The Dark Side of the Moon

Chapter Ten


Days went by as Erica and Catherine remained in the lab.

Catherine hooked Erica up to every machine she could. From checking her strength, speed, heartrate and so much more, the tests were endless. Erica sighed as Catherine put another set of suction cups on her head, neck, arms and legs. Another sigh left Erica's lips this time much louder.

Noticing this, Catherine pulled off the suction cups and pushed away the machine.

"I am done testing for today,"

Jumping up Erica smiled.

"Good, can we go out now?" Erica asked.

"Out?" "Oh no it's not safe," Catherine said.

"I promise, I won't do anything bad; we could go for a nice walk through the forest or explore a city or town."

Catherine sighed. "I know you want to go out, but there are just too many variables to account for. Maybe next time, okay?"

Erica nodded as Catherine walked away. The moment Catherine went back to her office. Erica huffed as she kicked at the floor. It's been over three weeks and she was going crazy. It was nothing but test after test. She needed to get out of here.

Catherine walked back into the lab after turning off the lights in her office.

"Heading to bed?" Erica asked.

"Yes, well kinda," Catherine said, patting her notebooks. "I have some cross referencing to do."

"Oh okay, I am going to stay up a little longer before heading off to bed myself," Erica said.

Catherine smiled. "Sweet dreams."

Smiling, Erica walked with Catherine to the main door of the lab. The moment she watched Catherine head up the stairs, Erica glanced around at the cameras in the hall. She then turned around and looked at the ones in the lab. Erica smiled, as her eyes gave off a dark purple glow.

"I will be getting out of here today, for that, I am sure."

At Camp Half Blood, Chiron was in his office with the kitten across from him in Celeste's arms. Annabeth and Grover were playing with the kitten as well while Percy, Hazel and Dionysus strategized on what they should do next.

Within three weeks, everyone was healed and ready to stop Catherine, save Selene and the world. But they still had one problem. Where was Catherine's lab? They were glad the attacks to the camp have stopped, but it would only be a matter of time before it ramps up again.

Celeste set the kitten down and within moments she took off running out of Chiron's office. Sighing Celeste took off after her.

"Where are you going Kitten Selene?" Celeste said.

Chiron cringed at the nickname Celeste gave Selene, but the others didn't mind. In fact, they all started using it except him. Chiron looked over at Hazel, Dionysus and Percy with Annabeth and Grover joining them. A sigh erupted between all of them as they sat down in their chairs.

"I hate to admit it, but we are at a lost here," Dionysus said.

"If Kitten Selene knew where the lab was, we would be all set," Percy said.

True, Chiron thought. They attempted to follow Selene, but she merely led them around in circles. They found some nice lakes they would have to come back to later, but no sign of Catherine's lab anywhere. Like it or not they were back to square one, if only they could catch a break.

"Maybe this can help," Celeste said, walking back in.

Everyone looked at the door to see Celeste emerge with Kitten Selene in her arms. She stepped aside as a young man with short black hair and brown eyes stood beside her. He bowed to everyone slightly as he held a laptop in one hand and a bunch of small cameras in the other.

"Mr. Clark?" Chiron asked.

Jeremiah Clark, was one of the unclaimed demigods in cabin eleven. He's known to be very good with electronics. He would rather be sitting in his bunk on his laptop then outside training. He wondered how Celeste got him to help.

"Hello sir. I was heading to the food tent for lunch when I ran into Ms. Celeste and this kitten. We ended up locating multiple cameras around the camp." "We even found one by the lake."

"No doubt it's Catherine keeping an eye on us," Dionysus said.

"Could that mean that she is one of us?" Percy asked.

Chiron sighed. "Maybe, please continue Mr. Clark."

"I was able to tap into the feed and trace it back to this location." Jeremiah said, turning around his laptop.

Everyone looked at where the glowing yellow dot was blinking. It was deep in the forest at least over a dozen or more miles away from the camp.

"In the middle of nowhere, that sounds about right," Hazel said.

"We got a location lets head out," Percy said.

The kitten hopped out of Celeste's arms and jumped up on to Chiron's shoulder. He looked at her as she looked back at him.

"We will, but this time we will be prepared."

Elsewhere Erica was running through the forest. Smiling she flipped over rocks and jumped over streams. The feel of the wind upon her skin and the smell of the fresh air was captivating. It was great to be out of that place.

"I am free," Erica said, rolling around in the grass and dirt.

"Free?" a familiar voice said from behind her.

Erica turned around; her eyes narrowed at the sight of a smiling Mr. X.

"You are nothing of the sort."

Upstairs above the lab a gasp escaped Catherine's lips, as her eyes snapped open. She sat up in her bed. She had a very bad dream. Deep down in her heart she hoped it wasn't true. Pulling off her covers Catherine jumped into her clothes.

Clumsily putting on her shoes, Catherine ran out of the door and down the stairs.

"Please don't be true," she said to herself.

Pulling open the main lab door she looked around. She hoped Erica would be there to greet her but she wasn't. Running toward the back of the lab all she saw was an empty cot.

"Oh no," Catherine said.

Catherine's heart raced as she pulled open her cabinet, slipping on her dark purple gauntlets on her wrists and braces on her legs. Putting on her jacket she ran out of the lab.

Catherine had once again failed to pay attention and now Erica was gone. She knew Erica wanted to go outside and she should have let her. If her nightmare was real there was no doubt how much trouble Erica was in.

Taking a deep breath, Catherine opened the main building doors.

"Hold on Erica I'm coming."