Run | TMR X PJO [ Editing ]

Chapter thirty-one, in which Aris is in big trouble and he's universally hated.

"I told you, I have no idea what happened out there," Aris said for what felt like the millionth time. He honestly would have said it about a million times if not for his parched throat. Water was forced down his throat just so that he could continue being interrogated by a cluster of terrifying girls.

"Okay Aris, how does that explain how our boring guns turned into some super weapon?" Kathy snarled, slamming her hands down on the table, not unlike an interrogator one would see in crime shows. At this rate, she might have resorted to torture.

Aris too mockingly slammed his hands down, although that probably wasn't the best idea given his position. "Well you see Kathy, I passed out and had no idea how they did!"

Sonya was overseeing the interrogation, although she really didn't do anything, seeing as Kathy had taken charge. Even Annabeth wasn't saying anything, so his fate lied in the hands of the scary Kathy. Neither of them returned Aris' pleading look for backup.

"Look, there must be some way we can figure this out, and you're the only one that was actually in the Maze for well over twenty-four hours," Kathy said. She was frothing with anger, her patience on verge of exploding into tiny bits. "It's impossible."

No one talked for a while, wondering how Aris had survived so long. The only possible answer was WICKED, who would have kept him barely alive because they still found him useful. They were well aware of the organization's existence, however, and knowing them, they would be eliminated soon enough before they had a chance to tell anyone else. So they had to act, and fast. 

"Maybe it was just luck," Aris stammered. "I really don't know!"

"Then we might as well just force it out of you," Kathy snarled. "Look, I haven't got all day—spit it out. It's the Slammer until you can tell us something."

And with that, the Keeper tried to dramatically exit the room. She almost succeeded too, if not for the fact that her boot got caught in the doorway and she tripped down the flight of stairs shortly. Aris was far too exhausted to even laugh at that. He put his head down on the table, hoping to fall asleep so that he would avoid interrogation from the other two, who were staring him down. Annabeth's gray eyes, in particular, were oh so questioning and just plain scary.

"Aris, we still need answers," she said sternly, although less intimidating than Kathy had said it. "Certainly you know anything that could help us."

"Yeah, you must remember something," Sonya chimed in quickly.

At their insistence, he racked his brain for anything that he could remember. All he really did was wave the torches around, but it didn't explain the markings and how they had turned back into the guns that they had stolen. "I uh, I guess some kind of magic happened—no, I'm not kidding."

It was the best he could do when he was thinking off his head. It was certainly not good enough for both Annabeth and Sonya—he learned that when they shook their heads disapprovingly.

"He's gone mad, there's no such thing as magic," Annabeth whispered. She had not whispered quietly enough so that Aris could not hear—she quickly changed the subject after he had glared at her, but otherwise ignored him.

The other girl opened her mouth to reply, only to be interrupted by Annabeth's shoe stomping on her own rather painfully. She winced but did not say anything. They had a staredown—neither of them knew what to do—but they finally had to call a stalemate. Aris was left there blinking in confusion.

After the silence had gotten all too awkward, Sonya cleared her throat. "Well uh, I think it's best if you stay in the Slammer for now—just until we know a tad bit more about that happened. Okay, Aris dear?"

He narrowed his eyes. Of course, Sonya, of freaking course would he comply to her sugary sweet voice. It wasn't like he had much of a choice. "Well uh, I mean—"

She butted in almost as soon as the words left his mouth. "Sounds wonderful. Alright, Annabeth, you lock him up and I will check in shortly."

"Aye, get up then you shank," Annabeth roughly grabbed Aris by the collar of his shirt and yanked him out of his seat. "Come on, up you go."

"W-what, why are you locking me up—"

"Come on already, let's go."

It was like she was some robot that obeyed Sonya's every command. She wouldn't look at him as she went as far as to tie him up. They would be walking only for a few minutes, and she felt the need to secure ropes around his hands? She really must have seen him as some cursed demon. Neither of them bothered to make any attempts at conversation; Aris didn't even want to ask Annabeth why she was acting so harsh. He felt like his day had been crummy already, thank you very much.

He did not protest when his bonds were undone and he was locked in shut. Aris faced his imprisonment with a quiet dignity; he had found it to be wise to give in to the greater power when it was right. There really wasn't too much in the Slammer, minus a pile of splinters and a rickety chair to one side.

And there he sat for a very long time. He counted the hours by when food was delivered to him, all by Gladers that he did not care to memorize their names. Their faces were all unfamiliar to him, no matter how much he strained to remember. Maybe the leader line had chosen these specific Gladers because they knew that he would not try to attempt to talk to them if he did not know them in the first place. Three meals a day, two opportunities to wash up every day under careful supervision by armed guards. Going to the bathroom lost its appeal when there was a scary girl standing right beyond the door.

It was a week before he was released. Annabeth and Sonya had finally let him out, but they ignored him, as did Kathy. Hecate. A single word had destroyed his reputation in the Glade.