Percy Jackson and the Dark Elites

V

Percy

Percy and Trial walked for ages. They walked through the desert in the direction Percy's instincts told him to go.

They walked until their feet bled. The sun went down. Several Iris messages from Annabeth later, they reached a compound in the middle of nowhere.

Chaos didn't own it, and thankfully he wasn't in control of it.

About a mile away from there they could see the gleaming tracks shining in the moonlight. A train was approaching them, it stuck out against the flat lands all around them.

They walked for fifteen minutes in that direction, just as they reached the tracks the train came to a stop.

"Come on." Trial said. "We need to get on the train."

Percy shook his head. "Maybe this is a bad idea. The train stopped just as we arrived. He's leading us into a trap, we can't stop him if he traps us."

"We have to. He'll kill your parents. Your sister. You can't risk it. Not for family, they're counting on you."

Percy nodded. They grabbed the edge of the nearest trainer and pulled himself up. The door was unlocked. He held his hand out to assist Trial.

The train car was completely empty, except for two pillows and blankets.

"How did he do this?" Trial whispered.

"I don't know." Percy groaned, sitting down up against the wall. "But I'm using it."

His stomach growled. He hugged his stomach. Trial did the same.

"Hopefully he'll buy us dinner at the hotel." She laughed.

Percy laughed too. They were so worn out he couldn't believe it. His wrist vibrated. He didn't want to see Annabeth calling him again but he couldn't help it. After a while, he caved.

Chiron
Camp Half Blood
YES NO
19.48

This surprised him. Why wasn't Annabeth trying anymore? She must already be out looking. It didn't make him feel better.

"When you talked about family.... It's like you knew what it's like, I just never pictured you with...." The sad expression on her face forced the words back down his throat.

"I-I was in his army." She had tears streaming down her face. "I worked for him. I killed for him. Inferno too."

Percy smiled softly. "I guessed that."

"He was going to kill my brother. My baby Colten, I had too." She was shaking.

"Colten is your brother?"

"Yes. And Hermes is my dad. Inferno, had a girlfriend. We were going after her. She made the disks. Daughter of Haephestus. Chaos made her make the bombs, he made Inferno use them. I-"

"Stop...." Percy said softly. "It doesn't matter. None of it counts. Nothing he ever did to you. Nothing you ever did."

She sniffed. "I know. But we talked about the escape, from that exact compound we went to in Nevada. He-he heard us! He knew we were coming. He probably ordered someone to take the explosives off of you. Like I said, they were all expendable."

Percy comforted her through her tears. Telling her it wasn't her fault. That Chaos played them. That her brother Colten was going to be safe, all they had to do was get off the train.