The Broken and the Traitor

Chapter V

Percy POV

Percy was sick of living.  The constant pain and betrayal was overwhelming and unbearable.  All he wanted was to be in Elysium with Annabeth and all of his deceased friends.  

He sobbed into his bloody hands.  He was glad Polybotes and Jason weren't here right now.  They scared him.  But concealed behind his layers of fear, the son of Poseidon was angry.  At himself, at the gods, and he was especially irked with Jason.  

Percy's fatal flaw was loyalty, so it hit a little too close to home.  Jason used to be like his brother...

Percy shook his head, sending spasms of pain shooting throughout his body.  He couldn't think about this.  Not now.  

Suddenly a bang rang throughout the room, and he flinched back, curling into the cold wall.  There were voices outside, arguing.  Percy winced again.  The door burst open, and his breath hitched as three people stepped inside.  

In front of him stood a pale boy dressed in black, a girl wearing a purple shirt and jeans, and a another guy with goat legs, a goatee, and an orange T-shirt.  

He knew who they all were, and it hurt more than his hundreds of stinging wounds to see them. He turned his head to the wall.  He preferred the blood-stained stone to the grief-stricken faces of his friends.  

Tears ran down Percy's face as he stared at the wall.  He heard the series of footsteps approaching him.

"Percy..." Nico whispered in disbelief.  "Wha-What happened?" Percy didn't respond.  

"Perce..." Grover bleated, his voice choked up from tears.  "It's ok.  We're here now.  We're here to help you escape." Reyna stayed silent the whole time.  But her face showed that she felt the same way her two companions did.

Percy whimpered and closed his eyes, breathing heavily.  

"You-you have to go." He said quietly, his voice cracking from the strain.  "B-before they come back.  They'll find you.  Run."

"We're not leaving, Percy." Reyna said firmly, crouching down beside him.  Then she hesitated.  "And who are... they?" Percy didn't respond again.  He was too terrified to speak as a giant shadow loomed over the four demigods, immersing them in darkness.

"Well, well, well, look at what we have here." Polybotes growled, his cruel laugh chilling Percy to the bone.  He started trembling, and crying softly.

"D-don't hurt them." he pleaded.  "P-please.  They don't mean any harm."

The giant smirked.

"Jason's down here too, isn't he?" Nico demanded, glaring.  "Let both of them go free, and we will leave peacefully.  Percy winced.  They didn't know?

Polybotes must've noticed the discrete gesture as he chuckled, and eyed the son of the sea god. 

"You didn't tell them?  For so called heroes of Olympus, you demigods are not very bright." 

"Watch what you say about demigods, Polybotes." A voice said, hidden behind the giant.  "Not all of us are quite as... mentally challenged as this bunch." Jason stepped in front, and smiled chillingly to the group of demigods.

"Reyna.  Nico.  Grover." He said, nodding to each of them in turn.  "Its been a while." He spoke as if he were just meeting a few old friends for coffee, not planning out their deaths in his head as he talked.

"Jason..." Reyna's voice trailed off uncertainly.  "That can't be you.  What's wrong with you?"

"Actually, Praetor, I feel better than ever.  The war brought me to my senses.  Too bad it didn't do the same for you."  He paced in front of Polybotes, arms tucked comfortably behind his back.  "The real question is... what's wrong with you?"

"You're a traitor." Nico spat angrily.  "We trusted you."

"Don't you see?" Jason growled.  "The gods are pathetic.  We're just their pawns.  They don't care about you, or me, or anyone but their stupid selves.  They didn't even blink an eyelid when Pi- their kids died."

"This is about Piper and Leo, isn't it?" Grover cut in, fingering his reed pipes nervously.  "You think you're doing them a favor.  I'm a satyr, Jason.  I can read your emotions.  I know you aren't entirely happy doing this.  Deep down, you feel regret."

Jason stiffened, and rage filled his eyes. "You're obviously losing your touch, Grover.  I feel no remorse.  And I don't see why I should."  

He began to approach Percy, but the trio stepped in front of him defensively.  He just laughed.  

"Looking out for your friend, I see.  There's no point.  He wishes for death anyway.  You can see it in his eyes." Then he turned to Grover, his head tilting to the side.  "But you would know that anyway, Grover.  You being the supreme satyr you are." The satyr tightened his grip on the pipes, his face heating up.  

"Thalia would be disgusted in you, Jason." He said in a voice unlike his own.  "I can't believe you two are related.  Just wait till I tell the hunters."

"I'm afraid you won't have the chance." Jason pulled out a long, golden sword.  It illuminated the dim cell slightly, and Percy started hyperventilating.  He stared in fear at the sword that had given him so much pain.  The others must've noticed, as they turned to Percy.  Sadness was evident on each of Reyna, Nico, and Grover's faces with a hint of fear as well.  Percy hated to be so weak, so fragile, but he couldn't help it.  Jason just laughed again.   

"Can't you see?  I'd be doing your friend a favor.  He would be in Elysium, with his precious Annabeth.  But I'm afraid he doesn't deserve such kindness." He said cruelly, walking towards all four of them, swinging his sword.  Nico grabbed his stygian iron sword, and Reyna took out her imperial gold dagger.  Grover put his reed pipes to his mouth.  

Polybotes scowled, and hefted his trident.  Poison dripped from the three tips, and vipers fell from his head.  He started to walk forward, the ground shaking in his wake.  

Grover whistled a quick tune on his pipes, and the giant stumbled into the wall.  Jason looked around blankly, and Grover turned to Nico.  

"Its a confusion spell," He explained.  "Won't last long.  You need to shadow travel us out of here."

Nico looked at him in shock.  "Where?"

"Anywhere.  But hurry." Percy could barely comprehend what he was hearing as Grover grabbed the other boy's forearm.  Nico grabbed Reyna's, and she crouched down to the bleeding demigod.  

"We're getting you out of here Percy." She said gently.  He nodded weakly as Reyna held his hand.  He stiffened in fear at being so close to someone. 

Before he could prepare himself, The world twisted and turned, and went black.