The Harvest Trials

Chapter XV

I really appreciate all of your comments, I really do, but please no more death threats. Offensive comments will be deleted. 

Reyna

Today would be day eight in the desert with Calypso and Rachel. Calypso figured it would be a Sunday. That would put me a week and a day away from the compound. Right when I stumbled upon their camp and they'd finished expressing their excitement that I'd found them, they asked nonstop questions about how everyone was doing. 

I told them everything, but my information is a little outdated. I have no idea what's happened since I left and it terrifies me. I hate not knowing what's happening. 

Judging by the schedule of when new demigods should be arriving, we should have gotten two more, but no one showed. One day we went so far as to check the actual drop area, but nada. They must have stopped sending people. We were on our own. 

Then, on my fourth night, I was just sitting by the fire with the girls when Rachel looked up at me with a hopeful gaze. "We're going to rescue them, aren't we?"

I wasn't sure what to say. It seemed impossible. What could a demigod, a sorceress, and an oracle do against Harvest? Against Everette? I wanted to say it was impossible. But then I got to thinking. Maybe it wasn't as far fetched as I'd originally thought. 

"Yes, Rachel," I said, "we are going to rescue them all."

^*^*^*^

I thought about that for days, the beginnings of an idea forming in my head. I would often be seen pacing  or talking to myself. Then finally Calypso found me drawing in the sand. "What are you doing?" She asked. 

"I have a plan," I said as confidently as I could whilst being stranded in the desert.

"Is it a good one?" Rachel asked, joining the conversation.

"I have a plan," I repeated. 

"Well shoot," Calypso said, settling in the sand next to me. 

"So I was thinking..."

^*^*^*^(Next Day)

Piper had been searching for Annabeth for days. Everytime she was out charmspeaking for Everette, she managed to slip away and look. She thought she'd been everywhere at that point. And on that day, she thought she'd finally found her.

^*^*^*^

Piper

I couldn't believe my eyes. I'd finally found the place they were holding Annabeth. I could see her, right behind the door. Instead of just the earpiece in her ear whispering orders, she now had a whole electric headset complete with about a million electrodes. This had to do with her coming out of her daze when she saw Percy.

 It was just a matter of getting the door unlocked...

"And what do you think you're doing?" I froze with my hand on the door knob, fear coursing through me. I turned around slowly, my hands in the air. Ross, Reeds, and Montgomery stood with guns aimed at me. 

"You don't want to shoot me," I charmed, "put the guns down." They looked confused for a moment before lowering their guns. Only Montgomery kept her gun in the air. 

"Listen, you don't want to do this. Please tell me you see how horrible of a person Everette is! He's torturing kids!" I let my fear and my emotions seep into my voice, making it stronger. Montgomery finally put down her gun, but I don't think it was because of the charmspeak. 

"That man is insane! Please believe me!"

"I-" Ross started, looking conflicted, but he didn't get to finish. Because just then the devil himself strutted down the hall. 

I lost my momentary control over the guards. This time though, it was Montgomery who was slow to raise her gun. Everette was seething. "You dare disobey me?" He whispered. 

I was done with hiding in fear from this man. I would not be his puppet. 

I stood up a little straighter. "I'm not afraid of you," I said. 

He sneered. "Send her to the Drop Zone. She's a traitorous bitch who needs to be taught a lesson. How's the desert sound, McLean?"

I was shocked. My first thought was, Jason. Everette couldn't send me away. I had to get back to Jason. I couldn't be away from him! What if I never saw him again?

"You-you can't do this! Everette!" Ross and Reeds went to grab my arms and drag me down the hall. I noticed that Montgomery made a point of not looking at me. 

Everette chuckled. "McLean, this is a man's world. I can do whatever I want."

"Bullshit!" I screamed, fighting to get away from the agents. "Everette! You're a coward! YOU ARE A COWARD!"

The smile fell from his face, and the last I saw of him was his scowl.