Author's Note: Ugh sorry guys I know this is a day late. I hope you like this chapter, and I promise I'll try to keep to the usual schedule from now on. As always, please review because I'd really like to see your feedback on how it can be improved. And, last but not least, I do not claim to own Percy Jackson, I am just a huge fan.

Chapter Four: Annabeth POV: Iris-Messaging

I returned from my walk, which had only succeeded in making me more upset than I had been before, to find out that Thalia had decided to join Kronos's army with Luke. After all the time it had taken both of us to get over the fact that Luke had gone over to the dark side, Luke comes in, re-opens all of the old wounds, and takes Thalia away. Did demigods never have good luck? It seemed like something bad was always happening to me.

I flinched when the door clicked shut in front of me. After a minute, I yanked it open again and stared at Thalia and Luke, who were heading toward the parking garage, but I didn't say anything. After a moment, Thalia glanced back, seeing me standing at the railing, but I couldn't make out her expression from that distance.

I needed to talk to someone. I debated Iris-messaging Chiron, but decided against it. First, I needed to talk to Percy.

I ran around the side of the building and grabbed the hose, turning the knob and holding it up to the sun. No one could see me there; the building next door completely shielded this area and no one ever walked between the buildings. I dug a drachma out of my pocket and tossed it into the rainbow. "O' Iris, goddess of the rainbow, accept my offering. Show me Percy Jackson." The mist shimmered. I realized I was getting tired of holding the hose, so I propped it against an old flowerbed.

When the message connected, it took me a moment to process what I was seeing. It was what looked to be the top floor of a high-class apartment building, from the view outside the window and the furniture. I knew instantly that it wasn't Percy's apartment. The second thing I noticed was Percy himself. He was sitting in a chair in the middle of the room. Wait- he was tied to the chair. He was gagged, and his head was slumped over. I gasped. No no no no no no no NO! This couldn't be happening. It was just a nightmare; I would wake up in a second. None of this was actually happening.

"Percy!" I whisper-shouted. I didn't know if his kidnappers were anywhere near, and I didn't want to risk speaking any louder.

Percy looked up, his eyes meeting mine. "Amabef?" He whispered. The sound was muffled through the gag, but I could tell that he had said my name.

"What happened?" I said, panicked. "I'll find you, Percy. I will."

He shook his head hard, his eyes wide. It's not safe, his expression told me. He was pleading with his eyes.

I heard a loud sound somewhere on the other end of the message, then heavy footsteps that definitely weren't human.

"Cuff uh conefon!" He whispered loudly. I was two steps ahead of him. I swiped my arm through the mist, dissolving the connection just as a door to the right of Percy opened.

I shut off the garden hose, which had fallen to the ground and soaked my dress shoes. At the moment, I didn't care. I sat down on the planter box, the realization that Percy was in danger slowly dawning on me.

I needed to go and talk to Thalia, but then I remembered that she had betrayed me. She had gone with Luke.

I turned on the water again, this time contacting Chiron. He was in his office at Camp Half-Blood.

"Chiron!" I yelled. He jumped and turned around.

"Annabeth? Is something wrong?" He saw my expression. "Oh, dear. Annabeth, child, I'll send someone to get you back to camp immediately. It seems as if we need to talk." There was concern in his eyes as he waved and his image disappeared.

I shivered. It was getting colder, and a cloud had blocked the sun, threatening rain. I darted back around the side of the apartment, not caring if anyone saw me, and went back inside. I took a hot shower, then changed into a clean pair of jeans and my camp t-shirt, which I had brought just in case, and slipped a necklace over my head: the one with my dad's college ring and the beautiful coral pendant from Percy.

I brushed my fingers over the pendant, only realizing that I was crying when the tears dropped onto my hand. I brushed them away. Gods, I thought. How many times in one day can I cry? Do I even have any tears left?

This time, I was crying even harder than when Luke came and took Thalia. Seaweed Brain was gone. I curled up on my bed and cried until I fell asleep.