Does Penelope have mental issues?

Chapter eight

When we woke up, four had become five. Penelope sat, perched like a cat, on the bull statue in the fountain. "Hey" She said quietly, noticing I had awoken. Miriam was still asleep, her body curled around mine in a warm hug. Basil was awake still, having stayed awake all night watching us, Elizabeth didn't seem to be up just yet. "Uh…hey?" I offered "I'm going to sleep" Basil mumbled, laying down in the sleeping bag next to Elizabeth. I got up, carefully moving Miriam off of me. I took a couple sips of water from the fountain. "So, where's…" I whipped some water off my lips, struggling to remember the girl's name "Mckensie, where's Mckensie?" I asked Penelope . "I left her there, she doesn't seem strong and I'd rather not have a weak link dragging around with me" Penelope admitted with no shame "I did the same thing, although I just didn't want to listen to Luke's yapping," I mentioned. Penelope nodded, "Wait, does that mean you think we aren't weak?" I questioned. Penelope nodded again "Miriam has an impressive amount of knowledge on the games, Basil seems strong and if I'm correct he used to box, and you're an adequate forager so you should be able to provide food," Everything she said was right. Though I had no clue how Penelope knew Basil used to box, I noticed how Penelope didn't say anything about Elizabeth. Does she not think she's a valuable teammate? She definitely wouldn't say anything, Basil seemed fond of her and I would take his side, then Miriam would take mine making it a four on one. Penelope was smarter than she looked. "Plus you were able to locate the fountain quickly as well as a supply box, I wouldn't have found the fountain if it wasn't for you guys" Penelope said. I tilted my head to the side "What?" "Oh, there were some tufts of string that snagged on the walls, I just followed them to get here" Penelope explained. "Where's…Opal?" I asked, Penelope frowned "I haven't found her yet, though I intend on going out to try as soon as you all wake up" She explained. "All of us? Or just me and Miriam seeing as you clearly don't find Elizabeth as useful" I snapped, it wasn't provoked and Goddess above I didn't like Elizabeth either, I just…snapped. "Elizabeth…has her uses, she's an experienced soccer player and was alright at track though she can't fight to save her life, it's a bit of a weak link. And you want your little group to survive don't you? Opal is a trained fighter, we should try and find her" Penelope suggested. "Do you care about her being good or do you just want to be with your sister" I glared at her, Penelope paused, then sighed "You understand don't you? I'm just…worried about her" She admitted. I looked up at Penelope , pushing my hair behind my ear. "Yeah…I get it, I can wake Miriam up and we can go find your sister," I assured her. Penelope jumped down from the bull statue, there was no splash when she hit the water. "How did you do that?" I questioned "Training" Penelope shrugged, stepping out of the fountain bed. "Awesome sauce" I whispered "Never heard that one before…awesome sauce, I like that" Penelope smiled brightly. I shook Miriam awake "Come on Mir, we're gonna go find Opal and hopefully not be chased by a shirtless bull man furry fanart looking thing" I told her. Miriam groaned, sitting up. Penelope grabbed the string which we had never untied from the statue's horn, worried we might lose it. Penelope picked up the ball of string, she held it tightly as we started to walk. Miriam grabbed my hand tightly, I held her even tighter. I pulled her arm over my chest, holding her forearm with both hands, wrapping my arms around her forearm nervously. I just wanted to hold onto her, I didn't want to be here, I wanted to be back home with Mom and Basil, sitting in the backyard and messing around, or gardening, or on the roof drinking slushies and gossiping, heck even at school. Not that I really wanted to be at school but anything was better than this, even listening to the insanity of my class. Miriam looked over at me nervously, I only really got clingy like this when we were in large crowds or I was uncomfortable, but hey, it's the same thing am I right? Maybe I do have problems. Penelope walked with us, she was trying to stay calm but we could all see her freaking out. "Who are we looking for again?" Miriam asked looking over at Penelope "Opal…likely Alexzander too, he seems like he could be useful" Penelope told Miriam. I ran my hands across the wall, tracing all the small mosaic patterns, most of them were Gods or other stories but there were plenty of bulls and different animals. At one point an entire hallway was filled with a repeating pattern of red spider lilies, like on me and the rest of the girls outfits, and pelicans. I gripped my knife harder as we heard hooves clicking on the cold tile floors. Miriam clearly wanted to go back but Penelope kept going, I followed knowing she had the string and we'd be lost without her. Note to self, don't let Penelope hold the string anymore, she's like the only one brave or stupid enough to not turn back. "We should turn back, I think we're heading right towards him" Miriam said nervously, Penelope shook her head "Were coming up on something, I can feel it. Addison, get your dagger ready" Penelope told me. "Don't call me that" I said sharply, glaring daggers at Penelope , Penelope looked confused. "Addie…" Miriam whispered "Call me Addie…please" I asked Penelope , she nodded "Alright then, Addie, get your dagger ready" Penelope repeated. "Guys…you might want to see this" Miriam mumbled, looking around the corner. "Hm?" I peered around the corner and gasped "Uh Penelope , you need to come see this" I turned back around, looking at Penelope worried. Penelope looked around the corner with us, she paused at what she saw "Oh…first casualties of the game".