Hopefully you've listened to Stuck in the Middle With You by Steelers wheel. This is when it comes into play...

One of my favorite chapters to write, hopefully you enjoy it as much as I did.

please leave a review if you did, I've been getting less and less reviews per chapter lately, :( , but maybe thats a good sign cause theres not too many plot holes to easily point out. lol.

Anyway...

Enjoy!

Chapter 12

"Help me! A man has me, they kidnapped me!"

Percy had to find her. He had a second chance, maybe this time he could save her. He would not fail again.

"Hurry!" The voice broke into violent sobs and the sound of an iron club beating solid ground.

How was she alive, how was she here! Percy's heart ached at the chance to save Annabeth, to be reunited with his Wise Girl. He had to hurry, so he ran towards the cliff, ignoring cold feeling that swept through his body when he left the sun. Left the light of the fading bright star in the sky. He followed the noises to find a small hole that was on the side of the towering wall of rock. It was short and wide where it sat on the ground. The noises were coming from directly inside.

Percy went to his chest and began forward in an army crawl across the sand. The sand stuck to his body everywhere he touched it, it's dust turning him halfway to a human corn dog. Percy pushed forward into the hole, he had to save Annabeth. His vision grew dark, his body was covering the only place where light could get in. The walls pressed around him, thousands of pounds of rock above his head. He barely had enough space to move, the air became stale and wet the farther he went. Soon he was in complete blinding darkness, and this time there was no star to save him.

Percy crept forward. Inching ahead, one slow movement at a time, his only motivation the fact that Annabeth was on the other side. Percy gave one last reach onward and feeling the rocks on the sides pulled himself through the skinny crevice. The light filtered in from the space his body left. He found he was in a large room, a hallway of some sorts that went forward ten feet before turning to the left, ...or the right. Water dripped down from the ceiling, the walls wet from the ocean mist that managed to find its way inside. Percy wiped the sand off his body with his hands and walked along the space. The water came down like a slow rain from above, the droplets dripping down echoing throughout the chamber.

"Percy!"

The sound of Annabeth's voice urged him to a sprint. He made it to his first crossroads, right... or left. It was hard to tell where the sobs were coming from because the sound bounced off the walls, making it seem like Annabeth was all around him. He chose left. Sprinting forward he followed the corridor as it twisted and turned into darkness. Percy had to put his hand on the wall so he wouldn't get lost, the blackness so thick he couldn't see his own hand in front of his face anymore. The water that fell from above had slowed, a drop a minute now as he went farther into the earth.

Percy felt the wall turn at a sharp angle, he was at a crossroads yet again. He decided to go to the right this time, stumbling along through the darkness, his footsteps amplified loudly against the floor as he sprinted with all his might. Pushing his body to the max.

"Ah!" Percy slammed into a wall, with a sharp pop pain shot through his shoulder, he knew had just dislocated it. He fell to the ground in agony, his first dead end. Percy gritted his teeth, using his other arm he grabbed his shoulder, it would be better in the dark, he wouldn't be able to see anything. His shoulder burned in a harsh passion, flames of hot slicing metal cut up his arm. He had to set it, quickly.

Percy pushed his shoulder towards its right position. He tried to ignore the pain, white spots danced in front of his eyes like a galaxy in the darkness of the room. With a snap his shoulder whipped back into place. The sharp pangs of pain turned into a dull throb. Wearily, Percy pulled himself up off of the ground. He wouldn't be sprinting this time. It was impossible to do in an invisible maze, and impossible stretch of darkness that twisted and turned in every which way imaginable. You could be inches away from the exit but never know it for the darkness. Percy hated mazes, they were made to deceive, to hurt you, none were as bad as the Labyrinth but this was a close second.

Percy blindly jogged through the darkness back the way he had come. His dislocated shoulder throbbed harder with every step he took. Finally, he made it back to his second crossroads, the place where he had turned right instead of left. Now, he would go left... but to get there he would have to take his hand off of the wall. Take his hand off of his safe guard, his direction.

"Please Percy! I need you..."

That was all it took. Filled with new energy Percy slowly took his hand off of the cold misty wall. It's strange how much a persons balance depends on their sight. Without it, Percy stumbled forward, almost tripping multiple times. He could turn his head in any direction and it would all look the same. What if he had turned a little bit when he was walking forward? He could be on a completely new course and not know it. Or worse, there was a cliff ahead, it didn't have to be a big drop, just enough for him to break his legs, trapping him in the rotten maze forever. The fear of the unknown was one of the worst things about this maze, you could never know what was ahead, what was lurking in the darkness behind. But Annabeth needed him, so he would push past the pain, past the darkness to the light of his angel.

This time would be different. He would save her. Percy touched the cool moist wall in front of him letting out a sigh of relief. He had made it. He crept around the corner, careful this time, he would make sure he didn't crash again. Percy went farther into the maze turning left, then right... then... left. He was hopelessly lost and he knew it. Lost in the maze of night. No stars could save him now. At least Leah wasn't here with him, at least she was safe, safe from pain, from trouble, she wouldn't have to be hurt because of him now. No monster would ever harm her. He wished he could see her again, to hold her warm hand again. Percy kept walking through the darkness. To see the light in her eyes that danced there when she saw something new and exiting. Even in the darkness, even in his pain, even with his dislocated shoulder, the thought of Leah made him smile.

The air grew warmer, Annabeth's sobs seemed closer now. Percy looked at his hand... wait, he saw his hand. He could see. That must mean that he was close. The wall curved to the right growing brighter with every step he took. The light whirled along the wall in flickers and swoops. Soon, he rounded the bend, coming into a large dome like room. Torches lined the walls, they were filled with an unnatural fire giving off a strange color, lighting the room with a ruby red light. There was a throne, made of black sparkling lava rocks on the far end of the room, a man sat in the chair. It's was Tantalus. His body appeared to be made of dark shadows because of the transparency his ghost form had, showing the chair behind him. He had glowing white eyes that seemed to pulse with power. However, his body seemed fragile, his ribs protruded from his chest from his hunger. Mist seemed to be coming from his body, but soon Percy realized that the mist was his body.

"Your loyalty is amusing." Tantaluses booming voice rang through the room. "Your like a dog, a dirty mutt that would follow its master off a cliff."

"Where's Annabeth!" Percy growled, pulling his sword from his pocket.

"Ah, but telling you now would ruin the surprise! You've been told by many that your loyalty would be the death of you." Tantalus looked at him intensely. "Sadly, today will not be that day, I need you alive."

A gate crashed down from behind him, thundering against the ground with it's impact. It was made of celestial bronze, he was trapped.

"Percy! Help Me!"

"Where is she!" Percy yelled brandishing his sword in front of him.

"Why, if your going to get so impatient then I suppose we'll meet her now. Come out Annabeth!" Tantalus smiled evilly.

A massive cyclops walked out from behind the obsidian throne, the monster was 10 feet tall, all of it pure muscle. It's one iris was the same color as a rose. The type of flower you lay on a grave. The monster smiled, it's teeth yellow and stained, a few were missing.

"Percy! Help me!"

The words seemed so wrong coming from the Cyclops mouth. It walked farther forward, closing the distance between it and Percy.

"Thalia, Luke? Where are you? I'm lost, I can't find you. Why did you leave me?"

The voice was younger now. Annabeth at seven years old. Percy remembered the story. How when Annabeth had been seven, traveling with Thalia and Luke. How there had been a maze, and a Cyclops, taunting them, confusing them, hurting them.

"Come here Annabeth! Save us...

'No! Don't come.'

"Save us!"

'No!'

The voice was Thalia's, it would have been impossible to tell which was the monster and which was Thalia if she had been standing right next to Percy. He could only imagine how scary it must have been for Annabeth at seven. Stuck in that maze.

"You will pay." Percy growled at the beast.

"Percy?... I think I'm dying..."

"No! Stop that!" Percy yelled.

"Save me Percy, help me..."

"Stop!" Percy's eyes became coated red with anger.

"SAVE ME PERCY! WHY COULDN'T YOU SAVE ME!"

"Please..." Percy's voice was soft now. Why didn't he save her. He could have done it. Could have, should have, would have...

"IT'S YOUR FAULT! I'M DEAD, BECAUSE OF YOU!"

Percy hadn't been strong enough, he was weak. He was scared. And Annabeth was dead now... because of him.

"You are the one to make it through Tartarus alive? You? You weak, cowardly, little hero? You are nothing without Annabeth."

Percy raged. Sprinting forward with all his might. He raised his sword above his head. He would show this monster who was weak. He would kill it for what it did. Percy was strong, a hero. Not strong enough. Percy yelled with all his might and brought the sword down, strait towards the monsters head. He was a hero, he had saved the world, he was strong enough.

Riptide sliced through the air. A direct path to the beasts head. When the blade was inches away from the Cyclopses skull the beast brought its own weapon up. A shining metal club. The monster was insanely fast. In one quick motion Percy's weapon was deflected to the side, the tip of the blade plunging strait into the ground. He had made the same mistake Leah had made the first time she and Percy had fought. He had used to much force in his first move.

Before he could move away, the beast swung his bat like a golf club, hitting Riptide out of Percy's grasp where it scattered uselessly across the floor near to where Tantalus was sitting. He jumped back from the Cyclopses outstretched hand. Sprinting backward out of its reach. But the monster didn't follow. It seemed to be waiting for Tantaluses approval.

"I do hope you put up a better fight than that, Hero of Olympus." Tantalus said the name like a taunt. "This is your new home anyway, and he is your playmate! At least that's what I promised, so don't fail to quickly. You'll be here a while till we can get a new crystal to grow. Think about it as an extended vacation. Why don't we celebrate!" A radio appeared next to him where he sat on his throne. "And the best way to do that is with a little music." Tantalus seemed to solidify for a moment as he pressed the button on the stereo. His body was no longer transparent, he looked solid. But as soon as the second came, it passed. The button was pressed and the music began. The beat and rhythm echoing throughout the entire cave and maze system.

Well I don't know why I came here tonight,

I got a feeling that something ain't right.

The Cyclops started forward again. Walking slowly to close the space between them. The ground seemed to rumble with every powerful step it took. In the corner of Percy's eye he could see Tantalus getting up from his chair. Swaying down the steps to the music, strait to Percy's sword.

I'm scared in case I fall off my chair,

And I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs.

The Cyclops rushed forward, bat raised as it prepared to clobber him unconscious. Percy sidestepped at the last moment, the wind from the cold metal club whistled by his head barely missing him. The bat, in one quick motion, swiped to the left where he had dodged to. It smashed into his side, sending him sprawling across the floor a few feet away from where he had been just been standing.

Clowns to the left of me,

Jokers to the right, here I am.

Stuck in the middle with you.

His side erupted in pain, a rainbow of bruises already starting to form on his skin. Percy limped backwards, away from the monster, away from his sword. He needed a plan, he needed wisdom.

Yes I'm, stuck in the middle with you,

And I'm wondering what it is I should do,

What would Annabeth do. Percy didn't know, he wasn't Annabeth, he wasn't the strategist. He was just... Percy, he was the son of the sea god.

Percy looked over to where Tantalus was standing. The ghoul was next to Riptide, not moving to pick it up, not moving to steal it. He just watched, tapping his foot to the beat of the song.

It's so hard to keep this smile from my face.

Tantalus grinned, showing off a perfect set of bony white teeth. His glowing eyes watching the scene like a hawk. The picture seemed to amuse him.

Losing control, yeah, I'm all over the place.

The beautiful howl of a wolf rang through the air, momentarily overshadowing the music. Tantalus growled, "I thought she was supposed to be taken care of. No matter, what's one more... guest in our party."

What did that mean? What had gone after Leah? Percy prayed that she would be ok, that she wouldn't find him. That she would be safe from Tantaluses twisted idea of fun. But, with her extra smelling abilities as a wolf, she'd probably make it to them in no time. Maybe she brought friends, campers or such to help.

The cyclops was almost to Percy now, it was taking its sweet time. Enjoying the brutal torture of the Hero of Olympus.

Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right

Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.

The monster sprang at him, swiping its club like a baseball bat, hoping to hit his bruised rib yet again. The bat seemed to slow as Percy's instinct took over. He sprang into the air, barely making it over the sweeping club beneath him. The cyclops had expected to hit something, so when the bat was met with nothing but empty air, it threw the beast off balance. It stumbled for a second, giving Percy a chance to get a hit of his own in. He ran closer to the monster, close enough to touch it. Percy brought his fist back, punching forward with all his might into the stomach of the cyclops. It stumbled over in pain, hand that wasn't holding the bat clutching its stomach. Percy danced out of its reach before it could grab him.

When you started out with nothing and your proud that your a self made man.

Percy was barely surviving, he was getting lucky, it wouldn't be long before he made a mistake and was knocked unconscious. He needed help.

And your friends, they all come crawling, slap you on the back and say,

The Cyclops stared daggers into Percy's waiting figure. Its expression murderous. Percy had a feeling it wouldn't be holding back now, that it was going for the kill.

Please... Please...

The Cyclops moved faster now, no longer taking its sweet time. If the Cyclops had a baseball bat, why couldn't they play a little baseball. It was comeback time. Percy ran forward, slight limp in his run as he pushed forward to the beast. It licked its lips and smiled in anticipation, the stained yellow teeth unnerving with its rose red eye. The cyclops raised its club in an overhead strike, just what Percy was waiting for. It's arms were raised as high as possible, if it managed to hit him, it would be a killing blow. Percy put on a final burst of speed, right before he made it to the cyclops. It caught the beast by surprise, forcing it to swing down earlier than it wanted to. The moment of surprise was all Percy needed. Home plate was on the other side. Percy dropped into a slide, his head momentarily looking strait up at the shining bat coming towards him as he skidded to a stop on the other side of the monster. Percy heard the impact of the bat on the ground. The tremors slightly shaking the floor.

Trying to make some sense of it all,

The Cyclops turned its head to the left and then the right before starting to turn around to where Percy stood.

But I can see that it makes no sense at all,

Percy jumped onto its back before it could turn completely. Climbing up to the top of its head, straddling it with his feet hanging down in front of its chest. Percy grabbed its ears and pulled as hard as he could, getting a loud yell of pain from the Cyclops. It grabbed Percy's feet, throwing him off its back with all of its force. Percy flew through the air before crashing to the ground, landing directly on his bruised side.

Is it cool to go to sleep on the floor,

Percy shakily got up to his hands and knees, he turned his head to look up at the Cyclops running towards him.

Cause I don't think that I can take anymore

Percy struggled to get to his feet before the monster could make it to him.

Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right,

Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.

The Cyclops swung its club back and forth, chasing Percy's limping body. It would be caught up to him in no time. Its speed was much faster than Percy's strained and injured sprint. The Cyclops was almost upon him now. It brought its club back for a swing. The metal club sliced through the air, barely grazing Percy's back. But it was enough. Everywhere the club had touched his body erupted in pain. Percy fell to the ground, this was it, after everything he had been through this was how he would go. This was the end.

He would get to see Annabeth again, that was a plus. But sadly, the thought didn't make him feel any better. He wanted to have a life, he was to young for this. He wanted to see where this thing with Leah was going, he wanted this feeling to blossom. He needed more time with her. He needed to see Leah again. He wouldn't fail her like he did with Annabeth. The thought of Leah filled Percy with a new determination.

The Cyclops raised its club in a final killing blow. The bat came screeching down through the air, heading strait towards Percy's body. In a split second, Percy rolled to his side. Dirt flew up from the ground and into his face, displaced because of the impact of the bat on the earth. Percy jumped up to his feet, shaking the pain from the effort away. He lifted his left foot and put it on the top of the bat. The monster lifted its club back into the air for another strike, unknowingly bringing Percy with it. Percy used the extra force of the monster to help him fly up into the sky. The Cyclops turned its one eye to look up at Percy's body falling towards it.

Percy kicked down with all his force, pushing directly into the monsters eye. His foot connected with a sickening crunch. He leapt off of the beasts head and onto the ground, landing on his feet before falling to his knees in his pain from earlier blows.

The Cyclops bellowed in agony, clutching its eye in both of its hands. The sound contrasted harshly with the music coming from the stereo. It stumbled back and forth before falling to the ground. Clutching its eye as if to save it from pain.

Percy slumped onto the floor in exhaustion, but he wasn't done yet. He rolled his head over to where Tantalus was standing. The ghost had picked Riptide up, now completely solid in form as he danced his way to the fallen Cyclops. He swung the sword the back and forth in his hands, humming as he walked. Tantalus stopped over the body of the defeated monster, looking down at the beast in indifference. With a quick whip of Riptide he stabbed the creature in the heart, scattering the remains into the shining golden dust that floated slowly to the ground like a soft snow.

Tantalus became transparent again. As soon as his body took on the ghostly sheen Riptide fell through his hand. Tantalus walked backwards, closer to his throne. Still humming to tune of the song.

When you started out with nothing and your proud that your a self made man.

Something moved in the corner of Percy's eye. He turned his attention away from Tantalus and shifted it to the bronze gate that was keeping him trapped inside the room. Two familiar forrest brown eyes glowed in the dark, peaking through the spaces in the gate. It was Leah! Percy tried to not draw attention to her, tried to look away from her, to keep her safe from the savage ghosts gaze. But it was hard to not look at the beautiful face before him, it filled with him with hope, no matter how hopeless it was. Her sharp jawline was angled in determination as she seemed to be calculating everything in the room, taking in all the little details. Leah's eyes widened when they met Percy's where he lay on the floor.

So far Tantalus didn't seem any wiser to where Leah was hiding. His star was safe. She could find help, find a way to save him.

Tantalus turned his body so he was looking at Percy again. The pulsing white eyes glowed with a crazed intensity, he smiled. "You know, one of the bad things about being a demigod... as you yourself are. Is that your susceptible to harm from both worlds." Tantalus hardened into a solid form, this time he was holding a shining black gun, and it was aimed right at Percy. "I could shoot you, right now, and you would die..."

BANG!

A bullet zipped past Percy's leg, bouncing off of the dirt ground directly behind where he lay.

"Sorry, my finger slipped." Tantalus smiled cruelly.

"I'm too valuable, you won't do it." Percy tried to call his bluff, Tantalus wouldn't kill him, he needed him alive.

And your friends, they all come crawling, slap you on the back and say,

Tantaluses smile disappeared, "Why, your right, you are too valuable." He turned his head to metal gate that blocked the exit. "But she isn't."

Tantalus pointed his gun directly at where Leah was hiding.

Please...

"NO!" Percy yelled.

Please...

BANG!

The gunshot rang out throughout the cavern. Percy heard Leah cry out in pain, she had been shot. Percy pushed himself off of the ground. Moving past the pain that exploded throughout his body with every step he took. He limped towards where his sword lay on the ground, surrounded in the golden dust.

Well I don't know why I came here tonight.

Percy wrapped his hand around the hilt of Riptide, feeling the familiar grip beneath his hand. He only had one shot, one opportunity to kill Tantalus. He was still solid, holding the gun as he watched Percy's reaction. Percy could catch him by surprise. He flung the sword towards Tantalus with all of his might. The blade whirled through the air, a perfect shot. Riptide should have pierced Tantaluses heart, but, at the last moment, he dissolved into his transparent form. The gun fell from his hand and the blade passed harmlessly through his body.

I got the feeling that something ain't right.

Riptide continued on its path, slamming directly into the stereo, stopping the music abruptly. Percy hardly noticed, he was already on his way to where Leah struggled on the ground. He stopped on the other side of the fence between them, reaching through the bars to try to help her. Blood pooled out beneath her dying body, she healed faster than a normal person, and that was the only reason she was still alive. The bullet had slammed into her chest, right next to her heart. An inch to the left and she would have already been dead. As it was, Leah was going to die anyway, she was paling rapidly, the blood loss already making her faint.

"No..." Percy whispered. This time it hurt so much more than when Annabeth had died. He had failed, again. Percy wouldn't be able to live with himself if Leah died. In that moment, he knew that he had fallen completely in love with Leah, he wouldn't feel this intense feeling of hopelessness if he wasn't. He wondered if he was too late.

"I love you."

Percy held back the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes. This time, at least he had said it before she died. He grabbed Leah's limp hand, the power surged through his body, weaker than before. The usual warmth that Leahs body always radiated had become a normal temperature. Her breathing was ragged.

Behind him, Tantalus watched with amusement. Solidifying, he grabbed his gun again, aiming for Leah's head.

Percy turned his eyes to the heavens, looking up for a savior, for help from above. All he got, was a single drop of water that fell from the ceiling. It seemed to move in slow motion as it fell to the point where Leah's and Percy's hands were held together.

Percy heard the click of a gun.

The droplet landed on their hands with a splash, instantly, in contact with the water, Percy used the familiar pull in his gut that he sensed when he was with Leah. He felt his stomach drop.

BANG!

The bullet passed harmlessly through empty air where Leah and Percy had just been a second earlier. They were gone.

Dang, that was intense. Had to change this to Rated M for fight scenes. (let me know if it isn't rated M and I should change it back.)

Did she live? Die?

Find out in the next episode of...

Wolf Girl!

I got a lot less writing done this week than I anticipated, my teachers did not spare me thanksgiving break, especially AP classes. :(

I have a really great idea for my next story, let me know what you think.

Son of Tartarus

Percy is the son of the pit, and was raised my Tartarus himself. He is the prince of Monsters and has control over them. But being raised by hell, he doesn't understand that his father is evil, and begins as a spy for him in camp half blood. He must keep his identity a secret, but will start to be confused as to who is right and wrong. Will he betray his new friends? (you never know with me as the author)

Anyway, the next chapter of wolf girl will be epic. And the story will continue to be nonstop epicness till the end. Buckle your seatbelts people. Here we go...