Hi guys! I know you've waited a long time for an update, and I'm sorry for that. It's just that it's been super intense for me lately. I haven't had much time to focus on this. But I promise, much more is coming soon! Much more of Gohan, Percy and Annabeth! Meanwhile, enjoy this latest installment!

Time is a strange, fickle concept. If one is enjoying themselves, it seems to pass faster than a snap of the fingers. However, if one is in, say, school, and bored out of their minds, time can move at the speed of a turtle. The same could be said for those in dreaming: time seemed to be both an eternity and an instant at the same time.

To Annabeth Chase, it seemed very much that way. It was like drifting through a fog; and felt like an eternity. She wasn't sure what was a dream and what was real. Her body itself felt numb, and she couldn't move an inch, no matter how hard she tried. All she could remember were bright lights, blurred faces, and faint voices, drifting in and out. All she could catch were snippets.

"Surprised she's still alive…" Someone nearby laughed, a cold chuckle as a pair of red eyes glittered.

"Of course, she is. This one is special."

"She will be very useful. Oh yes, she will be quite useful indeed."

Faces crowded all around her, warped and distorted. They grew larger and larger, leering and distorting as they swarmed in. Closer and closer…

Annabeth gasped, shooting up. Her hair fluttered around her shoulders as she gasped, her chest heaving as she took in several deep breaths. She blinked several times before rubbing her eyes, to finally get the blasted white glare out of her eyes. Once her eyes finally adjusted, she looked around, quickly taking in her surroundings. She was in what looked like a, in all definitions, normal room. More like a hospital room, but more… luxurious. And it was completely white. Like, someone sprayed the entire room with white paint. The floor, the walls, the furniture, the lights. Even the bathroom. Which wasn't exactly five stars. There was no television, unfortunately. No windows either. It was very sparse. Only the bare essentials. It made the room feel less like a living room… and more like a prison cell.

"How did I get here? Last I remember…" Then, she remembered. And clenched her teeth together in a combination of anger and grief.

"Luke…"

She groaned as she climbed out of the bed, realizing she was barefoot when she felt the chill of the floor on her soles. She clenched her hands several times. She felt… fine. Actually, she pretty good. Which didn't make any sense, after she had held… that weight. Just to make sure she wasn't dreaming, she pinched herself. And then winched.

"Ow, this is real." Then, she noticed a mirror and walked towards it. However, when she looked at it, she froze. First of all, her clothes had been changed while she had been unconscious.

They were basic scrubs, loose pants and a shirt like you'd find hospital workers or—more fittingly—prisoners wearing. Not very original. They were grey, but the logo at the center was the most curious. A flaming bird with its wings spread. A phoenix maybe?

They'd also given her socks and a pair of brown shoes, kind of a cross between loafers and slippers, and she was surprised at how they had managed to match her size. One small accommodation at least. Her hair had changed as well. For the most part it looked the same, save for one long grey stripe. The apparent price for holding the burden. She supposed that she should be grateful that that was all she had as a scar. Still, she shouldn't relax. She needed to get the heck out of here.

First things first. She immediately inspected the door. Unfortunately, there wasn't any weak spots there. No gaps, no cracks, no flaws. This door was strong. Pure steel. Even if she had her knife, there was no way she could pry the door open. She didn't have Gohan's immense strength, after all.

Unfortunately, the rest of the room was like that was well. Even worse, nothing she could use as a weapon. As Annabeth traced her fingers across the wall, she noticed something. At first glance, it looked like a ceiling light . However, once Annabeth peered more closely, it was... a camera.

"Of course." Annabeth scoffed. No way they would just toss someone like her in a room and not keep an eye on her. After about an hour, she fell back on the couch and grumbled in frustration. Nothing. For someone with a mind as calculating as hers, this was beyond frustrating.

Then, a metal creak made her turn to look at where the door was. A metal slot popped up, and a tray of food slid beneath it, clattering awkwardly on the floor. Annabeth leaned over the couch, giving the food a wary glance. At a first look, nothing seemed odd. It was just a ham and cheese sandwich on white bread with a cup of milk.

Annabeth pressed her lips together as she picked up the sandwich, sniffing it and pulling it apart. No, it seemed like just a sandwich. Still, Annabeth snorted before dropping the sandwich back on the tray and pushed it away, clattering against the wall.

"I'm not hungry!" she shouted. Her voice echoed, before quickly fading out. She kicked the door in frustration, winching as pain shot up her foot. Nothing. Then, she plopped back on the couch and leaned back. Mentally, however, she moaned as she listened to her stomach rumble. She hadn't eaten since her school lunch before getting picked up by Gohan and Percy. Which was probably days ago, since Annabeth had no sense of time at the moment. But she wasn't going to give whoever was watching the satisfaction. She was going to do what she had trained to do. What she was best at. Use her mind, learn as much information as she could, and find a way out.

Nearby, a pair of foes watched an array of monitors, which displayed Annabeth. Luke shifted nervously as she tossed her food aside and kicked the door.

"I'm not hungry! Let me out!"A peal of laughter erupted from next to Luke, causing him to glare in a mixture of anxiety and frustration.

"Quite the stubborn girl. I can see why you all like her so much." Cell grinned, clearly enjoying himself.

"She'll come around. You'll see, I'll convince her. She'd be an invaluable asset."

"I doubt that, but I'll humor you. In the meantime, let the girl simmer, adjust to her new surroundings. You can converse with her when we return. We have a meeting to attend."