One For Love

CHAPTER 2; NIGHTMARES AND THE OATH ON STYX

All characters owned by Rick Riordan❤️

On reaching Camp, he was puzzled not to hear any signs of battle. Imagining the worst, he ran past Thalia's pine tree and looked over the valley.

The whole camp was noisy. But just the everyday sounds of talking and laughter. As he wandered towards the cabins, he saw nothing amiss.

He ran over to the Big House and went to Chiron. Bursting through the door, he asked Chiron, gasping for air, "Where's Annabeth?"

Chiron looked at him, puzzled, and said, "She's in San Francisco, with her father, Percy. Surely you knew that?"

Percy was dumbfounded. He had a sinking feeling in the back of his head that he had been fooled by someone....... or something.

He rushed to Chiron's telephone and called his mother. He didn't know why, but he had a premonition that something happened to them.

When they didn't pick up the phone even after 2 tries, Percy had enough. He ran down to his car and raced home. Thankfully, it hadn't reached peak hour and traffic was still low.

Percy frantically parked the car and ran up the stairs to the front door. Without any hesitation, he reached for the door knob, opening it up.

And froze in his place. He saw his mother rushing about the house, throwing about the cushions from the sofa.

He ran over to her and asked her, "What happened, mom? Where's Paul and Estelle?"

Sally startled as if seeing him for the first time. Seeing Percy, her frantic expression changed into heart wrenching sorrow.

Her face crumpled up as she held Percy and gushed out, "Percy.... Estelle... Estelle is missing. The phone got turned off and I couldn't call Camp and....."

Percy felt numb. His nightmare had come true. He didn't notice his hands shaking as if he was cold. He asked Sally in a flat voice, "Where's Paul?"

Sally replied, still crying, "He's outside. Looking for her." Then, shocked, she asked him, "Is it a monster?"

Percy didn't reply.

His mother was hysterical and kept repeating, "Percy! Is it a monster?"

Annabeth..... If it wasn't Annabeth, then was it a monster? Was his baby sister taken by a monster?

He realized his mistake. He had been too wrapped up in his own thoughts. He should have told Chiron what happened. He should've asked Annabeth how she was in Camp.

He felt an icy rage spread up all over him. He turned to his mom, hugged her and whispered, barely containing his rage, "I'm going to find her . If Paul comes with Essie, IM me. Ok?"

Sally nodded as she cried. Percy ran over to the front door and opened it when she called him and said, "Percy, I've got a bad feeling. Go to camp and ask for a quest."

Percy was irritated. But, he didn't want his mother to worry anymore than she had to. He nodded and Sally demanded, "Find her, Percy. Promise me." Her face set in determination, tears still streaming down her face.

Still not feeling anything other than rage, he nodded and swore, "I swear on Styx, mom, I'll find her even if I die."

Thunder rolled in the distance, sealing their pact.

As he reached his car, he saw a clump of hair that could've gone unnoticed other than for the fact that it was lying near a long trail of saliva.

He ran along it till he lost the trail at a seemingly random spot. He wandered around the site till he felt that he was wasting his time. He stormed back and got into his car.

Percy got back to camp slowly, as it had already been rush hour and traffic was heavy. He ran over to the Big House and told Chiron, who was listening to one of the soapy 70's songs that he liked.

He went to Chiron and pleaded him, "I need to see Rachel. Now." Chiron was dumbfounded. He asked Percy, "Why? What happened?"

Percy quickly filled Chiron in on what happened and once Chiron understood, said, "That's why I need the Oracle, Chiron. Please. Assign a quest."

Chiron nodded and thought about it. But he informed Percy," A quest needs three half bloods. Find two more and I will call up Rachel earlier for you."

Rachel had left for the academy whose name Percy had forgotten the second after she told him. She was also supposed to meet up with all of them tomorrow and was still in wherever she was.

Percy nodded. He mumbled, "Ill find two others and come back." And he ran off.

Jason was dead. Piper was in her dad's new house near camp Jupiter since he mysteriously had regained his wealth after Apollo left for Olympus....Percy thought. Leo was still trying to fix things between him and calypso via another trip. Wow that lake looks disgusting under the sunlight. Hazel and Frank were praetors and was in the middle of repairing Camp Jupiter after the war. That left Annabeth and....... Somebody is climbing the lava wall for the first time without gloves. Stupid people. That left.... Grover!!! But isn't Grover busy with lord of the wild things? Grover had come frequently with gifts for Estelle and she had always liked him. Percy's mind wandered off

Percy went to the edge of the forest and put out his empathy link. Or at least what was left of it. His dip in Styx and Lethe has taken away most of his connection with his former best friend.

Percy felt around. Trying to find Grover from whichever nature park he was at. When he failed, he ran to find juniper to ask her where her boyfriend had gone

Juniper was resting at the edge of the lake, dangling her legs in and out. She saw Percy and smiled cheerfully. Percy ran up to her and asked, "Hey juniper. Where's Grover?"

Immediately, her smile dropped. She looked at him indifferently and asked, "Why? What happened? Do you need his help?"

Percy didn't have any emotions left to spare to even wonder why juniper was angry at him. He said ,"Yes juniper, I need his help. Please, can you call him for me?"

"Fine" she said, and stormed off. He followed her into the forest where she melted into her tree and waited there for a few minutes. Then, she poked her head out and said, "He'll meet you in two near Zues' fist." And went right back in.

Percy sighed and walked slowly to the place where he had found the labyrinth.

Word count: 1089
A.N can y'all guess what Grover's reaction will be?