Reyna and Jason: The Praetor's of New Rome - Sacrifice

SOMEBODY ONCE TOLD ME THE WORLD WAS GONNA ROLL ME

"So, you were traumatized by this gym or something?" Percy asked aloud, his voice echoing in the gymnasium.

I let out a sigh of relief. "No. I was expecting far worse."

The elevator doors opened into a eerily quiet gymnasium. Only the three droning lights above the basketball court illuminated the room, leaving the auditorium stands on either side in the shadows. When we walked on the basketball court, it was curiously made of hard concrete. Nor were there any hoops on either side of the court. The court was colored in purple and gold, the colors of the legion.

Percy pulled his pen out. "I wish we could just play a game of basketball instead of fighting for our lives ."

I unsheathed my sword. "You figured it out too?"

Percy stood in the middle of the court. "Yep, fighting on a basketball court wouldn't be practical. The floors don't have as much traction, so their concrete."

I smiled, impressed. "You know, I really underestimated you."

Percy shrugged. "I should be offended, but I'm used to it. My challenge was the 'drama'. Now it's time for the spectacle. I bet Sphinx's voice will play over that intercom in three.... Two.... One."

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WELCOME TO OUR NEXT CHALLENGE!" Sphinx's voice echoed over the intercom. "LIGHTS!"

All the lights in the  gymnasium suddenly turned on, fake crowd noise echoing threw the speakers above.

Percy smiled dryly, patting sand off his shoulder. "Told you. You owe me a dollar now."

I stretched my arms. "How about most amount of monster kills gets a dollar?"

Percy pulled the cap from his pen. "One golden drachma?" He swung his short sword around once it grew to full size, warming up.

"Deal." I said.

"IT SEEMS OUR CONTESTANTS ARE READY!" Sphinx's voice said over the intercom. "PREPARE YOURSELVES DEMIGODS FOR THREE GRUELING ROUNDS OF COMBAT. BUT FIRST, YOU MUST ANSWER MY RIDDLE."

"You got this part." Percy said.

"Me? Why do I got this?" I asked him.

Percy shook his head and tapped his forehead. "Riddles? Not for me. They don't call me 'seaweed brains' for nothing. Just ask wise girl."

I scrunched my eyes brows. "What are you talking about?"

"Exactly." Percy said.

"CONTESTANTS! PREPARE YOURSELVES!"

"WOULD YOU LIKE TO WATCH THE MOVIE SHREK OR ANACONDA?" Sphinx asked us.

"...... That's not a riddle. That's a question." I told her.

"SHUT IT, ROMAN. JUST ANSWER!" Sphinx chided.

"SHREK!" Percy shouted.

"Dude!" I said to Percy. "We should discuss first before answering."

"You wanna fight a snake?" Percy asked me, the flat of his blade resting on his shoulder.

"Do you want to fight an ogre?" I asked him, my arms crossed.

Percy shrugged. "Hey, Shrek at least has variety. We could be fighting a massive donkey."

"YOU HEARD THEM FOLKS. GET EM BOYS!" Sphinx said over the intercom.

Suddenly the ground started to shake beneath us as the song All Star blared over the intercom. Percy and I closed in, standing back to back. The bleachers in front of me started to shake. Now that the room was a better lit, I could see the bleachers were covering a hole in the wall.