Annabeth Chase and the Sea of Monsters

Chapter 16 - Hellhounds like eggs

I dreamed I was back in the Cyclops den, the one I'd been stuck in when I was seven. The familiar fear and horror washed over, even though I knew I was replaying events that happened years ago. It didn't make it any less terrifying though.

The Cyclops loomed over me, practically crowing in triumph. All my friends were tied up nearby, struggling against their bonds even as I struggled against the paralysis in my mind. I could only watch in horror as it thumped its way casually over to me, confident in its victory over me.

My breath started to go faster. I felt like I would faint from fear. My friends and I were doomed.

Then I remembered how it had used my father's voice to trick me. The one man I knew didn't love me, and yet I'd still run to save him.

Anger filled me. Anger at this creature. Anger at my dad. But mostly anger at myself.

Angry at being tricked. Angry at being helpless. And angry about feelings I shouldn't have.

I drew my knife and let out a piercing scream, as loud as I could. The Cyclops stopped in shock as I dived towards him and stabbed the closest thing I could - it's foot.

"Ow ow ow ow ow!" it bellowed, hopping around on its good foot. "You stupid brat!"

I grabbed my knife out of its foot, gave it another slash along the leg to keep it distracted, then ran to Thalia. She was hanging from the ceiling of the cave, the firelight making her dark hair look flushed with flames. She was too high for me to cut her down, but her bound arms were hanging low enough for me to reach. I sliced through the ropes, making sure I didn't cut her by accident.

Her electric blue eyes flashed in triumph as she grabbed the knife from me and threw her upper body up in the air, catching her own ankles. She sliced through the ropes holding her to the roof, managing to land on her feet like a cat even though she'd been hanging upside down.

When the Cyclops turned to catch me, he looked horrified to see Thalia standing in his way, her spear in her hand and her bracelet expanded into a shield with the face of Medusa set in it. Even he seemed repulsed by that face, shuddering as he turned half-away.

That was all Thalia needed to attack.

"For Zeus!" she yelled, charging forward, spear going up.

The Cyclops swung a meaty fist at her, but she ducked nimbly out of the way, driving upwards with her spear. It lodged under the Cyclops rib cage and he managed a little curse of disbelief before disintegrating.

"Thalia!" I yelled, running to her.

I threw my arms around her, burying my face into her shirt. I'd been alone in the dark for so long, looking for her and Luke and Grover that it was such a relief to let her take charge. I was only a kid after all and she was the daughter of Zeus. She was my hero.

Strangely, she didn't hug me back. She felt limp and cold in my arms, her body not reacting to me.

"Thalia?"

I pulled away to see her head lolling to one side, her eyes half-closed and glazed. She had blood on her face and all over her clothes. Her face was pale, bloodless, making her dark hair even more stark.

"Thalia!" I screamed. I let her go and she fell, collapsing limply on the ground. I could only stare at her in shock and horror as the world spun around me, darkness enveloping me.

I woke suddenly, sitting straight up in bed. Sweat coated my skin and my body was shivering. I buried my face in my hands, my ratty blonde curls falling over my face like a ripped curtain.