Chapter 14

I was supposed to kill John? How was that even possible? I'd seen Thalia and Nico kill John's parents. But none of us could kill John. I mean, he was just a kid. So...what? Did we somehow time travel or something? Annabeth was still sleeping. I felt my pocket. Idiot Demigod Hunters. Backbiter had already appeared back in my pocket. I looked up to the cell window. It was night. Hopefully, Blackjack had gotten back to the town safely. His wings would probably be in bad shape. It's a nice night, Luke's voice said.

Yeah, it'd be nicer if I wasn't stuck in a cell, and had you taking over my body, I snapped back.

Sorry about that. Annabeth seemed to notice you weren't yourself, Luke sighed.

She noticed my blond highlights and scar, I muttered.

Right, what is she going to do when I take over your body? And the person you were no longer exists? Luke asked bitterly.

Maybe she'll stab you and I'll take you to the Underworld with me, I growled.

You wish, Luke laughed.

I've been meaning to ask you, how did Backbiter turn into Kronos's scythe? I asked.

Remember where we were fighting on the cruise ship? Backbiter transformed into Kronos's scythe. And it still can, Luke said.

That's cool. So what are you going to use it for when you take over my body? I said.

None of your business, besides you'll be gone long before then, Luke told me.

Luke didn't say anymore. I couldn't let him have Kronos's scythe to use whenever he wanted. There was no telling how much damage he could cause. Since Luke and I weren't Kronos, neither of us could slow time for ever. But Luke could freeze it long enough to do some damage. "Percy? What's wrong?" Annabeth asked.

"Nothing," I said.

"Is it Luke again?" Annabeth asked in a small voice.

She could tell by the look in my eyes it was Luke. Riptide was still in my pocket. An idea popped into my head. I took Riptide out of my pocket. "Annabeth, Luke is going to take over my body...soon," I told her. "He's getting stronger every minute. I found out that Backbiter could transform into Kronos's scythe. These villagers attacked me and I slowed time."

Annabeth was silent. I took her right hand and put Riptide into it. "Percy, what-" Annabeth started.

"When I become Luke," I cut her off. "He will use that ability. You're the only one who knows where my Achilles spot is. I need you to take Riptide and stab my Achilles spot when I turn into Luke."

"I-I don't think I can..." Annabeth's voice trailed off.

"You have to," I said.

"I can't...I won't kill you!" she protested.

"You won't be killing me, you'll be killing Luke," I shrugged.

Tears came to Annabeth's eyes. I bit my lip. It was true she was the only person that knew exactly where my Achilles spot was. I thought about telling her about my dream. About Thalia, Nico, and me being the ones responsible for what John had become. It seemed almost impossible that an innocent kid could become that. I decided not to tell Annabeth, there was no use making her more upset. Annabeth tried to hand the pen back to me. I curled her fingers around it, "Please?"

She took her hand back and put Riptide in her pocket. I opened my arms. Annabeth crawled into my arms and sobbed. I felt bad that I'd asked her to kill me if I became Luke. I wasn't sure if Annabeth could kill me. "It's okay," I told her.

Annabeth sobbed more. Yeah, I'm not that great at comforting. "Jackson," the cell door creaked open.

"What do you want, Cain?" I demanded.

"Come with me," Cain said.

"No."

"Fine, have it your way," Cain shrugged.

He grabbed my shirt and started dragging me out the door. "Percy!" Annabeth cried.

Cain ignored her and shut the cell door. "HEY!" I snapped. "I was kind of in the middle of something!"

"Shut up," Cain muttered.

I tried to remove Cain's hand from my shirt. But he was freaking strong. "Let go," I demanded.

He ignored my pleads. I opened my mouth. "I'll bite," I warned.

Cain let go of my shirt. Though, I doubt he let go because I threatened to bite him. Cain grabbed the back of my neck and led me down the hallway. We came to a large steal door. Cain pushed it open. Hot air blew in my face. Inside was a desert. How did they get a freaking DESERT inside a castle in the Himalayas? Sand was everywhere. Man, no water. Wonderful. "Uh...how the heck did you get a desert in the Himalayas?" I asked.

"Simulation," Cain replied.

"Cool...if you don't mind me asking, but what are we doing here?"

"We? No just you," Cain panted his foot in my back.

"Hey-" I started to cry.

But it was too late. I was in the desert and Cain had shut and locked the door behind me. "Cain! What the heck!" I shouted.

Great, I started walking around the desert simulation. I had to admit, it was pretty cool. Well, it was until a growl came from behind me. I whipped around. "How are you, Jackson?" Dr. Thorn asked.

How did he reform already? "Not so great, since I have to look at your ugly face," I said.

A scorpion tail had sprung up behind him. It moved like a snake ready to strike. "So what are you doing here? Making a quick buck or something?" I asked.

He didn't answer. I drew Backbiter. Thorn hissed at the sword. "Tell me, how did you get a hold of that weapon?" he hissed at me.

"It doesn't matter," I muttered.

I charged at Thorn and jumped into the air. Backbiter was aimed to cut his tail off. If he didn't have a tail, he would be less of a threat. Well, my plan failed. Thorn swung his tail around and hit my chest. Luckily, I didn't hit the stinger. I fell to the ground. Thorn's tail aimed its stinger. When it struck I blocked the hit with Backbiter. I jumped to my feet and ran out of the hit range of Thorn's tail. "Get back here, Jackson!" Thorn snarled.

"Sorry if I don't feel like having a scorpion stinger in my chest," I shot back.

I said it once and I'll say it again Thorn was FAST. He charged at me. His tail fired stingers at me. I ducked behind a desert rock. Next thing I knew, Thorn had a hold of my shirt and held me up in the air. Backbiter had fallen out of my hands. Thorn's tail rose to strike. My heart started to speed up. Then I noticed something around Thorn's neck, a large, thick, metal, brace thing. That blue lightning that I hated glowed around it. "Good-bye, Jackson," Thorn laughed coldly.

Just before his tail was about to hit me, Thorn screamed. The brace around his neck sent lightning all throughout his body. He dropped me and I grabbed Backbiter. Thorn fell to his knees and screamed in pain. I decided to make the best of the blue lightning and get away from Thorn. Speakers came on. "Thorn, I warned you not to try and kill him. I told you if you did, you would surely pay for it," Cain's voice boomed over the loud speakers.

Thorn roared in pain. "What are you playing at, Cain?" I shouted.

"What do you mean?" Cain asked.

"That thing on Thorn's neck, what is it?"

"Just something to help control him, there are others with the same brace," Cain told me.

There were more monsters? The speaker turned off. Thorn collapsed on the sand. I almost felt bad for him. Well, until he got up and started shooting more stingers at me. I charged at him. When I got close to him, he lashed out with his tail. Lucky for me, it got stuck in the sand for a second. I jumped on his back and wrapped my arms around his neck. I was careful not to touch the brace it would send bolts of lightning through me if I did. "I can help you," I whispered in his ear.

Thorn thrashed around. His tail hit everything except me. "RRRAAA!" he roared.

"I can help you," I tightened my arm around his neck.

"How can you?" Thorn choked.

"When I break out of this place, I can take you with me," I told him.

He laughed. "You can't. This thing on my neck won't let me leave this area."

"I'll figure something out," I said.

Thorn managed to pull his arms up and grab my shirt and throw me off his back. He acted like he was going to kill me. "Fine. If you can find a way, I'll do it," he growled.

"Okay. But in return you can't kill anymore half-bloods or I'll kill you myself."

"BAH! Not kill half-bloods? How will I live?"

"I don't know. Figure something out."

The door opened. Cain had his arms behind his back. "Come, Percy."

I didn't think twice; I wanted away from Dr. Thorn. Cain took me back to my cell. Annabeth was waiting when I came through the door. Cain slammed it shut, like he had so many times before. "Where'd he take you? What happened?" Annabeth asked.

"Got into a fight with our old friend, Dr. Thorn," I smiled.

"Sounds...fun..." Annabeth trailed off.

She was probably remembering how Dr. Thorn had kidnapped her years before. When I couldn't hear the echo of Cain's boots anymore, I pulled Annabeth away from the door. "We have to get out of here," I whispered.

"No duh," Annabeth made a face.

"Tomorrow," I said calmly. "We'll break out of here. Blackjack will probably be coming to check on us, since that storm cleared up."

"How do we know Blackjack is coming?" she asked.

"We don't," I admitted. "But I'd rather give it a shot than rot in here for the rest of my life."

Annabeth nodded.

Meanwhile at the town...

Blackjack's wings had almost completely unfrosted. Thalia had decided they should stay at the town another night and rest. They had grabbed all the weapons they could. Pollux came back and threw wood on the fire. Everyone sat around it and warmed their hands. "Alright," Thalia began. "Everyone knows the plan tomorrow? Katie and Jake will try to find Annabeth and Percy. Meanwhile, the rest of us will hold off the Demigod Hunters until they get back. Any questions?"

Grover raised his hand. "Will Blackjack be coming with us?"

"I don't see why not. His wings are looking better. Plus we need a Pegasus for Percy and Annabeth. Blackjack is probably the only one who can carry them both. "Any one else have questions?"

No one raised their hand. "No? Okay then. Get a good night's sleep everyone. We leave at dawn," Thalia said.

Author's note: Sorry about my grammar. I edited as much as I could.