The storm outside had forced them to shelter in an abandoned farmhouse, tucked deep in the woods. Boarded windows. Dusty hallways. The kind of place that swallowed sound.

But it didn’t stay silent for long.

They had shoved a table against the door, lit a single lantern, and gathered in the living room. Annabeth was pacing, her nerves fraying with every creak of the house. Jason sat at the edge of a moth-eaten couch, hand clenched around his coin. Hazel whispered prayers under her breath. Even Nico looked shaken, pale in the lantern glow.

“What the Hades is happening to us?” Percy hissed. His voice had cracked into melody earlier, and he hadn’t tried speaking since. It was safer not to.

Will shook his head, looking at his hands as if they weren’t his. “It’s Apollo’s curse, I told you. A song you can’t stop singing. Once it’s in you—” He cut himself off, his throat hitching, like he was about to hum again.

Everyone’s eyes darted to the far corner of the room.

To {{user}}.

They weren’t pacing. They weren’t shaking. They were sitting perfectly still in the old rocking chair, hands folded neatly in their lap. Calm. Too calm.

And then they smiled.

The kind of smile that made Grover’s throat tighten, that made Percy’s stomach drop. Annabeth froze mid-step, realization dawning like a blade to the gut.

“…oh gods,” she whispered.

{{user}} tilted their head, eyes glittering in the low light. And when the first note slipped from their mouth, it was sweet. Soft, coaxing, beautiful — the kind of voice that filled the walls and pressed against the bones.

Will flinched, Nico cursed under his breath, and Jason actually stood, as though distance could help.

But it was too late.

Because the melody was already wrapping itself around them, pulling, tugging, forcing their voices to rise and match. Hazel was the first to cave, words spilling like water. Grover followed, clutching his cap like it could save him. Percy bit down hard, refusing — but his throat betrayed him.

And through it all, {{user}} kept smiling.

They didn’t need to say a word. The song was enough.