Chapter 14: Dangerous Choices

"Why so serious? You either die being a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become a villain. So what are you? Hero or Villain?"

-Joker, The Dark Knight

AN: HEY GUYS! Here I am half-alive but still updating! WOHOO! AHAHAHHAHA. Welp I recognize being a horrible human being. Maybe I should just change my name to Demon Spawn instead of Night Spawn HAHAHHAH. Anyways, I apologize I really have a lot going on, hope you don't hte me for not updating recently hhahahahha. I really am trying. So here ya go, the latest chapter!

-06-30-17—7-30-

Annabeth marveled at the fact that despite being gagged, kidnapped, and blindfolded; her mind still had some dry humor, telling her that this was incredibly cliché.

Then it wondered when an average person would lose their sanity during an ordeal like this.

Her consciousness was definitely not on team morale.

She felt the vehicle stop. There was movement about her, so she assumed that they had reached their destination. She suddenly had a very dangerous idea.

She willed herself to go slack against the seat, giving her kidnappers the impression that was either unconscious due to the chloroform or that she was sleeping.

She felt a rough hand shake her shoulder. "Hey wake up."

Annabeth didn't move.

She felt the hand shake her a little harder. "Hey. You awake?"

Annabeth still didn't move.

She heard the guy sigh. She almost flinched when the guy hollered. "Hey Luke!"

Judging from the way his voice echoed, she thought, we must be in a fairly large space. An abandoned warehouse maybe?

A warehouse? Isn't that cliché? Her consciousness asked dryly.

Shut up if you aren't going to say anything remotely useful. She shot back.

Yep, she was losing it.

She heard footsteps echoing as a new voice replied. "What is it now, Ethan?"

"The girl. Think she's still out."

The voice grew closer. "What do you want me to do about it?"

"Oh I don't know; maybe help me get her out?"

"Do it yourself."

"I would, but did you know that a human only has two hands? I can't open the on the door lock if I'm carrying her."

The voice went silent. This 'Luke' was probably debating whether he should help her kidnapper, presumably the guy named 'Ethan.'

"Shove over."

Annabeth felt herself being carried, and she felt cooler air hit her skin.

She opened her eyes. She jabbed her elbow on the guy's ribs. Hard.

Annabeth rolled as she dropped to the ground, hearing the person who was carrying her wince and double over. She tore her blindfold and bolted.

She made a run for the open hangar door.

Annabeth made it about twelve feet when a tall, broad shouldered figure appeared in front of her.

She tried to sidestep the figure but failed ultimately when a hand grabbed her wrist and twisted it over her shoulder. Trapped.

She wasn't going to give up that easily.

She faced her attacker, making him loosen his grip on her momentarily. She took the chance of his split-second show of weakness.

She kicked him at the chest, sending him staggering back.

Annabeth made a run for it again when the same guy suddenly appeared in front of her. How was it that he moved so fast?

Then she looked up. She saw the answer in his eyes.

The last thing she remembered before falling into darkness was a pair of glowing blue eyes, laced with gold.

Thalia was guarding a very badly wounded Percy while Nico was looking for any leads on Annabeth's location.

The titan lord was good if he could hide Annabeth from Nico's skills.

She looked towards her cousin noticing the nicks and scars on his face and his arms. A slightly stained bandage was covering his whole chest, making him look like he was wearing a sleeveless shirt.

Ambrosia and Nectar sealed with healing magic can only do so much against a powerful cursed weapon.

Yet, Thalia mused, it was so like him to just charge in to protect someone he cared about, even though he knew he was going to lose eventually.

Thalia cringed inwardly. He was just buying time until we could come.

But we were too late.

She shook her head trying to clear it of unwanted thoughts.

All that replaced her undesirable thoughts were superfluous memories.

-Last Night-

The clash of bronze and iron was beautiful, the way one might think the leaping flames of a forest fire alluring.

After all, beauty was dangerous.

Thalia aimed carefully, and let electricity flow from her arms, using her spear as a conduit.

Kronos turned just in time to jump back.

Thalia cursed. I missedshe thought.

Kronos raised his scythe, only to be met by a black sword.

He swung it aside, and blocked a counter attack.

Thalia jumped in and flicked her spear towards an opening at Kronos' side. She wasn't about to let her cousins have all the fun.

Her spear whistled as it flew, crackling from the power it contained.

Then, it happened.

The tip of her spear halted in the air, exactly an inch away from piercing the titan's flesh.

He turned and sneered at her. "Nice try."

Kronos oscillated the curve of his weapon, knocking Nico of his knees and wounding him in one stroke.

Thalia hissed in sympathy. That must've hurt a lot, she thought.

He turned towards her menacingly, plucking her spear out of the air. "But I'm better."

He threw her own spear at her with surprising accuracy and speed, giving Thalia about three seconds at most to get over her shock and take action before she was skewered by her own weapon.

She ducked and rolled, abandoning all thought and giving into her instincts. She felt warm liquid run down the side of her cheek.

He drew blood. She wasn't quick enough.

She picked up her spear and crouched into a defensive stance, just in time to block his attack.

She knew she was going to lose.

There was a familiar sound of a weapon being drawn and the sickening squelch as metal hit flesh.

Thalia gasped.

The tip of Riptide was sprouting from Kronos' stomach.

The titan lord grimaced. Supernatural beings or not, they were capable of getting hurt and experiencing pain too.

Without warning, Kronos turned and swiveled his scythe. A ripping sound filled the air.

He had sliced open Percy's tux and gave him a long and deep cut from his left abdomen till his right shoulder blade.

Percy fell to his knees, gasping desperately for air. Still, he refused to stop fighting, glaring at the titan lord, leaning into his sword.

"I'll savor your gift," Kronos snarled, "As you savor mine."

Then, he disappeared, leaving behind a faint dusting of golden sand from where he was standing a moment ago.

" Coward" Thalia whispered. She scooted towards Percy, who was bleeding heavily.

"How…. Long?" Percy asked.

"About an hour" Nico answered limping towards them. With each step, his face contorted with pain, blood spilling in rivulets.

"They'll be fine Kelp Head, you heard Nico, they'll unfreeze within an hour." She scrutinized both of them. "What both of you need to do is worry about is yourselves."

"I'll…. live" Percy wheezed. "I need….to…. find…. Annabeth."

He tried to sit up but only succeeded in losing more blood.

"Percy!" Thalia yelled as his eyes rolled to the back of his head.

We need to get home, she thought Now.

She glanced at her other cousin. Nico nodded. He could still make the jump.

Thalia held unto Percy's hand and gripped Nico's with the other.

She felt herself becoming one with her shadow as they dissolved into nothing.

Thalia's stroll on the dreaded memory lane was cut short when she heard her cousin wince he tried to sit up. Her eyes narrowed. He was going to open up his stitches. Even accelerated healing had limits. They needed to wait for at least 24 hours until they could pull it out.

"The corpse lives" she droned dramatically as Percy turned his head and acknowledge her presence.

Percy looked at her with somber eyes. "They took her."

Thalia couldn't meet his eyes. "Yeah, they did."

His shoulders drooped. "I should've found him faster. I should've protected her"

Thalia glanced at him. Percy had the tendency to wallow in self- loathing. "It isn't your fault, Perce." She said softly.

If anything, she thought, it was ours.

AN:I swear, I really am trying to update but lately it feels like I'm carrying the whole world with the stuff I need to do. However, do not worry. I will not let you guys down. Besides we should cheer up, when school takes a break, I'll let you guys know and I'll post as many chapters as I can. Please Follow, Favorite, or Review guys! Thank You so much! See you soon!