Percy Jackson & The Mutant Demigods

Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Hearing Voices

Sam

The fight began so well. With one swipe, an Eraser sent me flying through the air like I'd been shot out of a cannon. He might as well have picked me up and thrown me.

SLAM! I landed – nowhere close to gracefully – on my back in the woods. Slowly, I got to my feet. I had no idea where I was, where everyone else was. Great, I thought, I'm all alone.

No, you're not. I thought someone said.

I looked around, but no one was there. Great. I'm on my own and going crazy.

I finally found the clearing, and launched myself back into battle. About half of the Erasers were still fighting, but everyone was putting up a good fight. Ben and Chance were still at it, but I could tell from one look that Ben was winning: Chance was bleeding from several cuts and bruises. Ben had a bruise on his arm and was bleeding from a small gash on his side, but otherwise he looked okay.

Just then, more Erasers came out of the woods and charged us. Great. Just what we needed.

I could help you, you know. That same voice I'd heard in the forest.

Oh, really? I thought back. How do I know you're not working for the Erasers or—gods forbid—if you're one of the Erasers playing a little mind trick on me.

I would not do such a thing! The voice sounded offended. I'm here to help you!

Yeah, well, right now I don't need your help. I thought snidely.

Of course, that was when I got smacked through the air again.

I got angry. I was not going to go down like this!

I tried to channel my energy into making a hurricane, like Percy could. It didn't work. Why wouldn't it work?

Percy, I thought. I need Percy.

He turned around to face me. "What do you want?" Percy asked.

I told him about the hurricane idea. "I don't know if it will work." He sounded doubtful.

"It's worth a try, right?"

He sighed. "Sure. But if this doesn't work—"

"It will work, Percy. Trust me."

Do not attempt this. The other voice said. It will cost you dearly.

Whatever.

I tried again, imagining my anger, my power, as a miniature hurricane. This time, it worked: a small hurricane of salt water enveloped Percy and me. It hurt like crazy, but it worked.

"Percy, Sam, what is that?" Max looked completely freaked out, which is not an expression I was used to seeing on Max's face. I suppose it was funny, but I had to keep my concentration on controlling the storm.

Erasers were being tossed around, smashing into each other. Soon there would no longer be any Erasers left in fighting condition. But now the pain was unbearable.

"Stop." I could barely get the words out. "We have to stop."

Percy nodded. Slowly, the hurricane lost its power, and then abruptly ended.

"What was that?" Max repeated.

I couldn't answer. The wet sand rose to meet my head, and I lost consciousness.

Tory

That was incredible. Sam and Percy somehow made a hurricane. A freaking HURRICANE.

Sam was passed out on the now wet beach. Percy was gasping for breath; his eyes were back to their regular sea-green. Ben leaned against a tree. His brown eyes met mine, and then looked away.

The Erasers, including Chance, were gone. Everyone had scrapes and bruises in various areas. Percy and Sam were the worst: their hands were raw and bleeding. Sam had a nasty cut on his head. No one seemed to be dead, which was a good thing.

"Report." Max called to her flock.

"I'm okay. Still blind, though." Who else but (drum roll) Iggy.

"I'm fine." Fang wasn't meeting anyone's eyes.

"My arms are a little banged up, but otherwise I'm fine." Nudge looked in pain, but she tried to hide it.

"I'll be okay." Angel replied.

Max looked pretty banged up herself. She seemed to be nothing but cuts and scrapes, but she didn't seem to be in pain.

I decided I liked her.

Annabeth, on the other hand, wasn't looking that bad. Okay, she had a gash on her arm, but it wasn't too deep, and didn't seem to slow her down.

Hi and Shelton weren't looking too bad either. "Dude," Hi held up his hand, and Shelton slapped it. "That. Was. Awesome!"

Boys.

Percy was getting to his feet. He saw Sam passed out and bleeding, and he freaked out. "What happened to him?"

"Don't know. He just dropped."

Sam groaned, and Percy looked relieved. "He's alive. That's good."

"What? Did you think he was dead?"

"I don't know! He wasn't moving, and I thought—I thought—" Tears were falling from his eyes, splashing on Sam's sweat-drenched face.

Sam groaned again and opened one eye. "Why are you crying?" he asked Percy.

Cooper pounced on Sam, yipping and licking his face. "Good boy." Sam was laughing. "Ow. Watch the face, Coop, the face! Ow."

Percy shook his head. "What did I tell you? What did I tell you?"

Sam rolled his eyes. "Whatever. And it did work."

Annabeth sighed. "And we thought we were going to make it to camp today."

"I know, right?" Sam stood up.

"Wait. That made no sense." I looked at Sam, who looked like he had gone through a blender. "Are you leaving?"

"No." He leaned against a sand dune. "Hurt too much. Need rest." He closed his eyes and started to snore lightly.

"Well," Percy said, "that decided it."