¡Hola, mis lectores!

I'm ba-ack! Did you miss me? I had a great vacation but I won't bore you with details.

I got a few reviews telling me NOT to give Percy wings. Sorry! I have to, it's kind of a big part of the story. And I know Percy isn't allowed in the air because it's Zeus' territory and Percy's Poseidon's son, yadda, yadda, yadda. But Zeus really can't hurt Percy for being in the air if being in the air is a part of Percy now. Right?

I also got some asking what Percy's wings would look like. Well . . . read and find out! I'm hoping to get that in here soon.

I got a request for snake DNA. Now, that woulda been cool. Maybe another story . . . .

Horse DNA? How would that work, do you think?

Surprising how many of you actually liked that prophecy. I couldn't fit a few lines together so I litterally threw something in at the last minute.

And all the questions I'm asking is really just to get some ideas or the readers opinion. I try not to rely too much on you, but I like to give you readers a smidgen of control. Trust me, I've got stuff you won't even see coming.

Hey, toe walker! What if I don't wanna be your friend anymore, hmmm? ;)

Yo, Cheesecakelover110! Thanks fo the review. I know, right, isn't it the most annying thing ever! It didn't sound awkward at all . . . well, maybe just a little. But who doesn't sound awkward at times? I said something the other day in school - eesh! I'd love to be your friend too! You sound like a great person. You can replace toe walker! No, wait, scratch that. That just made me sound really mean and selfish. Sorry!

Okay, I'm seriously crying right now from all the encouraging reviews. You guys are the best! I love you!

Percy

I was not prepared for this. At all.

I haven't moved, let alone fought, in the last – how long have I been here? See? I'm all discombobulated!

And I don't even know what that means!

"Listen," I told the girl standing in front of me, "I really don't want to hurt you." Not that I could anyway.

The Avian-human snarled and tensed again. When she'd seen me she'd straightened slightly in shock or something like that. Now she was back to being ready to beat my sorry butt.

"As if." She scoffed. I didn't expect her to sound . . . human. The Avian hybrid relaxed and walked a few feet away before turning back to me. "Don't worry," she assured, "I never lose."

Odd thing to say from someone who's locked in a lab and experimented on.

I decided to humor her. "But what if you do?"

She cocked her head to the side. "Then you will have been witness to the single most unlikely thing to ever happen."

Then she charged.

I barely managed to dodge to the side and avoid her head-on attack, but one giant wing caught me. I flew back and landed hard on the ground, cursing my stiff limbs. I climbed back to my feet only to be knocked back again. And again. And again.

"Okay, that's it!" I was miffed now. I ducked another rushed attack and, as if on its own accord, my hand jerked to the side and I blinked, surprised when I actually hit something. The girl jumped back, apparently as shocked as I was. I knew immediately that I didn't hurt her at all, but the connection boosted my confidence a few notches.

I was going to back away then, to regroup and see if I could come up with a plan, but my legs walked me forward. Fine, I was never the planner-type anyway. That's was Annabeth's job.

The Avian girl narrowed her eyes and jumped forward, swinging her fists and kicking her legs. I easily blocked each punch and jab, but I was also starting to get a little creeped out.

I seriously wasn't doing a thing. My limbs were acting completely on their own.

I – my limbs, whatever – threw myself forward to attack the girl back and got in a few good hits. She snarled and stepped back. I knew she was regaining composure before returning the assault. I was going to let her, but my feet rushed me towards her. She was ready for the attack but she still couldn't get in a good hit.

I knocked her feet out from underneath her and she landed flat on her back, her wings spread beneath her. My hands encircled around her neck and pressed down.

Let go, let go, let go! I screamed to myself but my hands kept pressing. The girl was panting, her face turning red.

"What . . . are you . . . doing?" She croaked out.

"Sorry," I gasped, "my limbs are trying to declare independence at the moment."

Then my arms jerked back and I jumped away. The bird-girl sat up, water forming in her eyes (not tears, I knew) as she clutched at her neck, sucking in precious air. She looked up at me with fire in her eyes.

"Now you've done it." She growled.

Not that it mattered. She was trying to kill me before anyway.

Bird-girl launched herself at me and we were at it again, a flurry of arms and legs. This time, though, I could handle myself just fine. Whatever was controlling me before had jacked up my energy level. I was set to go.

Another thought occurred to me as I held off my opponents attacks. I was actually enjoying this. Fighting monsters had become almost an everyday thing for me so I didn't think about it at the time I was doing it. I thought only to get myself and my companions out alive. But after not fighting for so long, and now fighting again for the first time, I realized that it was kind of a normal part of my routine now. You know?

And then, there was the thrill of it.

Adrenaline jolted through my veins, pumping me to win. Bird-girl glared at me and kicked for my head. I ducked and jabbed a fist lightly into her stomach, doing no harm but forcing her to step back. She stared at me.

"Why are you smiling?" Was I? She raised an eyebrow, then looked up. I followed her gaze and saw a thick, glass panel protecting a dozen or so observers watching the match. They wrote on clipboards, monitoring our every move. I found Doctor Torowski right away, the evil hag. Beside her stood a man I'd never seen before. I narrowed in on the kids standing in front of them.

There were five. Two older, two younger, one somewhere in the middle. Three of them were wide-eyed and scared, staring at Bird-girl with concern. Another was watching with a solemn look. Another – blind. I could tell that much.

But the little blond girl caught my eye. She had the bluest eyes to match.

She also made me lose focus.

I was thrown into the air and slammed to the ground before I could even comprehend what had happened. I stared dazedly to the ceiling, trying to regain my bearings, and saw a brown flash. I struggled to my feet and watch Bird-girl soar to the other end of the arena.

It was really awesome, seeing her fly. She was so at ease in the air, so content. Definitely in her home turf. Her wings worked as if they had been a part of her her whole life.

Well, duh, Jackson. She's in a freaking lab. She was probably born with the wings.

And again I lost focus in my own thoughts and, faster than the human eye can follow, she zipped toward me and I threw myself to the floor to avoid collision. She laughed and touched down, facing me.

"You're quick." She praised. "But are you quick enough?"

What the Hades was that supposed to mean?

And I found out as soon as she was mere inches from me.

In a rush of energy I grabbed both her shoulders, stopping her. She gaped at me, but I ignored her and jumped, flipping myself over her head. She fell to her knees and when I landed, I turned and placed my feet on either side of her calves, my ankles holding her legs in place to keep her from kicking out or trying to get up. Two brown walls came hurling toward me from either side and I grabbed the top of each of Bird-girl's wings to stop them. Thinking ahead (I know right?) I held them at an angle that one thrust or wrong movement could snap them.

I no expert on wings but I'm pretty sure that would hurt.

Bird-girl twitched to the side, then gasped as I moved my hands. A strangling itch crawled through my body. I stiffened.

Just kill her now and get it over with, a voice whispered in my head.

Yeah, she's not that important anyway, another sneered.

My hands moved again causing Bird-girl to suck in a breath. I shook my head. What was I thinking? I couldn't kill her. Those kids up there were obviously with her. Maybe they even needed her. Maybe she was important to them.

No, the voices continued, she's not important to anyone.

No one, came an echo.

"Shut up!" With a sound of frustration I threw Bird-girls wings away from me and stumbled backwards, a hand pressed to my forehead. She jumped up and whirled around at stare at me.

" 'The single most unlikely thing to ever happen', huh?" I laughed weakly, quite aware of the dawning huger and fatigue setting in. "It seems I've been witness."

She didn't say anything as I turned and walked back to the dark elevator, waiting for it to take me back to hell.

Max

I had to admit the kid was doing alright. I knocked him down the first couple times but then something seemed to come over him and he practically beat me to a pulp. It was like something was controlling him the way he changed tactics so fast. My suspicions were confirmed when he had me in a strangle-hold.

I was sure my face was beet red. "What . . . are you . . . doing?" I managed to gasp out.

"Sorry, my limbs are trying to declare independence at the moment."

. . . . The heck? What was that supposed to mean?

Then, suddenly, the kid – what to call him . . . – jerked back and seemed to regain himself. He shook his head as I gasped for breath, rage setting in. I staggered to me feet.

"Now you've done it." I snarled. He looked confused for a second before I threw myself at him. Whatever had him had hiked up his level of energy cause he was set to go.

I'd always hated fighting. Not with strangers and especially never with family. That wasn't really a problem seeing as most of my opponents were Erasers or whitecoats – neither of which I considered human. At all.

But this kid, this boy, was totally and completely human. And I didn't want to hurt him. I'd put on a show earlier (if he believed it or not, I don't know – though I'm pretty sure it was not) but I seriously lied there. Most times when I fought Erasers I was dragged back to my dog crate in a mess of blood and bird feathers. If that doesn't clearly announce defeat, I don't know what does.

Then I noticed something on Six's face. (I remember that he was Doctor Torowskis' Subject Six so I used the number. Clever, aren't I?) Six may be totally and completely human but he was enjoying this! The light smile on his face showed that he wasn't all that afraid of being beaten and, quite possibly, killed.

What's wrong with this kid? What did Torowski do to him?

"Why are you smiling?" I wondered, hiding my horrified feeling. Six looked at me with a look of oh you saw that? and quickly wiped the smile from his face. I glanced briefly at my flock and saw them staring down at me, concern written on their faces. Well Fang looked as bored as ever, but I saw it hidden there. I think.

Angel flashed me a quick smile. The glass kept her thoughts from reaching me but I knew what she was thinking.

You're doing great. Keep it up. I believe in you, Max.

I faced my opponent once more and found him transfixed with whatever he was looking at up in the observation booth. This was my chance. I snuck backwards and slowly unfurled my wings. Six shifted his gaze away from the window and I ran for him, lifting into the air. I grabbed Six and shot upward before hurling him back down. He smashed into the ground (the impact of his body hitting the floor making a sound I never want to hear again) and lay there dazed and bewildered. I flew over him checking to see if he was alright. What? I didn't want him to die. He clamored to his feet, swaying uncertainly and I flew to the far-side of the arena, less than ready to attack him again. But, alas, we had to keep at it or we'd both be killed. Ha-ha, I just used the word alas.

Six watched me fly. I couldn't tell if he looked mesmerized or terrified. Mesmerfied?

I didn't stay to figure it out. Streaking toward him, I prepared for another hit.

I never got it.

One second Six was there, in front of me, the next he wasn't. He'd thrown himself forward, smart boy. He'd avoided me.

"You're quick," I felt the need to encourage him after all he'd been through. "But not quick enough."

My generosity only goes so far.

Six raised an eyebrow at my statement and I raced forward. I was hoping he'd be so tired and disoriented that he'd just allow me to plow right into him. But of course, nothing is ever that simple in my life. Never even close.

No, instead Six stopped me by my shoulders. My mouth fell open – no one's ever been able to stop me before – and Six looked a little shocked himself. He gave a look of confidence and jumped. Over me. He flipped over my head and the weight of it pushed me to my knees. He locked his ankles around my calves to keep me from being able to use them. I told you he was smart. But still not smart enough. I straightened my wings and smashed them together.

They never reached their destination.

A single jolt of pain spiraled through the wings into my brain. Six had my wings! One move from either of us and they'd snap. Damn!

I moved to one side and Six's hands twitched sending another wave of pain through me. I hissed, but was still after that.

Human. Six was human! And he'd beaten me. Wow, was I pathetic or what? I mentally scolded myself for several minutes before I realized that Six had gone completely still and silent.

What was he doing?

His hands moved again and I grit my teeth with each sting of hurt.

More silence.

"Shut up!" Six's outburst was so sudden that I jumped. He threw my wings away from him (ow, ow, ow!) and staggered back, holding his head. I had to admit I was a bit worried for him.

" 'The single most unlikely thing', huh?" Six gave a small laugh, trying to hide the sudden weakness and discomfort. He lifted his head to stare at me, the green of his eyes seeming to see right through me. Oh, great, and here I though Fang was the only one who could do that creepy trick.

"Well, it seems I've been witness."

Okay, not expecting that. Or for him to just up and walk away, back to the elevator, and out of sight.

I stared at the closed elevator door, almost wanting Six to come back. There was . . . something about him . . . I don't know . . . .

"Max!"

Back in our crates (the big one that fit us all) Nudge was gushing about Six.

"Did you see him?" She squealed. "He was, like, totally hot!"

Was he? Sorry, I was too busy fighting for my life (and losing) to notice.

But as soon as the thought left my mind, I knew it was lie. I'd noticed him from the moment I saw him.

He was the same as the rest of us in a sense. Pale from little sunlight. Skinny to the point of nonexistence from little nutrition. New, pink scars from who knows what kind of torture/experiment.

But he was so different, too. There was still a hint of a used-to-be muscular body, which made me wonder who he was before the School. Old , white, thinning scars which adds to my curiosity. Messy black hair that looked as if you couldn't tame it no matter how hard you tried, with hair that fell into his strikingly gorgeous green eyes.

Eyes that said they had seen and lived too much for such a young boy.

Those eyes that saw through me.

I shuddered.

Annabeth

Dream, dream, go away . . .

I was back in the room, again staring at Percy. He didn't look any better than when I saw him in my last dream. His eyes were shut tight and his breathing was labored. And when the door creaked open he gave an audible groan.

Percy? I asked. Can you hear me this time?

No.

A young girl with golden hair about my own age strode over to the bed and leaned over Percy. I narrowed my eyes. If she even touched my Seaweed Brain . . . .

Percy moaned something unintelligent and the girl placed a hand on his forehead and stroked his hair. My eyes narrowed more and I scowled.

"Girl!" I jumped along with the girl next to Percy. I hadn't seen Doctor Torowski enter with her goons. The golden haired girl stood quickly and bowed her head.

"Yes?" She asked in a small voice.

"Don't you have other Subjects you need to observe?" Torowski glared at her. The girl nodded feverishly and she couldn't have left the room quicker. Wimp.

"How are you doing, my dearest?" Torowski gazed at Percy. He didn't open his eyes.

"You can't fool me," Torowski continued. "Brain waves, remember? But I won't push you for today. You did very well yesterday, winning that fight, so I'll let you rest for a few minutes." She poked around a metal tray before speaking again. "You know, my subject, I really didn't think you were going to beat my colleague's project. He's spent seventeen years working on her so she's quite the experiment. And yet I proved triumphant. My couple months of work on you bested his years of work on her!"

My first thought: Who was this "experiment" and why in all of Olympus was this crazy lady excited that Percy beat her?

Then: Seventeen years! Oh, that poor girl! Just from seeing what a couple of months that place did to Percy I couldn't even begin to imagine what seventeen years would look like!

"And don't worry about that part when we were controlling you," the "doctor" said. Percy reacted to that. His eyes snapped open and he flicked his eyes to stare at her.

"I almost killed her!" He snapped. I blinked. Don't say anything stupid, Perce. I need you alive.

"Yes, well, that was necessary. See we needed to pump you up and that always does the trick."

"How did you even get control of my body?" It sounded weird when he said it like that.

"Cell 5, Dearest. I injected you with it the first time we met. Do you remember?" Torowski looked over to him. Percy rolled his eyes.

"Oh yeah, 'cause that was a huge milestone in my life. Send me to my death if I ever forget it." He scoffed. Torowski patted his hand. He flinched.

Gods of Olympus people! Do. Not. Touch. My. Boyfriend!

Torowski's puppy dogs moved forward to unstrap Percy from the bed. Percy stayed still until they'd moved away. Torowski gave a smile. Ugh . . . .

"Enjoy a few minutes of freedom, Dearest." And then she and her assistants left the room. Percy stared after them, hardly believing his luck I'm guessing. He turned his head and I sear he looked directly at me, but before I could do anything the dream changed.

This time Percy was walking towards the window in his room. He threw it open and stuck his head out.

A siren went off.

Percy looked back as the door bust open and uniformed people rushed in holding what looked like guns. Or Tasers. It was something dangerous, anyway.

My boyfriend gave them a smirk, then turned, climbed up so he was crouching on the window sill, then, to my horror, he threw himself out the window and into open air.

I screamed. What was he doing, the idiot!

I rushed over to the window and stared out. Percy was falling and I was almost positive he was going to hit the ground until whoosh! a large brown bird swooped underneath him, catching him on its back. The bird joined a flock of other birds – a black one, a tawny one, a white one, a red-brown one, and a yellow one – and they soared higher into the sky. Percy locked his knees in place and sat up, staring back at the room, staring back at me.

Everyone in the room was yelling and panicking. But I looked at the flock of giant birds and a tear rolled down my cheek.

Percy. . .

. . . why do you keeping leaving me?

I tried to make this part a little longer to make up for my absence.

I also tried to make Percy and Max's parts slightly different even though it was basically the same scenes. Good enough?