Sarah Lesley

I took a deep breath, and put my body underneath it. I screamed. Tears streamed down my face. My head felt like it exploded. My body felt like it was on fire. I fell to my knees, unable to function from the large amount of intense pain covering me. Everything I saw was blurry and tinted with red. It was all I could do from exploding.

I barely felt a hand on my shoulder, as my body started shaking uncontrollably. I felt like I had been frozen in a meat locker, then microwaved over and over, along with splitting headaches, blood dripping from my nose, and overall feeling like pain itself.

I could feely skin burning up, like a sunburn, but worse. I was clammy, and weak, but it was all I could do from completely passing out. My eyes were squeezed shut, and I couldn't see anything but red and black. I started coughing up blood when I wasn't busy screaming.

If the god or goddess of pain were my parent, this pain would still be worse. I could do nothing except scream in agony. I felt myself being lifted up, and carried out of Camp. A wail escaped from my trembling lips.

When I went back under the arch, all the pain went away, and only a headache was left. Someone set me down, and I curled myself up into a trembling ball. I tried to open my eyes, but it made my eyes, and behind my eyes hurt, so I kept them shut.

I whimpered from the lack of strength, feeling like jelly. I so desperately wanted to see, but every time I opened my eyes, it put me in so much pain, I gave up with a quivering sigh.

"What happened? Why did she do that?" Jacob asked.

"I, do not know. I feared as much with a mortal, but not that. I will need to research. For now she can stay in the hut right outside the barrier, but we'll need a guard outside her door at all times based upon what you've told me about her." replied Chiron.

I felt Jacob lift me up again, leaning my head against his chest so it didn't go flying, cause face it. I can't control my body right now. I could hear his heart beat, but it was quick. I sighed heavily as my head stopped pounding like a drum, and I could feel a tingling in my fingertips.

I felt him lay me down on a bed. Ahh. The sweet bliss of a mattress. I know, I know, it sound weird. But come on! I haven't slept on a mattress in more than a week!

My eyes still closed, I felt his hands lift up my head and place a fluffy pillow underneath, and pull the sheet and quilt over me. He ran his hand down my spine with a sigh, and walked out the door. I heard the click of the lock, but I didn't care. I was perfectly happy on my mattress for the night. Even if I had a severe migraine.

It all happened so fast. The pain, the relief, and lots of confusion. With heavy sigh, I snuggled up under the covers, only to be awakened in what seemed like minutes.

"Your awake." said Jen from the the couch on my right. I slowly opened my eyelids, afraid of what I would see and feel. I took a quick glance around the room, and stopped when I saw Jacob. He was in the tiny kitchen, pulling something out from the oven.

A waft of the heavenly scent of cinnamon rolls came rolling by and I took a deep breath. "Ya. I am." I said softly, leaning my head back on the pillow.

"Wait. What are you doing here, and how does Jacob know how to cook?" I asked, sitting up and leaning on my elbow.

"The answer to your first question is, because Chiron asked us to look after you. Second, I have no idea. Ask him." said Jen as she pointed to the tall muscly figure hovering over me.

"Well, how?" I asked.

He gave me a lopsided grin and sat down on an ottoman, handing me and Jen plates with steaming, gooey, warm, messy, and yummy cinnamon rolls.

"My mom taught me. Well, when I was little. She died when I was thirteen. We used to cook together all the time. She owned a bakery, and we were the only bakers. It was hard, but it was fun. We used to make wedding cakes, pies, chocolate volcano cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, muffins, you name it, we made it." said Jacob with a sad smile and a sigh.

"When she died, it was really hard for me. I used to live with my grandmother who would abuse me in a way. I was surprised the CPS hadn't come calling. I'm not gonna go into the details, but I have scars." He said.

I shoved another bite of cinnamon roll into my mouth as Jen said, "Wait. So your telling me this now? Why now? Why not earlier?"

He gave her a mad look. "Do YOU like to relive the past every time someone get curious about YOUR life?"

I lowered my head. "No, Sarah, I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry." He said, rubbing my back.

"It wasn't you. I, I saw something. It's nothing. Just came at a weird moment." I said with a wavering voice. I didn't want to tell him that he would suffer much more before he could relive his past without his heart tearing in two.

I silently wiped my tear away and almost got out of bed. Jen and Jacob both objected to me getting up, and took my plate to the sink. "Why can't I get up? I'm not an invalid." I said as Jen pushed me back into a laying position.

"Because. If you don't recall what happened yesterday, I don't suggest you getting up for at least a few hours."

I sat up, ignoring her look of reproach. "Wait. Yesterday? I've been out for 24 hours."

She nodded. "Well, that's just peachy." I said irritably.

"Hey. Cool it Sarah. We didn't do anything." Jacob said.

"Exactly! You did nothing! I would have rather tried to go through again, but no. You left me here, in a run down old shack, which is probably about to fall to pieces, and left me. Left me to dream, to have nightmares. Do you even know what it's like to dream the future?" I asked. Jen shifted in her seat.

Suddenly cross I continued. "It's not fun. Knowing what's going to happen to both of you, it's not fun. I know exactly how got both going to die, and they're both not good. You," I pointed to Jen. "Are going to be attacked by the Minotaur. And you," I pointed to Jacob. "I'm not going into detail because I PERSONALLY don't want to recall your death." I said.

Jacob stood up and grabbed Jen's empty plate, and threw it in the dishwasher. "You don't think we care? We do. If you haven't noticed, YOUR STILL ALIVE. We could have left you with the Hydra, but we didn't. We came, risked out own skins, to save you." said Jen.

"Better there then here! You can go through the barrier fine. But me? It was pain like you've never imagined. You can't fathom that amount of pain until you've experienced it." I said with a shiver.

"And I haven't said I have! I've been through tough stuff too you know. My past wasn't a hugs and cuddles either." said Jen.

I wished she would stop. My head was splitting with a headache. Jacob, who'd been silent during this little talk, walked back over and sat on the side of the bed. His eyebrows were scrunched in concern.

He placed his hand on my forehead.

"You need to relax okay? Too much talk, and too much excitement is making you sick. You were close to dying last night, and you can't overexert yourself. Jen, go grab me some Advil PM please." said Jacob.

"Jacob. I don't want to sleep. I rest, but I can't sleep. Not after last nights dream. Please." I said, gripping his wrist.

He put a hand on my cheek. "I know. But you need to. Doctors orders. It'll help. I promise."

I wanted to brush his hand off my face, but I couldn't do it. I didn't want to get involved with him, not when I would just be leading him to his grave. After much persuasion and pestering, they got me to take the pill and left.

Notes

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