Sign of the Times

Percy Ima-Steal-Your-Quest Jackson

As soon as my eyes closed shut, I fell asleep. Now, that sounds like a dream (yes, a pun.), but really it was a nightmare (double pun?).

I closed my eyes and the darkness faded into something more interesting. I looked around the dark room and saw Annabeth laying on the ground. She looked pale, sick, and on the verge of death. In fact, I could feel the life slipping out of her slowly. I shiver at the feeling. 

Annabeth's hands were chained to the ground and a cloth was around her mouth so she couldn't speak. As I walked closer I saw a gray streak right in the front of her hair. 

Everything about her is telling her we don't have much time if we want to save her as well. 

I walked away from Annabeth, knowing staring at her wouldn't do any good and trying to figure out where she is would do some good. I got around a large rock in the middle of the cave I saw Artemis, holding up what looked to be a large rock. She was sweating and bleeding the blood of the gods from cuts all over her body. She had her eyes squinted close. 

"Your plan will fail!" she grunted out. There was a deep chuckle from across the room. I look to see the scariest man I have ever seen. 

"Oh you naive goddess, you have no idea what you are talking about. Your hunters and some young demigods are already getting ready for a quest to save you. All we need to do now is wait. Oh, and make a little visit to them. We can't have their journey being too easy, can we?" He lets out an evil laugh sending chills down my spine. "And I can't wait to meet your lieutenant again!"

Artemis growls. "You lay a finger on her and you will have tartarus to pay!"

"Oh, how silly of you to think that you will ever get out of here!" The man turned towards the boy that keeps causing problems. "Luke, kill the girl now so we can leave." 

I try to yell, do something. She can't die, she can't. If she does . . .

Call it luck, call it being thankful for Luke being somewhat human, call it anything you want, but nothing can beat the relief than when Luke replied, "I think we should keep her alive. For bait, of course." The man gave him a thoughtful look. "They will come for her. You don't know them like I do. Thalia and Percy, they would do anything to save her."

"Do you really believe that?" the man asked. Luke nodded. "Then you can leave her be. If she lives that long, she may stay alive until the solstice." 

Even more reason to get there as quick as possible. But, I still don't know where 'there' is. I walk towards the exit of the cave to try and use context clues as to where they are, but as soon as I meet the light coming from the exit I wake up.

"Time to go," Zoe said, standing above me. It takes me a second to nod my head. I mentally kick myself for not trying to figure out where they were sooner. 

I walk out of cabin 8 and the sun isn't even up yet. I met Zoe, Bianca, Thalia, and Grover at the hill with my backpack and my sword-bracelet.

"Where's Phoebe?" I asked. 

Zoe makes a face before replying something along the lines of "we just had to come to camp." 

Thalia rolls her eyes at the girl and replied, "The fucking Stoll brothers poisoned the shirt they gave her so she has nasty hives. She can't come."

"Are we bringing someone else?" they both shake their head. 

"We were thinking it doesn't really rain at camp so this was part of the prophecy," Bianca said but she doesn't even sound convinced herself. 

"Alright then, should we go?" And with that we take off in the camp van.

You know how there is that thing about how old people are horrible drivers? Yeah, well I 100% agree. Zoe Nightshade is the best worst driver I have ever seen. She will go 100 in a 60 and somehow not hit anyone.