Percy opened his eyes. His whole body ached as if he had been wrestling monsters over and over again. Even his eyelids wanted to close themselves again, but he didn't allowed them that. With a stifled groan, he hoisted himself up on his elbows and looked around, ignoring the flashs of white light that crossed before his eyes.

A bang sounded like a door had been smacked shut. As his sight was finally normal, he spotted another guy standing around, washing hands in a bucket and casting side glances at Percy. The demigod swung his legs over the edge of the bed.

"Who are you?" He asked and held his head in his hands. Was the world spinning? Should it spin?

The boy looked around in the little room, his blue eyes seemed to search something. Apparently they found what he was searching and he turned.

"My name is Austin," he said. "Please wait a second and I'll go get some nectar."

"What?" Percy stared at him. That wasn't possible, was it? "You're . . ."

"Yeah," Austin said. He rummaged through some bags in the back of the room and looked at him smiling. "I'm one. And you're too, obviously. I can't believe they let you come up with this shirt."

Percy stared dumbfounded at the other one swinging a bottle of golden drink in his hands. "What . . . what are you doing?"

"Nectar isn't just useful for being strong, it does help stimulate the immune system. But you have to drink it clearly for that. If you're shaking it, the ingredients mix and they'll suppress your demigod senses better," Austin said. "It will only help for a few days and you shouldn't do this often, but it'll help you accustom with the Glade. Here, just a little swallow please, we have to be sparingly."

Percy nodded, eyed the milky amber liquid wary but decided to trust Austin. If he couldn't trust him, he couldn't trust anybody. The warm feeling he got washed all the pain away and for the first time for long he felt possible to blanket his powers.

"Thanks," he said relieved. "How did you know that?"

"Son of Apollo," Austin explained. "A year or so before the second Titan war, he gave me a book about remedies for demigods. It was useful and I decided to have nectar and ambrosia with me all the time, and since I was going to fight in a war, it was just helpful."

"How did you get here?"

"After the Titan war, when I was right before my apartment these WICKED guys appeared and kidnapped me. They shot with some electricity weapon and I knocked out." Austin put the bottle back into one of the bags, looking around again. "But I could've ask you the same. Never thought I was going to meet the famous defeater of Kronos and Son of Poseidon this way."

"You know me?" Percy asked. He wasn't really that surprised, of course Austin had to know him, he had lead him into a war. He hated the title 'defeater of Kronos', since it was actually Luke who defeated him, but the gods won't hear, neither do the Campers. After a while, he just gave up.

"Really? Who doesn't? You and Annabeth are like the first thing, a new Camper would learn about. I mean, you look different but still."

"Great." Percy groaned and put his head into his hands.

"So, how did you come here?" Austin asked, peeking out of the window while he sat down.

"Got kidnapped, just like you," Percy said. "Left Camp after the war against Gaea, then . . ."

"War?" Austin interrupted with wide eyes. "Again? You serious?"

"Yeah, not really nice, I know," Percy shrugged. "Ya know, I got kidnapped from Hera in the winter after the Titan war and she let me sleep for literally months. After that, no memories. Great."

"So you were just like these guys out there," Austin chuckled.

Percy smirked. "Yeah. It wasn't funny, but still . . . I found some Roman demi-"

"Shh," Austin put a hand on his mouth and shook his head. "Watching us. Beetle blades. You collapsing caught their attention." Percy cast a glance to where Austin was looking at and found a little beetle made of metal, red lights flashing where they went because of the red written word WICKED on their bodies. Just like Leo would have done it. "Act as if ya just collapsed 'cause it was too much," Austin whispered without moving his lips, so quiet Percy could barely hear it.

"What happened to you?" Austin asked loud and stood up. He took a cup and scooped some water out of another bucket. "Here."

Percy took it and emptied it with one swallow."Thanks. I don't know . . . I guess, it was just too much in this short period. How long I've been out?"

"Just a couple of hours," Austin answered, sorting some injections with a strange, dark blue liquid. "Clint is getting Alby, Newt et cetera."

"Nick?"

"Him too, yeah. I mean, he was with you when you blacked out." Austin shrugged, as if he didn't care about this, but Percy could see concern behind his eyes, where he was used to see concern in people.

Percy peered to the window, but the metal beetle was still there. He had to play this game harder. "Why do I just remember my first name? What's with my life before here? Where are my memories?"

Austin looked impressed. "We just know, what we figured out. And we are almost one hundred percent sure that the Creators of the Maze had sent us here, had taken our memories, had given us the task to solve the Maze." Percy nodded, so Austin would know, he got the message: Never say WICKED here, just Creators.

"What's your name anyway?" Percy asked, peering to the beetle again. It hadn't moved.

"I'm Austin, Keeper of the Med-jacks," Austin introduced himself patiently. Percy nodded. What should they talk about now? Fortunately, he hadn't to act like nothing because the beetle turned on the windowsill and crawled away.

"Thank the gods," Percy breathed. "I don't think I could've done this much longer."

Austin smirked. "It has his advantages being the son of the god of theater."

"Always thought that was Zeus," Percy said. "But you're definitely right. No stupid quests, not so many life-threatening situations and no reason to be the leader of Camp in two wars."

Austin laughed. It made Percy feel a little better, made his heart warm. These kids couldn't have much funny things happening, it was good that some people try to lighten up their mood. They were kids after all and they had the right to live. Though the second part was more bitter than funny, but still.

But before Austin could say something again, the door slammed open. Alby trudged in, a grim expression on his face, him following Newt, Nick and some other Gladers. Austin looked at Percy as if to say: Let me handle this. Percy doubted, Alby would be pleased with the support from the demigod.

"Alby," Austin said. "He woke up just a few -"

"Hush!" Alby said angrily. "I'm coming because of him."

"But -"

"I said Shut your hole!" Alby roared. Austin hushed and looked at Percy apologetically. Percy shrugged. "What?" the demigod asked.

Alby was suddenly very near. His nose almost touched Percys, his eyes full of anger, his fingers seized around his collar. "What is different with you? Tell us now!"

Percy switched into fighting mood without him wanting, his eyes calmed, his muscles relaxed and he freed himself with a quick, easy motion of his right arm. Alby stumbled a few steps back, but regained his balance. The other Gladers scattered around him, looking slightly nervous, excited and predominantly emotionless. Newt stood in the back watching, like he didn't really care. Nick was awkwardly in the foreground, but he didn't seem to embrace a party. Austin was next to him, firmly.

"Percy," Nick said anxious. "Just tell us."

The demigod stood up, crossed his arms and glared at them. "What should I tell you? How I came up with no memories? How you're all acting like weirdos for me? How you," Percy pointed at Nick, "showed me the the Grievers and told me I was crazy when I said, they were nefarious?" Austin let out a small groan and as the demigod glanced at him, he saw the other boys hand twitching as if he wanted to slap himself.

The other boys moved. "Alby," a dark skinned, big guy with a white cookers hat on his head said hesitating. "Are you sure . . ."

"Yes!" Alby said angrily. "Look at the shank! He knows something. Tell us!"

"What, Alby!" Percy shouted. "What do you want to hear from me? What did I do? I know nothing about the Glade!"

Alby looked mad. Very mad. For some reason, Percy got goosebumps on his arms as Alby slowly backed off and crossed his arms. "Last chance," the boy said. "You sure you know nothing?"

Percy huffed. "Yeah."

"If I'm going to find out," Alby started quietly. "If I'm going to find out that you know something, you'll be dead."

Percy didn't dare to glare back. For some reason, his arms fell to his sides and he dropped his gaze. His mind worked, but had nothing to do with his actions. His mouth spoke without him wanting. "Then it's good, I don't know something."

Alby glared one last time, before he turned and dashed out of the room, the Gladers following slowly. Nick disappeared with an abashed "I'll wait outside for you."

Percy said nothing. Just when the last Glader left the room, he could suddenly speak again. He turned to Austin and went with a sarcastic "That went great."

Austin shrugged. "I told you," he said. "The nectar works."