The cell reeked of salt and rust. Chains bit into Percy’s wrists, his breath shallow and ragged, a line of blood drying at the corner of his mouth. The torchlight swung overhead — too bright, too slow — casting shadows that moved like ghosts.

The torturer laughed under his breath, dragging the flat of his blade along Percy’s cheek. “You demigods always think someone’s coming to save you.”

Percy didn’t answer. He couldn’t. His voice was gone hours ago, ripped out by screams and swallowed by stone.

The torturer lifted the blade again—

And the door slammed open.

“Hey!”

It was fast — a blur, a flash of celestial bronze — and then the torturer was on the floor, groaning, his weapon spinning away into the dark. Percy blinked through the blood in his eyes. For a moment, he thought he was hallucinating again.

“…You?” His voice cracked, disbelief cutting deeper than any wound.

You were already at the cell door, hands shaking as you fumbled through the torturer’s pockets for a key. “Take this!” you hissed, making sure he was knocked out.

He stared at you— then froze.

“What are you doing!?” His voice hit the walls like thunder.

You didn’t look up. “Saving you!”

“Don’t!”

You stopped cold, eyes flicking up to meet his — wide, furious, betrayed.

He was still tied, still bleeding, still trapped in that cage — but his glare burned hotter than the torchlight. “You expect me to trust you? Again!?”

The words hit harder than any blade.

The torchlight flickered once, twice.

And for a moment — one long, breathless moment — neither of you moved.

You stood there, on opposite sides of the cage, your expression panicked, watching incase they came back.