Demigods at Rookwood

Chapter 20

Ivy

It was a terrible idea. But if we were going to do this at any time, now would be the time to do it.

We had the afternoon off. Everyone was inside, trying to stay warm, and the teachers were busy dealing with the incident between Violet and Penny.

The odds were in our favour for this to work.

Scarlet refused to go on the mission, and that was fine with the rest of us. I wasn't about to force her to go back out onto the roof. It clearly terrified her.

Thalia also refused to go. She wouldn't exactly tell us why, but Annabeth vouched for her, and said that it would better if she stayed with Scarlet, though she didn't tell us either.

Ariadne, Hazel, Reyna, Piper, Annabeth and I got into our warmest clothes. I persuaded Scarlet to give me her hat, and Hazel handed me a scarf.

Together we walked up Rookwood's winding stairs to the top floor, and the hatch that led out onto the roof.

It seemed no one had checked the padlock since the last time me and Ariadne had gone up there.
We unlatched it easily and climbed out onto the roof.

The snow flurried around us as we helped Annabeth, Piper, Hazel and Reyna up through the trapdoor.

I pulled my scarf around my mouth. "Careful," I warned. "It's a long way down."

We slowly made our way across the roof, climbing over the peaks, sliding down the other side, past the chimney stack until we came to another hatch.

The trapdoor was right where I remembered it. It was made of wood that looked very old and wood-worm-chewed, and a little rotten.

"This trapdoor looks as old as the stairs in the library." Commented Piper.

I nodded in agreement. "It's really ragged, maybe it will break."

"What can we hit with it though?" Said Annabeth, glancing around.

The nearest object available was a brick. I picked it up and slammed it down onto the door, to no avail.  The trapdoor was barely scratched.

"Rats,"

"There's got to be a way," said Ariadne. Before I knew what was happening, Ariadne had sprung onto the trapdoor, and was bouncing on it like you would a trampoline. Hazel apparently thought it would be a good idea to start jumping on it as well.

"Maybe if we jump on it, it might loosen a biiiiiiiiiiiiit-"

"Ariadne?!" I yelled down. "Hazel?! Are you both alright?"

There was silence for a moment. And then "Ouch," (Both). Then "Yes," (Ariadne). Followed by "I think we fell on a bed." (Hazel).

I crouched down and peered through the hole. I could just make out Ariadne and Hazel both sprawled out, in the middle of pieces of shattered wood, that had once made up a bed. Ariadne waved cheerfully at me, while Hazel glanced around the room they had fallen into.

"It's not that far." Called up Hazel.

"And the bed is quite springy." Added Ariadne. "Jump down!"

I watched as they shuffled the mattress. Together they worked on carefully moving the wooden shards away.

Reyna turned to me. "I'll go first."

"Are you sure?"

Reyna nodded.

Whenever I was around her, I almost felt like I was answering to a boss, or dictator that I worked for. She had that kind of leader aura. It wasn't a mean aura, but quite a powerful one. The aura seemed to change a bit in that moment. She still felt like a leader, but I didn't feel so overbearing.
I felt like she was more my friend, and looking out for my best interests and safety.