The Search for the Lost Mousai

Chapter Four

I must make them laugh

Thalia told her self over and over again as she rocked back and forth in corner of the damp dark mold infested room.

Hang on dear sister help is coming a familiar voice echoed around her.

Before Thalia could think about it the door to the room swung open. Two men in heavy lather armor they moved toward Thalia. She looked up in at them as they stood in front of them.

"You have been summoned," one of the men said.

Thalia rose to her feet; the men step aside as she walked between them. She stopped at the door frame with the two men right behind her.

Whoever is coming I hope they get here soon." Thalia whispered.

Percy and Mel appeared on the outskirts of the abandon theater district. From old rusty cars, crackled overgrown streets and sidewalks to boarded up buildings. Mel wrinkled her nose as the odor she smelled before smelled worst before.

"Mom said this place use to be a vibrant and busy district."

"What happen,"

"Money, the main people funding this district left and everything crumbled after that.

Mel shook her head as Percy started walking. Following beside him Mel noticed Percy's eyes shifting from left to right."

"You think we might get attacked?"

"Maybe in the shape this place is in who knows what will encounter out there."

Mel nodded and kept on walking Percy ahead for a bit when Mel stop and turned to her right.

"Mel, you, okay?" Percy asked

"Walking up to her Percy noticed her eyes flickering.

"Mel?" Percy tired again."

But Mel couldn't hear him, his voice faded into the background while another voice grew louder.

"There laughing, yes I must keep them laughing,"

Mel's eyes widen as a light green aura lined her body.

"Thalia"

"Mel…"

"I'm coming"

Taking a step forward Mel felt resistance, blinking rapidly a voice entered her mind as she focusses looking back at Percy.

"Whoa not that way," Percy said.

The aura around her left as Percy moved aside revealing a pit filled with broken glass boards trash and other debris.

"Thank you, sorry I zoned out."

"It's okay," Percy said before looking behind him at the bordered-up theater in the distance.

"Thalia, isn't it?"

Mel nodded.

"Okay we better get going."

Taking a deep breath Mel continued walking with Percy.

"Hang on sis I'm coming,"

Dancing across the stage in a goofy manner with laughter echoing around her as the men continuing laughing. Thalia put on many different funny and silly faces prompting more laughter.

Hope washed over her the second she heard Mel's voice. She was safe, but why was she coming her to save her. She hoped someone was with her. Then she remembered the voice she heard faintly in her room. Taking a deep breath, she plastered a smile on her face she would keep going she head to for she would see them all again.

Meanwhile pushing through countless pieces of broken board, glass, trash and abandon buildings Percy and Mel finally made it over to the large theater. Mel pointed to before. Yet for an abandon building it had way too many guards.

Two sets of guards stood by the entrance of the theater while their ears picked up on the laughter inside.

From the guards to live electrical fences wire around the theater. Mel and Percy carefully made their way around the back and hid in the bushes.

Peaking their heads out they spotted the men laughing at a woman with chains on her arms and legs in a clown outfit reciting goofy lines while making faces. Even though a smile was spread across the woman's lips her eyes held a mixture of fear and sadness.

Mel wanted to run over to her sister grab her hand and run. But she knew better, Glancing over Percy she noticed he was gone. Looking down some men were squirming while others were out cold. Following the trail, she found herself in the back of the theater. Percy had knocked out another guard he set his backpack down and pulled out two canisters. Setting them down he motion for Mel to come over to him. Nodding she ran over to Percy.

Pulling back behind the theater Percy unscrewed the stop of the containers.

"These are smoke containers, once released this place will be engulf." Percy said.

"I get it, while I free sister…" Mel said.

"I'll take care of the rest," Percy finished pulling his pen.

The moment the smoke broken out of the containers it spread like wild fire. Engulfing the whole area. Mel felt around touching the back of the theater and heading toward the stage while Percy ran toward where the laughing men were sitting.

Thalia stopped preforming the moment the smoke filled the area. She proceeds to pull on the chains. Within moments she felt another presence along with another pair of hands pulling on the chairs as well. When a figure came into focus a small smile reached Thalia's lips it was Mel.

"Hang on sis, I'll get you out of here, "Mel said pulling on the chains that were hooked to the floor.

Relief filed her heart as Thalia pulled on the chains connected to her hands.

Within moments Mel broke the book off while Thalia did the same with a hand chain. Partially free she reached out and touched Mel's cheek who laid her hand on hers. The two made eye contact.

"Yes, I am really here we can talk more later right now I need to get you out of here.

Nodding Thalia pulled on the chains connected to the beam while Mel pulled out on the chain attach to Thalia 's other leg. It was wiggling lose when footsteps and a scream caused Mel to look up. She jumped back just in time as a man came within in a inch of slicing her nose.

Glancing behind her another man charging towards her.

"Duck," Thalia said.

Dropping to the floor and rolling out of the way Mel watched as Thalia wrapped a chain around one of the men necks and slamming into the other. As they dropped to the ground Mel jumped in and grab one of their swords. and the chains from the hooks.

"Are you alone? Thalia said.

"Thalia got her answer when she heard the clashing of the swords along with shouting reached their ears.

The smoke diminished revealing multiple men one the ground out cold while Percy was clashing swords with the man in the hooded cloak. Kicking him back, Percy snatches the keys and toss them to Mel. Catches them and unlocks the chains.

"Get out of here!" Percy shouted.

Grabbing Thalia's hand the two took running. Picking up Percy's backpack as they ran. Hiding behind a pile of rubble as a few men ran by. Rumbling thought the backpack Mel smiled when she found the pouch of coins. Pulling one out she placed it in hand.

"Break it" Mel said

"What about you?" Thalia asked.

"I'll be fine go,"

Hesitant Thalia broke the coin as a yellow light swirled around her, she disappeared.

Pulling out the coins Mel zip up the backpack and she slipped it in. Peeking out from the behind the rumble the close was clear. Mel ran back toward the abandon theater.

Percy and the cloak man continued fighting their swords met blow for blow as neither refuse to stop. They soon found themselves pressing their swords against each other in a power struggle.

"You will not stop the dawning, our master shall consume them." The cloak man said.

Percy smirks. "Not while I am here."

Percy pushed forward only for familiar rags to wrap around his body with one forming into a dagger pointed at his heart.

"We meet again hybrid."

"Raggedy man," Percy said

"The names Kyle," The Raggedy man said.

Percy's eyes narrowed as he struggled to break free. So, Kyle was here as well. Two on only weaklings fight this way.

Percy's eyes flickered he didn't have time for this. As the hooded man ran toward Percy he stops when a rumbling sound reached his ears. Looking around the cloak man and Kyle noticed the sewage bubbling. Within seconds tops of the sewer flew off as sewage water swirled around Percy before changing into a massive sewage dragon.

The cloaked man and Kyle looked on in awe and fear as the sewage dragon roared morphing into a massive engulfing all three of them.

Emerging from the sewage Percy looked at both men on the ground out cold. Sniffing himself Percy gagged.

"You reek?" a voice said.

Percy turned around to see Mel holding her nose."

"Yeah, I thought I told you to run," Percy said.

"I did and got Thalia to safety I wasn't about to leave you behind."

"Thanks,"

Nodding Mel her breath as she handed him a coin

"Let's get out of here,"

Nodding Percy and Mel broke the coin and they disappeared in yellow orange light.

The two appeared on grass instead of a floor. They looked around noticing they were outside but there was no rubble or junk. There weren't even any buildings in sight only a few tents.

Thalia ran toward them but within a few minutes but they all stopped cover their noses and mouths while others gagged and threw up. Mel got use to the smell and found nothing wrong but she could tell from the other faces that Percy must really stink and she wouldn't put it pass her that she smelled too.

"I get it I need a bath," Percy said a loud.

"Then go take one, there's a tent over there." A familiar voice said pointing to the tent.

Percy smiled and turned around at the brown-haired woman with green eyes standing a few feet away.

"Jessica…"

Jessica smiled. "Off to the bath tents you two"

Hang on, we were supposing to be back at the Golden Sun," Percy said.

"Yeah, about that, Jessica said followed with a sigh. "For the sake of everyone in the camp you two go and get washed up because we have a lot to discuss.