Chapter 1: Abduction
On a cloudy day in March, Exodus sat on an old wooden rocking chair he had just summoned. He was in the middle of a dessert somewhere on earth. He could easily find out but did not care. Exodus was thrilled currently. After all the challenges he sent the way of his three toys, they were finally ready. And they had a supporting cast he could play with. But what to do with them? He could make them eat each other or put them through tests like in that movie Hammer, or some tool like that. None of those options seemed like they would get the maximum enjoyment out of them. What to do, what to do. Exodus sighed and summoned a TV to see if there was anything to help him on there. That where he had seen the Nail movie. He summoned a remote and clicked 1 on it. A couple of people were talking about something madness. Exodus grinned. He like madness, so he turned up the volume. "Yes Tom, I agree. This year March Madness tournament should be intense and entertaining. This year's tourney should excite with Uconn being the early favorite in both the men's and women's brackets." Confused, Exodus snapped his fingers and a Smartphone appeared. "Google what is March Madness" he said in his old gravelly voice. The phone took a minute and then replied "Events surrounding the single-elimination Division I college basketball tournaments performed each spring in the United States. The main tournaments involved are the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship and the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship. The nickname "March Madness" for these championships developed during the 20th century and was the origin of the video and television applications of the nickname." Interesting, Exodus thought to himself. A tournament in which teams' battle to see who the best is. What if….. Exodus grinned. He had an idea and a lot of work to do.
Percy Jackson was sleeping peacefully in his cabin when he heard a scream. He crept out of bed, wide awake. What was going on at this time of night? Was it a stupid prank pulled by the Stolls? Or was it more sinister? Whatever it was, Percy was going to find out. Led by the light of his fountain, he grabbed his pen sword. He crept out the door, arms tensed, ready for a fight. Or as ready you can be in sea horse pajamas. Creeping past the weapons shed, Percy continued his search for trouble. Another scream rang out. It was ANNABETH! Horrified Percy ran towards the sound of her voice. "Annabeth" he screamed. "Annabeth". Another scream rang out. It was …Piper? "Piper where are you" Percy shouted. Yet another scream. "Leo"? What was happening to his friends? He heard a yell from Nico this time. Suddenly the whole Dining Pavilion was illuminated, a horrible sight greeted Percy's eyes. A man around 6 feet tall with sunglasses and brown hair was holding Annabeth by the throat in the air. She was struggling to escape. He glanced around the whole pavilion and realized that the same man holding all of his friends in the same manner. They each had duck tape around their mouths. Out of the exit of the pavilion came a man. This guy was wearing a white t shirt with blue jeans and held a sword in his right hand. He had dark hair and an evil sneer on his face. Just like his other goons, he had sunglasses on his face. Percy now realizing he was in a lot of danger uncapped his pen and his sword Anaklusmos appeared. "Who are you" Percy angrily asked. The man with his sword Identical to Percy's grinned. "You and your friends of course". Confused, Percy asked the man why. The man grinned and pulled off his sunglasses. His eyes were black, pure evil. "Do you know who I am" the man asked. Percy cringed as he looked into his eyes. A memory of Octavian coming to camp and "preaching" about how he had resurrected…. Exodus. With horror Percy realized all the jokes and jabs taken at him were horribly misguided. "Exodus" Percy breathed out. "Precisely my boy". Exodus replied with. Percy was shaking with fear. Why would Octavian resurrect a guy like this? Was he hoping that this guy would take over Camp and kill the Greeks? But then why would he warn them? Percy stared at Exodus and said "What do you want with us", gesturing to his friends, who were now safely on the ground but still held tightly so they couldn't escape. "Mr. Jackson, I'll offer you a deal" he said now twirling his sword around and slowly pacing back and forth. "I'll let you and your friends go, if you beat me in a sword fight. If I win I take you and your friends without question". Percy was scared out of his mind. From what Octavian had said, Exodus was pure evil. He was the destroyer; he had been the original bad guy. How could Percy fight a guy like this? He had to try. Percy grimaced and said "I'll fight you". Exodus grinned. "Excellent Mr. Jackson. I don't believe I've fought a man of your caliber since the first age". Percy didn't know what that meant but slowly approached Exodus. Percy took the offensive at first. He swung and missed at Exodus who leapt back. He took the next swing. Blow after blow, Percy could barely defend himself. He knew he was going to lose his fight, and there was no water to revive him and help his offensive attack. Exodus was grinning and seemed to sense victory. Percy couldn't let him win. If he took him and his friends, horror definitely awaited them. Percy remembered the disarming move that Luke had taught him so long ago. It had saved his life countless times and hopefully this time too. Percy countered Exoduses move and then performed the disarming move. Exoduses sword flew out of his hand. He looked stunned and was glaring at his hand liked it betrayed him. There was something else in his eyes too. Was it…..Fear? Percy quickly placed the point of his sword on Exodus's chest. Anger was in his eyes. It was like an inferno, that Percy no longer wanted to stare at. He slowly began to back up when Exodus snapped his fingers. Suddenly, there was a man holding Percy, his hand over Percy's mouth. "Impressive Mr. Jackson" Exodus began. "Clever move to disarm me. I clearly chose well" he said with a very psychotic look on his face. Percy was attempting to scream things into this guys hand to no avail. Exodus had cheated! If he took them now, he would have gone back on his word. "I'm sorry Mr. Jackson", Exodus said, starting to pace. I must kidnap you and leave my friends", he said, gesturing to his goonies which held the Greeks hostage, " in your place, so no one knows of your absence". Percy was screaming now. He couldn't let this happen! Why did Exodus want them? Did he ever get a break? Before Percy could scream any of these questions and more, Exodus smirked and snapped his fingers. Everything went dark and Percy blacked out.
Jason Grace was having an excellent day. Nothing bad had happened today. No trouble, no mischief. The sun was setting beautifully and he got to spend time with the other praetor/ his girlfriend, Reyna. Octavian had been gone for weeks because he was going crazy about this exit or something like that. All was right with the world. "So Reyna" Jason began. "Are you enjoying watching the sunset with your awesome boyfriend"? Reyna just smiled and nodded. Jason stared at her for a moment. She was perfect in every way. Jason kissed her softly on the cheek and they continued to watch the sunset, peacefully. Until a scream rang out. Jason frowned. What was going on? The scream had come from the bottom of the hill, which the two praetors were on. Jason whispered to Reyna, "I'm going to check that out". Reyna simply nodded and got off of Jason's lap. Jason took his coin from his pocket and flipped it. He now held his golden sword as he crept down the hill, looking for trouble. He reached to bottom of the hill and no one was there. That's odd, Jason thought to himself. Some idiot must be playing a prank on me. He was about to go back up when he noticed something shiny, glinting in the darkness. He reached down to pick it up but stopped himself. It was one of Hazel's jewels. She must have been the one screaming. But why, Jason thought to himself. A million questions were looming in his head until another scram rang out, this one much more urgent. And it came from the top of the hill and sounded like Reyna. Reyna! She was still up there. Jason sprinted up the hill as fast as he could. His girlfriend was in danger. Once he got up there, a surprise greeted his eyes. Reyna was gone and where she was sitting lay her dagger. Now, Jason was mad. What the hell was going on? This no longer seemed like a prank, and if it was, he would pulverize the people responsible. Another scream rang out, this time at the bottom of the hill. Angrily, Jason stormed down there. No one but this time, something was next to Hazel's jewel. And it most certainly didn't belong there. It was Frank firewood. Jason was stunned. Frank would leave his firewood just sitting somewhere. No longer did Jason believe this was a prank. Something serious was happening and Jason didn't know what or why. Another scream rang out, this time at the top of the hill. Alright, Jason had had enough of this. "Whoever's out their Show yourself" He screamed. Someone tapped him on the shoulder. He whirled around. No one was there. Jason whirled in a circle. No one. His heart was pounding in his chest. What was going on? Suddenly he was surrounded by four people. They all wore masks, similar to the ones worn in the movie "The Purge". "Hello" they all croaked in the same gravelly voice. Jason was scared out of his mind. What the hell was going on? The four purge people slowly moved forward. They grabbed at him and Jason began to scream. "Help" "Help". Then Jason grew tired and thought I need a nap. He drowsily smiled at one of the figures who took his mask off and revealed him to be…..Jason Grace. That was the last Jason saw as he drifted off.
Carter Kane wearily rubbed his eyes and walked into his bedroom, yawning. It had been a long day at the Brooklyn house, with teaching and training and all that. He groggily changed into pajama bottoms and went to bed shirtless. He closed his eyes and just as he was about to fall asleep, a knock came at his door. Carter thought about staying in bed. He really didn't want to talk to ever that was, even if it was Zia. His body betrayed his mind and he got up. He opened the door wide and peered down both ends of the hallway. He saw a flash of red at the end of the hallway and frowned. Clearly someone had knocked on his and ran away, like a dumb prank. Carter was not in the mood for shanigans, but he wearily trudged down the hall, in search for the red person. He took a right into the kitchen and once again saw a flash of red at the corner. Carter frowned, not at all enjoying this wild goose chase and picked up the pace, wanting badly to figure out who was pulling this crap on him. His fast walk turned into a jog, his jog turned into a run and his run turned into a sprint. He still couldn't catch this person or being, whatever it was. Now, with his hands on his knees, Carter was breathing heavy. What happened to a nice night of sleeping? Carter was slightly surprised by the fact that he hadn't woken up anyone yet. If he woke up Sadie, he knew she would turn him into cheese or something for interrupting her beauty sleep. Carter grinned now feeling like a genius. The red person must be Sadie! He would go to her room and when she came back, he would scare the crap out of her. It was perfect. Carter slowly and quietly made his way back to the corridor with all the bedrooms in it. Carter approached the one labeled "Sadie". He slowly opened the door and grinned. Sadie wasn't in her bed. His hunch had been correct! He crept under her bed and grinned. His plan was to grab her foot when she went to go to sleep. So he waited. And waited. And waited some more. Sadie never showed up which had Carter worried. Where was she? He got up from beneath the bed and decided to go to Uncle Amos who was had stopped by, for help. Carter walked into Amos room, for it was wide open. Not a soul was in there. That's odd, Carter thought to himself. They must be in the library. So he went to the library. They weren't their either. He checked the kitchen, the great room to no avail. Now Carter was worried. What was going on? He decided to go to Walt for help, because he was Sadie's boyfriend and probably knew what was up. He walked down to Walt's room. He opened the door and the room was empty. Not one person was there. Carter was seriously sweating now and shaking with fear. What was going on? Carter was shaking with fear and trepidation as he went to his girlfriend Zia's room. Please be there he prayed to Horus. Please be there. He opened the door and breathed a sigh of relief. Zia was snoring in her bed, her chest slowly going up and down and she looked as beautiful as ever. Carter was so happy he didn't notice the man that had been standing behind the door. Nor did he notice when the man picked p the lamp and raised it over his head, about to slam it upon Carter's head. Carter was so worried about his other friends and happy to see Zia that he barely felt the first blow. He whipped his hurt head around to see a figure with a blunt, lamp shaped object in his hand. Carter was about to scream when his head was bashed again by the lamp. He crumbled to his knees, pain spreading through his body. A third blow to the side of his head knocked him to the ground and he sent a quick prayer to Horus before darkness overcame him.
Exodus closed his eyes and grinned when he felt Carter Kane lose conciseness, thanks to his master plan. Everything was falling into place. He already had Jackson and the Greeks, Grace and the Romans and soon he would have Kane and the Egyptians. Exodus grinned again. Everything was falling into place.