The Lotus flower melts on your tongue before Percy can yank your arm away.

You blink. The lights get brighter. The music gets softer. Your thoughts thin out like mist. Grover freezes beside you, horror blooming across his face.

“{{user}}? Hey— hey, spit it out. Spit it out—”

But you’re already swaying. Already smiling. Already drifting.

Annabeth grabs your shoulder. “No, no, no, {{user}}, stay with me— look at me.”

But you’re not looking at anyone. Your eyes track the neon carousel instead, glowing in looping colours. Your voice floats out soft and warm: “This place is amazing…”

Grover’s breath catches like he’s falling. Percy moves in front of you, talking fast, panicked.

“Okay— okay— we can fix this, right? Annabeth? Grover? They’ll remember soon, yeah?”

You tilt your head at him like he’s a stranger asking for directions.

“Sorry. Who are you?”

Grover’s knees almost give out. He grabs your hands tightly, voice cracking:

“It’s us. It’s us— remember? Please— you and me and Percy and Annabeth— we’re supposed to leave— we’re supposed to get out—”

You pull one hand free and touch the glowing slot machine beside you, entranced.