Free Annabeth Neverending by Leyla Kader Dahm Page B

there’s always some sort of trade - off that must be made. But it’ll be worth it in the end. I’ll make sure of it.

    The fog envelops me as I walk outside. It’s one of those spooky coastal mornings when a thick white haze swallows up the surrounding landscape, adding a spectral dimension to the atmosphere. Unfortunately, this makes it even more of a challenge for me to see. And everything already seemed as though it was being put through a gray filter. I wish I could carry a flashlight, but that might raise eyebrows.
    I turn inward, my thoughts churning. My old life was full of surprises, wanted and otherwise. Why is it that Sethe was so…amazing? And why did Gabriel have to be so…off - putting? But I can’t base my emotions on what was, only what is. And right now, Gabriel is the boy I care about.
    I’m slowly learning more, but there’s so much that’s unknown. Do I have children, spread out across eternity? What’s it like to die? Does everyone get reincarnated? Is there something about me that’s unique? Or have I only been made unique as a result of my reincarnation? One thing is certain: even if everyone has lived multiple lifetimes, it’s unusual to have access to those memories. Otherwise history class would be way more interesting.
    While I wish I could gain more information about myself, there are also memories I want to repress. I was Ana, so that means that I was married off to my evil brother. Unless Sethe helped me somehow escape first. If only I knew for sure. I suppose the whole incest thing is the one drawback to knowing my birth family. Sometimes, ignorance really is more blissful.
    I stumble up to Mrs. Lansing’s door and knock just as the sun peeks through the fog, shining so brightly that everything looks crisper, more crystalline. I scan my surroundings, enjoying the newfound clarity, when Sethe jogs out of the haze, heading in my direction.
    It’s as though he’s an angel from heaven. A form - fitting tank clings to his muscles, mesh shorts cut off at the right spot to highlight his hardened legs, and I can’t help but feel a bit…hot. A tad…bothered.
    A jagged shard of memory juts into my brain. Sethe running toward me while training, looking much the same, wearing leather - strapped body armor.
    “Hey, how’s it going?” I ask C. J. as he catches up to me. He continues to jog in place on the patio. I’m assuming he doesn’t want to mess with his heart rate, even though he’s messing with mine.
    “Great. How are you doing, Annabeth?”
    I’m about to respond when Mrs. Lansing opens the door, her forehead lined in surprise. Surely she didn’t expect to find both of us here. Together.
    “Good morning, Annabeth. And hello, C. J. How are you enjoying the house?”
    “It’s so New England. Way better than the cookie - cutter places I’m used to living in.”
    “I’m glad it all worked out. Tell me, Annabeth; how was the party?”
    “Funny story. That’s where we met. He was dressed as an Egyptian slave,” I say, drawing out those last words.
    Mrs. Lansing looks at C. J., growing wide - eyed.
    “How…nice…”
    “I guess. It looked good, but it wasn’t that practical. I should’ve thought through the whole shirtless thing more.”
    “Fascinating,” says Mrs. Lansing, though it’s clear to me that she’s exploring an entirely different line of thought.
    “Well, I should, you know, run. Catch you two later!” cries C. J. as he bolts off.
    Mrs. Lansing shakes her head, looking flabbergasted.
    “C. J., Gabriel’s twin brother, is the reincarnated Sethe? What are you going to do?”
    “I don’t know. Before, I was sure that Gabriel was the one I wanted to be with, but now I feel like fate is pushing me toward C. J. What do you know about him anyway?”
    “Look, I like C. J. He’s a polite boy, good - natured, bright enough, but he pales in comparison to Gabriel. He’s…special. You can fight your destiny, Annabeth. You don’t have to bow down to