✔ | [1] 𝒞𝒶𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓇𝓉𝒾𝒸 | ᴘᴇʀᴄʏ ᴊᴀᴄᴋꜱᴏɴ

𝓍. Why would she do that?

❈ Percy and Annabeth had just made it back to camp. 

They had gone back to Hephaestus and told him what happened... Rather, Annabeth had told him what happened. It had taken about half a day, but they made it back to camp with the help of a spider from the god.

Percy let Annabeth climb up the ladder first before following her. Shit. How was he going to explain why Helena wasn't with them? 

Oh, yeah, by the way, about Helena, I lost her in the labyrinth not once but twice. Her siblings were going to kill him. He was sure of it.

What Percy couldn't understand was why. Why had Helena pushed him away? Why hadn't she trusted him enough to fight the monsters together? Why was she always sacrificing herself?

Why wasn't he strong enough to protect her?

Percy's thoughts were cut off as he was tackled to the ground. He locked eyes with the guy above him.

Mark, son of Ares. Helena had told him in the short few days she had been at camp that Mark was her favourite. 

When he asked why, her answer was simple. He reminds me of my father.

"Where is she?" Mark growled.

"She isn't with us," Percy said.

"Why isn't she here? Did you leave her in there?" Mark hissed. "I should have fucking known. I told her she shouldn't have gone after she told me about the voices, but she said it would be fine."

"What voices?" he asks, confused. She had never told him about any voices. Why hadn't she told him?

Mark lets go of his shirt and gets up, looking him up and down. "She didn't tell you?"

"Obviously not."

He scoffs. "The first time she fell in there with you, didn't you notice anything? Anything at all about Hels?"

"She was acting jumpy and scared, but I thought it was weird, but she told me she was just spooked later on."

"I wonder why she didn't tell you." Mark rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath. "She told me she heard two voices down there. A male and female. They kept asking her to join them and kept telling her that we would betray her. You specifically."

Percy's furrowed my eyebrows. "I wouldn't do that. Not on purpose."

Mark scoffed. "Sure... but Athena's daughter sure had no hesitation about leaving her behind. "

"Annabeth? No, she wouldn't do that."

"Wouldn't she? The male voice Hels heard. I'll give you two guesses as to who it might be."

His eyes widen. "Kronos."

Mark nods. "Kronos. Hels probably didn't know that, but Chase sure did."

"How would Annabeth -"

Mark cuts Percy off. "Hels told her. About the voices or part of it, at least." 

"Why would she tell Annabeth and not me? Why would Annabeth even think of leaving her behind?" 

Mark cocks his head to the side and narrows his eyes at him. "You really don't know? Huh. Hels would do anything for you, Jackson. She heard everyone talking about you. The golden boy of camp. The quests and all the other shit. She was worried about you; she didn't want to burden you with anything else."

Percy shook his head. 

"As for Chase," Mark clenches his fist. "Keep her away from me and Clarisse. Dad visited us and told us to explain why Hels was in the death maze. He was furious naturally and went on a rant about how Chase planned to have Hels separated from the group."