..."Just do a very fast dance on it." Apollo blurts, and a chorus of reluctant groans erupt from where the boys stand, and Cass and I just burst out laughing.

"We have to dance?" Ares and Alex groan, and I can't help but chuckle with Annabeth.

Never have I ever thought that my boyfriend would act like this.

Kinda reminds me of Ben.

I remember how he would run away from me when I said I would dig through our mom's things and turn him into a girl and that is how he'd look for a birthday party.

Specifically his crush's birthday party.

I remember how he died.

I haven't thought about it in a long time.

'Korri,' Ben sighed, his voice crackling over the phone. 'I'll be back by three p.m. okay?'

But the hours ticked by.

10 am.

11 a.m.

12 p.m.

1 p.m.

2 p.m.

3 p.m.

He still wasn't home.

4 p.m.

5 p.m.

6 p.m.

He still wasn't home.

A loud knock woke me up from my stupor on the couch.

My phone was dangling from my hand, and I saw that it's ten at night.

Ben where are you?

MISSED CALL

MISSED CALL

Ben come home.

MISSED CALL

MISSED CALL

MISSED CALL

I WILL TELL CHARLIE THAT YOU WANT TO KISS HIM IF YOU DON'T COME HOME/ANSWER!!!!!!!

MISSED CALL

MISSED CALL

Please come home.

I'm sorry that I said that.

I love you and I want you to come home.

I send something else before I finally shove it back in my pocket.

I need YOU

I got to my feet, and opened the door and saw the cops frowning as they shuffled their feet on the doorstep.

There was a man and a woman that seemed about eighteen.

About Ben's age.

"Is Mrs. Sallow home?"

I shook my head. "No, she's working her shift at the adoption center."

"Is there anyone other then you here?"

I shook my head.

Ann was working at Denny's, and Lola was in the hospital.

"Your brother, he got in an accident-" the female cop started, but I slammed the door in her face.

No. This is just a really bad nightmare.

The door creaks open slightly and the woman cop steps in.

"You don't want to hear what I have to say do you?"

I shook my head.

I didn't want my fears to be confirmed.

"I know how you feel." She whispered, and I looked at her.

"But you don't." I hissed, getting to my feet.

"My father died when I was little." She murmurs. "I can barely remember him. My brother and I had a rough time for a while... He was about your age I believe. Pops died in a car wreck, he was coming home for christmas if I remember it right."

I bit my bottom lip. "But your brother didn't get sent into a coma. Three of your older siblings didn't just die or go missing."

I was three when the triplets all died.

I couldn't even remember HOW they died.

And I didn't want to remember.

I couldn't remember their faces, but I remember the shouts of my mom when they painted her car, or when they would strap me to a tree and pull me up and down from pulleys, or when they first read Percy Jackson and they changed the license plate to "Argo Two".

"Hey, do you know where the phone is? I'll call your mom-"

"No. I want to do it."

"Alright."

I bit the inside of my cheek and dailed my mom.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

Its about four more rings later until she answers.

"Kor? Is everything okay?"

"The cops just came over."

"What happened?"

"I'm just..." I handed the phone over to the officer.

"Hello Mrs. Sallow, I am Anna, and I just came to tell you that your son..."

I blocked out the rest

I heard the loud beep and a few minutes later I heard Mom's car park in the driveway and almost instantly the door slammed open.

"Korri Mae Sallow, please tell me this is some joke." Mom whispered, her hands to her mouth.

The cop shook her head, and tears streamed down Mom's cheeks.

I suddenly realized that I was in my bedroom, tucked in bed with tears running down my face.

Death was a common thing in Mordigan.

Car wrecks, disease, murder, suicide, snapping.