𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐖 ༄ ᴘercy ᴊᴀᴄᴋꜱᴏɴ

girl scouts to the rescue

We were following Dr Thorn outside in silence. I didn't know what was happening, but it was wrong. Everything was very, very wrong.

Percy wasn't really speaking, closing his eyes and scrunching them. If he was supposed to be rescuing us, he was doing a terrible job of it.

Thorn marched us into the woods. The darkness of the night gave it an eerier feel than normal, and in a moment of fear, I clutched Kai's hand. He gripped mine back, equally tight.

"There is a clearing ahead," Thorn said. "We will summon your ride."

"What ride?" Bianca demanded. "Where are you taking us?"

"Silence, you insufferable girl!"

"Don't talk to my sister that way.'" Nico said. It was sweet how he tried to stand up for his sister. Perhaps it'd be better if he didn't sound like he was about to wet his pants though.

"Who are you?" I finally spoke up.

Dr Thorn cast a look back at me.

Was he even a doctor?

"Stupid little girl. It is I, ze infamous Manticore!" His French accent bled strongly onto the word Manticore. I don't know what a manticore is, but he spoke very proud of it. He must've seen my clueless look because he scoffed loudly. "le manticore? You've never heard of - oh, oublie ça!"

I cleared my throat and stared at the ground awkwardly. He growled in a very animalistic manner and didn't say anything for the rest of the journey.

"Halt," Thorn said.

The woods had opened up. We'd reached a cliff overlooking the sea. I sneaked a look downwards but I couldn't see a thing.

He walked around us until we had our backs facing the cliff, essentially cornering us onto the edge. Percy stumbled, his movements still slight sluggish from the knife wound. I caught him and he murmured thanks, his voice hoarse and scratchy.

"What is he?" Bianca whispered. "How do we fight him?"

"I... I'm working on it." He replied, once again scrunching his eyes.

"I'm scared," Nico mumbled. He was fiddling with something-a little metal toy soldier of some kind. My heart broke a bit for him.

"Stop talking!" Dr. Thorn said. "Face me!"

We turned.

Thorn's two-tone eyes glittered hungrily. He pulled something from under his coat. It was a walky-talky. He pressed the side button and spoke into it, "The package - it is ready to deliver."

Were we the package?

There was a garbled reply and I tried to think back on what my old school guidance councillor used to say whenever we were in stressful situations.

Considering I was about to die, I think it could apply to this situation. One thing she told me was to count down from a number, and by the end, maintain calmness. So :

20

Dr. Thorn laughed at Percy, seemingly finding something funny. "By all means, Son of Poseidon. Jump! There is the sea. Save yourself."

"What did he just call you?" Bianca muttered.

16

"I would kill you before you ever reached the water," Dr. Thorn continued. "You do not realize who I am, do you? Unfortunately, you are wanted alive, if possible. Otherwise you would already be dead."

11

"Who wants us?" Bianca demanded. "Because if you think you'll get a ransom, you're wrong. We don't have any family. Nico and I..." Her voice broke a little. "We've got no one but each other."