Disclaimer: I do not own the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. I do own Jade, Grant, and any other characters that you don't recognize from the series, as well as the story plot.


When Luck is All You Have – 11 – Countdown

Strangely enough, I awoke feeling full of energy (I wasn't a morning person) and I found that I wasn't hungry in the slightest. A good thing, since all of my foodstuffs were far behind me as well as the only other weapon I had besides my Sica. I continued to walk, now that I had a destination in mind. 'Menny' (I had quickly adopted that name, much to his displeasure) kept his word about not controlling me while I slept. However he was slightly suspicious about how I had figured out where to go on my own. He didn't complain – he just wanted to get this over with as soon as possible. That, I could agree on.

I kept telling myself that I would not think of Lucy in the hope of the opposite effect. Most people would have chosen something like elephants or dogs, but this option also gave me the pleasure of annoying 'Menny' as well as myself. It was hard not to think about my plan, and every once-in-a-while I had to catch myself, causing even more suspicion. Thankfully, he either didn't care or was too idiotic to put two and two together. I was leaning toward the former, but I was sure he would figure something out.

The plan had worked all the way up until I had finally run into civilization. I didn't leave the woods yet – the last thing I needed was more suspicion – but I could see the wide interstate, still packed with cars. I walked along, still within the trees, to try and find a sign telling me where I was. When I did, I was quite surprised: I-65. It was a freeway I knew all too well, running from Indiana to Alabama. I sniffed the air. Indiana, alright.

Let me clarify. Indiana air and Kentucky air have very different scents. Though most people wouldn't notice this unless they live in either of these states. I was actually quite surprised that my nose still recognized this difference after the year I've been away from here.

But not as surprised as I was about actually being in Indiana. To travel from New York to here in…what? Two weeks? On foot? Of course I had a little help in that matter, but there must have been some magic involved. Menoitios would neither confirm nor deny it, so I suppose I'd never know. I looked toward the south and saw the John F. Kennedy memorial bridge, with the Louisville skyline on the other side. I was closer to home than I thought.

XxXxX

I was glad that I still remembered these roads like the back of my hand. The faster I got to Waverly, the faster I could save my friends. Menoitios scoffed at me for the near-constant thought of it.

I had stolen some guy's bicycle a while back. It would save me a lot of time and energy. I rode down the streets – once by my old neighborhood and I had to force myself not to go there like a homing pigeon. Getting sidetracked was the last thing I needed, though I was slightly tempted to stop for cake when I saw the date on a sign. I knew just what I'd wish for when I blew out the birthday candles: to survive the night. The thought of finally becoming a legal adult left my mind when I went up the hill toward the old tuberculosis hospital. There was a single light on the top floor. I put down the kickstand of the bike and got off, my eyes never leaving that light. I was sure that was where my friends were.

And then my mental control slipped. My plan was left wide open for Menoitios to see, and see he did. I felt a wave of uncontrolled fury rush through me, and I gasped at the sudden pain that exploded behind it. The titan was beyond words. The anger was obvious, so was the hate. But I felt an undercurrent of something along the lines of fear. That didn't surprise me.

I had figured out how to rid myself of him. That gods-forsaken jar stole the essence of a person. But when there was more than one being within a body, one would assume that the being in control at the time was the object of the ritual. Judging by his offensiveness, this assumption was exactly right. He would be in control when I was unconscious. Therein, laid the only tricky part.

"Damn you! Damn you to the depths of Tartarus!" He growled through me. I clenched my teeth and pressed forward, trying to hide the struggle within. That would give me away for sure. He tried to force himself in control like he had before, but I was expecting it. He yelled a few more choice words inside my head at that.

I was sure I was being led through the hallways by some outside force – I could hardly concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other! In my peripheral vision, I saw the outlines of a few monsters as I passed. They were ignoring me. They were expecting me. I was surprised that none had raised an alarm over my surely-obvious fight with Menoitios.

Your plan won't work! You'll fail everyone! You are going to be another step to bringing the gods' downfall!

So it was bully tactics now? Ha! I've had my fair share of dealing with that crowd. I shook my head clear, as I walked into the room where my fate would be decided. I heard my name being called. It sounded distant, but I could tell that it was Grant and Zack. I couldn't hear Nico. I was quite positive that they had him out cold. Waverly was well known for being haunted – something that would give him an edge if he were awake.

I focused on Krios, who held the jar. He didn't smile. Neither of us droned on and on like in the movies. I turned to the makeshift altar and made my way to it. There was no delaying the inevitable. I heard the complaints of my friends and the start of the ritual. Menoitios used even more of his strength and I winced, but otherwise showed nothing of the war within me. I tried my hardest to relax. I prayed to my father for the luck to get me through and then I prayed to Hypnos for a deep sleep.