all our broken skies, a kotlc + pjo/hoo fanfic

chapter six

The sky was rapidly darkening. Sophie had no idea where she was, only that there was a bridge nearby, which wasn't helpful at all. She wasn't afraid of the night, but the dark... There was something about it that made her struggle to breathe. It felt like all the air had been sucked out of her lungs, and the world seemed to spin around her. She knew it was irrational, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen.

Sophie shivered, though the night was warm enough. The feeling was growing stronger, and a ragged breath escaped her. She didn't realize she was shaking until she wrapped her arms around her shoulders. Her entire body was trembling.

The blonde girl stared at her hands, watching the way they wouldn't still. "W-What the hell?" she murmured. Her voice shook, and she could feel tears welling up. What the hell is happening to me?

I... I have to get out of here. I have to get out of the dark. It was the only thought that made sense as the world spun around her. Sophie hadn't noticed that she'd stopped breathing until her lungs were screaming. She staggered over to the bridge.

Lanterns dotted the bridge, providing dim lighting in the darkness. It would've been pretty in the daytime, but now, Sophie could see that half of the lights weren't working, and more than a few were flickering. The whole scene felt ominous. It wasn't helping in the slightest.

Sophie found herself near the center as she leaned over the edge, gulping down huge breaths. The water rushing below made her feel a little more secure, but it wasn't enough. Darkness pulsed at the edge of her vision. She let out a shaky breath, tears threatening to flood her face.

Suddenly, Sophie was struck with a vivid image. A lantern, similar to these, covered in elaborate carvings and decorations, the golden light dancing in her vision. At the base of it was a small, curved line, seemingly unimportant. At the tip was a crystal.

The blonde shook her head, the image vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. Instead of calming her, more panic ensued. Terror rushed through her veins. The worst part was, she had no idea what was causing it.

Out of the corner of her eye, Sophie saw a black-cloaked figure, something silver flashing amidst it. She whirled around, back pressed against the bridge. Her eyes darted across it, but there was no one else. She was alone.

Her hands started shaking again.

Sophie tried to focus on her breathing. In, out, in, out. She tried to imagine a feather in front of her, letting her breaths keep it afloat, but it did nothing. Her mind wouldn't stop racing, and she couldn't stop herself from trembling. The world was spinning, and she felt light-headed.

The blonde girl crumpled, sitting down and pressing her head against the stone. Breathe, Sophie. Just breathe, she commanded herself.

But something's wrong! Something bad is going to happen. Something bad has happened.

A tear slipped down her cheek.

Damn it, Sophie.

She pressed her hands against her face, shaking. Aside from the panic that was burning through everything else, she felt afraid. And she felt mad—mad at herself. She was freaking out, and because of this stupid amnesia, she had no idea why.

Sophie curled her hands into fists, her nails cutting crescents into her skin. It didn't distract her. In fact, she felt completely numb. Everything was still there, but the panic was overriding all of her senses. She couldn't focus on anything except trying to breathe through the fear that was attacking her.

"I wouldn't scream if I were you."

Sophie shrieked, whirling to the side. No one was there, but she knew she'd heard them. Words, said by a gruff voice, clear as day. Someone was here, on the bridge, with her. Percy was right—someone had been following them.