(Disclaimer: I don't own FEAR or PJatO, Sierra Entertainment and Rick Riordan do. I only conduct references. Can I stop saying this now?) Percy's POV
Luckily, I didn't throw up or anything when we took our seats and our orders in the back room. That situation we had about five minutes ago, nearly made my heart stop. And I thought Hades with his Helm of Darkness scared the sea out of me. A few minutes later, the waitress brought our food and sat down next to John.
"I had to have perfect timing for this moment," she said.
John looked at her nervously. I was starting to think this waitress is going to turn into a monster, an empousai perhaps, then seduce me into a deathly kiss.
"You don't recognize me?"
I stared at Grover her looked wide-eyed, then at someone who was sitting down the hall who looked familiar except the shadows were cast over her face.
"Lieutenant," the waitress called. The girl got up and walked over to us, which made Annabeth shriek in happiness. I was glad to see the daughter of Zeus again after she was gone for a year with the Hunters, and I finally knew who the waitress was. She was Artemis.
"Thalia!" Annabeth hugged her.
"Annabeth!" Thalia screamed along with her. Everyone in the eating hall looked at the two, which made them both embarrassed and sat down.
"It's been like forever!" Annabeth mused.
"I know!"
"Alright. Now let's talk about business that needs done." Artemis the waitress continued, "My huntresses have been slacking with duties, haven't caught specific prey. We are in dire need of one such animal that even I cannot catch."
"The Cerynian Hind," Thalia filled in.
"And you want us to catch it?" I asked.
"Indubitably," Artemis said.
"How can we catch a deer that can't be caught?"
"A golden net is always the solution for catching anything. Even Poseidon and Medusa were caught in it,"
I shied by face away when she mentioned my dad, wondering if I were caught in it with the person sitting next to me with blond hair.
Artemis caught my eyes and frowned, "No need to worry, Perseus."
Did she just read my mind? It seems like everyone can read each other's minds now. And that's like breaking the Third Amendment.
John's POV
Okay, so I'm not an expert at Greek mythology and I'm guessing that the Cerynian Hind was the infamous Golden Stag that is uncatchable, which relates to Percy's question, 'How can we catch a deer that can't be caught?' until the waitress, that everyone is so happy to see along with the daughter of Zeus in person, said something about a golden net. I wasn't in the mood to talk since that image of Percy, so I listened.
Wishing that Beckett were here, I sighed. Though, he was locked in the Vault five months ago and raped by Alma. That reminds me, she's going to have another psychotic child! Oh god, I'm going to have a third half-brother. Never mind, I finally remembered that the baby had been deceased.
"And you," the waitress looked at me, "your half-brother and mother are more easily seduced to sides than you think. You may just win one of them over when you catch the Stag, they might be impressed."
I stared at her. Could Fettel be my ally? Well, he helped me a bit back at Camp Half-Blood, but that doesn't count as helping, only temporarily assisting. If I win Alma, she could influence Fettel to come over, which would be more help than just having Fettel. He won't be able to convince her as much. And how did the waitress know about them?
"When you're ready, Thalia, we may leave it up to these heroes for the challenge," she looked at Grover, Percy, and Annabeth, "if they accept."
Grover stood, "Certainly, Lady Artemis! Anything for the goddess of the moon!"
Percy was busy staring at his food to notice while Annabeth agreed with Grover.
"Who are you?" Thalia asked me when the waitress left.
I stared at her blankly. Her eyes were electric blue, short black hair, and punk-style clothes. An elegant dagger was held at her side.
She focused back on Annabeth, "What's up with him?"
Annabeth shrugged, "Dunno'. He didn't speak a word since the trip here."
"What happened?"
She filled in with details about the entire story, leaving out the part where she was arguing with that Rachel girl.
"Don't describe the vision. I'm trying to eat here," Percy said.
"What vision?" Thalia asked.
"Come with me so we don't disrupt his stomach again."
After they left, I rolled my balaclava over my mouth in order to eat. Grover and Percy seemed to snicker at me, maybe because... I looked funky?
Annabeth's POV
I sat across from Thalia in one of the steel chairs held out on the deck. Hoping that the others won't hear, and they won't because we're outside, I explained to her how the flying trip went with a black shadow or something hovering in mid-air along with that sudden image of Percy's bloody half-eaten face. Luckily, I wasn't the one who had the weak stomach around here.
Thalia shivered, "That's so gross!"
"I know,"
"What's with 'I know'? Is it your personal saying now? 'I know'."
I laughed at it the way she said it, "I know!" Suddenly realizing I just said it again, I clamped my hand over my mouth to keep from saying 'I know'.
She cracked up with me, "Well! I know your keeping a secret from me Annabeth,"
Suddenly stopping, I stared at Percy who was too busy busting up from Grover making chicken wing motions.
Thalia stopped laughing, "What's wrong?"
"John has been acting weird, Percy is worried about three prophecies, and I'm worried about Alma."
"Explain." she ushered me.
When I was finished, the sun was already hidden from the buildings around Frederick, Maryland, and I was guessing that Percy and the rest were off to somewhere besides laughing at lame jokes.
"I will need to think on this. In the meantime, daughter of Athena, be careful with the Hind." Thalia warned.
I nodded in return and hugged good-bye to her as she traveled with Artemis into the distance.
Percy's POV
"What took you so long?" I asked Annabeth who was walking in from the deck outside.
She yawned, "Having time with Thalia."
Grover started singing 'A Long Long Time' by Guy Forsyth.
By the time he got to the Luke Skywalker and Death Star part, Annabeth told him to shut up.
"Have you two been drinking?!" she yelled.
"No! We know what happens when kids drink!" I yelled back at her.
"We turn into donkeys. You know, like from Pinocchio," Grover said.
"You watched that movie? I heard that people thought that movie was scary as Hades, just like Bambi and The Little Mermaid," Annabeth said.
I looked at John, who asleep in his seat, "When I was five, I did. As you said 'scary as Hades' and it was scary as Hades."
"Okay, well we need somewhere to sleep. Somewhere besides here and the parking garage where we can get arrested for trespassing,"
"I saw a Super 8 Motel when we flew here,"
"Is it cheap?" Grover asked.
"I guess so. And I hope it won't keep us there forever like the last hotel we've been in,"
"John, Point Man—whatever your name is—it's time to go," Annabeth said.
He groaned, "No Alma, I'm sleeping. Go away,"
Annabeth put her hands on her waist, "Sleepy psychic won't go sleep in a comfortable bed!" and started to shake him. I thought I had a hard time getting up in the mornings. John hoisted himself up, "How long was I asleep?"
"Forty minutes to be exact," Grover said.
"What hotel?"
"The Super 8 Motel,"
"We best get moving then. I'll pay the bill,"
He pulled out twenty dollars and set it next to the bill.
John's POV
"One night and four single beds," I answered the woman at the desk.
"Credit card?" she asked.
"Cash,"
"Sign here, please," she handed me a clipboard. I signed it and handed it back to her. The woman took it back and examined it.
"I.D. please,"
Searching my armor, I pulled out my F.E.A.R. badge. Without further questions, I stuck it back in my pocket while she typed information onto her computer. She hopped up a minute later and walked over to the board and grabbed one of the keys.
"Room 42. Enjoy your stay," she said.
"Thanks,"
Carrying our bags up the stairs, I stuck the key into the holder. I set the bags in a corner and looked around the room.
"Not much, but I guess it'll work," Annabeth said. Everyone, including me tried to decide who should take the first shower by playing rock, paper, and scissors. Unfortunately, Percy used the finger gun which was really unfair, and rushed to the bathroom.
"Wow, Percy beat the unbeatable last year when he was playing that game against a Hecatoncheire," Annabeth said dryly.
I looked at her, "A what?"
"My bad, you don't know much Greek mythology. I meant a Hundred-Handed One,"
Grover was already snoring in his bed to play the next game of rock, paper, and scissors. Outsmarting Annabeth, I chose rock over her scissors and jumped in the shower before she could complain.
After shower, I threw on a plain white t-shirt and my red striped boxers and climbed into the bed. I turned over so I wouldn't watch Annabeth walk into the bathroom. It just seemed a bit weird to me, and I don't know why.
The next morning, I was beaded in sweat because there's no air conditioner and suddenly saw Fettel with his mouth covered in blood, from the last time he practically 'ate' half of Charles Habegger's face off, and was in his crimson red leather body armor with tan leggings and black boots. He was sitting on my bed when I pulled my covers close to me in embarrassment.
"Why do you have to sneak up on me like that? Can't you tell I'm not dressed?!" I complained.
"Sorry, old habits."
"Whatever,"
"I can't believe you were assigned by a goddess to capture the uncatchable."
"Can't you clean your face?"
He raised his finger and wiped off some of the blood from his face, stared at it, then licked it, "Still full of memories,"
"God, Fettel—," he interrupted me.
"Uh, it's gods not the person upstairs that everyone is so monotheistic about,"
I threw my hands up in frustration, "What about Alma? Would she turn to the Olympians just because I caught some magic deer?"
"Maybe. I'm starting to switch sides. The Time Lord is being selfish and takes things for granted. Alma thinks so too, but she's only an ally to him. I need help convincing her, and that's why I came here to help you capture the Golden Stag,"
"You mean you're on our side now?"
"Unofficially,"
Ahh, the Cerynian Hind. If you've studied the Twelve Labors of Hercules, you would know what it is. I've read many fanfics and most of them leave out the precious Golden Stag. W00T! Made two chapters in a day! Yay me! ^_^