo looked horrified. He lit up his hands and tried to kill the woman. There was a scream. Leo looked towards the door to the room where his mother was. She couldn't open the door. It was locked.

Leo screamed and tried to help his mother. Gaea was laughing at his foolishness. Leo turned towards her and threw fire again. By then, Leo started a fire in the store. His mother was pounding on the door trying to get out but Gaea was preventing it. Leo must be immune to fire because he wasn't getting hurt. He was crying. It was so sad.

The building was burning and firefighters, police, and an ambulance were starting to form outside. The woman left. Leo looked around the room. The burning room. Gaea's face shown in the fire which made Leo cry harder.

After her face disappeared, the door leading to the room Leo's mother was in, opened. His mother lay lifeless on the floor. He screamed and ran to her but was stopped by a fireman who grabbed him to pull him out of the store to safety. Leo knew his mother was dead, he didn't want to be told. It was obvious. That was the last I saw.

I almost started crying myself. That was horrible. I know I only locked eyes for like two seconds but it stuck in my head. It was a fast flash. After that, I kept seeing the full story of that time. It's like the memory wants me to see it all.

The memory repeated itself in my head over and over again. I went back to where Leo and Nico were sleeping. I lied down on the moist grass. I watched the flames made by Leo Valdez. He didn't kill his mother, Gaea did. Yeah, I kinda hate Leo, but I feel sorry for him.

I couldn't sleep. Not after what I saw. The bad visions and nightmares are sitting in my head, waiting to take over me. I'm trying not to let it. I don't want to fall asleep. I know I shouldn't be afraid because it's all in my head but I am afraid.

I stayed up all night watching the stars and clouds. I kept the fire going all night so it wouldn't get too cold. It was about 4am and I was so tired. I gave in. I let the bad thoughts and memories take me over, just for the night. I let the voices in my head conjure me into a deep sleep. As soon as I closed my eyes, everything washed over me. All of the worst moments in my life, Leo's memory, and other awful things just ran through my mind for the rest of the night. Not a good first night at all.