The Cost

Chapter 25

Previoulsy on The Cost:

I saw Annabeth behind a desk, but no Adela. Annabeth probably hid her. Men were continuously flowing in and I was starting to get bored of this.

Annabeth and I shared a look. Now it's time for some fun.

Annabeth POV

Nico and I have had some pretty good times, though pulling pranks on Thalia and Percy where the best. Percy and Thalia would trigger them back right at us, but all in all, I'd say we won every time.

"Plan POPPY!" Nico shouted and I nodded. I took all of the flammable chemicals I could find and gathered them up. Nico grabbed all of the paper towels he could find, and I decided it would defiantly be best if I got Adela out from under the desk, so I did.

"Nico, stuff the jars and I'll throw," I commanded handing him a few jars full of high flammable chemicals. He nodded and started stuffing the top of them with paper towel.

My job was once he was done, take a lighter and light the thing on fire then throw. It would end up being like a fire bomb… don't ask how we used it against Percy and Thalia.

He handed me some stuffed jars and I went to work lighting them. When I threw them, I had Adela turn around. I kept on throwing them, making the fire blow up at people's feet, burning them. Its times like these that I wish killing these people wouldn't be the only way…

But at the same time, I remember all of the innocent people these men had killed, and it makes me realize- this is their punishment for following Kronos and being loyal to him.

Not the law. Not justice.

When Nico and I started running out of chemical flame bombs, we took another route. What if we decided to play a little cat and mouse here? I mean, I had a ton of tricks up my sleeve.

"DAD!" Adela cried, and I turned around. I saw Percy, the matted hair Aaron, and no one behind them.

"Adela!" Percy exclaimed, taking her into her arms, I smiled at the family time, but at the same time… we could all die here, right now.

So, on that account, I just kept shooting.

I threw a couple chairs at the men, knocking the bad guys out. Percy decided to take the kids and hide them, because when he came next to me, the kids weren't in sight.

After the battle raged on for several more minutes, Percy took out the last guy in sight. I looked at him and we met eyes. This was one of those times that if you looked at someone, it was like you where the only two there at the moment.

"Annabeth," he sighed, taking me in his embrace. I wrapped my arms around him too, and I breathed in that same scent he has every day. I'm pretty sure some of it lingers on me now, from all of the hugs and kisses we do.

"Percy… the kids." I brought him back to earth and suddenly, the few lights that we had, went out. The TV's and computer moniters popped on.

That's when I saw the ugly face of whom I never wished to witness again- Kronos.

"Percy and Annabeth Jackson. Long time no see." Kronos spoke, his golden eyes all the while burning in disgust.

"What do you want from us?" Percy demanded, and Nico stepped up beside me. We all knew he really wanted to kill me.

"I think you know that very thoroughly, Mr. Jackson. Your wife is my only need, while your children… the same goes for them." Kronos explained, his voice rough. Exactly what you'd think a evil geinious voice would sound like, he had it.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked this time, I didn't like the way he announced our children and pulled them into this.

"If you'd like to know, look behind me." Kronos moved a step to the right, and that's when I saw them.

My poor kids, Adela and Aaron gagged and tied up. They were both crying and had blood on their faces. The sight made my stomach turn in a knot.

I closed my eyes and the sight was still there. The twins tied and gagged, all the while bloody. Was it their own blood? I hope not.

I let out a cry and went down on my knees. Percy was in his own trance, not being able to console me.

"But, if you want them back, there is The Cost." Kronos said sadly, and I knew it was a joke to try and get us to do it. But a mother wants her children back, so I must be able to do this 'cost'.

"What is it?" my terrified voice asked, shaking.

"Well, it is you."

Katie POV

Travis and I where going on adrenaline where we were.

All in all in the end, we had no survivors for the other side.

"Hey Trav," I asked.

"What?" he replied, sitting down on the stair next to me.

I took his hand and smiled, "Let's get married." At that, Travis started laughing his head off next to me, and I thunked his shoulder.

"OWE! What was that for?" he asked in obvious disbelief.

"I was serious, Travis. We both know we'd die for each other, and half of the married population wouldn't even do that," I smiled at the picture of Travis in a tux, "So let's get married."

"I guess we should… but here's the thing, I have no ring." Travis said, seemingly questioning me.

"I don't give a cat's hat about a ring, Travis. We can always get one when this whole charade is over." I stated, smiling wider than I have before. We were going to get married.

"That's my girl." Travis smiled, taking me into an embrace. We knew this wasn't going to last forever, but all in all, it was pretty dang good if you asked me.

Percy POV

"You are not going there. Absolutly not." I insisted, trying to convince Annabeth that there was a better way. But I knew deep down… there was no better way.

"There isn't any other way, Percy." She explained, giving me her gun, "Trust me on this."

I knew I had to trust her, but I wouldn't except this. Annabeth could not just go in there, and get the kids, killing herself. It was an automatic suicide.

"I can't let you die." I said, following her to the office we camped out in, "I need you."

"And the kids need us." That shut me up. She was ultimately right, as usual. The twins where depending on us do get them back.

I knew that this was the only option. But God wouldn't let my family be doomed apart for the rest of our lives… would he?

At that moment, Annabeth took me into a powerful, perfect kiss, and pulled away all too soon. "You're right, but I have to do this." She whispered before taking of, full speed for the top floor… where Kronos was.

"ANNABETH!" I shouted, trying to catch up with her. But she had too much of a head start so I couldn't catch up.

She slipped right through my fingers.