Chapter eleven: A Plan

I woke up screaming, sure that the fire would crush me. It took me a second to realise I was actually still safe in bed, and not in the room of crazy Oracles and fiery basins.

But my yelling had woken somebody up and I heard them sprinting to my room.

The door was flung open and I saw Annabeth, breathing heavily and seeming alarmed.

"What is it?!" she asked, looking around for what had caused my outbreak.

"R..Rachel." I gasped and tried to keep myself from shaking.

"What?" Annabeth demanded, coming in, still looking wary.

"I – I saw Rachel. In a dream. It was..." I couldn't find the correct words to describe the dream. 'Terrifying' seemed to fit. Perhaps 'horrendous'.

Annabeth's expression suddenly changed to understanding.

"Don't worry" she said, and sat down on the edge of my bed. "Demigods get nightmares all the time."

"But I'm not-" I started and then mumbled "you know, a Half-Blood."

She gave me a pondering look. "Mhmm. Well, you're not ordinary either, that's for sure. Why don't you tell me what you dreamt?"

I nodded and started to relay everything I had seen in my dream. The more I told her, the grimmer Annabeth's expression became. When I'd finished she sat there silently for so long, I had to ask,

"So what do you think?" to make her remember I was still there.

"I think-" she told me, in a voice that was very serious indeed "-that we should go and see Chiron right now."

"Chiron?" I stammered. "But won't he be asleep? It's the middle of the night!"

"He'll wake up." Annabeth replied and stood up, went over to the drawers and began pulling out clothes. "Here, put these on. We'll go right now. He'll want to know."

With that, she left me to get changed. It didn't look like I had much of a choice in the matter. I had to go with her, but I was scared of what problems I was causing now, and also of what Rachel's cryptic message had meant.

"Well, it seems quite obvious what Erin has to do. At least, part of it is."

Annabeth and I were sitting in Chiron's office, a steaming cup of tea in front of each of us, which were left completely untouched.

We'd just told the centaur about my dream, and then he and Annabeth had muttered something about whether the other wondered if it was the 'spirit'.
I understood nothing.

"What do I have to do?" I wanted to know, and to my surprise my voice sounded a lot steadier than my insides felt.

Before Chiron could answer, Annabeth shook her head.

"No way, Chiron. You can't be serious"

"Annabeth" he responded warningly, but the blonde raved on.

"No. None of this anymore. You can't send her on a quest, the girl's had no training and she hasn't even got any powers!"

"Send me on a what?!" I gasped, but nobody seemed to listen to me.

"Annabeth, listen to me. It is obvious that Erin has been chosen by Rachel to do this-"

"I don't care if Rachel chose her! It might just have been a dream, did that ever occur to you?! Sending her on a quest like this would be the same as setting a rabid hellhound on her! She's unqualified and not one of the gods will support her."

"Apollo might." Chiron said, but he sounded uneasy. "Rachel is his oracle, after all."

"Oh, to Hades with Ap-"

"Careful, now" Chiron warned, and this time Annabeth actually shut up. Perhaps insulting one of the gods was something even she didn't do.

"Well, I'm glad you're all asking my opinion in all of this." I spoke up, using the short silence.

Both adults turned to me, a stony expression on one's face, a doubtful one on the other's.

I was annoyed. I hated people talking over my head like that, especially in matters that directly concerned me.
From what I'd heard, Rachel wanted me to go on a quest to find her spirit or something. And although I felt a quiver of anxiety just thinking about it, there was also excitement mixed with the fear.

Finally, there would be some purpose of me coming to camp, some way I could help. I didn't need training or the gods. I'd show them all on my own.

"I'll do it." I told them, trying to look tough and demigod-ish.

"Don't be ridiculous" Annabeth snapped, and I almost flinched.

"Are you sure about this, Erin?" Chiron's voice was concerned, but I knew he would support my decision. "It will be extremely dangerous. We will have to go through your dream again and try to find as many clues as possible, because obviously you won't be able to get a prophecy due to our oracle's condition. And of course, you will need to choose your companions."

"My companions?" I asked, a little overwhelmed.

"Yes, three people may go on a quest together. More would attract too many monsters."

"But I don't attract monsters."

Chiron pondered me. "No, I suppose you don't. But we won't take the risk."

"Do I get to choose anyone I like?" I asked, already thinking of Jake.

"Yes..." Chiron said, though there was obvious hesitation.

"Well" Annabeth suddenly spoke up, making me start. I'd almost forgotten she was there.

"It seems you're all nice and set and ready for the big adventure." she emphasised the word cruelly. "If you want to walk to your death, Erin, I won't be the one to stop you. Goodnight."

And with that she stormed to the door, wrenching it open to reveal… Ryan?

"Get out of the way" Annabeth hissed and Ryan stepped to the side, looking after her retreating back with a confused expression.

"What's up with her?" He asked, jabbing a thumb in the direction Annabeth had disappeared and turning to face the office. He halted, obviously taken by surprise to see me sitting there.

I didn't say anything. Why did he always have to turn up when things got complicated or embarrassing?

"Ryan." Chiron said, sounding mildly surprised. "What's wrong?"

Ryan looked at the centaur, and a troubled expression passed over his face, lingering in his dark green eyes.

"Something happened that I thought you should know about." His voice was low and serious.

"I had a dream. About Rachel."

I am sooo sorry! I know I haven't updated in forever but first I was super busy and then fanfiction seemed to have some sort of problem? Oh well, please forgive me 3

Also, this is just an "in between chapter" before it all starts getting crazy! ;)

I love you guys, and I promise to do better

xxxxx