The Fates Work in Mysterious Ways

Chapter 11: Slip Up

Disclaimer: Just to make sure everyone knows- I don't own Percy Jackson, I'm not Rick, if I was the PJO movies would have been Harry Potter quality.

Author's Note—Thanks for all those who are following the story! You are all wonderful. Also, if you could please check out the new PJO story I am writing that would be amazing! It's called 'I'll be Bad for You.'

1 week and 2 days missing- 6:45 AM- search party.

Percy winced as he downed his sixth cup of coffee. He had been leading a search party in the small wooded areas about three miles from the beach for the past four days. So far the only thing Percy managed was bags under his eyes and a migraine. Since the search party started he had managed to get in around 3 hours of sleep and it was beginning to catch up with him.

Half of the small Florida town was out searching for Annabeth, but so far they had turned up jack squat. Percy was tired and frustrated. He swore he would rip the scumbag apart who took Annabeth. Percy just hoped they would find her in time.

7:15 AM—place of captivity

Annabeth was curled into a ball in the corner of the small hole she was being kept in. the ground below her was hard and smelled of rotting earth. She gagged and sat up just as the bile exited her mouth. Annabeth groaned and scooted to the opposite corner; morning sickness was terrible, but was even worse when it sank into the ground and stayed there in the hot Florida air.

'How long have I been down here?' Annabeth wondered laying on her back and staring at the black abyss above. It seemed like forever since she had been drugged and thrown into this pit. Something bothered Annabeth about her attacker.

Annabeth remembered how her attacker swore he would keep her alive until Percy could witness her death, and then he would kill them both. Yet, he was bringing her food, water, and pre-natal vitamins. It didn't make any sense to Annabeth at all. The biggest mystery was where she knew him from, he seemed so familiar, yet Annabeth didn't recognize the man's voice.

The hatch above creaked and was thrown open wide causing bright light from the sun to stream in the hole. Annabeth shrank away from the brightness, which let her know she had been in this hole at least a week because her eyes were already becoming adjusted to the darkness. "Annabeth," The man said with his deep voice, "I brought you some provisions. I won't be back until night. I am helping the search party look for you."

"Why are you doing this to me?" Annabeth cried, "What did I ever do to you?"

The man laughed cruelly, "You are the worst of all the sinners in this town. I thought you were different, but you are just as much a pathetic whore as the rest of them."

"What are you talking about?" Annabeth screamed as the man began climbing the ladder, "You are insane!"

Annabeth slumped down into the dirt. She wished the man would remove his mask, so she could know who her attacker was. She began to cry and held her stomach as though it was her lifeline, which in all reality, this baby was the only thing keeping her from going crazy.

Search party—11:00 AM—Lunch time.

All the volunteers from the search party were sitting in the sand eating lunch. A local café had catered the lunch and was currently handing out business cards to a young couple munching on salad wraps.

Percy shook his head disgusted, "People benefit from tragedies."

"That is true Detective," Marcus said sitting beside Percy.

Behind Marcus were two other teachers Percy faintly recognized as the gym teacher and math teacher. "Glad you could all come out and help," Percy said gruffly.

"Of course," the math teacher, Mrs. Crawford, replied, "We all move Annabeth."

Marcus and the gym teacher, Mr. Goad, nodded their assent. Percy thought this would be a good time to learn more about Annabeth, so he would have something more to talk to her about when he got her back. "So the three of you know Annabeth well," Percy asked taking a bite from his turkey sandwich.

"Yes," Marcus answered, "I started teaching here about a year ago and Annabeth was so friendly to me. It was only her second year teaching and we bonded over the fact we were the youngest teachers here."

Percy nodded and took in Marcus. He was tall, 6'2, and had bleach blonde hair with a high-pitched voice that Percy felt sounded a little forced. "I see," Percy answered, "So do any of you know of a bad breakup Annabeth might have gone through recently? Maybe she has an ex that wanted revenge?"

Mrs. Crawford and Mr. Goad both excused themselves saying they weren't close with Annabeth outside of school. "They are soooo boring," Marcus said giggling, "Annabeth has never dated anyone since I have known her. She is my best friend and I'm always picking out men for her, I have great taste in guys you know.

Marcus winked playfully at the last sentence and Percy smiled politely. He had figured Marcus homosexual but didn't want to make any stereotypical judgements. "So," Percy continued, "Is there anyone you can think of that would want to hurt Annabeth? I know I have already asked, but sometimes a different setting can trigger new memories."

Marcus nodded and sat deep in thought, "Oh my goodness. I can't believe no one thought to tell you about Randal Werd."

"The sheriff's son?" Percy asked confused. The sheriff's son was cocky, but had seemed eager to join the search party and help look for Annabeth.

"Yes," Marcus said nodding in Randal's direction, "He was obsessed with Annabeth. He was always telling her how pretty she was and that he wanted to have one of those teacher/student relationships. Annabeth, of course, dismissed him and Randal got really angry."

Percy wrote all of the information about Randal in his notebook, "Do you think that Randal is capable of harming Annabeth?"

Marcus shook his head, "No he is a stupid kid. He is not smart enough to come up with such an elaborate kidnapping. I just thought you should know. Perhaps the sheriff?"

"Thanks for all your help Marcus," Percy said standing, "It's 12:15 so we should probably start searching for Annabeth again."

Percy considered confronting the sheriff and his kid, but decided against it because it was doubtful either had any involvement. Percy stared into the blueness of the ocean and prayed this would be the day they would find Annabeth alive and well.

As the other searchers began finishing their lunches, Percy stared into the vast blue. He had always loved the ocean and watched as the elaborate waves washed over his black sneakers. The thought triggered something in Percy's mind and he found he had a new suspect for the murders and kidnapping.

Percy picked up his cell and dialed the desk of the computer analyst at the FBI, "Donna? Yeah I need you to look up everything on a Marcus Darnell, his entire life all the way up to when he started teaching."

Percy remembered the harsh look on Marcus's face when he said that Randal could never pull of such an elaborate kidnapping. He had sounded proud and Percy remembered thinking his voice sounded forced.

Percy turned and scanned the beach, but Marcus was nowhere in sight.

Author's Note—So here is the next chapter! Hope you enjoyed it. Please Review or Annabeth dies mwhaha.

So don't know how many more chapters I will have in this particular story, but I am already planning a sequel because I have had so much fun writing this and I'm percabeth trash lol

Tumblr—chelsealynne87 #ladymarvel87 #the fates work in mysterious ways

Until next time