The Traitor {book 1}

2 ~ The Cave

Percy's P.O.V
Heather was stalling him, for us. On the inside a ray of hope was shining through, and I clung onto that positive thought.

It was after the battle with Dr Thorn (the Manticore) when I realised this. It must be difficult acting twisted and vile, but my sister was doing a good job at it.

That night, we all trailed back to our cabins at Camp Half Blood, for an early, winter lights out. I was exhausted, which meant I fell asleep easily. That was the good part. The bad part was I had a nightmare, and even by my standards, it was a whopper.

Annabeth was on a dark hillside, shrouded in fog. It almost felt like the Underworld, because I immediately felt claustrophobic and I couldn't see the sky above - just a close, heavy darkness, as if I were in a cave.

Annabeth struggled up the hill. Old, broken Greek columns of black marble were scattered around, as though something had blasted a huge building to ruins.

"Thorn!" Annabeth cried. "Where are you? Why did you bring me here?" She scrambled over a section of broken wall and came to the crest of the hill.

She gasped.

There was Luke. And he was in pain.

He was crumpled on the rocky ground, trying to rise. The blackness seemed to be thicker around him, fog swirling hungrily. His clothes were in tatters and his face was scratched and drenched in sweat. And next to him was my sister, though she looked more concerned. She wasn't in pain, I could feel it. But she had a fresh, deep cut along her cheek, and blood as red as scarlet was dripping. Her black hair was out of his ponytail, and she had wraps on her hands.

"Annabeth!" He called. "Help me! Please!"

She ran forward.

I tried to cry out: He's a traitor! Don't trust him!

But my voice didn't work in the dream.

Annabeth had tears in her eyes. She reached down like she wanted to touch Luke's face, but at the last second she hesitated, as Heather slyly mouthed 'no'.

"What happened?" She asked them.

"They left him here." Heather said in a harsh, rasp voice that made me feel like a knife had been stabbed into my back.

"Please. It's killing me." Luke groaned.

I couldn't see what was wrong with him. He seemed to be struggling against some invisible curse, as though the fog were squeezing him to death. Heather wasn't suffering - she was just accompanying Luke. Part of her plan.

"Why should I trust you?" Annabeth asked. Her voice was filled with hurt.

"You shouldn't," Luke said. "I've been terrible to you. But if you don't help me, I'll die."

Let him die, I wanted to scream. Luke had tried to kill us in cold blood too many times. He didn't deserve anything from Annabeth. Or Heather. Which made me wonder what she was up to.

The darkness above Luke began to crumble, like a cavern roof in an earthquake. Huge chunks of black rock began falling. Annabeth rushed in just as a crack began appeared, and the whole ceiling dropped. She held it somehow - tons of rock. She kept it from collapsing on her, Heather and Luke just with her own strength. It was impossible. She shouldn't have been able to do that.

Luke rolled free, gasping. "Thanks," he managed, as my sister stepped back.

"Help me hold it," Annabeth groaned.

Luke caught his breath. His face was covered in grime and sweat. He rise unsteadily, with the help of Heather.

"I knew I could count on you." He began to walk away as the trembling blackness threatened to crush Annabeth.

"HELP ME!" She pleaded. Heather had a look of sympathy in her eyes, like she wanted to help, but couldn't. It would blow her cover, and Camp Half Blood couldn't afforded that.

"Oh, don't worry," Luke said. "Your help is on the way. It's all part of the plan. In the meantime, try not to die." He grabbed Heather by the wrist, as he disappeared with my sister.

The ceiling of darkness began to crumple more, pushing Annabeth against the ground.

I sat bolt upright in my bed, clawing at the sheets. There was no sound in my cabin except the gurgle of the saltwater spring. The clock on my nightstand read just after midnight.

Only a dream, but I was sure of three things: Annabeth was in terrible danger. And Luke was responsible. And Heather could only try not to blow her cover.