Ch. 4

It only felt like minutes.

Zoë felt herself being shook and tried not to let out a groan of annoyance. The sleep felt so good and she refused to let go of it willingly. She could have sworn she had just shut her eyes no more than two minutes ago and had no plans to hear otherwise.

Unfortunately for her, the persistent shaking finally shook her from her haze as she opened her eyes. The sight before her gave her the indescribable urge to vomit. It was like she was waking up only to find her worst nightmare had come to life.

Sleep had been so blissful. A temporary escape from the harsh reality she now found herself in. Despite the dimness of the lighting, she found it difficult to keep her eyes open. Something about the light, or maybe the toxicity of the air around them, made it difficult to keep her eyes open for more than a few seconds at a time.

"Hey," a soft voice said, "we should start moving again." Percy whispered. She had yet to raise her head off his chest. She hadn't meant to fall asleep. They were resting after the battle with the Cyclopes and she must have dozed off without meaning to. She couldn't describe the disappointment that they weren't sleeping peacefully in their room on the Argo II.

"Sorry," she said in a raspy voice. She cleared her throat, "How long did I fall asleep."

"A few hours?" It was more of a question than an answer but her eyes finally fully opened at his words. "It's hard to tell how much time has passed."

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

Percy looked down at her, his patented crooked smile creeping onto his lips.

"I thought I just did."

She picked her head up and glared at him, "Percy, you shouldn't have let me sleep that long!"

He rolled his eyes, "And end the one enjoyable moment I've had since catching up to you on the fall down here?"

Damn him, she thought to herself. Why did he have say the sweetest things without even meaning to?

"But you should've woken me up so you could sleep too," she tried to argue.

He just shrugged, "I wasn't tired. I think I had too much adrenaline pumping from the battle with those Cyclopes."

She knew he was lying. He looked tired. As much as he tried to hide it, she could always find the truth in his eyes and they showed the weariness he refused to let his body show. Before she had a chance to argue more, he picked himself up, offering her a hand and pulling her up as well. She stumbled a little, her legs a little asleep still from her nap and he caught her in his arms. Before she could regain her footing he planted a soft kiss on her lips.

Despite the situation, she felt the all too familiar butterflies flutter in her stomach that popped up every time he kissed her at the exact right moment.

He pulled back, the weariness in his eyes replaced by that sparkle she was more used to seeing in his multicolored eyes.

"Ready to keep moving?"

Zoë just nodded, her voice choosing that exact moment to fail her as she wished she was still in the moment from seconds earlier.

Percy peered out from behind the rock, taking a quick scan of the area ahead of them before stepping out into the open again. She followed his lead as they resumed their trek along the banks of the Phlegethon River. The sleepiness was quick to leave her and she couldn't deny how much better she felt after resting for a few hours.

Percy seemed less rejuvenated from their rest and she mentally cursed at his stubbornness. He would ride himself to death before admitting he needed rest and she knew she needed to keep an eye on him as they marched on.

Just as it had been before they ran into the Cyclopes, the journey was arduous and a perpetual repeat of the same barren wasteland that had been marching through for unknown hours. It was impossible to tell how much time had passed but after what Zoë could only guess was a few hours, the terrain finally began to change.

Instead of the red, chalky ground they had been trekking through, the ground became softer. It was almost squishy under their feet and felt moist under their feet.

Percy seemed to have noticed the change as well, looking at their feet as they walked. Fires still burned around through; though what they were burning was a mystery to her. They just seemed to randomly pop up all around them. But then again, this was Hell. She supposed it made sense there would be fire.

The Phlegethon had come to its end.

Well, end wasn't the right word.

It did split into a series of smaller flaming extensions that spread across a large, somewhat flat plain. The largest part of the river stayed intact, flowing across the vast field before appearing to vanish.

"Ah," Percy said in an almost relieved tone. "Finally, a change."

Zoë couldn't argue with that. She was beginning to think Tartarus was nothing more than an endless abyss that would kill them by keeping them marching until their legs stopped working.

"What now?" She asked.

Percy pulled Anaklusmos out, keeping it in pen form as he twirled it in his fingers. It seemed like more of a nervous twitch than anything else as he scanned the area out ahead of them.

"We march on, I guess. I forgot to grab the pamphlet with the layout of Tartarus during the introduction seminar." He replied sarcastically.

She glared at him but he simply shrugged his shoulders, "I'm open to suggestions but the only option I see is to keep going."

She hated when he did that. He had the uncanny ability to make the most complicated situation simple and make total sense while he did it.

Before she could reply, he turned to one of the small branches of the Phlegethon that snaked out into the plain ahead of them. Without a word, he dipped his hands in and brought the flames to his lips, forcing himself to gulp it down before he could think about how painful it was going to be.

He clenched his eyes as the fire water burned him from the inside out. After a few minutes, the pain seemed to subside and he turned to Zoë.

"Do it. We have no idea what we might run into out there and this could be our last chance to re-up on this pleasant little beverage."

She frowned but didn't argue, following his example and forcing down more of the excruciating but lifesaving fire. She clenched her eyes trying to withstand the pain when she suddenly felt something enter her mouth. The pain in her mouth vanished and it felt like she just had a quart of ice cold water shoved inside. She opened her eyes and found Percy's hand was over her mouth, making her swallow the substance. As it travelled down her throat and into her stomach, all the burning and pain vanished instantly. She looked up at Percy in disbelief.

"What was that?" She growled.

Percy held out his hand where a miniscule piece of Ambrosia rested; a piece way smaller than the one she felt unceremoniously shoved in her mouth. Without a word, he plopped it in his own mouth, his shoulders immediately slumping in relief as he felt the effects of the godly food work its magic.

After a moment, he smiled at her, "Sorry, I can't stand watching you in pain."

She shoved him hard, making him stumble back, "What else to do you have?"

He recovered and reached into his pocket pulling out a small flask and a plastic baggy with barely more than ambrosia crumbs collected along the bottom.

Without giving him a chance to react, she snatched both items from his hands and glared harshly at him, "We need to save this for emergencies! Where did you even get these?"

He looked sheepish as he rubbed the back of his neck, "I always carry them. I've learned long ago that danger can lie around even the safest looking corners."

Zoë didn't say anything. She tucked both items into her pocket and tried to contain her anger at his wasteful nature. Despite knowing he only did it out of love, she had to hold herself back from snapping at him. While uncomfortable, she was fine. He had wasted their tiny supply of ambrosia because he was too soft to watch her suffer.

"Let's move," she said coldly.

As much as she hated to admit it, she felt a million times better now and turned away from him before he could notice. They eyed the vast expanse in front of them. It was another barren wasteland. Fiery chasms littered the plain along with blackened rocks and boulders. The Phlegethon was split into a half-dozen tributaries that zigzagged across the plain before flowing back into their source and vanishing from view at the end of their sightline.

About fifty yards in front of them, a bit of movement caught their eyes before a small creature seemed to claw its way out of the ground and looked around wildly.

"Is that a Hellhound?" Percy said shocked. "It looks like a baby."

Before she could respond, a dark figure swooped down out of the clouds and snatched the baby monster up before shooting back into the sky.

"Well that's just awesome." Percy muttered, "Another direction to watch our backs from."

Zoë eyed the spot where the Hellhound was snatched with surprise.

"So monsters die and are reborn in Tartarus," she said more to herself. "But where do they go afterword?"

"To the Doors of Death I suppose," Percy answered absentmindedly.

"So," she surmised, "we could follow one of these monsters, if we go unnoticed, and they would lead us to the Doors of Death?"

"Well," he seemed doubtful, "in theory, I guess."

Zoë watched the plain waiting to see if any more monsters would spring out of the ground but found nothing stir, much to her disappointment.

"But following a monster isn't my idea of a good plan," Percy added brushing past her and entering the plain, forcing her to follow him into more of the unknown.

They tried to move quickly but the distance they needed to cross was vast. They soon lost the energy to hurry and instead tried to be as inconspicuous as possible, not an easy task for two living mortals in the middle of Tartarus.

After several minutes of walking, Percy couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. He looked around but couldn't see anything. The feeling came from all around them, as if a pair of eyes was moving, not staying in one place long enough to be noticed but it was like Percy could feel them on him. He didn't want to mention it to Zoë though, the last thing they needed was something else to worry about.

After a few more minutes of walking, Percy was suddenly shoved to the ground. He rolled over in time to see Zoë dive forward to avoid one of the winged demonic creatures as it tried to snatch her up like it did to the Hellhound.

Zoë rolled forward and stayed crouched to the ground as one hand went to her ankle to unsheathe the dagger held there.

"Percy watch out!" She yelled.

His eyes turned to see another winged creature making a pass at him with another on its heels.

Percy reached down and snatched up some of the muddy dirt substance that made up the ground beneath them.

As the monster opened its clawed feet to grab him, Percy tossed the dirt in its face causing it to let out an ear piercing screech. It pulled up blinded and collided with the monster behind it sending them both crashing to the ground as Percy dove to avoid be caught up in the collision.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out Anaklusmos, ready to finish off the dazed monsters when he felt a small hand on his arm, yanking him back.

Before he could ask what she was doing, the ground beneath them began to tremble lightly. He followed her eyes across the plain and paled at what they saw.

Standing no more than fifty yards ahead of them was a monstrous figure Percy wished would never have to see again in his life.

Fully reformed from the former puddle of sludge Percy had turned him into was Polybotes; even from such a distance, Percy could see the wicked looking smile adorning his ever ugly face.

"Perseus Jackson!" He boomed across the plain, "I've never been one to put much faith into Fate but even I cannot deny the eternal debt I owe those three hags for this little present!"

Zoë glanced at Percy and saw his ashen face, a look she'd only seen a few times and never hoped to see again… A look of pure fear.

"Percy," she said quietly, trying to break him from the trance he seemed to be in watching Polybotes.

She shook him and he finally turned to look at her. She didn't need to say the words, her face asked the question for her.

What do they do?

"I…I… I," he couldn't even get words out because he didn't have any to give her.

What could he say? They had no god. How could they kill a giant if they didn't have a god to help them?

"Run…" he whispered. It was all he had. There only hope, no matter how slim, was to run for it.

Before they could even try, Polybotes stopped marching towards them, standing about twenty feet away now, his evil smile only growing as he saw the look on Percy's face.

"My, My," he mocked, "the great hero, Perseus Jackson, looks to be at a rare loss for words. Nothing to say without some halfwit virgin goddess to fight with you?"

Anaklusmos sprang into sword form on its own, almost as if it knew Percy was too stunned to do it himself.

The feel of his sword coming to life snapped him out of his funk and he shoved Zoë away from him.

"Run!" He yelled knowing her only hope was to run while he fought the giant.

Before she could even argue, Polybotes struck.

Rather than charge at Percy, he hurled his weighted net and caught Zoë before she could dive out of the way. The net wrapped around her small body and within seconds she was tangled up and stuck struggling as she rolled around only to flounder at her attempts to break loose.

Polybotes spun his trident in his hand, a wicked grin on his face.

"Finally," he said with satisfaction. "No one else to help you demigod. Come, and meet your maker. I promise to kill her quick once I'm down with you!"

Percy glanced at Zoë but knew he could never free her before Polybotes ran him through. His only option was to fight and pray that he could immobilize the giant long enough to free Zoë and run for it.

Forcing the fear from him heart, Percy charged at the giant.

Before he got within five feet, Polybotes met his charge with one of his own, driving his trident into the spot Percy stood. Only his quick reaction kept Percy alive as he dove forward and came back up at Polybotes' feet.

He rolled aside to avoid being stomped to death and drove his blade deep into the giant's calf.

Polybotes roared in outrage and swept his weapon at him, catching him in the leg before he could dart aside.

Percy regained his feet and charged again, this time slower and waiting for Polybotes to make his move.

The giant tried to squash him under his trident but Percy saw it coming. He jumped back and then jumped onto it before it could be pulled from the ground. As Polybotes jerked back, Percy lunged forward, landing on Polybotes shoulder and trying to keep his balance long enough to strike.

Polybotes spun around and Percy grabbed onto the only thing within reach, the giant's ear.

A handful of the basilisks that made up his hair snapped at Percy who managed to swipe at them with in blade, cutting a couple in half and forcing the others to retreat back to the giant's head.

Polybotes reached up to grab his unwelcome rider but Percy let go, sliding down his back and slicing with Anaklusmos as he went.

Polybotes roared in pain and stumbled forward, golden ichor pouring from his back from where Percy got him.

Just as Percy landed on his feet and turned towards his enemy, he got a firsthand view of the wounds closing up just as quickly as they were inflicted.

Polybotes turned with an arrogant smile on his face, "Not bad, little demigod. But you cannot win down here! This is my father's domain! I will have my vengeance against you!"

Percy tried not to let his fear show. Unfortunately for him, he knew Polybotes was right. He was only buying himself a few extra moments of life. He would soon feel the giant's wrath and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Polybotes charged again, this time slower and waiting for Percy to make a move. As he closed in, Percy tried to jump aside but the giant saw it coming and used his trident to sweep his legs out from under him.

Before Percy could recover, a huge dragon's foot pinned him to the ground, keeping him in pain and in place but not heavy enough to crush him.

"A good effort, Percy Jackson, but the time for your games has ended. It' time for you to face your inevitable death!"

Percy tried to break free but Polybotes just increased the weight holding him down. He raised his trident to finish him, smiling widely as he prepared to go for the kill.

Refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing him cower, Percy keep him eyes open, glaring murderously at his enemy.

Just as Polybotes brought the fatal strike down, Percy thought he had failed. He tried to keep his eyes open but before the blow landed his entire world was filled with darkness.

A.N: I feel like I'm warming up. I'm starting to get back into the groove. Chapters will progressively get longer… And what better way to get back into the groove than leave the always loved cliffhanger.

Ok… See you guys in six more months.

Lol… See you this weekend… Already started next chapter.