Wildflowers, Percy Jackson ₁

045, bro's fumbling the bag

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

₊˚࿐࿔ 𖥧‧₊⚘ ❀༉. 𓏲｡

"This way!" Rachel yelled.

"Why should we follow you?" Annabeth demanded. "You led us straight into that death trap!"

"It was the way you needed to go," Rachel said. "And so is this. Come on!"

Annabeth didn't look happy about it, but she ran along with the rest of them. Rachel seemed to know exactly where she was going. She whipped around corners and didn't even hesitate at crossroads. Once she said, "Duck!" and they all crouched as a huge axe swung over their heads. Then they kept going as if nothing had happened.

Sylvie lost track of how many turns they made. They didn't stop to rest until they came to a room the size of a gymnasium with old marble columns holding up the roof. Sylvie stood at the doorway, listening for sounds of pursuit, but she heard nothing. Apparently, they'd lost Luke and his minions in the maze.

Then Sylvie realized something else: Mrs. O'Leary was gone. Sylvie didn't know when she'd disappeared. Sylvie didn't know if she'd gotten lost or been overrun by monsters or what. Sylvie's heart turned to lead. Mrs. O'Leary saved their lives, and Sylvie hadn't even waited to make sure she was following them.

Ethan collapsed on the floor. "You people are crazy." He pulled off his helmet. His face gleamed with sweat.

"Us? You just tried to kill him," Sylvie gestured incredulously at Percy.

"Florian's sister," Ethan noted. "Right? Henriette Duvall?"

Sylvie's face twisted unhappily. "Sylvie," she corrected. "How do you know Florian?"

Ethan let out a laugh. He didn't respond.

Annabeth suddenly gasped. "I remember you! You were one of the undetermined kids in the Hermes cabin."

"Yeah," he glared at her, "and you're Annabeth. I remember you."

"What—What happened to your eye?"

Ethan looked away, and Sylvie got the feeling that was the one subject he would not discuss.

"You must be the half-blood from my dream," Sylvie said. "The one Luke's people cornered. It wasn't Nico after all."

"Who's Nico?"

"Never mind," Annabeth said quickly. "Why were you trying to join up with the wrong side?"

Ethan sneered. "There's no right side. The gods never cared about us. Why shouldn't I—"

"Sign up with an army that makes you fight to the death for entertainment?" Sylvie said. "Gee, I wonder."

Ethan struggled to his feet. "I'm not going to argue with you. Thanks for the help, but I'm out of here."

"We're going after Daedalus," Percy said. "Come with us. Once we get through, you'd be welcome back at camp."

"You really are crazy if you think Daedalus will help you."