No Strings Attached (Sequel to Puppets)

Piper

That was the cabin she had heard so many legends about in her first year. The legends were told by Drew Tanaka, her bitchy frenemy, and they were quite creepy. If Piper remembered correctly, it was about two cabins in the woods, only a small walking distance apart. In one, a girl, who had been one of the first to go to Olympus Academy, was stranded there by her boyfriend after well, he got what he wanted. In the other one, at the exact same time, a creepy former student kidnapped a young girl in her first year and kept her in the cabin with him, until her mother or something negotiated with him. Piper made yet another mental note to research the stories when she got back.

She continued walking, checking the time. It was only 7:15. Saturday classes would start in an hour and a half. Silena, Katie and Thalia would be up by now. They were probably wondering where she was- especially Thalia. Oh, Piper would be in for a good lecture when she got back to Mama Thals.

She returned to her dorm, kicking off her sneakers, only to find that Thalia wasn't there. Silena and Katie were, however, and they were both getting ready for the day.

"Thalia left a note on your bed, Piper!" Katie called out, her words jumbled because she was brushing her teeth.

Piper checked her bed. There it was, a small, folded up piece of paper. All it said was this:

I'm sorry.

Piper's widened and she tried not to panic. She pulled on her sneakers and sprinted out of her room, down the hall to Annabeth and Reyna's.

She pounded on the door, screaming their names over and over again. Reyna flung open the door and took one look at Piper's fear filled face before asking, "What happened?" as Annabeth walked up behind Reyna.

Her hand shaking, Piper held out the note. Reyna opened it and read it, looking worried. Annabeth leaned over her shoulder, reading it, and her facade dropped.

"I know where to go."

Annabeth started to sprint down the stairs and Piper ran after her, running on adrenaline, with Reyna just behind her. They exited the dorm building and sprinted to the second main building, where Annabeth tried to fling open the door, but it was locked.

"Sorry," Piper apologized beforehand as she stood on the tips of her toes and yanked a bobby pinout of Reyna's hair, making her side bang fall in her face. She twisted it a at few times in the lock, using the trick she had taught herself when she was younger. She yanked on the door handle and swung the door open, looking back at Annabeth and Reyna. "C'mon," she said.

Annabeth took the lead again, sprinting to the hallways, stopping right before a white door with the number 118 on it. "This is a spare classroom that Thalia's pretty much taken over. The teachers don't mind, because she's the principal's pet." She explained quickly.

"Let's go," Reyna said calmly, and Annabeth pushed the door open.

On the right of the small room, there were some stacked up chairs, and a desk or two, shoved to the side. On the left, Thalia was sitting in a chair with her back turned to the door. There was red liquid all over the floor, and Piper felt sick as she deduced what it was. She heard Thalia's sobs.

She knew exactly what Thalia had done.

She recalled the note from L that she had gotten, telling her when and where she could find Thalia's secret. She had been in shock, staring down at the razor blades, before covering them back up and turning away.

"Thalia?" Piper asked softly, and Thalia turned her head, her eyes watery and red.

"Go away." Thalia muttered.

"No." Annabeth stepped forward. Piper studied her. She was acting as though she'd witnessed this before.

"I- I'm getting a teacher." Reyna stammered.

"Don't," Annabeth snapped, fire in her eyes. "Step inside and close the door." Reyna did as she said.

"Thalia, please." Piper said quietly. That must've done it, as Thalia stood up and turned to face them.

She looked like a ghost. Her face was pale and gaunt, bags under her eyes. In one hand was a razor blade. Blood streaked up and down her arms. Piper automatically recoiled, feeling sick.

"Thalia, you can't keep doing this." Annabeth said sternly, and Piper exchanged a look with Reyna going, 'wait, what?'

"Annabeth..." Thalia sounded so broken and empty.

"Think of the old days, okay? Our first year here. Me, you and Luke, our little family. It was amazing, wasn't it? We were so close and tight-knit." Annabeth said softly, working her magic. "Let's get you cleaned up, okay?"

Thalia nodded sombrely and Piper looked at them in shock. However, she was given a mission. Annabeth looked at her and Reyna, viewing them over before saying, "Piper, call Jason, and you two can help clean this up. Reyna, go to Principal Zeus and tell him it's a Blue-415."

"Blue-415. Got it." Reyna nodded before vanishing.

Her hands shaking, she pressed two, her speed dial for Jason. As her phone rang, she stared at the blood on the ground.

Thalia had cracked, only a week in.

Who was next?

Okay question time :)))) please inline comment (or if you're on the computer, just comment) to answer a question. Please answer at least one, and try to vote!!

1. What do you think of Zoë's circlet being in the woods?

2. What do you think about Bianca's first appearance in NSA? Do you want to see more of her?

3. What do you think of what Thalia just did?

4. Why do you think Annabeth prompted Thalia to remember their days with Luke- and what sort of role does Luke have in this AU?

5. Who do you think is next to crack?

6. What ships do you want more of? Seriously, yo. I'm giving you a chance for OTP feels.

Love you all!

-Rose

ps. tbh i don't really post on the puppets insta anymore but you can totally check out what I have posted bc art and edits and countdowns stuff

pps. its puppets_wattpad