Erased Memories

The Giant Deadly Maze Disappears

A/N: Dedication to my friend Twex10 for the idea and title for this chapter.

The Giant Deadly Maze Disappears

My jaw fell open. "What? He's gone? How?" I demanded.

"No idea. I was heading back here when a bunch of Athena children ran up to me saying he was gone. They said that he was taking a break from helping them and went to go visit Mrs. O'Leary. After an hour, they went to find him and found Mrs. O'Leary freaking out. Which means, he's gone. No sign of him anywhere."

I got up and rushed out the door, towards the Big House. I needed to talk to Chiron.

"Chiron!" I burst onto the porch, out of breath. "Daedalus is missing. Any idea how, or why?" Chiron sighed.

"Yes, I am afraid I do know why, and how. Tartarus is the only option. He must've taken Daedalus right from Camp. As for why, I think you mentioned that the Labyrinth appears on whichever planet he is currently on. Do you get what I mean?"

My face paled. "He means to use the Labyrinth to attack us. To catch us by surprise. He wants Daedalus to navigate it for him."

Chiron's face looked grave. "Yes, that is what he intends. I will allow you to go on a quest." I was about to protest, saying he could not control me. Before I could open my mouth, Chiron spoke again. "You are here at Camp, so for now I am your director. Now, go see Rachel. This is a rescue mission, but it is also a quest. Every quest needs a prophecy. You will leave tomorrow morning. I will station a 24/7 guard on the entrance to the Labyrinth that we have here."

I obeyed and left to go see Rachel. "Hello, Son of Poseidon. Or Perseus Jackson, I should say. You have the same name as someone here, yet I have never seen you before. Why is that?" Rachel greeted me.

"You are the Oracle. You should know."

She smiled. "Touché. What is it that you seek?" She sat down on her stool, ready to let the Oracle take over.

"How do I save Daedalus?" I prepared for another confusing prophecy.

The mist around her swirled into a dark green. Her eyes fluttered closed, and when they opened they were the same shade of green. She spoke in the raspy voice of the Oracle.

To the Void, you will travel alone.

A follower, hidden behind stone.

A stranger to be fought,

But be beaten easily, not.

Save your companion,

And be abandoned.

Bribed and pained,

The ground stained.

Prevail in the end,

yet lose a friend.

Rachel gasped, now herself. I stood in shock. Some parts of the prophecy made sense, but others didn't. Typical.

"Thank you, Rachel." I shook away my doubts and left to pack for the quest. The rest of the team looked up when I entered the cabin, obviously worried.

They said nothing as I started to throw things into a backpack, but packed themselves. "Stop." They froze. "I talked to the Oracle. I will be going alone." At least, I would start out alone but then someone would follow me.

They nodded and sat down, trying to calm their nerves. "Daedalus has been captured by Tartarus. He intends to use him to navigate the Labyrinth. Chiron has granted me a quest. I got my prophecy.

"To the Void, you will travel alone. A follower, hidden behind stone. A stranger to be fought. But be beaten easily, not. Save your companion. And be abandoned. Bribed and pained. The ground stained. Prevail in the end. Yet lose a friend."

Beckendorf looked at me wide-eyed. "One thing's for sure, Perce. This prophecy sounds like it is for something bigger than a quest."

~

I touched the Golden Fleece hanging from Thalia's tree, as I stared down at the Camp. They had all found out by now that Daedalus was gone. Every Athena camper, including Annabeth, had asked to come with me. I said no every time.

My fingers felt the tingle of the cool wool leave, and I trudged down the hill. Once I was far enough away from Camp to make sure no one would try to follow, I created a portal and left Earth, heading towards the Void. Chaos had shown it to us once, but told us to never go unless unavoidable. See what I did there? No? Okay.

This was one of those times. I couldn't let Tartarus use the Labyrinth. I had to save Daedalus.

My feet touched solid ground and my vision darkened. I was surrounded by darkness, lost hopes and dreams. Polluted, just like the River Styx.

Debris lay all around, even a few cars. Voices floated through the air, moaning, begging for help. The Void is where some of the more dangerous Primordials that had been caught were kept. Screams rang in the distance. The air was hot and humid. It felt like the Fields of Punishment, but worse. The only thing missing was the entrance to Tartarus, and Elysium in the background.

I walked past a gravestone. Meaningless names and numbers were carved into it. Names that would never be spoken again. I thought I saw the glint of a celestial-bronze weapon, but dismissed it as a one of the many strange items found here. Up ahead, a cave loomed. An ancient power came from within it, and I knew that must be where Tartarus and Daedalus were.

As I approached it, a branch snapped behind me.

I moved so fast, my stalker could not see me. They barely had enough time to raise their dagger to block Riptide from slicing them in two.

Wait, dagger. A familiar looking celestial-bronze dagger. A familiar blue Yankees cap fluttered to the ground. A familiar looking Camp Half-Blood T-shirt appeared. I followed the blonde curls up to their face.

A follower, hidden behind stone.

The gravestone. The second line of the prophecy had already come true. Someone had followed me and hid behind that stone.

I glared into the gray eyes of my former girlfriend, Annabeth Chase.