Jewel of Death

Empathy for Pandora

Chapter 11
I really had nothing to do in the cabin, and that mysterious package was tempting me. I felt like Pandora, and I now felt empathy towards her: this was extremely difficult. I knew I had to distract myself, so I moved the package to the floor and set to work.
I first made my bed. I hadn't done this before, but I had watched Nylla do it several times. Once I finished, I stepped back to admire my work; It could have passed for Nylla's work. I glanced at the package, and clamped my eyes shut.
"No. Wait for Nico." I whispered.
I moved to the bathroom, and addressed my hair. I found a piece of black ribbon tied around a pile of towels, and unraveled it. Using Nico's brush and a few skills Hylla had taught me, I pulled my hair back into a neat bun, using the ribbon to hold it together. Pleased with my appearance, I exited back into the main room.
Nico had yet to return, and the package sat there, tempting as ever. I bit my lip. Maybe if I just... No. I scolded myself. You promised Nico you would wait. I decided to distract myself by looking over Nico's cabin.
I moved to his desk. I knew Nico wasn't one for photos, so I was surprised to find several posted on the wall above the desk. The first to catch my eye must have been taken just recently: Nico was standing among several people, nine to be exact. Five wore t-shirts similar to the one I wore, and three wearing purple t-shirts with SPQR written in gold inside a golden wreath. Nico, of course, was wearing black. A woman in Praetor apparel was shaking the hand of a sixteen year old boy with sea green eyes and messy black hair. I figured this was when the two camps made up from the war against the Giants.
The picture below that was one of Nico, and a young black girl with golden eyes. Nico was smiling. This must be Hazel, I realized, Nico's Roman sister.
Below this was a picture of Elizabeth and Nico. They were sitting on the beach facing the setting sun.
There were no other photos, but there were drawings of Mrs. O'leary, a Hellhound, Nico when he wasn't looking, and sunsets. Since Nico wasn't much of an artist, I wondered if these weren't the works of Hazel. Nico had mentioned once before that his sister loved to draw.
A movement behind me caused me to go rigid. I slowly turned around and found myself staring at the mysterious box: it had moved closer. It began to wobble, moving even closer. I skirted the edge of the cabin, stopping at Nico's bunk. What was in that box?
It moved again, but this time more intensely. I quickly glanced at the door. Where was Nico?
The box shook again, but this time it grew larger. Something from the inside was pressing outwards.
It shook once more, and then....
"WOOF!"
Wait. Did that package just bark?
"WOOF!"
Yes, it did. At least I wasn't going crazy.
"WOOOF!"
There was a dog inside this box. And I felt the urge to help him escape. I glanced at the door. I promised Nico I would wait for him, but this animal needed my assistance.
I crept towards the package, keeping my guard up. "Easy, there." I whispered. "I'm not going to hurt you. I am just going to open this box and help you out."
I knelt down next to the still shaking and growing package and placed my hand on top. It ceased all movement instantly. I moved my hands to the ribbon and untied it. Then, I gingerly removed the lid. What happened next was something I could not have foretold:
A monster emerged from the box, and tackled me to the ground, pinning my arms and legs down. And Nico, was no where to be found.