ANNABETH POV.
It was Thursday already. Was I panicking? Yes. See! I'm talking to myself - totally panick-ish. I jumped and swung around as the door clicked and opened. Hope fluttered inside me, but quickly disappeared when one of the guards stood there.
"Hello, Annabeth." He said, grinning evilly under the shadows. I glared at him and looked away, my blonde curls flying in front of my face. I felt a hand grab my wrist tightly and growled like a wild animal. In utter shock I felt the cuffs loosen and taken away. I snatched my hands away and rubbed them together, feeling free for once in a while.
"The Master wants to see you in the courtyard." He replied, pushing me up and staying in contact with me so I couldn't run away. The dark hallways were freaking me out. Everywhere I turned I saw half-bloods, animals, things I didn't even recognize in cages and cells. Now I knew where campers were disappearing to. I blinked away tears and put on my strong face. The courtyard wasn't any better, though at least it wasn't underground like the rest of the place. Dark stormy clouds filled the sky and wind blew my hair back. There was a throne and someone in a dark cloak that covered their face was sitting there with a long staff in his hand. Pillars of black rock rose out of the ground and fire burned in flame torches on the back wall. I caught my breath and the guards stood as still as statues. The guy on the throne looked up and smiled.
"Ah, Annabeth!" He exclaimed.
I didn't reply, just scowled.
"I hope you haven't forgotten about the choice." He said.
"How could I not?" I spat.
"Listen." He stood up and started to circle me, the guards standing back nervously. "I have updated the news for you. If you bring us Percy Jackson, then we will give you the gods' symbols. When you bring them to Olympus, you will be a hero."
"Y-YOU stole them?" I felt rage build inside me.
"Of course." He laughed. "It's the perfect plan."
"How dare you…who the heck are you?" I demanded. "Tell me now."
"You don't know?" He stopped.
I thought for a while and then gasped. "Asclepius?"
He smiled evilly. "Of course." He said.
"But…you got removed…and the lightning bolt-"
"Your point?"
"You…you shouldn't be here."
"But I am." Asclepius snarled. "I brought back the dead with my healing. Who said I couldn't do it to myself?"
"Zeus did."
"No, actually. He didn't." He told me. "So about that deal…"
"I refuse! I will never ever bring Percy to you!" I yelled.
"You could be the hero I never was. Don't you want that?"
"I'm not that selfish that I would risk other people's lives to make myself a hero!" The guards started to grab my arms, but they still couldn't hold me back.
"Isn't this what you've always wanted?"
"I have never wanted this!" I shouted. The guards pushed me down onto the ground. I grunted and was dragged across the floor back to my cell. Asclepius stood in the middle of the courtyard, as calm as ever, his arms crossed behind his back. "My offer still stands."
I snapped at him and then got thrown into my cell, the door slamming behind me, making me feel as if I was cut out of the world.