She groaned, and massaged her temples to try and chase away the headache she had gotten after being thrown into the wall- she was pretty sure there was a robot monkey-shaped dent in there by now. When would this end?

As if in answer, a shadow appeared on the wall and a figure stepped through. It was the Food Simian, as she had gotten used to calling it/she/him. A robot monkey- like her- created for the sole purpose of serving her captors.

At least, that was what she had thought at first.

Over time, she had received several signs that the Food Simian was not an emotionless robot- a glance over it's shoulder here, an extra piece of food after a particularly vicious monster there.

One day, it spoke. "Who are you?" It's voice was male, and raspy from disuse..She was shocked, but gathered enough of her wits to whisper: "Arya."

The Food Simian's black eyes darted around nervously, as if they were being watched. "I'm -"

A booming voice rang out. "FOOD SIMIAN 56, GET TO THE COMMAND ROOM NOW!" The Food Simian flinched, and murmured "Otto" before sprinting through the wall, tail curling nervously as he did so.

Arya sat stunned in the middle of her cell, her food forgotten. The Food Simian could talk! More than that, he(she assumed it was a he from the voice) had talked to her! Her euphoria faded as she remembered the voice from the walls. She hoped that nothing bad was going to happen to him...

A small gleam a few meters away from her caught her eye, and she remembered Otto's tail curling as he ran off. Arya had assumed it was just out of nervousness, but apparently he had dropped something for her to find! It was a few meters away, so she flopped down as if exhausted near the object.

It was a coin.

Why on earth-?

Then she realized- each time the Food Simian/Otto came in through the wall, he had his tail curled tightly. She had assumed it was just a glitch in his programming, but apparently she was wrong- the coin was the key to getting out! Otto wanted to help her! The last time someone helped her was...

Flashback

"Annabeth, Antauri cheated again!" A small purple monkey was standing with her arms crossed, and was glaring daggers at a black monkey levitating a few feet off the ground, a chess board below him.

"DID NOT!"

"DID SO!"

"DID NO-"

"Arya, Antauri, calm down!" Another black monkey(slightly larger than the others) interrupted, putting down her book.

"BUT SISSY, ANTAURI CHEATED!"

"DID NOT!"

The second black monkey sighed. "Arya, how did he cheat?"

The purple monkey sniffed angrily. " We've played 23 games of chess, and Antauri's won every. Single. One!" She accented this with an angry stomp of the foot.

"Yes, well just because you don't know how to play doesn't mean-"

"I DO KNOW HOW TO PLAY!"

"DO NOT!"

"DO SO!"

"DO -"

The bickering pair were silenced by two whips around their mouths, courtesy of the larger black monkey. "Arya, come with me. Antauri, tidy up the chess pieces and go to your room."

As soon as the two females were alone, Arya started protesting. "Antauri-"

"Was not cheating." Completed Annabeth. "He just had an unfair advantage-"

"In other words, he was cheeeeating!"

"No, he wasn't. It's really hard to win against someone else in chess when you don't know how to play, though.

Do you want me to teach you how to play so you can win back those 23 rounds, little sis?"

Arya grinned. "DEAL!"

Just then, the people started screaming. Annabeth's face paled. "It can't be them again.. It can't be! Arya, run to Antauri's room, and stay with him! Whatever you do, don't look back!" Terrified, the small monkey nodded. "Okay! Sissy.. are we gonna be okay?" Annabeth gritted her teeth.

"I'll do my best, but I can't make any promises. now go!"

Arya sprinted off towards Antauri's room, wings flapping wildly and lifting her up into the air as they did so- something which many later regretted.

Flashback End

Arya shook her head and mentally slapped herself. She needed to stop thinking about her past- stop hoping that someone would rescue her. Of course, there was actually a hope now! Otto must have stolen the coin to let her get out- naturally it would have had to belong to someone else...Oh, shoot.

She had to get out, now, or they would both be screwed.

She ran through the wall, still clutching the coin, and paused as a shadow loomed over her.

"Going somewhere, little monkey?"

Craaaaap.