Percy stabbed the monster with Riptide. He wasn't sure what the monster was, he didn't really pay attention to Annabeth when she gave him lessons about monsters. As far he knew, Annabeth was the only other demigod around the area. The monster broke into dust, showering Percy in monster remains. Shaking the dust out of his hair, he walked into a narrow alley he knew too well.
Percy and Annabeth had been staying in a small hole inside a collapsed building. Percy was sure there weren't any buildings that stood perfectly anymore. Many buildings had been demolished by the monsters, others stood slanted with walls that were caved in. Percy and Annabeth's makeshift hideout was small, but it provided cover.
When Percy had entered the hole, Annabeth was waiting or him. She was grinning, like she had found enough food to last a month. Percy was sure that the small bag of food he had found inside a deserted grocery store would only last them a few days. Slinging the bag off his shoulder, he dumped the contents on the ground.
"I found a bit of food." Percy said. "I'm guessing you found more than I did."
Annabeth was holding what looked like a limp scaly rope.
Percy frowned. "I don't think we can eat that."
"Percy, it's a snake. Caught it just a hour ago."
Months ago, Percy would have found eating a snake disgusting. But now, just thinking about fresh food made him drool.
Annabeth sighed. "This won't last long. If we had a way to preserve it we wouldn't have to eat it all at once."
She started sorting through their belongings, shoving everything they needed in a her backpack, while Percy started skinning the snake with a clean knife he found in the small space. They could never stay in one place for long.
As they cooked the animal, Percy stared at the smoke rising into the blackened sky. There wasn't much to see. The sun would never rise again. Annabeth said that Apollo had been defeated by the Titans. Percy knew Apollo wasn't the only god defeated. He hadn't seen the moon in ages.
Maybe he would never see any gods. Maybe he would never see his father.
It had been exactly a year, three months, and two days since the monsters had arrived. Exactly a year, three months, and two days since she last saw Annabeth.
Thalia held her brother's hand while they walked through the the ruined town. Jason wasn't much younger than Annabeth. Less than a year younger. They needed to move fast, before more monsters came. The town they had stayed in wouldn't be safe for very long. Thalia knew they had to leave, or else they would be killed.
"Thalia," Jason said. "We've been walking for the whole day. Can't we take a break?"
"It won't be safe. We'll be killed."
"But we've kicked monster butt before. Why cant we do it again?"
"We just can't okay?"
Thalia stared at the ground as they continued walking. Her feet were sore from walking, but they had to keep going. Thalia didn't want to tell Jason the truth. The Titans were the ones who had caused all of the destruction. Thalia had only found out a few days ago, when a monster had told her. Finding out the truth only made survival harder. Jason had just turned thirteen, not nearly old enough to be on his own. Thalia had to keep him close. She couldn't lose him, just like she had lost Annabeth.
"We'll rest here for the night." Thalia said, pointing to a small space behind a building. "I'll be on first watch."
As Jason fell asleep using his backpack as a pillow, a yelping sound made it to Thalia's ears.
Immediately, Thalia's spear sprang into full size. A small girl stumbled into Thalia's sight.
"Please don't hurt me!" She squeaked, eying Thalia's spear.
"Wait a minute," The girl said. "You guys are human!"
Slowly Thalia lowered her spear. "Who are you?"
"I'm Piper." The girl said. "My Dad disappeared. Can you help me find him?"
"I'm Thalia. I'm not sure if I can help you."
Piper's face darkened. "Can I stay with you?"
Thalia considered it. She would make them slower, but it was obvious the girl was a half-blood.
"Fine."
Bianca and her brother hid in the shadows of a building, hoping the monsters wouldn't see them as they marched by. Dread filled Bianca's body, like something bad was about to happen. Her heart pounded in her chest. Sweat beaded her face.
Nico's face was buried in her shirt. Bianca couldn't help but wonder how he felt. She stared at the army of monsters marching by. She slowly listed them in her head, hoping the monsters wouldn't smell them. Bianca wrapped one hand around her brother. The other gripped the hilt of her knife. She knew even with powers they wouldn't stand a chance.
Bianca held Nico closer as she saw a monster sniffing the air. Immediately, all heads were turned to them. For a second nothing happened. Then all hell broke loose. The monsters charged. Bianca pressed her brother even closer to her. Soon, Nico was yanked from her grip. His eyes wide he stared in horror. Pain was all Bianca could feel. Slowly it faded away. The leader of the army spoke.
"Take the boy. He would be useful." He said. "The girl is not needed."
Bianca tried to find her brother amongst the monsters. Darkness clouded her vision. Nico's cry for help echoed in her ears.
She couldn't feel the pain anymore. She couldn't feel anything but her brother's fear. Then, all feeling left her. All that was left was black.
End of Chapter One! What do you think about the story? Please R&R.
Random question: Which Percy Jackson movie was better, the first or the second?
