Okay, so I accidentally put the wrong chapter title! XP If you read this the first time...well, now you've got a clue to what's coming next.


"Are you absolutely sure you don't want to call camp?" Ms. Jackson sounded worried, but I knew I'd be okay.

"Really, I wouldn't be able to consult the Oracle, and Chiron would just be worried about me." Like you are. "I'll be fine."

"Well, won't you at least take some drachmas so you can contact me?"

"Okay, but you do realize I will only be a few hours away?"

"Yes, but you never know, with you half-bloods a few hours can turn into two days."

I thought about that, just for a minute. "Alright, so if I'm not back by tomorrow I promise I'll message."

I said good-bye, ran outside immediately, and walked quickly to the bus station. The plan was, first I was going to take a bus to Philadelphia, then another one to DC, then another one to Richmond, VA, then a local bus to one of the areas Ms. Jackson had found.

Or so I thought.

When I got to the bus station, I thought I smelled something odd, maybe even monstrous. I decided to wait it out, see if anything happened. I scanned the loading area and noticed a suspicious man in a trench coat with the brim of a bowler hat pulled low over his forehead. He seemed familiar, but I just couldn't place him, so I just made sure I had my dagger and hat easily accessible. As I entered the bus I noticed the back of the bus had an emergency exit, so if I had to, I could get out that way. I waited for the very familiar man to find a seat, the placed myself between him and the exit.

The first thirty minutes of the ride were uneventful. I watched the man in the bowler hat, but he didn't speak or turn around. I decided to investigate, but I froze when he finally spoke. He had a french accent, and I recognized it. He was Dr. Thorn, a manticore! He had one blue eye and one brown one. He looked at me and said, "Hello, dear. May I join you?" I slipped on my Yankees cap and slid out of the seat into an empty row. Dr. Thorn stood and walked carefully and slowly towards me, not yet in his true form. I stood stock still, not wanting him to hear me. Slowly, I drew my dagger, and the manticore's eyes flickered in my direction. I slid slowly out of the row and towards the back exit. I had the feeling the manticore could sense me. He must have gotten more powerful! I realized we were at a stoplight, and I threw open the emergency exit.

As I jumped out and ran, I could hear Dr. Thorn in close pursuit. I realized I couldn't run very much, or I'd be too tired to fight him. I dodged into an alley nearby. I've got to make a plan! As I thought about it, I realized there was only one thing that I would be able to do now. I had to run!

The next time I got a chance to even think, I thanked Hermes for making me so swift-footed. I don't ever think I could have run that fast on my own. Chancing a look back, I realized that manticore must have lost track of me. I took a good look at my surroundings and felt some major deja-vu. I stood near the edge of a cliff, with a thick forest on my right side, and a manticore had been chasing me. I closed my eyes and thought back to that time two years ago when this very same manticore had thrown himself, while holding on to me, off of a cliff very similar to this one, so that he could get to Kronos, away from the Hunters.

My eyes snapped open. The Hunters! At first I thought that I was still in my imagination, because I could see Thalia emerging from the forest. No, Thalia wasn't in the Hunters back then! Thalia's bow and arrow were trained on me, ready to shoot, but then she realized who I was. "Annabeth? Is that you?"

I laughed. "I sure hope so!" As I drew closer, I could see many young girls behind Thalia. As I looked around, I noticed a specific girl, of probably 11 or 12 years, one with auburn hair. She stood to Thalia's left. I recognized her almost immediately and bowed. "Lady Artemis."

"I see that we have found you on your search for your friend P—" The goddess was interrupted by Thalia's battle call.

"Hunters, to arms!"

I whirled around to see Dr. Thorn glaring at me. "I seek revenge on the girl whose knife destroyed my master!" He stood back, now in his true form, and slung some spikes from his tail toward me. When I deflected them quickly with my knife, he charged me, and dodged the few arrows that had flown before their mark. I readied my knife and pulled out my cap, but I heard a voice that made me pause.

"You won't take another step."


R&R Please! I'll probably update tomorrow!