GOLD RUSH ↬ p. jackson x reader {book one}

THE GRAND ESCAPE. SIGH.

YOU'D THINK HE'D RUN OUT OF ROCKS.

"Swim for it!" Grover said.
I did exactly as he said, abandoning all my dignity as I began to swim for the freaking Queen Anne's Revenge. He and Clarisse plunged into the surf behind me. Annabeth hung on to Clarisse's neck and tried to paddle with one hand, the wet Fleece weighing her down.

But the monster's attention wasn't on the Fleece.
"You, young Cyclops!" Polyphemus roared. "Traitor to your kind!"
Tyson froze.
"Don't listen to him!" Percy pleaded. "Come on."

Tyson turned and faced the older Cyclops. "I am not a traitor."
"You serve mortals!" Polyphemus shouted. "Thieving humans!" Polyphemus threw his first boulder. Tyson swatted it aside with his fist.

"Not a traitor," Tyson said. "And you are not my kind."

"Death or victory!" Polyphemus charged into the surf, but his foot was still wounded. He immediately stumbled and fell on his face.

"Percy!" Clarisse yelled. "Come on!"
We were almost to the ship with the Fleece. Why was he not coming?

"Go," Tyson told me. "I will hold Big Ugly."
"No! He'll kill you. We'll fight him together."
"Together," Tyson agreed.

By the time I had a chance to look back next, the three of them were having a son-of-Poseidon-off and I was way too occupied helping Grover, who was helping Annabeth aboard the ship. Clarisse was waving frantically at Percy, urging him to come on. If I didn't know better, I'd think she cared.

Tyson worked his way around Polyphemus, trying to get behind him.
"Young one!" the older Cyclops called. "Where are you? Help me!"
Tyson stopped.
"You weren't raised right!" Polyphemus wailed, shaking his olive tree club. "Poor orphaned brother! Help me!"

Tyson stepped forward, raising his hands defensively. "Don't fight, Cyclops brother. Put down the—"

Polyphemus spun toward his voice.
"Tyson!" Percy shouted.
The tree struck him with such force it would've flattened any of us into a pizza with (favourite toppings). Great. I could go for a Monster Donut right about now.

Tyson flew backward, plowing a trench in the sand. Polyphemus charged after him, but Percy shouted, "No!" and lunged as far as he could with his sword. 

"Blaaaaah!" Polyphemus bleated just like his sheep, and swung at the demigod with his tree.

Tyson and Percy plunged into the waves.

"Where are you?" Polyphemus screamed. He picked up his tree club and threw it into the water.

A large current was carrying the two brothers, and they started gaining speed. I was beginning to think they might make it to the ship, when Clarisse shouted from the deck, "Yeah, Jackson! In your face, Cyclops!"
"Clarisse!" I grunted, from behind her, rushing forward to try and spot Percy and Tyson, as if keeping my eyes on them would guarantee their safety.

"Rarrr!" Polyphemus picked up a boulder. He threw it toward the sound of Clarisse's voice, but it fell short, narrowly missing Tyson and Percy.
"Yeah, yeah!" Clarisse taunted. "You throw like a wimp! Teach you to try marrying me, you idiot!"

"Clarisse!" I yelled, unable to stand it. "Shut up! Seriously, you—"

Too late. Polyphemus threw another boulder, and this time it sailed over and crashed through the hull of the Queen Anne's Revenge.

You wouldn't believe how fast a ship can sink. Especially when you're frantically trying to figure out how to survive it. The Queen Anne's Revenge creaked and groaned and listed forward like it was going down a playground slide.