Percy Jackson--The Blazing Trident

Chapter 5: Nightmare Woods

Thalia cursed under her breath. "Crap....I'm such an idiot."

It had turned into night and, oh gods, the forest was scarier than it was in daytime, that much I can say.

Understatement of the week. Yay.

It's not as terrifying as it could be though. So far we've angered several monster plants with eyeballs and other creepy things on them that does not belong on flowers, triggered a bunch of nasty ghoul twisty--I don't even know--and oh! While this is all happening, we're lost, scrapped up, and well, it kind of sucks.

Just topped my understatement of the week. Double yay.

Mushrooms were popping with gory images and purple mush seeped everywhere. I almost got my hand bitten off by that very angry plant which I had pulled the leaf off. It was like a swarm of terror and nightmares. I even saw this daisy with one, very freaky eye. Like a Cyclops flower. I wondered what Tyson would think if he knew he had a dandelion or whatever as a relative.

But, you know, I was trying hard not to cry. I mean, I'm seventeen! Do I really have the time to be bawling over evil trees?

Hmm. Well I don't think any seventeen year old has even faced an evil tree, so lets put that aside. For now.

So here I am, trying to be optimistic, when a purple slithery ick comes up and whispers "Fall into hel- fiery torture". Well, that just made my day. Especially when it started crying blood.

I was shivering. This place was seriously giving me the creeps. Thalia was the busiest, leading us the best she could through the maze while slashing most of the attackers away. Annabeth was watching our backs and killing off any toughies that were crawling near. Me? Of course, I get the fun job. I get to carry our stuff and lug groves of spooky plants on my back as they hiss and try to eat me.

The night was really cold, or maybe it was just ghosts swirling around. I felt like cracking right there, but we had to keep going. Wherever we were going.

Finally Thalia stopped abruptly. "I've got it!" She cried and snapped her fingers.

My hopes rose. "Got what?"

She smiled. "I remember the legend! Four kids entered the forest and faced their fears and nightmares. This forest was not only a horrifying place, but also strengthened those who entered. Problem is...it's really a 0.01% chance thing. Like the Sirens." She continued excitedly. "The kids are scared and one dies. The three left face their fears and win. Later, they have the power to see their friends' ghosts for a short while, so they are able to make amends with their lost friend. This power is acquired because you spend so much time around spirits and nightmares; it's like a side effect that kicks in delayed. If you survive."

This was great! So there was a way out! "If people had done it before, we can too!" I was happy. Thalia looked a little nervous.

"I don't know, Percy. The only ones that did were the original group. That group included young Hercules. It isn't written as Hercules's famous adventures because this forest is extremely secret. Only demigods and other godly people can read them in the Ancient Books in Greek. I just happened to know some basic knowledge, not even the whole thing."

Annabeth was uneasy and her eyes widened. "Tha-that's great, Thalia, but..."

"Oh yeah! And there was this ultimate being thing in the forest. You'd have to have horrible luck to encounter it, though."

I saw the thing Annabeth was looking at. "Well, Percy Jackson, legend hero, super demigod's luck strikes again!"

Thalia turned and she readied her knives.

The creature was purple and covered in odd flowers. He seemed like a man, but with violet skin and a masquerade type mask. His arms were crossed and he smiled.

"Why, hello! My name is Zephr."

I drew my sword, Riptide, and we three charged into battle. "Oh, that's not nice!" Zephr tsked and appeared again. "Can't kill me!" Thalia leaped behind him suddenly and snarled. She plunged her knife in him and he screeched in pain. But his blood was dark and almost blackish.

He wiped some of it off and appeared unwounded. Not even a scratch or scar. He chuckled and sprayed his blood all over Thalia.

"Ew!" Se yelled, but then her eyes bulged. She staggered back, shrieking, clutching her head like she was insane.

Zephr sat back. "One's already on her Path of Fear."

"What did you do to her?" Annabeth screamed.

Zephr looked offended. "Excuse me, she's not the one who got stabbed! and she's not even in any pain! She told you the story, right? She's facing her fears now!" But then, Thalia emerged out of the shadows.

"Sorry, buster, I don't have any fears! I gave them up when I became a Hunter!" Zephr seemed amused.

"Oh? That's unfortunate for you, because if it's not possible to pass the ordeal, you die."

Annabeth charged, stepping on Zephr's blood on the ground. "Leave her alone! I'll pass your dumb ordeal--"

Her eyes bugged and she backed away, shouting until she melted away somewhere else.

Thalia shooed me. "Take the Path of Fear. I can't, but I will hold Zephr back from killing me." I stared at her. I couldn't just leave her! We needed to save her too!

Thalia seemed to guess my thoughts. "It's alright. Believe in me."  

And she turned back to fight Zephr as I touched a drop of the inky blood.

Horror flashed through my mind. I stepped aimlessly and I could feel it. All my fears turning real. My biggest nightmares coming true.

Before I was transferred, I saw Thalia still fighting. I also remembered Annabeth's fear of spiders. I almost laughed if the situation wasn't so bad.

I melted into the darkness of the woods. 

Good luck, both of you, I thought.

I get the feeling you're gonna need it.