Favorite : Change for the both of us

Chapter 22

Percy's POV

When I finally wake, my head is aching. I groan as my eyes open, expecting to see the sunlight drifting through my bedroom window. But then I realise that I'm not even somewhere that's remotely like my bedroom at Zeus's. The light is dim; it's cold and the bed beneath me is hard. Wait, it isn't a bed. It's a floor. Well, at least my pillow is comfortable...never mind, this isn't a pillow either. It's someone's lap.

"Percy, are you awake?" Annabeth asks quietly. I blink through my dizzy vision and see her above me. It's her lap that's acting as a cushion for my aching head.

"Yeah..." I mutter, raising a hand to rub my eyes, and wincing at even that small movement. "Ow...where are we?"

Annabeth glances around, her grey eyes sparkling fearfully. It takes me a second to realise that the sparkling is actually from tears. "I don't know," she replies shakily.

I try to sit up, but Annabeth stops me. "Be careful. Your head is bruised. I think they hit it against something on purpose. Just don't move too fast and you should be fine,"

Wait, they? Who are they?

Ohh...it all comes back. I was mad at Annabeth and walked off in the garden. Someone grabbed me from behind, and then someone grabbed Annabeth. A foul-smelling cloth was placed over my mouth and the last thing I remember was being thrown in a van.

"We've been kidnapped, haven't we?" I say. Annabeth purses her lips tightly and nods.

Careful not to move too fast (and wary of the pain in my head) I sit up with a bit of help from Annabeth. She's clutching my hand tightly, and I'm clutching hers. We must have been like this since we passed out in the van.

I take a moment to look around the room we're stuck in. It's dark and damp, with a concrete floor and solid cinder block walls. There are no windows; just a single flickering light hanging from the ceiling. There's a door too.

"Have you tried opening the door?" I ask, wincing as my fingers brush my temple. Dang, that must be a big bruise.

"Yeah. Locked. I've tried shouting too," Annabeth says miserably. "But there's nothing. I'm scared, Percy,"

I bite my lip, bile rising up my throat. I'll admit...I'm scared too. Really scared. "This is my fault," I sigh, eyes closing for a second. "I shouldn't have stormed off...I'm sorry, Annabeth,"

Annabeth shakes her head. "It's not your fault, Percy. I'm sorry too. I-,"

Before she can say anything else, the door clicks. I instinctively push closer to Annabeth, putting as little distance between us as possible, yet at the same time making sure I'm between her and the door – which swings open. I gasp at who enters, but at the same time I'm not shocked at all.

"Grandfather," I say coldly once I get over my momentary shock, glaring at the golden-eyed man.

"Ah, Percy," he says with a smile, closing the door behind him. "And dear little Annabeth. It's lovely to see you, children,"

Annabeth's hand squeezes mine and her other grips the back of my shirt. "What are we doing here?" I ask.

"Well, your father refused to listen to my threats," Kronos says, pacing in front of the door. I do a quick evaluation and see no exit whatsoever – I mean, if I sprint I could get out without Kronos grabbing me. But I can't just leave without Annabeth. If we both try to run, he'll grab at least one of us. And I know that I'm not leaving Annabeth, no matter what happens in here.

Kronos continues, "I did mention that I'd put off kidnapping you, Percy, and now is the time. Simply terrifying you wouldn't do. Poseidon wouldn't be as weak as you if I snuck into his room – he, at least, would fight me. So I thought, why not simply take you with no warning? I'm sure that that alone will scare your father into do as I say,"