And I'm back, after one week. Here's the next chapter:

Percy Jackson POV

"And you're absolutely sure of this?" the fed said, looking at me through narrowed eyes.

I stifled an impatient noise. Every minute that we remained here in New York, the likelier it was that Annabeth would disappear. "I already told you. Annabeth and I always used to talk about our idea of 'Paradise'. Annabeth always used to say that her idea of Paradise was San Francisco. She'd been there a million times and she was totally in love with the city. If she scrawled 'Paradise' as a clue, she would've expected me to know what she meant. Why are we still waiting?"

"You have to understand," the fed replied. "We're talking about finding the most infamous drug lord in the country. He's been on our most wanted list for years. We can't screw things up based on what a sixteen-year-old boy has to say."

"Do you have any better leads?" I countered.

The fed hesitated. "No, but we don't know that it was Annabeth who wrote that word. It could be a trap."

"Listen," I said very quietly. "If that word is on the headboard of Annabeth's bed, I know there's a reason. It's because Annabeth wrote it. Now, it's your choice. You could, of course, choose to keep your forces here, knowing full well that it could be a trap. And then if it turns out that you screwed up and Kronos really was where I know he is, and you missed up a chance to arrest him…" I shrugged. "It's your call, buddy."

The fed looked at me for a moment, then swore softly under his breath. He put a walkie-talkie to his mouth.

"Guys, get the cars ready. We're heading to LaGuardia."

I stifled a grin.

~~Page Break~~

It took a while for them to charter a plane to transport us to San Francisco – especially since all of us, Annabeth's friends, insisted on coming.

"You need me, in particular," Jason insisted. "I'm from San Francisco. I know this city."

Eventually, they'd given in, and now we were flying across the country to the West Coast.

I'd never been to the West Coast. I'd never really been so far away from New York State. I sat at a window seat, looking glumly at the dark sky outside, when I heard a tap on my shoulder. Turning, I saw that it was Thalia.

"Hey, Thals," I murmured.

Thalia smiled as she sat down next to me. "That's Annabeth's nickname for me."

I nodded.

For a moment, we sat there in silence. Then Thalia leaned in close.

"Listen to me," she whispered. "These feds – we all know their priority isn't Annabeth. Their priority is arresting Kronos, and toppling his drug empire. If a little girl vanishes but they get to arrest Kronos – well, it'll be a pity, but they won't beat themselves up about it."

I nodded again, and felt my heart sinking. But Thalia wasn't finished.

"What I'm saying is, the minute we feel they're diverging from our path, the path we want them to take, we go off on our own. I don't care what the feds say we can or can't do, but we go off and we rescue Annabeth. Because she's my friend, and I'm not letting a drug lord take her, no matter what the Federal Bureau of Investigation has to say about it."

I looked into Thalia's eyes, and saw determination burning there. Thalia loved Annabeth just as fiercely as I did, I realized. Grinning, I held out my pinkie.

"It's a deal," I promised.

Thalia grinned too as she linked her pinkie through mine.

"Good choice, Seaweed Brain," she whispered.

"That's Annabeth's nickname for me."

"I know."

Annabeth Chase POV

I struggled against my chains, though I knew it was hopeless. A few yards away from me, a burly Asian guy stood, watching me with a bored expression on his face. What was his name? Evan? Ethan? I couldn't remember now.

I was in a room on the upper floor in some kind of warehouse, and it was pretty dark here. That didn't bother me much. I'd never been frightened of the dark.

I heard footsteps on the stairs, and knew without looking up who it was.

"You can go now, Nakamura," Luke's lazy voice drawled. A few more clumping footsteps, and I knew Nakamura had left the room. It was just Luke and me now.

Luke came and knelt in front of me. I looked up at him and infused every shred of hatred I had for him into my eyes.

"Oh, Annabeth." He sounded so sad. "It didn't have to be this way, you know. If you'd just been smart enough to keep your mouth shut – "

"What're you going to do to me?" I demanded, interrupting him.

Grim amusement shone in Luke's eyes. "Well, I don't know, really. We're not going to kill you, if that's what you're asking. But I imagine I'll introduce you to the drug business. How do you fancy a holiday down to Mexico, Annabeth?"

I struggled against my chains again.

"An extended vacation – perhaps extended for the rest of your life?"

"You're insane," I burst out, and looked into Luke's eyes.

There was no insanity there – just a cool, calculating gaze. How had I never seen Luke for the emotionless shell he was?

Suddenly, he reached behind me. I stiffened, but then I realized he was undoing my handcuffs. He was releasing me.

"What're you doing?" I gasped out.

"Playing games with a trapped animal is never fun." He freed me, and I brought my wrists together, wincing as I felt the bruises on them. Then I saw the look of lust in Luke's eyes.

"Annabeth," he murmured, and came forward.

"No!" I shrieked, and struggled against him. His hands were at my T-shirt, tearing it. I flailed against him as he fumbled to undo his jeans with just one hand.

"It's nothing we haven't done before, sweetie," he whispered. "So why not just give in?"

"Because you're a monster!" I shouted.

Using all the strength I could muster, I grabbed Luke's head with both my hands, and pushed it against the wall. Luke froze, stunned and dizzy. I took the opportunity to kick him in that place as hard as I could.

His eyes went wide with sudden agony, and he collapsed to his knees, holding his soft spot. I scrambled to my feet.

"Rule number one," I spat, "never free a trapped animal when it hates you with all its heart. I hope you enjoy caressing your balls for the next few months."

Then I turned and ran out of the room. I didn't stop running.

And thus begins an epic tale of escape! Stay tuned for the next few chapters. Reviews please!