My eyelids slowly opened. I felt ropes around my wrist. I knew I couldn't move my head. Finally, my focus fell into place. I felt a cool breeze push against my chest. I knew for a fact that I was not in the Poseidon cabin anymore... A voice beckoned, "Eh. Percy. You thought your problems have gone? Why it has just begun!"

"Who are you? What do you want?" I yelled to the voice.

"Oh. Don't you know?" The voice asked.

I suddenly recognized the voice. It was impossible though! It couldn't be... I muttered that name I down right hated, "Smelly Gabe Ugliano..."

"That's right, you filthy rat!" Gabe's voice echoed from above.

"How are you alive? My mom took your filthy face and turned it into stone!"

"Your locked up fear is my strength! As long as your fear exists, I exist!"

"Where am I?" I questioned him.

"You were always the stem of my problems! Your neck is hanging by a noose. Your wrists are are tied with it."

"Wait. Wouldn't my weight pull the noose and kill me now?" I asked.

"There is a force stronger than me at hand that's prevented you from dying." Gabe explained, saying it like something I should know.

"Well, what if I don't want to hang anyway?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Asking too many questions, boy. But I'll answer anyway. You can either press a button on your palm to activate a knife. It will cut all the ropes that prevent you from falling. Sending you descending to the ground from this skyscraper."

"What if I refuse to choose this?" I asked annoyed.

"If you say that. A timer will start... Every single minute, the ropes around your neck and wrist. Slowly but surely, it will cut off your oxygen from your body." Gabe chuckled.

"Is there a third option?"

"No. Either way, you'll die!"

"Let me go right now, Gabe! Or else!"

"Is that resistance, I hear? Okay! Six minutes in counting! Prepare to die, Jackson!" Gabe screamed, it was so terrifying I shivered.

I thought to myself, "These will be my last minutes here. Will I go to Elysium? Or will I go somewhere like Asphodel. Or the Fields of Punishment? I would never get to tell Annabeth how I felt about her... What would happen to me after I pass this world? How was Gabe even alive? Was there a way to reverse Medusa's glare? Who would want to help Gabe? I haven't gotten on anyone's bad side. Or anyone who's dead anyway...

"One minute has passed, Jackson!" Gabe yelled.

A woman flashed before my eyes. I couldn't make her out. But I felt paralyzed. My body started to numb. After a few seconds, my mouth was operational, "What the Hades was that, Gabe?"

"What was an old friend, boy! She told said her name was Medusa something. I didn't really care. As long as she would loan some of her power to me!"

"What power did she give you, dirtbag?"

"The power to paralyze..."

So it was Medusa... But why Gabe? She could have easily helped Kronos again. Why him? I needed answers. Quick too. I only had less than five minutes to live... I started to look up into the heavens. I muttered angrily to whoever would hear, "Zeus, Poseidon, Hermes, whoever will listen to me! Gods! Please help me. Get me out of this mess!"

"Praying won't get you out of here, Percy!" Gabe yelled from above me.

"You don't know the forces I have, you fat bastard!" I angrily chuckled.

"Second minute's up."

The noose started to really tighten this time. I felt my breath taken away. Gabe was cackling this time, "Three more minutes. You can just end your life now! Why do you life, Percy? Why do you exist?"

"Because I'm no longer controlled by fear. I have a reason to life. Unlike you."

"Why I can make time just go by. Now you only have one more minute."

The noose was then tightened to until it was almost fatal. I was sweating. Horror struck my heart. My eyes welled up with tears. This was it. My hour has come. I never thought I would die at sixteen... I never thought my stepfather would come back... Gabe was right... I did fear him... I heard Gabe yelling, "Ten more seconds, Percy! Push the button and end your misery now! You've prolonged it!"

"I will wait those last seconds..." I replied.

"Fine! Five... Four..." Gabe started.

I shut my eyes, "Gods answer my prayers!"

"Three... Two..."

But then heard a scream. Then, for a split second, I saw a fat old man flash before my eyes. Blood streaming from his neck. I felt the bonds around my neck being loosened. And I was lifted up from the ropes... I looked up to see Hermes smiling at me, "Seems like you had an interesting night."

"Thanks Hermes."

He hoisted me up and onto solid ground. It felt nice and weird to feel solid ground again. Hermes took me by the shoulder and told me, "Come on, you've had a hard night."

"Yes, you have." A female voice beckoned.

I turned to where the voice originated. Medusa's face was created from the floor. I stepped back, "What do you want? I've had enough!"

"As long as your fear of Gabe exists. Gabe will shed all his blood from his body if he has to. As long as he kills you!" Medusa hissed.