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Alabaster rarely found time to sleep, much less sleep safely. With the constant monsters chasing him, being exiled from any of the safe havens, and having enemies all over, Alabaster was at his wits end. Of course, his mother did her best to protect him. Claymore offered company and comfort. The old professor was much like a father to Alabaster, but he'd never openly admit that.
Speaking of sleep, Alabaster found an abandoned cabin. He set up a protective barrier and slept inside. He ignored Claymore’s hesitancy to sleep inside an abandoned cabin. It wasn’t like Alabaster had any other choice. Sleep deprivation would kick in sooner or later and Alabaster had no intentions of dying just yet.
Most nights were dreamless. But this time, Alabaster woke up in Camp Half Blood. He gasped for air and he instinctively created a shield around him. If the campers knew he was back, they'd attack him.
But nothing happened. Alabaster blinked in surprise. No one came running out of their cabins, yelling and about to attack. No, instead an eerie silence settled over the abandoned camp.
“What in Tartarus…” Alabaster breathed, guard set up even higher. He carefully crept around the camp. Something was wrong. Where was everyone? He created a green flame that danced over his hands. The light helped him to navigate his way through camp.
“This isn't funny!” The son of Hecate spat angrily. “If you're going to kill me, at least do it where I know I'm going to die!” He growled, kicking in the door of the Ares Cabin. Nothing happened. No one was there. “What the…”
Alabaster stumbled back from the cabin. He dashed to another cabin, kicking the door open to find yet another abandoned and empty cabin. Every single cabin was empty. The Big House was abandoned. No one was in sight. Not even the harpies were around.
The son of Hecate shuddered and called out for anyone. He dashed around the camp, ignoring the sinking feeling in his chest. “What the hell happened here?” he breathed, trying to push down the rising panic in his chest. He stumbled down the path to the water, nearly tripping on some abandoned paddles.
“Mother!” Alabaster shouted. If something was wrong, Hecate would know, right? He stopped by the water’s edge, the gentle lapping of the waves against the sand a cruel contrast to the frightful silence of the camp.
Hecate did not answer. Alabaster was alone. He shuddered and grasped at his hair. This had to be a dream, right? A cruel nightmare to scare him as a way to keep him awake. He growled and the flame went out. The pale moonlight illuminated the beach and water.
Alabaster sank to his knees, fingers digging into the soft sand. Anger festered in his soul. His head jerked up at the sound of a splash. Someone was out there! He jumped up and ran to the water to find out who was out there.
“Oof!” He grunted, slamming into an invisible barrier that kept him from getting into the water. He pressed his palms against the barrier, narrowing his eyes as he gazed out at the gentle waves. Someone was out there…no multiple people were out there swimming in the moonlight.
“Hey!” Alabaster shouted. “What's going on here?” His fists banged against the barrier. The barrier didn't budge. He growled and tried to dispel the barrier using his magic, but the barrier remained. Alabaster watched in horror as the swimming figures struggled to stay above water. His eyes refused to look away as the people in the water started to struggle and sink below the surface.
“Oh gods,” Alabaster felt bile rise in his throat. The barrier shattered after the people didn’t resurface. He stumbled back. He just watched three people drown and he was helpless to stop it. He screamed as the bodies washed ashore. “No, no, no, this has to be a dream!” he gasped, scrambling back in the sand. The dull eyes of Silena, Luke, and Ethan haunted Alabaster. “They’re already dead!” he yelled out. “What sick and twisted dream is this?” he growled angrily. Alabaster screamed as the world around him began to warp.
Alabaster woke up in Camp Half Blood. He gasped for air and he instinctively created a shield around him. If the campers knew he was back, they'd attack him. But nothing happened. Alabaster blinked in surprise. No one came running out of their cabins, yelling and about to attack. No, instead an eerie silence settled over the abandoned camp.
The son of Hecate’s eyes widened. “You,” he growled lowly, clenching his fists as he realized he had started all over again. “You did this,” he seethed, anger coursing through his veins. He could almost hear the cruel laughter sounding out like nails on a chalkboard. But…he was gone. He had disappeared when Luke died.
This couldn’t have been a dream. Everything felt too real. “How did you do this?” he growled, but no answer came. Alabaster snarled and released a giant blast of magic. “Haven’t they suffered…haven’t I suffered enough!? This is your last chance! Tell me why you did this!” No answers ever came. Only a soft gentle breeze blew through the abandoned camp. Thoughts of seeing Ethan’s dull lifeless gaze flashed through his mind.
Maybe Alabaster could bargain with him. “Let me take their place. I survived, after all. I have more to lose than the already dead. Let me…take his place.” Still, no answer came. Alabaster roared in anger. “I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME!” The breeze blew by causing him to shiver. “Please, I’m begging you. Let me…”
“ALABASTER!” Alabaster shot up in his bed, breathing heavily. The concerned gaze of Claymore was the first thing he saw. The son of Hecate groaned and placed a hand on his head. “You were screaming in your sleep. Are you okay?” the mistform hurriedly asked.
“I…” Alabaster closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Maybe it had all been just a dream. “I’m fine.”