𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋

𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐘 𝐜𝐡𝟏𝟔|I accidentally destroy a town

Percy

Monster fighting. What's new?

I weaved through enemy lines, casually swinging my sword and sending monsters back down to Tartarus.

Fire kept billowing out of the store and I wanted to just go and grab Leo. He was immune to fire - duh - but the smoke could be bad, and there has got to be a reason why he's using the fire. So basically, he's in trouble.

Annabeth and I caught on at the same time (okay, she probably figured that out ages ago but that's not the point) and we exchanged a look. Of course we knew we were being distracted the whole time, but the monsters just kept coming. It was like the battle of Manhattan all over again, except this time I didn't have the curse of Achilles.

I think that when we heard a gunshot we decided we really needed to go and get him. One gunshot was followed by loads more. I had no idea if it was actually a gun, but it most certainly sounded like it. I just hoped that Leo was the one wielding it.

The monsters just kept coming. I looked at Annabeth.

"The water! Do you think you could..."
"But what about you!"
"I trust you!! I'll be fine!"

I was going to try and get the water to throw them back further. I felt uneasy. What if Annabeth got caught in the crossfire?

Annabeth covered me while I slipped into full concentration mode. That's an achievement on its own for me.

I felt the water all around us and tried to lift it. It came to me easily with a strong tug in my gut. I sucked up all the water and liquid that had began to dry in the ground from my wave earlier. I pulled it and lifted it high off the ground.

I ended up with loads and loads of dirty water, it hovered like a ceiling above us. There was so, so much of it. It was double the volume of what I had thrown of the pond - I'd taken all the water out of all our surroundings. It was enough to cover a battlefield.

"Annabeth! Get behind me!" I shouted, straining.

She complied with a look of shock, staring at the amount of water I had. I formed a wall of water between us and the monsters, who looked at it with confused wide eyes. I made the water churn with currents. I'd never controlled so much before - it was like a mini ocean. Finally, I threw it. Pushed it. Shoved it. In one big blow.

A tidal wave erupted from in front of us. It destroyed anything in its path. I had thrown it with so much force that I was down to one knee, still straining. I had to pray to the gods that there were no mortals in this barren town.

It had shot to the end of the street in a matter of seconds. All the monsters were gone. Vaporised. The entire town was a wreck.

Okay, well I'd only meant to push them back. But I guess that works as well.

Impressive, a voice said in my head.

Shut up, Gaia! I replied mentally.

Remember Akhlys? What else can you do Percy?

Shut up! Since when do you communicate with us again!

No response.

Gaia! Answer me!

You told me to shut up?

Oh wow, a primordial has a sense of humour.

We'll see if you still have a sense of humour when I'm finished with you.

And then she was gone.

I had forgotten I was kneeling. I stood up and turned around to meet Annabeth's wide grey eyes with my own. I went to walk forward, but staggered slightly with exhaustion.

"Oh my Gods," she said in a small voice. I think I just reminded the both of us of St Helens.

I walked forwards and my legs buckled.

"Percy, are you okay?"
"Fine. Just a tiny bit exhausted. Let's-"

Just as I nearly passed out, another round of gunshots snapped me to my attention.

"Stay here, I'm gonna go get him."
"I'm coming."
"You need to get some ambrosia-"
"And you think I'm going to send you into a burning building alone?"
"Fine."

We ran back to the store. When we arrived, there was smoke and fire in patches around the building.

"Give me your shirt."
"Huh?"
"Quick!"

Baffled, I took off my shirt and handed it to her. She ripped it up and tied it around her mouth and nose.

"You do the same, quick!"
"Hey! I liked that shirt!" I said, but did the same. We found a gaping hole in the wall, where the fire had burned through it. We looked at eachother before running into the flames.

_____________

I was so tired as I ran, trying so hard not to pass out. I didn't burn easily, but I was insanely worried about Annabeth. I was getting tempted to get some water from outside and just put the whole fire out, but then I might hurt Leo and I would certainly pass out and maybe not wake up.

Not a good idea then.

We kept going, running around desperately, searching for our Super Sized McShizzle.

In a way that made me sick, the heat reminded me of Tartarus. It was so intense and searing, I could only imagine what it was like for Annabeth.

Suddenly, a beam on the ceiling gave way. It nearly crushed me, had Annabeth not leapt and shoved us both out of the way.

We ended up on the searing hot floor.
"Second time in an hour, huh?" I said, trying not to loose consciousness again.

"Funny." she replied.

We picked ourselves up and ran around a corner where we finally saw Leo at the end of a clearing of smoke.

I'd never seen Leo badly hurt before, but seeing him now made my stomach turn. He had blood streaming quickly down his face from the top of his hairline, cuts and scrapes and bruises adorned his arms.

Suddenly, I saw a manticore leap at him. In a split second, I had riptide out and uncapped. I threw it as hard as I could and felt satisfied when it hit it's target. It fell into dust, peppering Leo's hair with golden flakes.

We kept running towards him but he hadn't moved; Leo just stayed on his knees.

"LEO!! CAN YOU HEAR ME? LEO!" Annabeth screamed next to me.

"LEO!!" I shouted when he was unresponsive. Just as we reached him, he went to face plant in the ground, but I caught him just in time.

Oh no.

It wasn't looking good.

Leo was passed out. I was on the brink of unconsciousness. And the building was collapsing around us. Oh yeah - and it was on fire. Could be worse... right?