I turned and ran as fast as possible to the Big House. I was almost to the stairs when one of those things caught up, jumped over me, and landed on the porch in front of me. I knew it was pointless to try to fight, so I looked for another way. I remembered there was a back entrance, and managed to get there with only a minor scratch on my arm. I thought about putting nectar on the wound, but decided not to since it was just a scratch.

I walked over to the little device Leo invented. It sprays a continuous fine mist into the air at the touch of a button. I moved it so it would catch the light and make a rainbow, and then I took a golden drachma out of the tray and pressed the button. Once there was a rainbow, I held up the drachma and spoke the incantation:

"O' Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, show me the praetors of Camp Jupiter."

Then I tossed the drachma at the rainbow and watched it shimmer and fade away, an image of the two praetors taking both it and the rainbow's place.

They were sitting at a round table in a café, drinking coffee, chatting, and laughing. I noticed their hands were touching, and I couldn't help but smile warmly at the sight, in spite of the situation. I felt bad for interrupting the two, but I had a feeling our camp's survival depended on the Romans getting here.

I spoke out quietly, "Jason? Reyna? I'm sorry to interrupt."

They both jumped a little. "Annabeth? Is something wrong?"

"Sadly, yes." I sighed. "These strange creatures have invaded the camp. Our dragon did nothing to faze them, and neither do our weapons."

No sooner did I finish that sentence, when there was a bone rattling thud, and the door started to come loose. Another, then another and the door flew off, hinges and all. The creature from before now stood in what was the doorway. It growled and a long slimy tongue shot out of its mouth, and wrapped around my ankle, dragging me off my feet. I heard the cry escape from my lips and Reyna and Jason cry out, horrified, in return. The thing looked up, distracted by these calls. I managed to worm my leg free, just before it launched itself at the picture, shattering the image. At that point, I ran.

I darted around the table and made it to the mangled doorframe before it recovered from both me getting free and the praetors vanishing. I jumped down the stairs when I felt something snatch at the air behind me. I ran faster. I had realized already that running would be pointless if I didn't have a place to rest. That's when it struck me. Bunker Nine! You can't get in unless you have fire or if someone from the inside lets you in. I'd be relatively safe if I could make it there. I'd be able to message Percy too, and find out where he's hiding if he's not at Bunker Nine. But, first I had to get there.