This is a little later than I'd expected, but it's better than nothing I suppose!

Percy was sitting back in his cell, staring at the ceiling. The Hunter's words had shaken him.

"You say you have no commitment to the gods...what are you defending?"

Percy had absolutely no loyalty to the gods. At least, he didn't think he did. He had no reason to care about the people who threw him out. So who was Percy fighting for? Himself?

Percy called out after a moment, "Hey, Travis?"

There was a shuffling noise before the other demigod responded, "Yeah, Perce?"

"How's Annabeth been since, you know, I left?"

Travis didn't reply immediately. "She—when you first disappeared she was pretty scared. Of course, she tried not to show it, but it was obvious. She did everything she could to find you, but you left no trace. The gods kept insisting that you had run away.

"Eventually, Annabeth gave into the fact that you were gone. We all assumed that you really had abandoned us, figured that you just didn't want to be found. After that, it was like something snapped in her. She put up walls and shut out her emotions. We all tried talking to her, but she won't trust anyone. She isn't the same Annabeth you knew."

Percy felt his old wounds reopening. He recalled that day in the apartment when he'd been forced to hide from Annabeth. The pain of not being able to see her was excruciating. Percy hadn't even been allowed to say goodbye. The gods forced him to sit and listen as the girl he loved broke down in tears.

As hard as it was, Percy knew leaving her was for the best. If Annabeth got involved in this mess, there would be consequences for them both.

Travis had a question of his own. "Perce, why'd you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Why'd you run? You know we would have welcomed you back."

Percy wished that were true, but he knew Travis was wrong.

"The gods made me leave. They disowned me."

"What? That's ridiculous. They would never—"

"Well, they did. I'm in a horrible place, Travis, and it's better that you all stay out of it."

He paused, letting that sink in. True, camp might be willing to accept Percy, but the immortals weren't forgiving types.

"Alright, Percy. I trust you know what you're doing. For now I'll overlook it because we've got another problem."

"What's that?"

"I've been cramped in here for days, and I need to stretch my legs. I think it's time for a jailbreak."

Percy and Travis waited patiently, but they were anxious all the same. They only had one shot, and they wanted to make it count. Percy still had riptide because it always returned to his pocket, and he'd been waiting for the right moment to use it.

Their opportunity came the next day when a Hunter arrived to get Percy for further interrogation. The man opened Percy's cell and gestured for him to turn around, just like before. Percy complied, but when the Hunter stepped forward, the demigod spun around and attacked.

Riptide came down in a sweeping arc and rendered the man unconscious. Percy couldn't help but be amused at how easy it was. These Hunters were quite pathetic.

Quickly, he snatched up the man's keys and ran to Travis's cell where the son of Hermes stood at the ready. He took a minute to find the right key and unlocked the door with a loud clang.

Travis stepped out into the hall and the two of them shook hands.

"Thanks, man. Now let's get out of here."

The half-bloods jogged to the end of the hallway, aiming for an emergency exit sign. They were almost there when a Hunter stepped in front of them.

Percy readied his sword, but stopped when he saw it was the interrogator, Jones. The man stared at them with wide eyes.

Travis was incredulous. "Percy, what are you doing? Knock him out!"

Jones waved his hands in front of him. "No, no, stop! I'll let you pass."

Travis was confused by this statement, and Percy was about to thank their newfound ally when there was a shout from behind.

Another Hunter had entered the hallway and spotted the escapees. "Jones! Stop them!"

"Run!" Jones whispered harshly. "Go now!"

Percy and Travis obeyed, sprinting for the last door, but were forced to stop by a loud bang.

The enemy Hunter was holding a real gun at them; he fired another warning shot at the ceiling. Both demigods looked to Jones for help, but their friend was lying motionless on the ground. Percy hoped that he'd just been knocked out.

"Stop where you are!" the Hunter declared. "You're coming with me."

The two of them were only a few feet from the door now. Percy wasn't sure they were going to make it, but Jones gave them hope. The ex-Hunter was stirring on the cement floor.

Travis nudged him and the two of them began inching toward the exit.

"Stop! I said stop!" yelled the Hunter. He was taking aim, prepared to end this at all costs. Percy saw the man's fingers tighten along the trigger just as Jones raised his arm and planted three darts in the Hunter's back.

The Hunter crumpled, but so did Percy. The man had managed to fire his weapon, and a bullet landed painfully in Percy's thigh. He bit back a scream as he fell to his knees.

Travis and Jones had a quick exchange before Percy's friend lifted him to his feet. Together, they stumbled out of the exit door.

Percy didn't know how much time passed before they stopped, but the next thing he registered was sitting with his back against a tree. The sky was dark and the jail was nowhere in sight. Pain, centered in his leg, washed over him in waves. Travis knelt next to him, trying to gauge the situation.

"Hey, Perce. Try to focus. Your leg is pretty bad, and I'd fix it up except I don't have the supplies. I'll have to take you to get help."

Understanding crossed his mind. "No, Travis. I can't go to camp."

"Well, I can't leave you here. You can't walk on your own, and you'd be dead in no time. You need a medic."

"You don't get it. I can't go to camp. I need another solution." Percy tried sounding sincere, but the son of Hermes wasn't hearing it.

"No, you don't get it Percy. Where else are you going to find help? With the mortals? It's time for you to man up and return home."

Percy growled, "It's not my home anymore."

"I'm sorry, Perce, but I'm not giving you a choice." Percy caught a glimpse of something behind Travis's back, but was too slow to react.

Travis pulled out the dart gun—which he'd probably received from Jones—and shot Percy in the arm. Before the son of Poseidon could protest, darkness swirled across his vision and he was out.

Isn't that a delicious ending? :) Tell me what you think!

-LL