The Cursed Ones

Jazz's POV
I shook my head as I woke up with a jolt. "Sorry Jazz!" Vahl called from the front seat.
I rubbed my bruised head. "Where are we?" I said, checking to see if Matt was still there. He was glaring at me with his blue eyes. I stood up, hunched over, and grabbed the back of the seat. I climbed over into the back seat, and jumped into the passenger seat.

"Uh, right now? About thirty minutes away from Ryan's hideout. Mr. Sneaky tried to kill you while you were unconscious. I slammed on the brakes and tied him up."
I have her a sideways glance.

"How exactly was he trying to kill me?"

"With your dagger. When I slammed on the brakes, he lurched forward and cut your cheek. Sorry about that. I bandaged it up cause it was pretty big. I touched my right cheek and felt a long bandage going from my cheek bone to my jaw.

"Better that then my chest." I traced it with my finger. It was sore, but not unbearable.

"Thanks." I said, looking out the window at the trees, spotting a doe. I smiled, remembering the time me and Lizzie were camping in Texas, and a doe tried to eat our food.

"So what's with you and Leo?" I asked.
She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Well, it's a bit complicated, and it's personal so.."

"I want to know how Leo knew." I didn't feel the need to explain.

"Honestly, I don't know. He sent me an Iris-Message, telling me, and that's that." We sat in silence, Vahl driving, and me staring out the window. About twenty minutes later.....

"Jazz?" Vahl said.

"Mmhmm?"

"You might wanna take a look over here." Her voice sounded urgent. I turned towards her, peering out the window. A cartoonishly tall building was sitting in the middle of a plot of open land. A giant gray brick wall surrounded it, with electronic wiring. Trees surrounded it.

"Well that's not obvious at all. How are we suppose to get in?" I asked.
She was about to reply, when I yelled, "Spotlights! Hide the car!" She swerved, but rammed into one of the trees on my side of the car. I blacked out for a few seconds but I was dizzy and dazed. Glass was shattered everywhere.

"Vahl. You okay?" I said, my head pounding. I heard her moan and sat up, trying to clear my head as I looked through blurry eyes. My vision slowly cleared and I saw Vahl sitting up, and rubbing her eyes.

"We need to get out now. Before they find us." I said, trying to open the door. I brushed the glass off the handle and tried to push it open, but my door was jammed. I climbed over into the back and opened the door.

Vahl jumped out and I went to the back and grabbed our sacks, glaring at Matt. I slammed it shut, tossing Vahl her bag. We sprinted into the forest, trying to avoid any spotlights.
We had been running through the dense wood, and we were taking a short break. The gash on my face ha a been burning, but I tried to ignore it. I took a sip of nectar, and the pain subsided for the moment.

I leaned against the trunk of a tree and closed my eyes for a few precious seconds. Next thing I knew, someone was shooting an arrow at me. I heard the whistle through the air and I ducked just in time. "Vahl get up!" I yelled.

I looked up and saw an arrow sticking out of the spot my head was not two seconds ago. I jumped up and rolled to the ground dodging arrows. I grabbed my dagger, and ran to the spot the arrows were coming from.

Vahl's POV


"Jazz!" I yelled after her. I grabbed my bow and notched an arrow, slowly creeping foreword. I reached a clearing and saw Jazz laying motionless in the grass. I ran to her and rolled her onto her back.

"Wait. Lizzie?" I said, astonished. She opened her eyes and grasped my arm. "You have to leave. Now. They'll kill you!" She gasped.

"Lizzie, what, what are you talking about?" I asked.

"It's too late, their here!" She screamed, and disappeared into smoke. The scene dissolved before me, and I was in a prison cell. I leaped up and grasped the metal bars in anger. "No! Let me out!" I yelled.

A low laugh came from behind me. I turned around. "They'll never let you out. I should know. I was kidnapped for a ransom, but they never got the money. So I'm stuck here. Just like you and your friend." I peered closer and saw an old lady with rags and gray hair.

"Jazz. Where is she?" I asked.

She pointed over to the corner with a wrinkly finger. I ran over to her and propped her up against the wall. "No. No no no no. Jazz. You can't be dead. Come back. Please. Wake up!" I screamed, years streaming down my face.

I laid her back down, placing a hand on her chest, and recited an incitation.


Jazz's POV

I was in a state of I don't know what. I was like a ghost, the slightest wind and I was carried with it. I think I was in between death and life. On my right was one hand and to my left was another, but this one was charred and almost see-through.

The left hand grabbed my arm and started pulling me towards it. I struggled against it, trying to break free. A cold sensation started creeping up my wrist to my shoulder.

The other hand grabbed my other wrist and a warm feeling spread up my right arm. I was being pulled in both directions. Right and left. Life and death. I tried to pull away from the left side and to the right, but it wouldn't let go.

I let out a yell of rage, and yanked my arm again, and nothing happened again. I floated there for several seconds, letting the hands tug. A warm feeling like ambrosia spread throughout my chest, and I started feeling solid. I jerked on my arm again, and I slipped it out of its grasp.

I grabbed the right hand with both hands and let it pull me back. I saw Vahl's face, and sat up with a gasp of pain. My head was pounding and my cut was burning. I had a large bruise on my left calf, and as I tried to stand up I slipped and landed on my tailbone.

"Whoa Jazz. Hold on. You were almost dead." She said, pushing my back.

"Where are we?" I asked faintly.

"Ryan's prison for ransom." She spat. "We're stuck here, and I don't know how to get out."
I sat up, holding my head in my hand. My eyelids were drooping closed, against my will. Vahl noticed this, took off her jacket and folded it up, pushing me down on the floor. I laid down, using the jacket as a pillow, and fell into a restless sleep.


Vahl's POV

With Jazz asleep, the only company I had was the old lady. "So. Uh. Who are you? And why did Ryan kidnap you?" I asked, scooting over next to Jazz.

"My name is Nilah Pepas. I'm from France. I was born an raised there, with my father. When I was twelve, we moved to England for his job. I was a burden to him. Unwanted, unloved. He put me in private boarding schools to keep me away, and during my summer breaks, he would send me to a girls camp. I hardly ever saw him." She started.

"When I was sixteen, I went to a different boarding school, where I was treated like dirt by the girls, and adored by the boys. Many of the boys tried to date me, but I refused. One though, was persistent. He refused to give up. His name was Matthew Bueler. We ended up getting married and having a child before I was taken away. We had little money so he couldn't afford to get me back."

"Whoa whoa whoa. Hold up. That was fast. And your son is Matt Bueler? I hate to break it to you, but he's working for the men who kidnapped you." I said.

The woman only nodded, and sighed. A guard walked in at that moment. "Hey granny! Foods here!" He said ruffly, shoving a tray of moldy bread and old soup under the door. I went and picked it up and handed it to her.

She thanked me with her eyes. "What about me and Jazz? Do we get food?" I asked haughtily.

"Not with that attitude pumpkin. You listen here girl. You won't get any meals until the boss says so. Got it? You obey, you get to live. You disobey, you get to die." He said through the bars of the cell.

I huffed and sat down by Jazz again. I crossed my arms, looking away at the wall. I didn't like what I saw. Red colored stains on the concrete wall, strange black marks on the iron bars. So basically it was a 20x20 cell block.

The back wall was pure concrete, as was the two side walls. The front was concrete except for a thick iron bar door. When I say thick, I mean five inches wide thick. At the bottom of the door was a small opening, only large enough for a tray of food.

"Get used to it princess." said the guard, as he walked away, which an air of triumph. I clenched my fists in anger. Instead of breaking my fist by punching it on the walls, I took in my surroundings.

On the back wall was a small cot, large enough for one person, there was a bucket in the left corner, and a sink on the right. There was a stack of old and thin blankets at the foot of the cot, which I grabbed and laid out for me and Jazz to sleep on.

I was laying down, staring at the ceiling, when I heard multiple loud footsteps. I stayed where I was, one hand behind my head, my eyes darting from the door to the ceiling.
Willing myself to stay still, a tall gangly guard unlocked the door and swung it open with a squeak and a groan, and stood aside, as if to let a superior pass. Ringing footsteps reached my ears, but I kept my gaze firmly on the ceiling.

"Is the ceiling really that interesting, or are you just bored, or trying to ignore me." said Ryan smugly.

"Yes." I replied curtly.

"Who are you exactly?"

"That's for me to know, and you to find out." I said scornfully.

"I see were dealing with a smart one." He shaped his fingers. "You there. Get me Sevil, and the orb. Hello? Now!" He said rudely. I rolled my eyes and sat up, walking over to Jazz. I knelt beside her and felt her pulse.

I stared at her face, refusing to meet his gaze so forceful I could feel it. "Let me guess. Daughter of Apollo, good with a bow, probably good friends with that Leo character." He said offhandedly. I replied with silence.

He kept on ranting. "You probably were an outcast, a weirdo, no one wanted or liked you, so you proved yourself in skill."

By the time the Sevil guy go there, I was about ready to punch Ryan in the face. A floating orb came in behind him, with large needle sticking out the front.


Lizzie's POV

I was stuck. Someone was banging on my door, yelling at me to open up, but I couldn't move. I was 'seeing'. I was trying to find Jazz. My vision focused, and I saw Jazz, laying on a concrete floor, with Vahl and an old lady.

Ryan was leaning over Vahl, who looked as if she was trying to ignore him. Jazz was covered in a ratty blanket, using Vahl's jacket as a pillow on the hard cold floor. I focused on hearing what they were saying.

"I see were dealing with a smart one." He shaped his fingers. "You there. Get me Sevil, and the orb. Hello? Now!" He said rudely. She rolled her eyes and sat up, walking over to Jazz. She knelt beside her and felt her pulse.

She stared at her face, refusing to meet his gaze. "Let me guess. Daughter of Apollo, good with a bow, probably good friends with that Leo character." He said offhandedly. She didn't say anything.

He kept on ranting. "You probably were an outcast, a weirdo, no one wanted or liked you, so you proved yourself in skill."

The guy I guessed was Sevil walked in with a floating orb behind him. Vahl looked like she was about to punch Ryan. Sevil walked up to Vahl and grabbed her by the arm and hauled her up, gripping her shoulders so she couldn't move.

"Now my pretty. Let's see what you know." He whispered into her ear, as the orb got closer, it's needle aimed for her arm. I heard a soft thumping sound and Sevil fell the the floor.
Another thump and Ryan was down to the ground. Vahl looked around. I saw the old lady stand up quickly, clutching a dart shooter.

"Hurry. We don't have much time." Her voice was surprisingly young. Then, as if it could get any weirder, which of course it did, she ripped off her hair and wavy white hair tumbled out.
She snatched a blanket and scrubbed her face. When she brought it down, she looked like a 14 year old girl. "Wake up Jazz. I'll get the guards." She said, throwing her ratty clothes off to reveal a uniform.

Vahl hurried over to Jazz, and tried to wake her up. She ended up carrying her, cradling her like a baby. My vision returned to, well, to where I actually was.

I stood up quickly, and crept slowly to the door. I heard running footsteps in the hallway as I pressed my ear to the door. I checked the hallways with my freakish vision, and opened the door.

I walked quietly but quickly along the hallway, trying to avoid any people. I ran into a guard, but I punched him in the face and in the gut, succeeding in knocking him out. I skirted around his body, and sprinted down the hall.

I reached a dead end, going to the right, and left. I 'looked' both ways, and sprinted down the right hall, brushing against the wall as I dodged a guard. Not caring whether I was seen or not anymore, I slammed into another guard, reaching the prison hold.
Surprisingly, the gate was already opened. I crept forward cautiously, peering into each cell as I passed. I finally saw the outline of Jazz, and I rushed forward.

"Jazz! Vahl!" I yelled, my feet taking me closer each second. Jazz raised her head from underneath Vahl's arm.

"Liz? Lizzie?" She whispered. I pulled her into a hug as I reached them. I could feel her body trembling against me, my arms wrapped her, holding her frail and limp body up. I held her there, relishing her presence.

"Jazz! Jazz. Are you okay?" I asked, as her body clenched up. Her head was raised, and staring behind me, her face tight with anger. I let go and turned around.

"Well well well. What do we have here. It looks like the wonder twins have been reunited once again! Although, I don't think that it will last long."

I spat on the floor. "The only thing that isn't going to last long is your life."

Ryan laughed. "Your cute." He said with no emotion. "You think you can waltz right out of here, and me not notice? How stupid do you think I am?"

"Pretty stupid." Vahl said, smirking.

"Uh huh. Whatever. Take them back to the prison cells, and bring me Jazz this time." said

Ryan, waving his hand and grinning maliciously. A small red fuzzy ball sprouted out if his neck. He pulled it out and laughed, crumpling to the ground.
Soon, all the people in the corridor were unconscious. I turned to thank Vahl, whom I thought had shot the darts, but it was a girl slightly older than me, with white hair and piercing blue eyes.

She pocketed the pipe that had just been on her lips. "Come on. We need to move before they wake up and sound the alarm." She said, picking up a sack and running forward. A cold breeze slapped my face as she ran past.

I pulled Jazz along, trying to make her run faster. "Vahl." I panted. "Help me carry her." She sling Jazz's left arm over her shoulder and stared running ahead. "So who is that exactly?" I asked, watching the white haired girl shoot more darts at guards.

"She told me it was Kliyah. She's helping us escape. She was pretending to be an old lady in the prison cell with us."

"I knew that. I saw it." As she opened her mouth I said, "Don't ask. So is she a demigod? Or just an unusually talented mortal?" I panted again.

"Demigod. I don't know her parentage yet though." She replied, hefting Jazz up more comfortably on her shoulder. "Ugh. She's so tiny. How is she this heavy?"

"Hey!" Jazz protested. "I'm not that heavy. I nearly died, and I'm TIRED."

"We know. She's just teasing Jazz." I said, as I heard another body thump to the floor. "Come on. We need to get out of here." I said.

We bolted down the corridor, half carrying Jazz as we went. Bodies lay everywhere, but I didn't worry. They weren't dead, only unconscious. I sidestepped them as I rushed by, Jazz tripping over her own feet.

After what seemed like miles, we reached the front doors. Kliyah judo chopped a guard to the ground before breaking down the glass doors. Me and Vahl hailed Jazz over the glass, and bolted to the thick gray brick wall. I felt really stupid, running at a wall, but I had a feeling.
How could all these people get in and out of here so easily? My answer, there's a fake wall. It's an almost solid projection, made to look real.

"Kliyah! Over here!" Vahl yelled. Kliyah dashed over, leaving one of the guards on the ground. "Um, Liz? Why are we running at the wall?!" Jazz asked, fear in her voice.

"Just trust me." I yelled back, the wind biting my face. Dark clouds started to form overhead. I looked up and saw lighting flash. I cursed under my breath. The light would give us away.

"Hurry guys!" I yelled against the wind.

We were almost there. Yards away. 100 feet. 90. 80. 70. 60....40.......20.....10......5 feet. So close I could touch it. At a full sprint we ran at the wall.

Notes

Sorry for the long wait!!!