Unlikely Heroes

Chapter 102: Divine Intervention

Annabeth Chase

Rachel was leading us to the basement of the Marriott. Apparently, there are costumes here that they use to raise funds for charity. She gets points for being generous, but I still don't like her attitude. Too cocky for me if you ask me, but if I can survive some big personalities like Zoe... I will survive.

"You do a lot of charity work?" I ask.

"I do what I can. The charity I work with helps to keep art classes going for elementary school. These days they are cutting it from the schools' curriculum. But we try to give the younger kids a chance to develop their creativity. Explore the art world. Once a month we try to raise money. On a good weekend we're able to raise five hundred dollars," Rachel explains as we go down the stairs.

"You like art?" Bianca asks as looks around the basement. It is littered with boxes, a section filled with different kinds of customs. They look like the type to be used by those living statues. I sigh mentally, maybe I should donate something...

"I love art. There was even a moment I tried to sell pieces to raise money. Wasn't very successful, but I tried at least. Now, I have a question of my own," Rachel says and glances at me. "If your girlfriend-"

"Fiancée."

"... fiancée is a goddess, why isn't she coming with us? Percy described this mission as if it was tied to the survival of our world."

"For your information, my girlfriend is a Goddess too. Well, Titan, but still," Bianca added. Rachel shrugs as she stops to turn to face us. "My question still remains, why are they not coming with?

"Calypso is more or less on house arrest. She doesn't want to fight in the war," Bianca answers. "And this place we're going into has protections against the Gods. They can't go deep enough, but that doesn't mean we won't be able to have their support," I explained further.

"We are going into a place even the Gods can't go into? At least things will be exciting. The symbol is right over here," she says and moves a few boxes away from a brick wall. It shows the Greek symbol that represents the Labyrinth. They really are everywhere.

"I don't know how you get inside. When I tried nothing happened. The door stayed closed," Rachel says as she steps aside.

"This place is made by a Demigod of Athena. You need to have the blood of a demigod to open the entrance," I explain and touch the symbol. The brick wall slowly opens up. Each red brick moves out of the way as if a string pulls at each brick.

"I am not looking forward to getting into this place again, but I want to find Zoe. She better be in one piece," Percy mutters and walks into the darkness closely followed by Rachel and Bianca, and me at the rear. We barely step inside and the exits closed. Each brick scurried back into place.

"That's creepy. It's like one of the scary horror movies," Rachel says. Bianca chuckles a bit to stave off negativity.

"That's exactly what this place is, Rachel. You best have a strong mind. This place will be a nightmare," Bianca says, her eyes scanning the environment wearily. "Why didn't I stay and help Calypso with the garden?"

"Because you like us?" Percy offers.

"Sure... we'll go with that. Rachel which way?"

"Well, a blue light shows the way. Don't you see it on the floor?" She says pointing to the dark and stone ground. I guess she truly sees more than we do.

"No, but now we know you're the right one for the job. Lead on, Rachel," I say.

A smirk forms on her face as she nods and starts to walk. The tunnels come and go. Each time, Rachel chose the correct one, I find it irritating that I can't figure out the way. Even if some of the tunnels were clearly older, it wasn't the right one. As we have been walking for ten or fifteen minutes, Bianca glances at our mortal girl.