The Forbidden Child

A Speedster Is Always One Step Ahead

Annabeth led the group, walking casually into the main level of Star Labs. In truth, Annabeth had had one of the Hephaestus kids hack into the lab's mainframe, and was watching on the security cameras. She saw Percy and Nico in cells, both seeming as if they were at their breaking point.

Occasionally Percy would experience a period of uncontrollable, psychotic anger, and used the padded walls as a punching bag. Nico had a quiet sort of madness, where he would curl up into a ball and stare at nothing, his haunted eyes shadowed by dark circles.

Annabeth saw the rest of the team as well; Barry had indeed found Wally and Iris, and had also brought Joe and Julian away from their trips. However, the group had never been to hell. They weren't acting like the cages were closing in on them, suffocating them. They were simply confused, and, although they knew the man that had trapped them wasn't Barry, they were unsure of who it was. Or, alternatively, what.

Annabeth and her team had brought extra weapons, tucked away in boots, laced on belt buckles. Will had even tied up his long, curly hair into a bun and hidden a penknife in it. (A/N: For my thought of how Will looks, check out Arnie Watkins' long hair or the picture at the top).

They walked into the main room, taking in every detail. Without a word, they formed a circle, muscles taut and weapons drawn.
There was a whoosh, and Barry appeared before them. In a flash, Thalia had her arrow at his nose.

"Where are they?" Her eyes were steely, voice cold as ice. Barry smirked easily.

"I dunno what you're talking about."

The string of the bow twanged as it was released, and cut cleanly into the wall. Thalia spun around and shot another arrow at Barry, who was now behind her. Had been behind her, rather. In seconds, he had confiscated every weapon they had.

Annabeth snarled. She was tired, worried, and not in the mood to lose another knife. She leapt at Barry, fists raised, but in a burst of lightning she had been taken down to her own prison.

Annabeth slumped against the wall, feeling defeated and more exhausted than before. If neither Percy nor Nico could get out of here, there was no way in Hades she'd be able to. Annabeth could only hope that the rest of the demigods had been able to escape, because there was no possibility of them beating Barry alone.

A/N: 1K reads??? That is McFreakin awesome. Love y'all