2 . Puzzles within Puzzles
It was at night now. Annabeth and I decided to camp near the little creek because of the convenience of water, and maybe because of the romantic view. We shared a tent, but since Annabeth and I are best friends, we didn't mind, at least I didn't. There was absolutely nothing wrong with sharing a bed with your best friend. Or maybe that applies to other guys? And not woman?
I fell asleep thinking about random ideas that came into my head: When were we going back to camp Half – Blood?: Or when will we find this Forgotten Maiden?: Or when will tension ease between Annabeth and me?
In the land where things can come true, or come true for a period of time, time seems to move much more faster. In what should be seconds is minutes, and what is minutes are hours, and hours are days. I hoped that my dreams wouldn't be my regular nightmares, and as if someone was watching me, my wish became true. I dreamt of a bright, happy beach. My face was smeared already in suntan lotion, and I was preparing to go for a nice swim when I spotted a figure sitting right along the sandy dunes. I approached the figure out of curiousity. It had long, blonde hair, blowing eastward. The sound of waves crashing against cliffs rang every second, and sea gulls quacked their silly sounds.
I was closer to her now. I'd decided it was a her. I've never seen a man with long, blonde hair before, only black.
“Hey,” I yelled to the figure. “Hey!” I yelled again. It turned around, but I couldn't see the face, I caught a glimpse of sad, gray eyes. It was like darkness had come so fast, as if to tease me, and not show whom I was talking to.
“Bye, Percy . . .” responded a voice, and I'd realized that it was the figure talking. It couldn't be. My eyes widened, as it tried to focus on the face in the darkness. The blonde hair . . the gray eyes? Annabeth? And my dream ended with a start.
I sat up, sweating profoundly.
“You still talk in your sleep.” I blinked quickly to find the owner of the voice. Annabeth.
“C'mon sleepy!” She urged, “Come, on.” I sat there, looking dazed.
“Come where?” I asked stupidly, shaking my head. I heard her groan, and sink to the floor.
“Boys,” I heard her mutter.
“What's that supposed to mean?” I demanded, pulling myself up.
“Oh so now you get up, after I insult you?” Annabeth rose too, smirking. She was already ready to travel. She'd changed when I slept, combing her blonde hair till it was nice and straight, and brushing her teeth at the creek.
“I had the most interesting night of my life,” I said. She looked at me with her head tilted sideways.
“Mmm, cool. I had an incredibly interesting night,” she responded coolly. I stood there, waiting for her to continue. When it became clear she wasn't going to talk about it unless I asked her to, I growled,
“All right, what was so interesting?” She looked pleased, and came close to my face, our noses barely touching.
“You really want to know, Seaweed Brain?” She breathed, engulfing me in her cinnamon breath. She came even closer, inches away from my lips, then withdrew to my ears, whispering to them.
“You'll have to catch me,” and she sprang out of the tent, down toward the creek.
“Aw, hades,” I complained, grabbing a pair of socks and my tennis shoes. My hand swiped down to where my extra pair of pants had been, but they weren't there. A gnawing in my stomach made me realize as I looked up to where Annabeth stood. She had my extra jeans AND my extra shirt. Another growl escaped my throat as I quickly threw on my socks and sneakers. She giggled and took off, yelling:
“Look, if you want to get me, try by going to the top of the cliff, I'll be there.” I'd already started sprinting down to the creek when she finished, but she was out of sight. I hate to admit it, but Annabeth is really fast. It probably would have took me two minutes to get to the top of the cliff, but Annabeth was already there.
“Hey there, Seaweed Brains,” she called, smiling. I rolled my eyes. “You still have to come up here,” she taunted.
We have a mission to do, I told myself, but I let myself get sucked into the fun.
“I don't need to climb,” I yelled back. I glanced toward the creek, and back to her. Her jaw dropped down in disbelief.
“No,” she said, with her jaw still down.
“Yes,” I answered back, smiling hugely, and glanced back to the water. Water, come to me, bring me to the top of that cliff. And it responded to my orders. The water circled around me, forming an impenetrable shield and lifting me higher to her.
“No,” Annabeth repeated, “that's so cheap.”
“You said to come get you,” I shrugged, and lunged toward her. She screamed as we both collided softly, rolling down the side of the cliff. Luckily, it was really grassy, and soft. When we came to a stop, I'd realize we were in the same position as yesterday, except today I was on top. I stared down deep into her eyes, her gray, stormy eyes, and she did the same to me. We were locked in a trance that couldn't be broken, at least, that's what I thought, until something smashed into my side.
“Grover!” Annabeth cried with happiness. I sat up, dazed. My eyesight began to refocus, and I saw a half man, half goat standing in front of me, itching with anticipation.
“Grover, what's up!” I exclaimed in disbelief. “What are you doing here?”
“One at a time, Percy, one at a time,” Grover said, chuckling. The way he spoke made him sound elderly, and me childish.
“Chiron said that you are to be called back, and the quest cancelled.” I stared at him as if I was a dumb, old man.
“What?” I questioned stupidly. He sighed, and Annabeth got up and strode between us.
“Wait, Grover,” she said, “why are we being called back? We've only been gone for three days.”
Grover sighed again, before continuing, “I know, it's not my decision, but Chiron said it was completely unecessary for you to leave, they've already found the forgotten maiden.”
“Well?” Annabeth and I asked simultaneously. Grover shifted his feet back and forth, staring at the ground as if embarrassed.
He looked up, face red, and said slowly, “Her name is Calypso.”
