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We gathered the people who cared about Annabeth the most; Me, Malcolm,
Clarisse, Nico, Grover, Conner and Travis, and one of Annabeth’s little
sisters. I think her name was Sophie. Basically the kids who had been at
camp longest. Nico kept looking at Sophie shyly, I thought that was a little
funny but I didn’t say anything.
“Ok” Malcolm announced, “We know what we’re up against, but we don’t
know where he is. Does any one have any ideas on how to find Annabeth?”
Grover raised his hand
“I might be able to lead us to her with a tracking song, but I’d need
something of hers first.”
All eyes turned on me and I felt my face getting red.
“Uh, Malcolm you’re in her cabin right? So uh, maybe you could go grab
something of hers?”
“Can’t” he said
“She took all of her things with her to her school.” said Sophie
“Maybe one of us is supposed to lead the quest,” I suggested desperately
“maybe Rachel can give a prophecy to one of us.”
It didn’t sound very solid, not even to me but since we had no better ideas
we all walked up to the big house. The sun was beginning to set.
THREE
I tell Rachel the Idea (Two Newbie’s)
We told Rachel what our Idea was and she agreed to try to help. We
waited on the porch for our turn to see Rachel inside the big house. Nico
went first, nothing happened. Then Travis, still nothing. Conner, nothing.
Clarisse, nothing. Grover, nothing. I went in and sat down across the table
from Rachel. She sat there waiting. Nothing happened.
“Sorry Percy.” She said, “It’ll work with the right person.”
I got up and walked back out onto the porch.
“Not me.” I said as every one looked up
“Alright, Sophie, your turn.” Malcolm said
Sophie got up and walked past me into the big house. It was weird how she
reminded me of Annabeth when we had first met. Same blonde hair, same
gray eyes. All the Athena kids shared those traits, but the way you could see
her mind racing, and she was scared but kept going. She made me think of
Annabeth and I got upset again but more determined about this quest if
anything. Sophie came out. She shook her head and sat down. Malcolm
stood up looking proud; obviously thinking it would be his quest. All the
kids want to lead quests but sometimes it really shakes people up. He went
in. A few minutes later he and Rachel came out.
“Sorry guys,” She said, “I know this is important but the spirit doesn’t give
a prophecy unless the person who –“
“Ya, Ya. We know how it works.” Connor said, obviously miffed about
something.
We all sat on the porch thinking about what to do. A few minutes passed and
my mind started to wander. I started thinking about Annabeth’s and my first
kiss back under Mount St. Helens more then a year ago. Then our real first
kiss just this summer, at the dinning pavilion then under the lake. I got even
sadder. Then some one screamed from the top of the hill. We all looked up
and there was a satyr with a kid at the top of the hill running for the big
house. We all got up and ran towards the kid.
He was a little scratched up, really shaken up, and yelling for his sister. I
made the connection before the other kids. I ran to the top of the hill where
a fight was going down between Peleus and a giant. It wasn’t really a
contest Peleus was burning the monster and scratching but what worried me
was the girl unconscious on the ground between them.
I ran as fast as I could towards the girl, not even thinking about the giant.
That’s part of being a half-blood you do things with out thinking them
through. I got to the girl, and the giant seemed to notice what I was going to
do, because her gave up on Peleus and came after me. I picked the girl up
and stared running. She looked about ten. The giant was gaining on me. I
wasn’t going to make it to the hill when suddenly a hole opened in the
ground and swallowed up the giant. I looked up and saw Nico. He had
stabbed the ground with his sword and opened a one way ride to Tartarus.
That trick really drained him though. He staggered and sat down. Every one
else finally showed up.
“A giant,” I said, “chasing that boy and her. Thanks Nico.”
“Yep” Nico said
He looked tired enough to sleep right there. Malcolm offered to take the girl
down to the big house, so I let him. I sat on the top of the hill with Nico for
a minute.
“So, what are you going to do about Sophie?” I asked him
His face got really red, even after the sun set I could still see it.
“How, did you know?” He asked, his voice sounded a little softer then
usual.
“I can just tell.” I remembered Beckendorf and how he knew about me
liking Annabeth before anyone else knew. I reached up and felt my bead
from the summer. It had all the names of all the people who died in battle
with the titans, which included Beckendorf’s name. I felt sad again. We had
lost twenty four campers and sixteen hunters. That was more then half the
campers last year but even now in the middle of the year when most kids
were gone we had about sixty kids here. They would have been a big help
last year although most of them were about twelve.
“So what should I do?” Nico asked
It felt weird Nico asking me for advice on girls, I still had questions myself.
“Well, after the quest is over, you could ask her to a movie.”
We sat in silence for a few more minutes.
“We should check on the new kids.” Nico said
I agreed, we both stood up and started walking. Then Nico tensed. He drew
his sword and pointed it at Thalia’s tree. Something in a silver robe threw a
paper airplane at us. Nico and I looked at the paper airplane which stopped
right in front of us and fell to the ground. We looked back towards the tree
but the thing was gone. I reached down and picked up the paper and we ran
down to the big house.
The boy was pacing around the guest room and the girl was still
unconscious in bed. Argus was standing in the corner like he did whenever a
new camper was “hospitalized” it looked like things would be ok because
the girl started to wake up. Her brother ran over to her bedside. She opened
her eyes and tried to sit up. She let out a yelp and lay back down. Sophie
came in with a tray of ambrosia squares and a glass of nectar. Another
painful reminder of Annabeth; my first year at camp she had been the one to
nurse me back to health after my fight with the Minotaur. Sophie set the tray
on the nightstand and put ambrosia square in the girl’s mouth.
“It’s okay,” Sophie said, “its medicine.”
After two more ambrosia squares and a few sips of nectar the girl looked
like she was back to regular health. I turned to the boy.
“What’s your name?” I asked
“I’m Tommy.” He said in a relieved voice
“What’s your sister’s name?” I asked
“H-Her name is Sara.” He said
“Sara,” I said, “can you sit up?”
She nodded and slowly sat up.
“How old are you?” I asked her.
“I turn thirteen tomorrow.” She answered
“Ok, you’ll have your cabin by tomorrow.” I said “and how old are you?” I
asked as I turned to Tommy
“I’m ten.” He said
I looked at Nico who was watching Sophie. I couldn’t help smiling, I
wondered if I used to be like that around Annabeth. Then Rachel walked
into the room and nearly collapsed. She stood up tall and faced Sara and
said
“You shall gather two and go west,
To find the man who thinks himself best,
You’ll find who is lost and two who are here
And face the one who causes fear.”
I recognized that as the Oracles voice, I looked between Sara and Rachel.
She had been looking at Sara, no question about it. Sara looked ready to
pass out. Sophie, Nico, and I hurried out onto the porch where everyone else
was waiting.
“She’s going to be fine.” Sophie said, “There’s just one thing-“
“Sara, the girl, got the prophecy!” Nico blurted
“Well what was it?” Malcolm asked
I took a deep breath
“‘You shall gather two and go west,
To find the man who thinks himself best,
You’ll find who is lost and two who are here
And face the one who causes fear.’ ”
Every one thought about it for a minute.
“Does she know what that means?” Malcolm looked at his sister
“Not yet,” Sophie said, “She’ll be claimed by tomorrow at the latest.”
“So… she’s going to take two companions with her to go find Annabeth and
two people will beat her there?” I guessed, “‘The one who thinks himself
best’ might have been the guy who took her and ‘the one who causes fear’
might be Phobos.”
I looked at Clarisse, she and I fought Phobos a year-and-a-half ago. I guess
she was thinking the same thing because she said;
“Percy and I have experience with Phobos, we should go.”
“Too bad it’s not your choice,” Malcolm said, “It’s up to Sara.”
“How are we supposed to break it to her?” I asked “She doesn’t even know
she’s a half-blood.”
We all thought about it. It usually takes a few days for the idea of being a
half-blood to sink in. We had all been there.
“Either way she’ll be claimed tomorrow, she’ll see the stuff around camp.
She won’t be denying it much longer.” Malcolm said
Chiron sighed; he trotted over to his wheelchair and human legs and got
into them. He rolled himself into the house. I knew he was going to break it
to Sara and Tommy that they were half-bloods. I looked around and it
looked like every one was having the same thought. “Who is she going to
take?” If the prophecy was right (and it always is.) half of us would be
going anyway.
FOUR
Somebody owes me a favor
“Once Sara picks the two to accompany her we’ll hold a competition.
First and second place get to go.”
It didn’t really sound fair to me, if it was something with riddles then Sophie
and Malcolm would be going, if it was a race then Nico and one of the Stoll
brothers, if it was a fight it would be Clarisse and me. We all decided to go
to bed and meet in the morning.
I’d like to say I had a pleasant nights sleep, but it was another nightmare.
I was marched out of the house at sword point. After about a mile on
a road surrounded by nothing, a car pulled over by us.
“Get in.” Phobos said
So I did. Malcolm was still tied to the chair, but the man named Anthony
was carrying him.
The car wasn’t anything special just a large black SUV. The inside wasn’t
anything amazing either. I sat down in a seat. Phobos got in behind me, still
holding a sword to my back. Anthony put Malcolm in the trunk and threw
the girls on the floor. Then he got in the drivers seat. Only then did I notice
that no one had been driving the car.
“So Percy,” Phobos said, “It’s been a while, let’s catch up. What have you
done since we last met?”
“Me? Oh, well, you know. I stopped Kronos from coming back, which
probably saved your sorry butt. Became invincible, visited the dead, lead an
army. Just some simple stuff. How ‘bout you?” I tried to sound tough but
truth is I was scared; my friends were being held hostage and were going to
be killed if I didn’t cooperate.
“Well, I had a much better time then you I’m sure. I had a few kids, met a
few nice girls. Speaking of girls.” He said as he turned to Annabeth
“I heard you two are together now… she’s such a pretty girl isn’t she
Percy?”
He lifted her face with his foot, now I could see that Annabeth had been
crying, I couldn’t see Kate but I knew she was crying too.
“Where are we going to do this?” I asked
“Why so serious, Percy?” he said, “Relax while you can! You’ll be dead
soon, enjoy yourself now.”
I looked at Annabeth who was bound and gagged on the floor. She looked
like she wanted to tell me something.
“We’re here!” Anthony yelled
He stopped the car and I was forced out. I looked around and the only thing
that seemed different was that the farm house was gone. Which I knew also
meant Mrs. O’Leary was gone too.
“We’re fighting here?” I asked.
“The middle of nowhere! What better place to bury your body?” He laughed
“So, Anthony. Who’s your Olympian parent?” I asked turning to him
I knew Phobos didn’t like being ignored so I’d try my best to get them to
fight with each other.
“Ares” He grunted “So can I kill him or what?”
“Ya,” Phobos laughed “Lets kill him!”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Two on one, that’s not fair!” I said
“Ok, Phobos. Let me fight him alone, after all I’m the best fighter ever.
What’s he gonna do?” said Anthony
I pulled out Riptide and uncapped it, it grew into a three foot long celestial
bronze sword. Anthony just laughed. I thought about how strong he was. He
would crush me if I tried directly blocking. He grabbed a sword off the
passengers seat. It was about five feet long, I wasn’t feeling very good about
this. We walked away from the car a little ways. Phobos made a can of coke
appear out of air, he started drinking like this would be a fireworks show. I
shouldn’t of looked over at Phobos because when I looked Anthony charged
I couldn’t block so I dove to the right and tried to cut him while I rolled but
he swung at me as I rolled. Our swords met and I went flying. I felt myself
sailing through the air before hitting the ground. My sword landed a few
feet away but Anthony was already on top of me. His sword was at my neck.
“This guy seriously beat you Phobos?” Anthony asked
“Shut up, he caught me off guard.” Phobos yelled back
“So can I kill him yet or what?”
“No! I want to!”
Phobos was pouting like a little kid, but I was still scared. A sword appeared
in his hands as he walked over to me. I didn’t think that Achilles curse
would extend to executions, my sword had disappeared, only a short time
before it appeared back in my pocket. But I needed it now!
“First I’ll show you what you truly fear.” Phobos laughed
He was standing over me, his eyes started to turn into flames. I should have
looked away but I couldn’t.
The scene changed, we were back at camp half-blood. The big house was
burning, and so where the cabins and strawberry fields. At Phobos’ feet
were my closest friends even the ones who were already dead. Grover,
Tyson, Nico, Bianca, Thalia, Luke, Clarisse, Chiron, Malcolm, Salina,
Beckendorf, Connor, Travis, and Pollux. They were all on the ground
bloody and dead. Phobos was holding Annabeth, she was still alive. Before I
could move Phobos raised his sword. But when I saw Annabeth new
strength found me, like when I stepped into the ocean. I got up, my pen re-
appeared in my pocket, I charged Phobos. That hadn’t been what he was
expecting because he hesitated. I stabbed him in the neck. He screamed.
The scene faded, we were back in the potato field. I really had stabbed him
and he was bleeding Ichor, the golden blood of the gods. I looked away,
with a flash of light Phobos was gone. So now it was just me and Anthony.
He just smiled. I knew I didn’t stand a chance, he had already beat me in
two swings.
He just about dropped his sword when I said that. I capped riptide and put it
away.
I walked past him over to the car, opened the door and cut Annabeth free. I
was expecting a punch in the face so I was surprised when she jumped up
and hugged me.
“Percy!” she said
I was so happy to see her I didn’t know what to say. She leaned in so
quickly I couldn’t react, she kissed me. Kate was watching so I felt a little
embarrassed.
I walked around to the back of the car and opened the trunk. Something
hard hit me on the back of my head. Everything went black; all I heard was
Annabeth yell
“Percy!”
SIX
I Knew This Was Too Easy
“Annabeth, calm down” I said “I don’t know where we are, we found you
with Mrs. O’Leary, Anthony brought us here, and I’m fine. What about
you?”
“I’m ok.” She said, “So, what do you know? I mean, about our situation.”
“Well Phobos will be gone for a while, Anthony is a crazy good fighter,
we’re probably in the basement of the farm house, back-up is coming, and
we’re-”
“Back up? You actually thought ahead and made arrangements for back
up?” She sounded surprised.
“WHAT?!” Ouch! that hurt and she hadn’t hit me yet. “They don’t know
how to find us?”
“Not exactly”
“You know what seaweed brain, your head can really be filled with kelp
sometimes.”
“Only sometimes?”
After sitting a few more minutes in the dark I had pretty much lost hope. We
waited and waited but nothing happened; Anthony didn’t come back, neither
Malcolm or Kate showed any signs of waking up. We just sat quietly.
Eventually I guess I fell asleep.
SEVEN
I Finally Escape.. Or so I think