ENTRAPPED ₂

72

LEO DID, INDEED, STILL HAVE AMMO FOR THOSE BALLISTAE.

They bombed right through the parking lot, destroying most of the cars in one fell swoop. Chunks of asphalt as big as garage doors tumbled down, along with six or seven Italian sports cars. The first image Madeleine got of the cavern was a giant bronze statue. As a car fell toward it, the statue seemed to deflect, and it bounced right off.

The next thing Madeleine saw was a pair of oversized Chinese handcuffs that would rival any iguana. What seemed to be stuck in the cuffs was an enormous spider. Madeleine didn't actually get a good look, though, because a bright red Fiat 500 slammed into both cuffs and spider, and they fell through the floor. The spider released a terrible, ear-piercing scream.

The third thing Madeleine saw were Annabeth and Ethan, crouched together at the edge of the cavern, arms wrapped around each other desperately.

In that moment, Madeleine could have lost her mind. She sort of did. She lunged out of the ship, ignoring everyone else's shouting, and fluttered unceremoniously to the earth. She nearly got decapitated by another flying car, but it was well worth it.

Ethan and Annabeth did not look very good. Annabeth's foot was in a makeshift bubble wrap splint, and Ethan's arm was in the same type of condition. Madeleine could see through the wrap that it was bent horribly. His teeth were gritted, and he was clutching one of his knives.

Annabeth was covered in cobwebs. She trailed strands of spider silk from her arms and legs like the strings of a marionette. Her hair was a frizzy mess, and her face was covered in dirt and grime; but she took one look at Madeleine and sobbed, "Percy."

"He's okay," Madeleine promised. "He's okay, it's okay―"

As if on cue, Percy yelled from up above, "Annabeth!"

"Here!" she yelped. She was shaking all over. Ethan was, too. They both looked like they had seen some really awful things.

"Ethan," Madeleine said. He was staring at her like he had seen a ghost. "Ethan, we got Nico."

That shifted his face. He gripped his knife so hard his knuckles turned white. "He's―he's okay?"

Okay seemed like a strong word, and Madeleine wasn't sure how to tell Ethan that. He looked like someone had gutted him from the inside out without leaving any physical damage. It was terrifying.

Madeleine glanced into the pit a few paces from their ledge. Jagged rock walls plunged down into the darkness as far as she could see. A few small ledges jutted out here and there, but Madeleine saw nothing on them―just strands of spider silk dripping over the sides like Christmas tinsel.

Something about the pit was ominous. Madeleine could feel the wings on her shoes fluttering, as if picking up on her anxiety.

Madeleine hadn't realized, but they had lowered the rope ladder, and now Percy was standing next to them. He wrapped Annabeth in his arms. She buried her face in his chest and started to sob.

"It's okay," Percy said. "We're together."

Madeleine ached for them.

The others gathered around them slowly. When Ethan saw Nico, he pulled him fiercely into a hug. Madeleine knew that Ethan and Nico weren't big on physical contact, but Nico clung to Ethan like he might drown without him.

"You idiot," Ethan snarled, and Madeleine saw a tear streaking down his face. "You actual fucking dumbass, thinking you could go off by yourself... what were you thinking? You could have died, Nico... look how thin you are... have they let you eat anything?" He glared at Percy, like this was specifically his fault.