DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything from Rick Riordan

Hi, back in a flash. Welcome to the next update. So umm...I hope you like this. ANd I hope you review a lot more. I mean every review means a lot to me. It somehow gives me the urge to push on-keep writing mode. Please..Please... ^_^

ANNABETH'S POV

While Dr. Thorn picked up the drum, he let go of my grasp and started to run towards him. As I was still inches away from Percy, Thorn flung the drum towards Percy. I noticed it and instinctively, I covered myself over Percy's bloody body. I just couldn't stand it anymore that he took all the blows. The drum slammed on my back and I winced in pain.

"Well, well…what are you doing girl? No use protecting him." Thorn snickered at me.

"You're gonna die!" I yelled angrily.

"Correction…BOTH OF YOU are gonna die…RIGHT NOW!" Thorn raised his tail and zeroed on us.

I guess maybe this it. I looked at Percy. He was such in a waste. He looked back at me and smiled. I smiled back. I guess if we both die today, this is acceptable. We have been through a lot of close calls but maybe today the Fates already decided that they had enough of it. There is nothing better than dying with someone you truly love. I took one good look at the only man that I have ever loved and always love forever.

Thorn was about to flick his tail when suddenly, an arrow whizzed through and hit directly in Thorn's forehead.

"ARRRRGGHHH!" he yelped in pain.

Thorn staggered backwards and then I heard a familiar voice commanding the Laistrygonians.

"Laistrygonians! Don't move. Behave yourself!"

It wasn't just a command. It was charm-speak. I looked around and saw my old friend, Piper McLean.

"Yes, ma'am. We will behave." The cannibal trio stayed put.

"Piper!" I yelled happily.

"I'm sorry we're late Annabeth. We were kinda…sidetracked." Piper then started walking towards us.

"Jeez…My sister is so uber-phobia about flying or driving. We would have been here earlier." Another man approached. It was Jason Grace.

"Shut up Jason! Now we still have monsters to kill." Thalia yelled at him and then looked at me. "Percy?"

I didn't answer. Thalia shoved me aside and looked at Percy. Percy opened his eyes and croaked in a weak voice.

"P-Pinecone Face…you're…late…" he coughed in blood.

"Shut up and save your strength, Kelp head." Thalia wiped a tear on her cheek.

Then, the manticore regained his composure.

"DAUGHTER OF ZEUS! JUST MY LUCK…I WILL KILL YOU ALL!" he roared.

Thalia then looked at everyone.

"Alright, Piper…you stay here with Percy and Annabeth. Protect them and take these ambrosia and nectar. Feed it on Percy."

"Got it." Piper said.

"Jason and I will handle the manticore. Remember Jason, he's a tough monster. Ready brother?" Thalia asked Jason.

"Anytime." Jason grimaced.

"Annabeth, let's take Percy safe behind those containers." Piper looked at me.

"Okay." I muttered.

As the Grace siblings were about to charge, Piper called at Jason.

"Hey, Superman. Be careful." She winked at him.

Jason approached and grabbed her close by the waist and kissed her.

"Refreshing." Jason smiled.

"Jeez…Love birds. Save that for later! Jason, come on!" Thalia yelled.

"Go get him, tiger." Piper giggled.

Jason and Thalia then attacked the manticore. The air smell like ozone. Sparks were flying. Arrows whizzing. Lightning crackling. While they were fighting, we tried to heal Percy.

"Here Percy…drink." I poured nectar on his mouth.

"Annabeth, don't make him drink much." Piper said.

"I know. Give me the ambrosia squares."

"Here." She handed it over to me.

I fed Percy some ambrosia and he chewed it slowly. He seems to get a better a bit but it wasn't enough to heal him completely.

"Annabeth…" he croaked.

'Hush, Percy. Take it easy." I said.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Thalia, Jason and Piper arrived. Then the Grace siblings fought the manticore. Piper persuaded the Laistrygonians to behave. We are safe now." I blinked in tears.

He then turned to Piper.

"What…took you so long guys?" Percy said.

"Well…we've got transportation problems. You know how Thalia is…" Piper grinned.

"That Pinecone face…" he laughed.

We heard a barrage of barbs hitting on someone. We took a glance and saw the Laistrygonians vaporized into yellow dust after Jason unintentionally led Thorn to them.

"YOU FOOL! You shouldn't have dodged. My minions are dead because of you!" Thorn bellowed at Jason.

"You're really an idiot, you know. I'm just too fast and you're so awfully slow. I didn't know those 3 little pigs were behind me. Well, now you're the only one left." Jason chuckled.

"RAAAWWWRR!" the manticore roared.

Jason flipped his Ivlivs and it changed into a javelin.

"Now, the real fight begins." He snickered at the monster.

Jason furiously assaulted the monster while dodging his barbs. Thalia also peppered the manticore with arrows from long range. The monster ,clearly outmatched, refused to yield.

"ARGGHH!...CURSE YOU ALL!" he howled in pain.

Thalia then dropped her bow and tapped her bracelet. Aegis sprang in full form. Thorn started to back away. She then grabbed her spear. Together they cornered the weakened manticore.

"Jason, let's finish this." Thalia looked at the manticore sternly.

Jason nodded at her.

Then the air around them started to crack and lightning surged from their spears. It hit directly at Dr. Thorn and the manticore was fried to yellow dust.

"Whew…" Jason exhaled.

"Nice job brother." Thalia smiled.

Together, they ran towards us.

PERCY'S POV

I was still weak after the ordeal. They made it after all. I could hear Dr. Thorn's roar of defeat. We are safe now. The battle is over. Despite of the nectar and ambrosia, it was clear that I need more than that to heal. The damage was too much for me.

"Hey! There's a mortal here!" Thalia yelled.

"Oh…that's Mr. Carlton. Don't let him get away." Annabeth said.

Thalia and Jason grabbed the man who was still gagged and tied.

"Who is this anyway?" Jason asked.

"That's Mr. Carlton. He and Dr. Thorn worked together a client of mine, Mr. Smith. They were his security along with the Laistrygonians. But they decided to kill Mr. Smith. They succeeded in doing so and made it look like suicide." Annabeth said.

"You..mean..this..guy killed Smith?" I asked.

"Yes, Percy. He is your prime suspect." Annabeth said.

I coughed up more blood.

"Hey Percy…You should not try to talk." Piper muttered.

"So anyway, this guy has seen a lot weird stuff of everything here. I don't know what the Mist has allowed him to see. He needs to be brainwashed or persuaded. What do we do with him?" Jason asked.

"Well, Piper can handle that." Thalia grimaced.

"Piper, tell this guy to stay here until the police arrives. Then he should surrender himself to them. Also persuade him to tell what's going on since the murder of Mr. Smith leading to the events that has happened now. Just leave the part of the monsters and the 3 of you." Annabeth said.

Piper collared the man and did her job.

The police sirens were wailing. They were getting near.

"Cops are here. We need to leave. Right now." Thalia beckoned at us.

"But Percy is too weak to move." Annabeth protested.

"We will help you Annabeth." Jason said.

"Percy…are you alright now?" Annabeth asked.

"You..know..I'm not." I groaned.

"You are being such an idiot! You should've fought back! It was just only 4 of them." She yelled at me.

"Silly girl…I would have lost if I fight back. Then I wouldn't be able to save you. True it was easy for me to deal with them but I had to restrain myself…." I coughed.

"Percy…please, save your strength." Annabeth shed a tear.

"I couldn't hit back because my only objective was to protect you…" I began to weaken my hold.

'Oh no…We need to go the harbor right away. To the sea! That is his only hope." Thalia said.

"Yeah, Percy…hang on. This is only a few walks." Jason struggled to keep me standing.

"Hey guys! Wait up!" Piper yelled, running towards us.

"Piper, how's Carlton?" Annabeth asked.

"Don't worry. I'm making it sure he's cleaning all the mess. Trust me." Piper smiled.

We struggled to keep Percy walking and heading towards the sea.

"Hang on there…kelp head." Thalia shouted at me.

"The ambrosia and the nectar weren't enough?" Piper asked.

"Yeah…we can't risk giving him too much of it." Jason answered.

We were now at the edge of harbor. I felt like my life was slowly ebbing away.

"Annabeth…Guys…Thanks…for everything." I said.

"Stop talking like that Percy! We will make it!" Annabeth yelled.

"Annabeth…Please don't cry….I..."

Then my hands suddenly went limp and I was plunged into a world of darkness.

Next update will be in a few days, I think. Thanks for reading. Please don't forget to review! ^_^