𝒞𝒶𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓇𝓉𝒾𝒸 | ᴘᴇʀᴄʏ ᴊᴀᴄᴋꜱᴏɴ¹

5. Trials, Traps and- Percy stop staring at my ass

❈ She had been in the maze for all of five minutes and already Helena had begun to regret her decision. Helena heard voices on the other side, but she chose to drown them out and listen to Grover hyperventilating instead.

The group had made it thirty metres before they were hopelessly lost.

The tunnel looked nothing like the one Helena and Percy had stumbled into a day prior. Now it was round like a sewer, constructed of red brick with iron-barred portholes every three metres. Each end opened into infinite darkness, which wasn't very reassuring. Annabeth tried her best to guide them.

"If we keep one hand on the left wall and follow it," she said, "we should be able to find our way out again by reversing course."

Unfortunately, as soon as she said that, the left wall disappeared and they found themselves in the middle of a circular chamber with eight tunnels leading out.

"I wonder what the conformational structure of the molecules in this place are like." Helena muttered curiously.

"I did not understand a single word that came out of your mouth just then." Percy deadpanned. Helena let out a deep breath and pursed her lips. Luckily Percy was saved by Grover.

"Um, which way did we come in?" Grover said nervously.

"Just turn around," Annabeth said.

They each turned towards a different tunnel. This was just fucking ridiculous.

"Left walls are mean," Tyson said. "Which way now?"

Annabeth swept her flashlight beam over the arches of the eight tunnels.

"That way," she said.

"How do you know?" Percy asked.

"Deductive reasoning."

"So... you're guessing."

"Just come on," she said.

The tunnel she'd chosen narrowed quickly. The walls turned to grey cement, and the ceiling got so low that pretty soon they were hunching over. Tyson was forced to crawl.

"I can't stand it any more," Grover whispered. "Are we there yet?"

"We've been down here maybe five minutes," Annabeth told him.

"Five minutes too long." Helena mutters under her breath before stopping abruptly. "As flattered as I am if you keep staring at my ass Perseus and I will gouge out your eyes and use them as olives for my next vodka martini."

Percy chokes, caught in the act. How the fuck did she know? "I'm not staring."

"Ohhhh, would you prefer ogling then?" Helena hisses.

"It's been longer than that," Grover interrupted. "And why would Pan be down here? This is the opposite of the wild!"

The tunnel lead them to an opening into a huge room.

Percy shone his light around the walls and said, "Whoa."

Helena smacked him upside the head.

"Ow, Lena what the fuck?"

Helena just raised an eyebrow before mimicking him. "I'm not staring. Bullshit."

The whole room was covered in mosaic tiles. The pictures were grimy and faded. The frieze showed the Olympian gods at a feast. There was Poseidon, with his trident, holding out grapes for Dionysus to turn into wine. Zeus was partying with satyrs, and Hermes was flying through the air on his winged sandals.