𝐏𝐘𝐑𝐑𝐇𝐈𝐂 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄, 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧

11 - the gang separated (like morons)

𓆩ꨄ︎𓆪

THERE WAS SERIOUSLY NO REASON FOR THE SPIDER TO BE MOVING THAT FAST. Elia didn't know where this robot thought it was going, but the spindly little thing moved like the fucking wind. The least it could do was wait for them to catch up. The only reason they didn't lose it in the darkness was Tyson and Grover's magical hearing, the two of them pointing in the right direction when they lost it around a turn.

After a few weaving twists and turns, Elia and Grover had to lunge forward to catch Percy in his tracks, saving the taller boy from falling into the ginormous pit in front of them. From the ceiling above the abyss hung a series of iron rungs, like a ladder but sideways and upside down. (So not a ladder at all, really.)

As the spider swung across the pit on a thread-like like Spiderman, (Elia's favorite), Annabeth pushed her hair out of the way and grinned lightly. "Monkey bars. I'm great at these." The daughter of Athena leaped up, grabbing ahold of the first rung and swinging her way across the pit.

Elia huffed, watching Percy follow before swinging across herself. Tyson— with Grover clinging onto his back— joined them, ripping off the last rung in the process. Elia, Percy, and Annabeth all stared at the Cyclops for a moment with varying expressions on their faces. Percy with confusion and a bit of surprise, like he'd forgotten his brother was that strong, Annabeth with shock and a little bit of fear, glancing back at the pit, and Elia with an impressed nod of her head. 

And then, of course, they found their second dead body! 

(Why did they need to find more than one? Or any at all?)

The skeleton was propped against the wall, wearing a typical school uniform; slacks, a collared shirt, a tie, and the remains of a blazer. There were probably nearly a thousand broken pencils scattered on the ground around it— him? Her? Them? Whatever. 

Annabeth tilted her head to the side, speculating, "He probably wandered in by accident. Died trying to get out."

Elia nodded like this all made sense to her. (She had no clue what was happening at this point.) "Yes, like we will, of course!"

Grover whimpered nervously, shuffling away from the dusty skeleton. Percy fought back a smile, nudging Elia's side and shooting her a slightly scolding look. The blonde shrugged, offering him a lazy grin. 

Continuing past the dead schoolboy, the quest-goers entered a violently lit room— illuminated by blinding artificial light that didn't seem to have a source. Elia shielded her eyes; there was nothing Apollo kids hated more than bright fluorescent lights. 

"What the fuck?"

"Welcome lucky contestants!" A voice boomed, in the same bright tone that all game show hosts use. "Get ready to play... Answer That Riddle!"

𓆩ꨄ︎𓆪

THEY WERE, APPARENTLY, not ready to play 'Answer That Riddle'.

Elia loves Annabeth to death. She'd do anything for her, that's her best friend! But the blonde wanted to strangle the daughter of Athena just a little bit. Annabeth's pride, her hubris, had gotten in the way, causing them to nearly be eaten by an angry Sphinx. Just another Tuesday, though!

They'd thought they had lost track of the spider until Grover heard a faint pinging sound and they found the little machine banging its tiny head over and over into a large metal door. Right in the middle, on a big, brass plaque, was emblazoned the Greek Eta.