The Lost Souls

A Rescue Operation Goes Very Wrong

Annabeth, Percy and Grover gasped awake in the back of Sally Jackson's car.

"Good," Sally commented. "We're fifteen minutes away."

"I hate you," Thalia whispered, glaring at Annabeth and Percy. "Now my friends and I have to relive the worst years of our lives."

"You think we asked Chaos to show up and throw us into the past," Annabeth exclaimed.

"The important thing is that we can't change anything other than saving you and your friends," Percy said, playing moderator. " which should be easy."

"Don't expect any sort of friendly interactions," Thalia spoke.

Bianca and Nico woke up sitting on the bleachers.

"Great," Bianca said. "This place. Think you can handle pretending to be ten years old?"

"Pretending my sister never abandoned me," Nico replied. "I'm not sure."

"You don't even know why I left," Bianca cried out.

"Because of me," Nico answered. " but you know what I always heard, 'Your sister would have done better'. "

"The fates sent me a vision of what your life would be like if I said yes," Bianca exclaimed. "It was beautiful and wonderful and exactly what our mother wanted for you. I was also shown my fate. It was cruel and exactly what I got because had I not said yes, you would have died in the Second Titan War. Everything I did, I did for you."

She begins to look at her fingernails.

*******************

Thalia wiped fog off of the window. "Just as creepy as last time."

"Are you sure you don't want me to wait?" Sally asked.

"No, thanks, Mom, " Percy said. "I don't know how long it will take. We'll be okay."

"But how will you get back? I'm worried, Percy. "

Percy blushed, but Annabeth and Thalia didn't react.

"It's okay, Ms. Jackson." Annabeth smiled reassuringly. "We'll keep him out of trouble."

Thalia snorts in the background.

"Alright, dears," Sally said. "Do you have everything you need?"

"Yes, Ms. Jackson," Thalia said, slightly annoyed. "Thanks for the ride."

"Extra sweaters? You have my cell phone number?"

"Mom-"

"Your ambrosia and nectar, Percy? And a golden drachma in case you need to contact camp?"

"Mom, seriously! We'll be fine. Come on guys. "

Sally looked a little hurt. Thalia and Annabeth followed him outside.

Once Sally's car was out of sight, Thalia said, "I don't remember her being that pushy."

"Me either," Percy replied.

"I hate that we have to pretend we don't know," Nico spoke up.

"We'll be fine," Bianca assured. "Besides I have two stygian iron Chinese ring daggers. They were a gift from dad before he erased our memories."

"He gave you daggers?"

"I didn't know they were daggers until after Kronos told me," Bianca started. "He gave me all kinds of weapons. My ruby necklace is a sword. My onyx necklace is a bow staff. My bracelet is a shield. My hair clip is a butterfly dagger. Sadly I didn't bring any of those to the dance."