The Trials of Chaos

5

Percy spent the rest of the night going over Piper's plan in his head. It wasn't the first time they'd schemed their way out of a tight spot, but this situation felt different—more precarious. They were in enemy territory, surrounded by people who had weapons, skills, and a leader who clearly didn't mess around. One wrong move, and things could get ugly fast.

But Piper was sharp, and Leo had always had a knack for thinking on his feet. If anyone could help them get out of this, it was the three of them together. They had been through too much to back down now.

The next morning, the sound of a key turning in the door made all three of them sit up straight. Percy's heart jumped in his chest, but he tried to keep his expression neutral as the door creaked open. Luke walked in first, with Annabeth right behind him. Thalia was nowhere to be seen.

Percy exchanged a glance with Piper. The absence of their leader was telling—maybe Piper had been right about the cracks in their group. This could be the opening they needed.

"Morning," Luke said, his voice casual as if they weren't holding three people captive. "Everyone sleep well?"

Leo, always the master of sarcasm, gave him a dry look. "Oh, just great. Nothing like being handcuffed to a bed to get a good night's rest."

Annabeth shot Leo a sharp look, but Luke just shrugged, stepping further into the room. "Can't say I blame you. But rules are rules."

"Your rules," Percy muttered under his breath, but loud enough that they could hear. He wasn't in the mood for their games today. The longer they waited, the harder it was going to be to stay calm.

Annabeth's eyes flicked to him, cool and calculating. "Our rules are what keep us alive," she said simply. "If you're not careful, you'll figure that out the hard way."

Percy met her gaze, refusing to back down. He wasn't scared of her—at least, he didn't want to be.

But before he could say anything else, Piper chimed in, her voice soft and calculated. "We're just looking for a place to be safe, you know," she said. "We're not with the New Order. We've been running from them for years. Ever since—" She hesitated, letting her voice trail off for a moment, her eyes lowering just enough to seem sincere.

Annabeth's brows furrowed. Luke, however, was watching Piper closely, clearly interested in what she was going to say next.

"Ever since what?" Luke asked, his tone almost too casual.

Piper glanced at Percy for a moment, then back at Luke, as if she were carefully considering her next words. "Ever since they took Jason," she said quietly. "We were all together, but they got him. We barely escaped."

Annabeth's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer, as if she was trying to read something deeper in his expression. Percy's heart pounded in his chest, but he kept his face neutral. He had to trust Piper's story, no matter how thin it was.

"Yeah, we knew him," Piper said, casting a quick glance at Leo, hoping he would back her up. "But only for about a week, maybe. Percy never met him though. It was before we all found each other. But Jason... he seemed nice."

Luke's eyes narrowed slightly, his fingers tapping on the side of the chair in a slow, methodical rhythm. "A week, huh? And what can you tell me about him?"

Piper shrugged, forcing a casual expression. Her mind raced—she couldn't get too specific but had to make this believable.

"He had blond hair," she said smoothly, keeping her tone casual. "Other than that, I don't remember much. It was so long ago, and we were all really young."

Leo nodded beside her, keeping his expression as neutral as possible. "Yeah, we were like, eight. Everything's kinda fuzzy."

Luke didn't say anything for a long moment, just studied them both with a calculating look. Piper kept her face straight, not letting a hint of doubt creep into her expression. This had to work.

After what felt like an eternity, Luke stood up from his chair. "I'll be back."

As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, Piper let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Leo shifted uneasily beside her, glancing her way.

"That was close," Leo muttered under his breath, fiddling with the hem of his sleeve. "Think he bought it?"

"I don't know," Piper whispered back, her voice barely audible. "But we've got to keep going. If we crack now, we're done."

Before Leo could respond, the door opened again, and Luke walked back in—this time with a key in hand. Piper tensed as he approached her. Without a word, he unlocked her handcuffs, the cold metal clicking as it fell away from her wrist. She instinctively rubbed her sore arm, her mind spinning with uncertainty.

"Come with me," Luke said, his voice firm.

Luke's eyes narrowed slightly at Piper's response, but he didn't show any outright suspicion. "A scar above his lip?" he repeated, as if testing the detail for truth. "How long ago did you meet him?"

Piper kept her expression neutral, her heart racing beneath her calm exterior. "We were eight," she said coolly. "Leo and I. It was before Percy found us. Jason was... just there for a little while. We didn't know him that well, but we always hoped we'd see him again."

Luke glanced at Percy, then Leo, who was fidgeting slightly, trying to look casual. "Percy never met him?" Luke asked, his tone deceptively casual.

"No," Piper answered quickly, "by the time Percy came along, Jason was gone. We never saw him again."

There was a long pause as Luke studied her face, weighing the truth of her words. Piper held her breath, resisting the urge to glance at Leo or Percy. They were all in on this lie now.

Finally, Luke turned away without a word. He stepped out of the room, leaving them in silence. The tension hung in the air for what felt like an eternity.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, Piper let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Leo shifted uneasily beside her, glancing her way.

"That was close," Leo muttered under his breath, fiddling with the hem of his sleeve. "Think he bought it?"

"I don't know," Piper whispered back, her voice barely audible. "But we've got to keep going. If we crack now, we're done."

Then, the door creaked open again, and Luke returned—this time with a key. "Come with me," he said, unlocking Piper's handcuffs with a smooth click.

Piper's heart skipped a beat. She didn't know what was about to happen, but whatever it was, she wasn't sure she liked it. "Where are you taking her?" Percy demanded, struggling against his own restraints.

Luke shot him a warning look. "She'll be fine. Just a few questions."

Percy rattled against his handcuff again, frustration bubbling up inside him. "Don't do this," he growled. "If you hurt her—"

"No one's hurting anyone," Luke cut him off, his tone even but firm. "She'll be back."

Piper shot a look at Percy, who was still handcuffed and watching with wide, concerned eyes. She could see the guilt etched on his face, the regret. He knew this was risky—too risky.

But resisting wasn't going to help her now. Piper stood, her legs shaky, as Luke led her out of the room. She swallowed her fear, hoping that whatever came next, she could handle it.

Back in the room, Percy was fuming. He tugged at the one remaining handcuff holding him to the wall, feeling utterly powerless. "This is my fault," he muttered under his breath, his frustration growing with every passing second. "I never should've let her go through with this."

Leo glanced at him, his expression tight. "We didn't really have a choice, man. It was this or nothing. Piper's smart—she'll be fine."

But Percy wasn't convinced. He yanked at his restraint again, his anger building. Piper was out there alone, and he couldn't do anything to protect her. The helplessness gnawed at him, and all he could think about was how wrong this could go.