Chapter 26: Literal Leap of Faith

Instead of another projection starting they were shown small clips and pictures. A montage of shorts. There were time stamps showing the two days the three were on the train together traveling west. Everyone watched wondering why the train ride might be important.

The first clip was a passenger reading to his friend from the Trenton Register-News. There was a blurry photo of Percy holding a metallic blur, that looked like some sort of weapon or sports equipment. The passenger read to his friend the caption. "His Stepfather Gabe Ugliano offered a reward for his capture or info."

"Capture?"

"It's Gabe," Percy sneered. "He could care less."

Then a short clip of Percy pacing the train hoodie down trying not to be noticed. When he sat down and pressed his face outside he saw a family of centaurs armed with bows hunting for food. The little boy centaur waved.

"Why didn't you show that to me?" Annabeth asked.

"You were using the toilet," Percy smirked.

"TMI," Magnus wrinkled his nose.

Then Percy was looking out the window again. This time the projection almost left the train zooming in on something prowling through the woods. A golden lion. It switched back to Percy who blinked and then went to get food.

"Wait was that the Lion?" Thalia asked.

"Yep."

"Wow, talk about fate." Grover laughed with Thalia as everyone else looked confused even Annabeth.

Then the train started to pull into a city with a giant white arch towering over the skyline. Annabeth sat on her knees and smiled looking at it. "I want to do that."

"What?"

"Build something….Parthenon, Percy?"

"Only in pictures."

"Someday, I'm going….in person."

"That wasn't as fun as I hoped it would be," Annabeth frowned.

"No kidding," Leo cringed.

"We almost destroyed it instead of building it," Piper agreed whispering to her friend.

"I'll take you again," Percy promised. "A trip to Greece where we only have to worry about normal monsters, not another huge threat."

She smiled in reply.

"I'm going to build…last a thousand years."

"I'm pretty sure you guys keep telling the future," Apollo looked at them weirdly. "I need to look into that. Especially Percy."

"Me?"

"You kind of have done it several times already," Rachel noted. "Ella want to take notes of it?"

The harpy nodded. "Find Pan. Build permanent. Lion…"

"You? An Architect?"

"Why's that funny?" frowned Magnus. "She's always wanted to be one."

"It's just the ADHD, sitting still to draw, well I couldn't believe anyone could do that."

"Yes, an architect. Athena expects….I could mention."

There was a silent pause both in the projection and in real life.

"Sorry…was mean."

"Can't we work together….ever cooperate?"

"Like once. Until you two came along," Apollo said.

"I guess….to make it complete."

"Which is why we're unstoppable at that," Percy grinned.

"You're going down soon," Clarisse decreed.

"Sure," Annabeth shot back.

"I think they're right," Hazel said. "Percy even put a chariot on Arion."

"Then we can cooperate, too. Right?"

"I suppose."

"Thank the gods you do," Grover said under his breath.

The scene cut again. The group was standing in line to the egg shaped elevators that would take them to the top of the arch. Behind them in line was a big fat lady and her Chihuahua with a rhinestone collar.

Percy got off the couch standing up abruptly. Several people stared at him. He was already pale. "Sorry. I need to sit on the floor for this. Um…. Okay. I need the beanbag you're using Leo. That's if you and Calypso don't mind switching with me and Annabeth."

"No problem dude," Leo said confused.

Percy sat on the bean bag and a worried Annabeth sat on the one beside him. He sighed in relief. "Okay good. Nico and Will. Scoot over please."

"Why?" Annabeth asked. "The explo—"

"I didn't tell you and Grover everything," Percy said. "This whole thing was bad. I'm already shaky thinking about how it'll feel going up in that elevator, it's so small and so high. Not good for someone who's not allowed to be in the sky and is claustrophobic."

Annabeth gripped his hand. "We're together."

"Good."

They climbed in the elevator with the lady and the dog. They started going up and Percy turned green. He couldn't answer when the fat lady asked him a question. "No parents?"

"They're below….of heights."

"Oh…poor darlings."

Percy was green and looked like he wanted to vomit. Thalia just seeing it wasn't much better. "I am so happy I wasn't there."

"You should be," Percy choked back. "And this is the good part. I hate being so squished."

The Chihuahua growled. The woman clicked her tongue. "Now…Behave."

"Sonny…his name?" Percy asked trying not to show how uncomfortable he was.

"No," she smiled.

"That's a monster," Rachel decided.

"If it is what I believe it is then a particularly bad one," Calypso shook her head.

"Very," Percy agreed.

"You're trapped now too," Sam pointed out. "Unless you can fly like a Valkyrie."

"No such luck."

The scene fast forwarded to them talking in front of the window. Mostly Percy looking at it nervously with Grover as Annabeth spouted facts. Then over the loudspeakers someone announced they would close in a few minutes.

"Thank the gods," Percy breathed. He pushed Annabeth toward the exit. Grover shrugged and walked beside them. Annabeth and Grover got into the elevator and Percy was about to get in too when he realized it was too crowded.

"Next car, sir."

"We'll get out….with you."

"Naw, it's okay….at the bottom."

"Liar," Grover said. "We should have stayed."

"You should never separate like that," agreed Jason. "Only if there is no other way."

"There was," Annabeth groaned. "We just were to naïve to take it."

"I'm here and fine. So please everyone stay quiet so we can get this over with."

Now the only people left on the observation…with her Chihuahua. Percy grinned uneasily at her. She smiled back her forked tongue flicking the air.

"It you didn't spot that I'm going to hit you," Clarisse said. "Not that I wouldn't anyway."
"I did."

"She a snake monster? They're the worst," Sadie cringed.

"Their poison the most," Carter agreed.

"Not though we'll definitely see some of those later."

The Chihuahua jumped around and barked at Percy. The lady grinned chiding him. "Now, now, Sonny…nice people here."

"Doggie! Look…doggie!" The little boy was pulled back by his parents.

The Chihuahua bared…his black lips.

"That's disgusting," Jaz exclaimed. "I'm pretty sure it's smoking on the floor too."

"It is," Hazel said. "Percy please tell me you kill that thing. Or get away safe."

"Well, son….you insist."

"Um, did you just…your son?"

"Chimera, dear….mistake to make." As she spoke she rolled up her denim sleeves…like a reptile's.

"The chimera?" Jason gaped.

"Not just that. Echidna as well, mother of monsters. Brother she is dangerous."

Percy laughed in a forced manner at Tyson's response. "She is Tyson."

"What's Echidna? Besides an anteater?" Sadie asked.

"Don't call her that," Percy cringed. "Please."

"She's the mother of monsters," explained Calypso. "With Typhon she spawned some of the worst ones out there. She looks like a dracnae. Her children include the three headed original hellhound Cerberus which guards the underworld. Then the Clazmanion sow which terrorized Greek towns. It was only killed once by Theseus a son of Poseidon. Then there was the first Drakon, similar to your dragons but worse. She birthed the first sphinx as well. The lion we just saw, the Nemean Lion has impenetrable skin. It was hers too. The manticore has a man's face on a lions body and a scorpion's tale. Then the Hydra a beast with several heads, when cut off several more sprouted. Those are just the worst of them. Though there have been more tales."

"I think I've fought them all," Percy whispered to Annabeth who laughed. Nico and Will had heard as well and grinned. Percy Jackson had no idea how amazing he really was.

"C-H-I-M-E-R-A is one too?" Hearth signed.

"Yeah."

The Chihuahua barked louder….CALL TARTARUS—EXT. 954

Over the terror he was now feeling from the book and the horrified gasps of those around him Percy grinned cheekily. "Annabeth we should have visited."

His girlfriend, Will and Nico were the only ones that could hear him. All getting and idea of why he had moved around, particularly with them there they had horrified looks on their faces. Percy pouted. "I guess it's not that funny."

Percy didn't even uncap his sword, just stood there shaking. The bloody mouth of the chimera was not far away. Echidna hissed. "Be, honored, Percy Jackson….the terrible Echidna!"

"I'm guessing this is the part where you say something stupid," Jason groaned.

"Stupid anteaters," mumbled Percy.

"You do not stop the words exiting your mouth. How are you alive?" Reyna asked again.

"Annabeth and luck," Percy told her. "Probably a few other of my friends. Definitely Nico and Grover, more than I can say. Never Thalia."

"Hey!"

Nico grinned though. He knew Percy appreciated what he did and was mad at him for some of the other things. It was good to know now his cousin understood what Nico had done for him and just wasn't good at voicing it.

"Okay now…just everyone be quiet…till the end okay?" Percy said.

"Isn't that….anteater?"

She howled….with rage. "I hate it….shall destroy you."

"Every monster says that. It's all blah blah blah… you will die… blah blah blah… painful torturous death," Leo said.

"Shush," Calypso said.

The chimera charged….dodge the bite. Percy ended up next to the family…open the emergency doors. A fierce expression dawned on his face. He uncapped his sword and ran to the wall opposite the family. "Hey! Chihuahua!"

It turned faster than the eye could process to face him, opening it's mouth and shot a column of flame straight at him. Percy dove through the explosion though the carpet was in flames. There was now a hole in the side of the arch, the metal on it's sides melting.

"I'm surprised Annabeth didn't just have a heart attack seeing that…" Magnus commented.

"I did and I probably will again soon," she snapped back.

"Guys not that I'm all for cousinly bonding, that includes fights and teasing, but I'm kind of uncomfortable." Percy was sweating his face a heated red and his lips becoming parched.

"You're not usually like that," frowned Hazel. "Even when it's hot."

"Because I'm mostly fire resistant, being it's opposite and all. There are extreme situations though."

"We should totally experiment… I mean fire and water.. not burning you," Leo said. "Hey Zia! Wanna help me? Flame boy and Flame girl against Water dude?"

"No."

"Okay," Leo pouted. "That's fine."

Riptide was now a full blade and as the Chimera turned again Percy slashed. It bounced off of the monster's metal dog collar and he stumbled backwards away from the fiery lion's mouth. It's snake tail whipped around and sank it's fangs into his calf.

Percy yelled inhumanly, a pained feral sound. He gripped Annabeth's hand and Will exchanged glances with her. He moved towards Percy who shook his head. "Just watch."

He tried to jab Riptide into the Chimera's mouth….down toward the Misssissipi River. Percy stumbled to his feet.

"How long will it take to return?" Sam asked.

"Too long," Percy gasped. Will was rolling up his pants leg looking to see what he could do.

"There's no wound, or actual symptoms. I can't do a thing," Will said sadly.

"Well the good thing is he's not actually dying," Nico told him. "Just feeling like he was when he was dying. His life force is still strong."

"I know you're trying to help him but maybe stop talking," Carter suggested as Percy shook in spasms. He was now a putrid green color and was taking short gasping breaths.

He backed into the hole in the wall. The chimera advanced…., Echidna, cackled. "They don't make heroes….eh, son?"

"No," Thalia said defiantly. "They make them better."

Calypso and Apollo nodded actually remembering the heroes of old.

The monster growled. The mortals were quivering opposite him. Percy still looked fierce though he was shaking and holding the edge of the burning hole for support. He looked down to the river.

"Jump," Frank told him.

"What?" Jaz asked. "Water from that height is the same as concrete."

"No," Frank said. "He has to jump."

"If you are the son of Poseidon….your bloodline."

"Doesn't need much proving. Percy's practically his clone," mumbled Apollo. He was nudged by Thalia and told to shut it as Percy groaned in pain again.

The chimera's mouth opened again glowing red ready to fire. "You have no faith….your heart."

Percy was now breathing slowly. His eyes were fluttering. He wasn't sitting up anymore smiling and joking with everyone but had slumped over not able to do much else. Everyone had watched horrified as he fell, happy there was a beanbag there for his head to rest on. Though several people had gotten up to check on him Annabeth glared them back down. He was still acting as if he was in a seizure shaking crazily and mouth open.

"Shut up and sit down, not asking again." Everyone did too scared of Annabeth's glare and the death aura exuding from Nico to do much else.

Percy backed up slowly towards the water looking over his shoulder hesistantly. His face looked indecisive and it was Echidna speaking that made him decide. "Die….one."

As the chimera sent more fire toward him Percy bent his legs with the last strength he had. "Father, help me." He turned towards the river and jumped. A flaming boy fell towards the river.

"He's going to die," squealed Jaz.

"He'll be fine," Clarisse told the girl who reminded her a little of Selina. "He's Prissy."

"Even if the impact doesn't kill him that poison is moving fast. He'll die soon," Magnus said sadly.

"I won't," Percy gasped. "I'll be fine but if you can all be quiet so I'm no longer on fire or have poison in me. Let's not forget I kind of am freefalling right now, or feel like it."

Percy's body raced toward the river, he had little control over it. Then he hit the water, head first. He sank through the dirt as the bubbles cleared and was falling slowly past a catfish and down to the river bottom. His green eyes shot open as he fell and bubbles came out of his mouth rising to the top. Then the projection faded to the black.

Percy sat up and sighed. That was so much better. Will looked at him quickly. "Okay, do you what you want now. Your water healing works fast, maybe even faster than ambrosia and nectar."

"Luckily too. Otherwise you would have died," Nico said. "Chimera poison works fast. I've talked to victims of it before when training. I don't know how you even survived as long as you did. You should have died within two minutes."

Nico was about to say more but Annabeth had started ranting. "Percy you said you told us what happened."

"I did."

"No you told us that you jumped to escape and had been on fire. That was it. Nothing about poison," Grover rolled his eyes. "You need to tell us these things."

"He almost died Grover! Why are you being so nonchalant?" Annabeth yelled.

"Hey, we almost die all the time," Percy told her. "I'm sorry. I've gotten better at telling you and now you'll know everything anyway."

"Fine. I think we can have lunch soon, it doesn't seem like it'll show what will happen next," Annabeth said.

"What did happen?" Piper asked.

"I discovered I could breathe underwater and make other things stay dry. I lit a fire there," Percy grinned. "Then I met a Nereid and was told a message from my dad. I had to go to Santa Monica. That's when I left and saw Grover and Annabeth."

"Not to mention we were all declared fugitives and terrorists as we ran to catch the train before it left again," Grover said.

"Again," Alex pleaded. "Teach me everything you know about destroying things."

Percy inched back to his couch scared while Annabeth got up and declared that they should eat lunch.