Taking The World By Storm

Chapter 18

Jason

I'm sure I'm not the only the only one when I say, that Tartarus sucks. Its hot, hellish, and it smells of dead cats. To say we were exhausted, was kind of an understatement. We killed so many monsters, I think we may have set a record. I don't know how Percy and Annabeth did this by themselves, injured, none the less.

Despite us being next to one another for all hours of the day, Chris has found a way to not speak a word to me for the past 4 days (give or take, time was confusing down here). "Hey Percy, any idea how close we are?" asked Reyna.

"Maybe a day or two, maybe more, same as it was the last time you asked me 10 minutes ago" he said, even with his heaad turned away, I could feel the massive eyeroll he just dropped.

"Well, just give me your best estimate" she said. Percy turned around, clearly pissed off. "Look, I don't know, we had a fucking giant carry us for the majority. I was so out of it for most of the trip, the only things I can remember is my wife begging to be killed so the pain would end, to add to the fun, I can feel the flashes coming back so unless me to loose my mind again, I'd shut up so we can get the hell out of here that much faster"

After that, the next few hours were pretty uneventful. The occasional, "DUCK THERE IS A GIANT BLOOD THIRSTY MONSTER OVER THERE". Luckily, none of them saw us so we didn't have to fight because that really wouldn't end well.

I walked next to Percy in front, Reyna with Chris a couple yards behind us. "I miss apple sauce" I said softly. Percy chuckled. "Not your wife or your unborn child?" he said. I sent a glare in his direction and I could hear Chris' breathing pick up from behind us.

"I miss them more than anything in the world, but I honestly can't bare to think about missing them because it would hurt to much so apple sauce is the next best thing" I said.

Percy nodded. "I feel ya, I hate to say it but, I almost perfer morning sessions with the 6 year olds over this" he said. I laughed. "Almost?" "Almost." he said with a chuckle.

"Guys, 7 o'clock" said Reyna in a serious tone. When I looked over, I saw a pack of hellhounds, maybe 12 of them, noses to the ground about 100 yards away.

"What are they doing?" asked Chris. "They are tracking" whispered Percy. "Tracking?" I asked. "If I had to bet, I think they know we're here" said Percy. "Well, what do we do?" said Reyna. Percy gulped. "Run" he said.

Suddenly, the leader of the pack lifted its head and looked right at us. I stood completely still, staring at it. I was paralyzed, my mind told me over and over to move but I couldn't.

"Jason!" I heard Reyna scream. I wanted so badly to at least draw my sword but nothing happened. I heard Chris and Percy run away but Reyna grabbed my arm. "What are you doing?" she screamed. She stepped in front of me and took my shoulders. I watched, unable to speak, as the pack of hellhounds began to charge right at us.

"Jason! Snap out of it!" she screamed. I saw Percy and Chris return to my side, weapons drawn. "I guess we're fighting" yelled Chris.