Riptide

115

Annabeth slings Percy's other arm over her shoulder, helping Grover as the three make their way through the crowds and to the pods to the top.

"What was that back there?" Percy asks Annabeth, panting as they sit in the pod. "What did you hear?"

Annabeth doesn't answer and Percy speaks again. "She spoke to you. Alecto did that with me back in the museum in New York. What did she say?"

Annabeth gasps as she sees Echidna on the stairs as the pod doors close.

"Was that the Chimera?" Grover asks quietly, nervously. "I think...I think that was the Chimera! How did the Chimera even get inside here? How did any monster get inside here?"

Percy stares at Annabeth as she looks at the floor, seemingly having a war with herself in her head. "Annabeth?" Percy speaks her name, making her look over at the boys.

"We're in a sanctuary." Grover points out. "Athena would have had to let her in, but why would she do that?"

"Annabeth!" Percy says again, more firmly this time. "What did Echidna say to you?"

Annabeth stares at him for a few moments. "She said my impertinence wounded my mother's pride." Annabeth answers, looking at Percy. "And that that, will be my doom."

"Impertinence? What kind of—" Percy stops, realizing. "Medusa's head."

Annabeth shakes her head in shame. "I embarrassed my mother."

Percy shakes his head. "But I'm the one who sent the head to Olympus. I signed the note!"

"And I went along with it." Annabeth reminds him.  "It embarrassed her, now she's angry."

"Guys, what are we gonna do?" Grover asks nervously.

"She isn't gonna help us when we get to the top to save Percy." Annabeth says.

"No, I meant what are we gonna do about Echidna and Chimera?" Grover asks again. "They're gonna be right behind us."

Percy looks at Grover, then Annabeth.

The pod bell dings and the three get off, Grover helping Percy climb the stairs. "We're not gonna have much time. They're gonna be up here any minute. And if my mother isn't going to protect us, then we'll just have to fight it out up here."

Percy groans softly as Grover rushes him up the stairs, using the railing and Grover for support as Annabeth reaches the top, all 3 of them pausing as they realize how many people are at the top.

"Oh no." Grover mutters. "We gotta get everybody out of here."

Annabeth turns around, eyes finding the fire alarm switch. She looks back at the families in the arch, then the alarm, before reaching over and pulling it.

An automated voice comes on the speakers telling everyone to exit the arch, and soon enough the space is emptying out, save for Annabeth, Percy, and Grover.

"You and Percy, follow them down." Annabeth orders Grover, both boys eyeing her in confusion.

"What? No, no, no. W— We're not splitting up." Grover denies her command.

"Grover, come on!" Annabeth urges.

"No. No, no, no, no, no, we're all getting out of here together." Percy agrees with Grover.

"We won't make it! The Chimera is the demigod-killer." Annabeth says, beginning to walk the boys toward the exit. "Someone has to stay back to slow her down and buy everyone some time."

Annabeth walks them toward the door until the boys are on the first step. "Okay, help him down the stairs and get him to the river. And don't stop. Not till you get to Hades. Not till you have the bolt, do you hear me?" Annabeth asks, meeting Percy's eyes.

Percy shakes his head, but Annabeth ignores him. "Okay, go."

She reaches to shut the door, but Percy stops her. "Wait." He reaches into his pocket, pulling out Riptide and clicking it into a sword. "Take this." Percy holds it out to her, the handle up.

Annabeth reaches for the sword, grabbing onto it before Percy yanks her forward, taking her place and the sword before quickly swinging the door closed behind him.

"Wait!" Annabeth shouts.

"Hey! Percy!" Grover calls, Annabeth and Grover banging on the door. "Percy, please!"

"Percy, no!" Annabeth shouts, banging on the door. "Don't do this! They'll kill you!"

Percy pants heavily as he listens to them. "Poseidon's never helped me before. He wasn't gonna start now."

"Percy!" Grover calls again, the two of them still banging on the door.

"I would've never made it to Hades." Percy shakes his head, though they couldn't see him.

"Percy? Percy, please." Grover says, hitting the door again.

"But you can." Percy tells them confidently as metal crashes on the other side of the Arch, followed by the roar of the Chimera. "And now you will."

"Percy!" Annabeth calls, banging on the door still. "Percy, do you hear me?"

"Percy, you can't do this on your own." Grover calls out as Percy and the Chimera start moving toward the middle of the arch.

🏐🏐🏐

While Walker filmed the fight scene with the Chimera, Aryan and I were escorted down to the river where we'd make our next appearance after Percy falls into the river.

"So how's Walki going?" Aryan asks quietly, wanting to have a private conversation even though there were several crew members with them.

"It's going great." I grin, leaning over the railing of the dock. "I'm very glad you guys yelled at us until we got together." I say jokingly, making him laugh.

"Not my best idea, honestly, considering I'm now constantly third wheeling." Aryan shakes his head, matching my position as he leans on the railing beside me.

"Hey, your guys' problem, not mine." I chuckle, nudging him playfully.

"Whatever." Aryan shakes his head, looking down at the river water.

"Change of plans guys, we're done filming for the day." One of the crew members tell us. "Walker's getting out of his now wet clothes, so he'll meet you guys at the car. We'll escort you there now."

"Sounds great, I need a nap." Aryan says, making me laugh.

"With great power, comes great need to take a nap." I quote. "Nico di Angelo for president, 2022."

"Can you believe it'll be 2023 in 4 months?" Aryan asks, using the topic change.

"I know right!" I nod. "Filming makes time fly by."

"Well, we also had to wait like 4 months for everything to be ready before we started, but it's been flying by even quicker now." Aryan agrees.