A Willing Hostage

Authors Note: Hey, it's been a long time since I've written for this. The recent reviews actually alerted me back to it, so thanks for all those who reviewed. So without further ado, we have the seventh chapter of the story. And I do not own PJO, Rick Riordon does.

I was being sent it, it was bittersweet news. I mean I'm happy that I get to work my magic and get my girlfriend the heck out of danger, but it had to be bad for Chiron to agree to send me.

Malcolm met me at my cabin, to discuss the plan. Chiron figured that this should be as confidential as possible. A quest backfiring like this would make the campers nervous, and considering the gossip about Annabeths kidnapping was due any day now it wouldn't help.

"Percy, I was filled in about Annabeth. I'm sorry." I nodded and we manly-hugged.

"I'm going to get her back." He looked at me sympathetically, like he knew I was doubting myself. But I can't let myself doubt, I had to believe I was going to win. Like the word I learnt in socials… manifest destiny or something like that.

For the next hour he told me about the anti-god base, Jesse, pretty much anything and everything we knew about these guys. He never mentioned Jake, I'm guessing Chiron didn't tell him that part. It was much better that way. Right before my brain exploded with information, Malcolm told me one vital piece of information.

"You have one week before the invasion of camp, and that's according to Ethan." I had almost forgotten about Ethan, I need to make a reminder to kill him.

"How do we know it's not fake information?" I asked, "They could attack us in five minutes for all we know." Malcolm nodded, the expression on his face was not comforting. Come to think of it I had not seen one reassuring facial expression since I got to camp.

"I know." Was all he said, he took a piece of paper out of his pocket and passed it to me. It was scrunched to the point that it was soft, like a love note some teenage girl had kept for years. He pointed at it and said, "Ethan left that in his room. He was so nervous I guess he forgot to get rid of it." I opened it and tried to make out a few words, but the dyslexia beat me.

Eb prapered ot elave macp yb ned fo ujly – sejes

What it actually said was: Be prepared to leave camp by end of July – Jesse

"So they're going to attack by the end of July?" I asked, Malcolm tilted his head slightly.

"That's what we think, it'd be a good time to attack. Middle of summer, right when the campers are most comfortable. We wouldn't expect it then, it'd be more logical to attack at the end of the summer, then they'd have a lot of time to get ready for it." Logic is one thing I'm positive most of the anti-god kids don't have.

It was quiet for a while, it was a little jacquard for me, but it seemed Malcolm was in a place of deep thought. Annabeth did this to me a lot, froze me out while she thought.

Even thinking about her hurt right now, it'd been one day she'd been with the anti-god kids, a lot could've happened. For a second I remembered her allowing Ethan to punch her. If Ethan did that with little hesitation I didn't even want to think about what they'd do to her without thinking. I have major screwed up this time, and I pray to the gods I can fix it.

That night I had another dream, this one was worse than the other one. Much worse.

Four boys sat around a old poker table, playing with broken chips and drachmas, if they hadn't been under eighteen it would've looked like a normal poker night with a bunch of guys desperate to get away from their kids and wife.

I recognized two of them, Jake and Ethan. The other two looked the same age as Jake, except one of them was huge and had a tattoo one his right shoulder and the other was skinny and had red shaggy hair.

"I fold." Jake said, putting his cards on the table, "This game is so rigged."

"Whatever, bud." The huge one said, he sounded like Morgan Freeman, no joke. This guys voice alone would make someone run for cover. If I wasn't so pissed at the group of them I'd be a little worried.

"Since you sick at poker," The redhead said to Jake, "You should go check on that chick." Jake scowled at him, "Screw you, man."

"Go do it, Jake." Whoever said this was not in sight, Jake nodded and left the room. The other boys were silent, whoever just ordered Jake around was high in power, no doubt.

Jake walked down a cement hallway, it must've been cold down their, and a little puff came out of Jakes mouth every time he breathed. He got halfway down the hall then knocked on a door, when there was no answer he knocked again. The door opened a little and a girl's head popped out, "What do you want?" She hissed.

"I'm here to see Annabeth." Jake answered, the girl looked at him and nodded hesitantly. She went to let him in but stopped him right before he took a step.

"Be gentle, she's really hurt after you guys did a crap job of transporting her here." So she wasn't at the tree anymore, great. Now we have no freaking idea where they are.

Jake pushed away the girls arm and walked past her, and then I saw Annabeth. She was sleeping on a poorly maintained hospital bed, hooked up to an IV.

"I don't understand why you didn't just give her ambrosia." The girl said, "Instead of keeping her in permanent pain. It's extremely inhumane." So they were keeping her hurt? Sick little… "She's not dying, Emily. If we keep her like this she doesn't put up any fight. Apparently she's a spitfire." Damn right she is.

The girl, Emily, bit her lip and shook her head. If she didn't agree with this why was she putting up with it. Jake, who was standing by Annabeth, went over to Emily, took her face in his hands and kissed her on the forehead. So they were dating, clearly Emily was insane.

"Babe, go get some sleep. You look tired." Jake said, Emily nodded and left the room, firmly shutting the door behind her. I wanted her to come back, in a way make sure he didn't do anything to hurt Annabeth.

Annabeth, oh gods, she looked terrible. All the bruises and scratches were still there, her face had been washed so there was no more dried blood. But she looked like she couldn't breathe, every time her chest lifted she gasped a little. If that was how she was sleeping I wondered how it was when she was awake.

"Wake up gorgeous." He's getting me angry, "We need to have a little talk." Annabeth opens her eyes slowly, like she's taking everything in for the first time.

"Good morning." Jake says with mock enthusiasm.

"Screw you." Annabeth barely whispers, that's my girl.

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." Jake snickers.

Annabeth is glaring at him, it's obvious he did something very wrong to her. And he was going to pay for it. "I'm not telling you anything." She says.

Jake looks at her for a second and tilts his head.

"That's alright," he smirks, "That's not why I'm here." Then he turns around and faces… me. He can see me, I doubt it at first, but he's looking right into my eyes. "I just want your boyfriend to come visit." The in one fluid movement he spins around and punches Annabeth full-force in the gut. My heart stops in my chest as she screams then whimpers as quietly as possible. When she takes her next breath blood dribbles out of the side of her mouth, and I want to tear out Jakes heart and force-feed it to him.

"Annabeth, I really hope he comes." Jake says, then he bends down and whispers something in her ear. He pulls away and walks out of the room, the minute the door closes Annabeth starts to cry. Then I wake up.