The Mist's Misfortune: The Child of Wisdom

5

   I woke up in a dark cage. My hands were tied and I was sitting on a bed.

    Before I could ask myself what happened, a laugh echoed outside the cage. "You are finally awake Annabeth."

    "What do you want?" I asked him with a hint of annoyance in my voice.

    "I want to please the Dark Mistress." The voice continued to come closer.

    "I mean what do you want with me? I'm just a Child of Athena. Unless-"

    "Yes. We'll lure your boyfriend here and you shall see him die. For the Dark Mistress wishes for his death." He stopped walking. It was too dark to see his face. "Don't worry. We'll have some use for you too."

     A sound of a door closing disturbed the silence. I had to get out of here. I have to warn Percy. Whoever this Dark Mistress is, I know she's out for blood.

     I scanned the cage for any possible exits. There wasn't one. I think I have my cap on my pocket. If I could only reach it-

     A loud sound echoed through the room. I think it was barking. What the Hades? Is that Mrs. O'Leary?

     I finally got my cap and got it over my head. I prayed it would work. But, I have to think of a distraction.

     It was hard to see anything without any light. But I could make out a bunch of stacked... jars? Who stacks jars? Well, it's better than nothing.

     I kicked the jars as hard as I could and it shattered into pieces.

     The door opened again. This time, it was slammed open angrily. "Annabeth. You just had to make things harder for the both of us."

      I felt him walk up towards the cage. "How did you- hmph. You must be toying with me. Well, it won't work." He opened the cage door and stepped inside. I caught his scent. He smelled like... oranges. Strange.

      Since my hands are bound, I couldn't attack him. So I just went outside and locked the door. Strangely, somebody yanked me backwards and I fell on the floor.

     "Did you really think that I'd fall for that trick, Annabeth? I am not like Polyphemus who had been foolishly tricked by the likes of you." I could see a glimpse of his eyes. He had dark purple-blue eyes. His black hair covered half of his face. I could not see his mouth, however. It was somehow lost in the shadows.

     He stepped closer to me. He crouched and held my face with one hand. "You are really beautiful, Annabeth. But your beauty will not last once my mistress rises for her resurrection requires a beautiful young maiden."

     A noise can be heard from a distance. They become louder and louder every minute.

     He smirked at me. "It seems that your friends are here. I would not keep you from them. It seems that they had breached the defenses. I will meet you again, Annabeth Chase. When I do, it will not be as pretty as you." He shimmered and disappeared just as the door opened and light went in the room.

     "Annabeth!" Percy ran ahead and placed me into his arms. His scent of the ocean was intoxicating. Like I haven't seen him for months. "Oh gods, are you alright?"

     "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?" I asked.

     "Annabeth. You were missing for 5 months." He looked at me seriously.

     "5 months! Wh- how is that possible!? I only regained conscious a few minutes ago."

     "There are poisoned bottles over here." Nico pointed out. I haven't realized he was there. "It could've been what made you asleep. For five months."