The sun slowly sank behind the skyline, casting a warm orange glow over the sleeping city. But the feelings in the Grand were anything but warm.

Several campers had volunteered or been picked to take Annabeth to the Titan camp. Of course no one would be dumb enough to actually walk into the Titan camp. So the current plan was to dump her, bound on the far side of the Williamsburg Bridge.

Everyone assumed that they would come to retrieve their little traitor. But what if they didn't want her either? Wanted by neither side, where would that leave her?

Thalia had been appointed to send an iris message saying that they found the spy and that she would be left on the Williamsburg Bridge but she couldn't bring herself to speak.

Percy was on "probation" so he wasn't allowed to help with the battle stationing. Thalia had been elected "leader" in his stead. But she was in shock and on the brink of a nervous breakdown, she wouldn't speak to anyone.

The hunter paced the balcony repeating:

"First Luke, now Annabeth. What is wrong with me?"

Drew dramatically stepped in and sent the Iris-message.

"We found your little trickster. And you can have her back…"

The small party set out. Annabeth walked in the centre stared at the ground glumly. They reached the bridge with the last rays of twilight.

"Gods it's getting dark out." someone swore.

"Can't we just leave her here?"

"All the way to the end or they might not get her."

The group hastened and reached the end of the bridge. Ropes were pulled out and her hands were tied tightly behind her back.

"You disarmed her, right?"

"Yeah. The knife is on the table at the hotel."

"Good. We can't have her running off."

"Let's get out of here!"

The half-bloods retreated down the bridge, and soon vanished among the shadows. Annabeth sat down, knees to her chin.

She really wished she hadn't argued Percy out of coming. No turning back now. She sat in a huddle, nothing to do but scold herself for everything she had done.

Mom, she prayed. I am so sorry. I'll try to make it right.

Just then the beam of a flashlight appeared, and she could hear feet shuffling. Soon four dim figures appeared from the gloom: two half-bloods (Ethan Nakamura and another one that she didn't recognise), along with two dracnae.

"Oh, yessss. Lord Kronossss will be very pleassssssed." One of the snake women hissed.

"See if she's bound before we take her back." Ethan said to the other half-blood.

He angrily pulled at the ties on her wrists. "Yeah, she's tied."

Ethan looked at Annabeth coldly. "Get up, girl."

She stood and followed the group through the dark deserted streets. They took countless turns until they were on a country road. A single store on the street was lit up. The pace quickened as they got closer, and soon they were inside. Annabeth immediately knew where she was, a knot formed in the pit of her stomach as she stood in the centre of a monster filled "AUNTIE 'EM'S' GARDEN GNOME EMPORIUM."

"Take her to the Master." Ethan said. Apparently he had some kind of authority here, at least he had been over their little "pick-up" mission.

The dracnae vanished into the crowd of monsters and the other half-blood, no older than 13, led her towards the snack bar.

She came into a room that was empty except for a hyperborean giant, a dracna, and the Lord of Time himself on a throne in the centre of it all.

Annabeth turned chalk white. "Luke." she whispered.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't our little spy." He mused, then turned angry in the blink of an eye. "How could you have failed?"

"I- I didn't-"

He rose from his throne and took a step forward. "You didn't want to pass on any more information. You wanted to save your pathetic little camp. Well, Annabeth Chase. Since you failed. I shall give you a chance to redeem yourself. You may return to your camp with a new charm, continue passing information then when our golden age arises I will let you rebuild a thousand cities, or you can fight for us. Here is your knife." He reached into the air and suddenly held her small bronze blade. "Swear to my cause, Annabeth."

The temptation was almost too much for the daughter of Athena. Architect of a THOUSAND cities? But then she remembered why she was here. How they had found her out.

"No." she said simply.

Kronos hefted his scythe. "You are more of a fool than I thought. A daughter of the Goddess of Wisdom, should know better." He held he tip of his deadly blade to her chin.

Ethan came in panting. "My lord… the scouts… saw them… coming at the bridges… we need to …"

"Put them in formation and send them at the bridges. I don't want any chance at them getting through. Get my chariot. Make sure everyone is armed." He looked at Annabeth. "If you refuse to comply, we'll deal with you later." He pointed at her and she froze in place.

The gnome garden emptied around her and the lights went out.

Frozen in time.

A/N:

I have up to chapter 11 written. I am still holding them hostage so you BETTER review!

Thanks!