Annabeth Chase
"You're kidding me." Annabeth said, her eyes wide.
"I'm not. I wish I was." Percy said, polishing Riptide while he talked to her. He really didn't need to clean Riptide but how else was he going to pass the time?
Annabeth had just heard what Jason told Percy. At first, she thought that this was some sick joke, but Percy's eyes were 100% serious. She knew he wouldn't joke about something like this either.
She had no idea why Hektor even wanted her in particular. She made it abundantly clear to him the second they met that she had zero romantic feelings for him, he just wasn't her type. She definitely didn't like him now; she absolutely hated his guts for what he had done to her. Getting stabbed was one of the most painful things Annabeth had ever felt.
Annabeth wondered exactly how Hektor would go about trying to convert her to being his queen. She was mentally tough enough to survive Tartarus, there was nothing he could throw at her that she wouldn't be able to survive, unless he killed Percy but she planned to follow Percy wherever he went, including the Underworld. Seduction was out of the question, the only person she ever had sex with was Percy and often times, she was the one doing the seducing. Forcing her wasn't a good idea either, she'd just kill him when she had the chance.
"I don't get it." Annabeth said, "There's a ton of other girls at camp, why choose me?"
"You're asking me that?" Percy asked with wide eyes.
"No, you fucking moron." She snapped, "I mean why does Hektor want me?"
Percy rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand, "Jason said it was like some sort of victory thing. You know, if he gets you then other people might follow him."
"That doesn't make any sense, I'm pretty much camp's number one enemy!" Annabeth exclaimed.
"Yes, but if Hektor can convince everyone he turned you good, then everyone will think he was the hero who ended your 'rebellion'." Percy said, "It doesn't help that you're literally goddess level beautiful and well-known around camp as a hero. Plus, you're one of the smartest people at camp, it'd be difficult to fight against his army with you leading it."
"But what about you?" Annabeth asked, "As long as you're around, I'd never turn!"
"Which is why I don't think he's planning on keeping me alive." Percy said darkly.
He didn't say it outright but Annabeth knew what he was saying. He'd be killed no matter what he did, even if he surrendered willingly. For Percy Jackson, there was no surrender. She had an option, but he didn't. The idea of Percy dying and her surviving gripped at her heart, there was really no one out there that could replace him. No one had gone through Tartarus alongside her, she just wouldn't be able to form that same bond.
"I'm not going anywhere and I'm not planning on letting you go anywhere either." Annabeth said with finality, "You're mine. I won't let anyone take you from me."
Annabeth was fully aware she sounded a little insane, but it was the truth. She didn't go through Kronos, Gaea, and now Hektor just to lose Percy. Her life plans wouldn't be possible without him.
"Well, as long as he doesn't raise Kronos or kill either of us, we still have a chance." Percy said, "I say we follow Jason's advice. No splitting up, wherever you go, I go, wherever I go, you go. No running off to chase a godly item."
"Deal." Annabeth agreed.
Percy wiped off some dust on Riptide and said, "Now, what do we about our ride? We need to get to Mount Rushmore soon otherwise we'll have to fight Clarisse."
"The train tracks heading towards South Dakota were still working, we just can't head back to New York."
"But won't the train be shut down though?" He asked, looking up at her.
Annabeth smirked, "You forget that I flew a helicopter before? I think I can work a train."
Percy Jackson
It was night when Percy and Annabeth left the warehouse. They didn't bother the resident Cyclops since there really was no reason to, it was always better to leave friendly monsters to do whatever they wanted, there weren't that many to begin with. Percy had a bit of a soft side for friendly monsters, they reminded him Tyson or Ms. O' Leary.
The cool night air made Percy shiver. He could tell Annabeth was cold, mainly because her outfit showed so much skin. A skirt and tank top weren't exactly cold weather clothes. The moon seemed to be brighter this night and lit up the surrounding area just enough.
"Hey, do you hear that?" Annabeth asked.
Percy stopped to listen. The city was much quieter than when they had first made it to the warehouse. There were sirens wailing in the distance and what sounded like the chopping of helicopter blades.
"It's quiet." Percy said, turning to look at Annabeth.
She nodded, "Yeah, it stopped. Have you seen anything like that before?"
Percy thought back to when he and Jason went to go get soda in New York. Everyone had just randomly gone crazy without warning.
"Once." He said, "Me and Jason were downtown when everything started going crazy."
"The gods have got to be involved somewhere." Annabeth said, "Let's keep moving but keep a eye out. We don't know if there's any crazies out still."
Percy nodded and started scanning the surrounding area. Aside from the sirens and helicopters, everything was dead quiet. It was like everyone was done fighting and decided it was time to go home.
When Percy and Annabeth started reaching downtown, they were shocked at the utter destruction before them. The roads were cluttered with crashed and abandoned cars, broken glass, blood, and debris from buildings. The sidewalks had tire marks, as if people had driven on the sidewalk to either escape or hit other people.
"Look at that." Annabeth said with awe.
They both stared at a car completely flipped over and on fire. Glass surrounded the vehicle and it was missing all its doors. A fire axe was embedded in one of the wheels, definitely from some psycho.
The closer they got to the station, the worse the destruction got. Percy stared as he walked past a car that had went straight through the windows of some bakery. A whole office building looked like a side of it had collapsed completely, he wasn't sure what caused that.
Annabeth grabbed him and ducked into a alleyway. A police car sped past, its sirens blaring as it moved through the debris. Helicopters with spotlights buzzed in and out, Percy figured they were looking for people who needed help.
After a few moments, Percy and Annabeth emerged onto the streets. Every once in a while, they'd be forced to hide in order to not be seen. The last thing they needed was to be arrested when they were so close to the train station.
Percy really wondered how the city was supposed to be cleaned up, insurance companies had to be going mad with how much they were paying. He didn't want to give too much thought into the fact that there were definitely some deaths from all the chaos, there was no way there weren't any. He understood why his dad moved his mom somewhere safer.
Percy noticed that there was definitely a increased police presence around the train station. Cop cars kept slowly patrolling the surrounding streets with their floodlights on. Police officers in riot gear stood guard at every entrance to the train station. One look at their shields and steel batons and Percy knew he and Annabeth wouldn't stand a chance against them.
"We can't go in that way." Annabeth said, "At least, not right now."
"We have to leave tonight, we can't risk losing time. Clarisse and her party are probably already on their way, you know her." Percy said. Clarisse usually liked starting things early, especially if fighting was involved. She rarely ever missed fights.
"Shit, hide!" Annabeth hissed, dragging Percy with her into some random store.
Two officers with flashlights on their riot helmets walked past, talking about what exactly had just happened. Percy nearly had a heart attack when he thought the flashlight had illuminated him. Luckily, they kept on walking.
Percy looked around the store they were in and was surprised to find they were in a sporting goods store. The place was trashed, merchandise littering the floor and the display windows shattered. He spotted a Mets jersey on the ground that was his size, he made sure Annabeth wasn't looking as he took it and hid it in his duffle bag. He slid a dollar onto the counter nonchalantly as Annabeth looked around.
He watched as she snagged a bow and quiver full of arrows off the wall. He wasn't sure what those would do against monsters but he didn't question her judgement. He didn't pay for it this time, he was slowly caring less about the whole stealing thing, it was minor compared to what happened to the store.
"We can take the back door." Annabeth said, pointing towards a door in the very back of the store.
"But we'll still be outside the station." He said.
"Just follow my lead." Annabeth said.
She walked over to a red box with a white lever on it. Percy recognized it immediately, fire alarms were everywhere in Goode. The clear plastic covering must've been knocked off during the scuffling from earlier. He watched as she yanked the lever down and sprinted to the back of the store. He ran with her, bursting through the door and through a storage area before coming out into a alleyway large enough to fit a truck.
Percy crept behind Annabeth, peering around the corner. Sure enough, her plan had worked. Riot officers had started walking towards the store, flashlights and batons at the ready. He could hear the clunking of their gear as they got closer.
"Go, now!" Annabeth said, taking off with Percy not far behind.
"Shit, look out!" A riot officer shouted as Percy and Annabeth sprinted past him into the station.
"We need to get to the front of the train!" Annabeth yelled over her shoulder.
"I'm right behind you!" Percy called. He looked behind him to see an entire squad of officers chasing after him.
Annabeth was clearly the faster runner when she had a start because she made it to the front of the train way before Percy did. He watched as she disappeared into the front.
"Get that guy!" A officer barked.
Percy made it to the front of the train just as a rubber bullet flew past his head. The bang from the gun coming not even a second later. He dove into the train. Just as the officers reached the doors, they shut. Percy wondered what was going on when the train suddenly started powering on.
"Attention, Seaweed Brain, this is your captain speaking, please refrain from being a idiot while I work the train, thank you and love you." Annabeth's voice said from the intercom of the train.
"Haha, very funny!" Percy yelled sarcastically.
The train lurched forward and started to pick up speed. Percy waved to the police as they watched him escape. He took a deep breath, he was safe. Luckily none of the officers had the wise idea to get on the train earlier and just run straight up the train to catch him.
Percy made his way to the front of the train, opening the door to reveal Annabeth sitting at the controls. He had no idea what those buttons meant but clearly she did since she was adjusting settings like she had been driving trains her whole life. She turned and grinned at him, "Welcome aboard!"
"Great job closing the doors." He said.
"Yeah, me saving your ass like always." Annabeth said cheekily.
"Yeah, okay, miss I-got-kidnapped-by-the-Manticore." Percy said.
"Oh yeah, mister I-got-kidnapped-by-a-goddess?" Annabeth fired back.
Percy wondered how long she was going to be bitter about that. Knowing her, probably forever. He could imagine her telling that story to their kids one day.
"Alright, you win." Percy said, not really feeling like challenging Annabeth to a battle of wits.
"Like I always do." She said, "You should go get some sleep, I'll drive."
Percy thought about it but a different idea popped into his mind. He walked over and pulled Annabeth to her feet before getting her against the wall. The train kept chugging along, even without her driving.
"Oh, and what's this?" She asked, bouncing her eyebrows.
"Consider this my thank you for saving me back there." Percy said, leaning in and capturing her lips.
Annabeth reached over and shut the door.
The train kept going, the St. Louis skyline behind them being covered in black smoke and police lights. Soon, they'd be in South Dakota to get their first godly item back.