The Selection

Strange Connections

"No, I didn't. And there was no one on the floor at that time. Calypso saw you fighting, she called me. I sent all the girls to the Women's Room before entering into your conversation." Annabeth says.

"Then, who did that?" Nico says.

"Can I see the picture for a second," Thalia says. I give it to her, reluctantly. She examines it. "There is an issue with this picture. Can you see this black area behind her and look at her hands, she has a weapon." 

"It's the dagger. I gifted her. Katoptris." Annabeth says.

"By looking at her face, my doctor skills says that she must be in a place where she feels really good." Will starts.

"That's easy. She is with Jason." Leo says.

"Me?" 

"Yes, that fits. You are the only one besides Nico who wears black. And she is grinning like an idiot if you see. That can only happen if you are with her." Thalia declares.

"Now, will you be pleased to tell where you were at this time?" Annabeth says.

"Actually, I guess I was just giving her some self-defence classes," I say, scratching the back of my neck.

"Nico, I didn't know I could ask you for a date by the excuse of 'self-defence classes'" Will says.

"Mr Solace, can we get back to our former conversation with my brother." Nico retorts.

"Yeah sure," Will says, scared.  (A/N: They are cute)

"Okay, so we were on the terrace and it was evening time. And as long as I remember, we were alone. And at that time, the weather was just perfect and she..."

"She...what?" Leo asks, excitedly.

"Leo, not the point. We talk about his dates later. I know you didn't take the photograph. We come back to the same question, who took it?" Annabeth says.

"I think we were not alone." I suddenly remember something. "Piper's friends knew about me, they saw us. They told her everything but she didn't believe them. And I -"

"Stop blaming yourself. It's time we go to bed. I will talk to the girls tomorrow in the morning. Name them." Annabeth says.

"I guess one was Hazel and the other one was Reyna," I say.

"Oh, Reyna! That girl is something! You should go out with her. You will like her," Thalia says to me.

"I will better not answer." And with this, I exit the room. 

~~~~~~~~

I am trying to sleep, the memory of that day keeps troubling me now and then. Her eyes still showing hope and immense faith that I will always be there with her. She would have forgotten me if this won't have happened, if I would have stopped this, if I would have not let her go. 

She defied her friendship for me, to see me happy, to be with me. And I, I filled her life with thorns. I lied to her, our friendship was made on the foundation of a big lie. Her life would have been better without me. She is feeling so much pain, only because of me, I did it to her. 

I wipe my face.

If only, I could undo the things I did. If only, I could tell her what she actually means to me. If only she comes back. Why do bad things have to happen to good, loyal and honest people? 

I close my eyes, feeling the hot tears down my face. My head is throbbing again. But I don't care. I deserve the pain, grief, and sorrow that I have given to her. Suddenly, something happens. 

"Ow!" A fresh scar appears out of nowhere on my arm. I look around, bewildered. There is no one in my room. How did it appear?

I close my eyes, I hear something. I abruptly open them. 

I allow darkness to engulf me and try to focus. Deep breathing. I can feel someone. The person's eyes are closed.

"Who are you?" Though my voice is soft yet it startles the person. 

"Where are you? I can't see anyone around me," This can't be true. No. I don't know whether to be happy, confused or be sad.

"P...Pi...Pipes," I say, finally.

"Sp...Sparky! How? Where? When?" She covers her mouth. Hearing my name, though false, takes all the pains from my life. Her voice is like a drug without which the addict can't survive. In all these days, I was a body with a soul. But, by merely listening to her voice, I gained a new life in this little moment. 

Tiny tears escape our eyes simultaneously, making their way down our faces.

The short comfortable silence is tranquil. The feeling is beyond anything on this world. Even though, we are so away yet it feels as if our souls are closer than never before. 

"You are here?" She asks in a small voice.

"Not yet. Haven't found the place. How are you?"

"I am... okay." She gulps. She is not okay. I have to reach her. "What about you?"

"Ha! Life is going too slow. Without you," I said the last two words, feebly."Where are you?"

"I don't know. I -"

"You have been living in that place for three days now, and you don't know. I am fully aware that you hate me, but that doesn't mean you will lie to me in this situation. First, you said you were okay, though I know that you are not. Do you think I don't care? You know what the thing is you don't know how to take care of yourself and have the habit of making the people around worried-"

"Stop it! I don't know about this place as I was unconscious when I was brought here."

This time the silence isn't gold.

"Sorry, I overreacted." 

"It's okay."

"Tell me something about the place."

"It is dark and damp. A workshop or a house like a place. I can hear the sound of water nearby."

"And?" There is only one place where we can hear water.

"I am in Ilea as I heard them talking about it."

"Perfect! I am coming." I jump out of my bed, my eyes still closed.

"Are you insane? They are a whole group. Don't come alone."

"I am enough for all of them," I say, confidently.

"You lost against me. And now, you think you can fight them alone? Don't be stupid!"

"Maybe you are right. Smart."

"I always act smartly, Sparky!"

"Jumping in front of me and taking the blow wasn't a smart move."

"Umm...I...was not acting smartly then."

"And why?"

"Um...stop questioning!"

"You are avoiding, something is surely wrong."

"You want the answer. So listen, I ..."

"You what?" I wait for her answer. But, I could hear nothing. "Hello?" 

No answer.

The connection is lost.

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