Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson.

Percy's POV

Percy knew that he had heard that name before. He concentrated and remembered in his freshman year when he took metal shop. On the wall was a picture of a guy who looked like he was sixteen. Underneath the picture was the name Charles Beckendorf. The metal shop teacher always talked about Charles Beckendorf and how he could make anything out of metal.

"So, Charles, you ready for this?" Kronos asked, an evil glint in his dark eyes.

"I told you, I go by Beckendorf." Beckendorf said. He had a pained sound to his voice, but was trying to mask it.

"Would you like it if I called you Charlie?" Kronos smirked.

Beckendorf immediately swung his hand out and punched Kronos on the jaw.

"Beckendorf!" Kronos shouted. He held his jaw for a moment, and then spit blood onto the floor. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Percy studied Beckendorf. There was a bead of sweat on his forehead and an aura of anxiety that filled the room when he entered. Percy may have not been as smart as Annabeth, but he knew that Beckendorf was worried.

"Sorry." Beckendorf muttered. "What do you want me to do?"

"Watch the captives while I go to town for a drink." Kronos commanded. "Cortez is going to be back tomorrow, and I'm not sure when I'll be back."

Kronos grabbed his jacket and opened the door, letting a cold breeze of winter air into the room. "Oh, and don't try any tricks. I'm monitoring you, you know." With that, he left.

Beckendorf walked into the kitchen warily, inspecting each of the kidnapped students. "You kids okay?"

"Aren't you the guy from the metal class?" Travis asked, and then immediately looked like he regretted it.

Beckendorf chuckled. "Yes, I am. Old Pete is still talking about me?"

"Well, you're practically a legend." Connor shrugged.

"Yeah…" Beckendorf looked a little embarrassed. He looked exactly like he did in the picture, but only slightly older. Percy guessed that he was probably in his earlier twenties.

It was silent for a while, so Percy started eating his food again. It was horrible, but Percy was starving.

"You're actually eating that stuff?" Beckendorf stared as Percy took another bite.

"I'm a teenage boy and I'm hungry." Percy shrugged and swallowed his food.

"Do you guys want some real food?" Beckendorf asked, walking into the pantry. "We've got…nothing."

"Why are you doing this?" Thalia asked.

"Why am I or why is Kronos?"

"You're not doing it for the money?" Annabeth sounded confused, which was a first.

Beckendorf sighed. "It feels like I'm having a therapy session with a bunch of teenagers. But yeah, I'm not doing this for the money."

"So you're doing this to hurt innocent people?" Katie exclaimed, looking furious.

Beckendorf looked hurt. "Of course not! I'm doing it because…" Beckendorf stopped. "I can't tell you. It was part of the deal. Let's just say that I knew Kronos in high school. He found me a month ago and…we compromised."

Percy finished his dinner and sat in the uncomfortable chair. Everyone else was done eating or looked like they didn't want to eat.

"Do you have any books?" Annabeth asked. Percy tried not to smile. They were being kidnapped and Annabeth still wanted to read.

"Maybe. I'll go find them." Beckendorf told her, and walked down a hall to a closet.

"Guys, I don't think he wants to be here." Thalia whispered.

"Yeah. You can tell how nervous he is." Connor agreed.

Percy was about to say something, but Beckendorf came back holding a stack of books. "There's a few good ones here…you can see if there's any you like."
Beckendorf set the books on the table and Annabeth immediately started looking through them. "Oh! I like this one!" She grabbed the book and headed to the couch.

"You guys can do whatever you want, except escape." Beckendorf told the teenagers. He sat down in an empty chair and grabbed a book.

Percy had no idea what to do. What do you do when you're being held captive?

So he walked over to Annabeth and sat down next to her. "What're you reading?"

"Pride and Prejudice." Annabeth replied, keeping her eyes on the page.

"Isn't that the really long and boring book?" Percy asked, making a face.

"No, it's a good book." Annabeth corrected.

"You're going to keep reading, aren't you?" Percy sighed.

"Yep."

"Annabeth, you're probably the smartest person in the house. You need to think of a way for us to escape! You know my mom and stepdad can't pay for the ransom!"

"Percy, you're dad probably will."

"Probably?"

It was Annabeth's turn to sigh. "Percy, what I'm saying is it doesn't matter if your mom and stepdad get some money or if your dad comes through, but they'll get you back. They love you."

"Sure doesn't feel like it." Percy murmured.

"You're the lucky one. My dad and Helen probably don't even care that I'm gone."

Percy didn't know what to say. It was hard to tell Annabeth she was wrong. First of all, she was never wrong. Second of all, Helen didn't really care much about Annabeth. Annabeth's father did, but he never really showed it.

"Now if you excuse me, I'd like to read my book." Annabeth's voice was strained.

Percy stood up, and walked over to the others. They were all in a group, talking hushed whispers.

Thalia was the first to acknowledge Percy. "Perseus." She nodded at Percy.

"Don't call me that!" Percy said on an impulse. He brought back tons of memories of when their fathers were close friends and their families did a lot together.

"What're we doing?" Percy asked.

"We're planning an escape." Nico replied.

"Travis and I can steal the keys to the car, but we don't' know how to escape." Connor explained.

"Do you think Blondie can come up with an idea?" Thalia asked Percy.

"Probably, but she's occupied right now." Percy said, remembering the awkward conversation.

Suddenly a gruff voice behind them said, "Planning to escape?"

The teenagers jumped and turned around in unison.

Beckendorf grunted. "I would be doing the same thing."

"Beckendorf, what do you know about Kronos?" Katie asked quietly.

"He's smart, strong, cunning, but he has one flaw that is obvious to see. He gets drunk every day." Beckendorf told them. "I can't tell you anymore. Like I said, he's watching us. I've got to go get something. Don't try anything." Beckendorf warned them and left.

"Percy, do you want to get Annabeth and maybe we can start planning?" Thalia asked right after Beckendorf left.

"I guess, but she might be moody." Percy told her wearily.

"You don't need to get me, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth interrupted the conversation, sitting down next to Percy. "We need an escape plan, and we need one soon."