Chapter 4:

Luke's POV

It was probably the loudest scream I ever heard. Sure, I've fought a bunch of monsters, and I always wonder, why are they so attracted to me? So I was sure this monster came because of my "scent" or whatever, when Thalia spoke.

"It's a monster again. I've fought them before…"

I looked at her, trying to comprehend what she had said. "They come to you too? I thought it was only me! Why do you think they come to us?"

Thalia didn't answer. "We should fight it now. Or it will kill us."

I wanted to ask her more, but I knew she was right. She grabbed my hand and started running out of the cave, toward the cry of the beast.

Wow, I thought. She runs fast when she's scared.

I started to get out of breath. "Thalia...slow...down!"

She stopped.

And that's when we saw the hydra.

It was huge, and had six heads. It looked like a cross between a dragon and a serpent, and I was sure it breathed fire. It's eyes were red, waiting for the kill.

Luckily, the hydra didn't see us yet, and we were hidden in the bushes.

"So," Thalia started. "Do you have a plan or something?"

"No! I thought you did!" I said, gritting my teeth.

Suddenly, without any salient, Thalia jumped out of the bushes straight in front of the hydra's head (or one of them.)

"Thalia!" I tried to whisper. "What are you doing?"

She put her finger to her lips, signaling me to stay quiet. Then, she turned around and faced the hydra, who growled menacingly at her.

I prayed silently that she would stay alive.

Thalia took out a sharp spear, emblazoned with a weird zig-zag design. She yelled out a scream of triumph and dug her sword into the hydra's belly.

The beast staggered, trying to gain strength, and clawed at Thalia, catching her arm. Then the hydra died.

Thalia screamed in agony from the wound she had gotten and fell to the ground.

I covered my mouth in an attempt not to scream her name. Slowly, making sure the hydra was really dead, I came out of the brush.

Thalia was still, but she was murmuring to herself, trying to console herself of the pain.

I took her arm gently and she yelped. "Be careful!"

I carried her bridal-style back into the cave, with her muttering curses at the dead hydra.

"Luke," She said. "I-I think I'm gonna pass out."

I only said one thing, and I felt I said it to convince myself more than to convince her. "You won't die."