𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗨𝗦𝗘 ! ━ 𝙋. 𝙅𝘼𝘾𝙆𝙎𝙊𝙉

xii.

𖤓

"I got Nobody!" Polyphemus gloated; his radioactive cloud for breath was prickling Marcel's eyes, as well as his whole face.

Gross, so fucking gross, his jumbled brain mused. Pain. Ow.

He blinked, hoping it would swat the sudden dizziness and fatigue away. It only got him an additional headache and the nasty upside-down sight of Cyclops's wicked and smug grin.

The monster shook his fist, and Marcel felt the tingling sensation leave his body. There was a dull thump of Annabeth's Yankees cap falling onto the ground below. Polyphemus was holding him by his legs, the grip almost crushing. Marcel knew his legs would form into one big bruise if he got himself out-

When, he reminded himself. Not if, when. I'm not dying to this thing.

He attempted to pull himself up, but his ribs exploded in pain, and Marcel stifled a scream.

The Cyclops guffawed. "Nasty invisible boy! I will grill you with mango chutney!"

Marcel felt something rolling down his forehead, and the metallic smell of blood hit his nose. He bared his teeth in a snarl, "What, am I not pretty enough to marry you?"

Polyphemus froze for a second, his hideous face converting into muddled confusion.

"Oh, sorry," Marcel said, his ribs pulsing with each breath he took. It reminded him of the time Clarisse fractured his sternum. "Kinda forgot you're blind. Of course you wouldn't see this beautif-"

"Hey, Ugly!"

Marcel's clouded brain took it as an insult directed at him, at first. He arched his neck to look at the ground, ready to curse the fucker who said that to him, only to falter as he took another shaky breath. 

Percy had his sword ready, his face contorted into a deep scowl. It took him a couple of seconds to realize that Percy didn't call him ugly, but rather the very Cyclops who held him.

Polyphemus turned with a bellow, "Another one?! Who are you?!"

With the most impudent look Marcel had ever seen, Percy called out, "Put him down. I'm the one who insulted you."

Marcel gaped at the upside-down figure of Percy. He couldn't decide whether he was brave, immensely stupid, or maybe he had a death wish, but he appreciated the effort.

"You are Nobody?"

"That's right, you smelly bucket of nose drool!" 

Marcel raised his eyebrows; the blood that had dried on his forehead crumbled with the motion. He caught Percy's stare and muttered, "A what now?"

"I'm Nobody, and I'm proud of it!" Percy said, his voice rising. "Now, put him down and get over here. I want to stab your eye out again."

The Cyclops roared in rage.

The good news was that the monster did let him go. The bad news, on the other hand, was that he was now falling headfirst onto the rocks underneath.

Marcel didn't even have the time to try to change his position mid-air. Before he knew it, his head connected with the rocks. A sound of a thousand smelly pounds of Cyclops barreling at Percy was the last thing he heard, as the world got shrouded in darkness.

The next thing he knew, he was being carried by Grover across the rope bridge.

He stared up at the Satyr with puzzlement. "Grover, what...? Since when... this strong?"