Taken

Chapter 22- Inside Man

-Annabeth POV-

I became conscious to the feeling of cold. It was numbing and painless, almost as if it were healing me from hurt and injury. My brain felt numb when I tried to think or even as I tried to do the simple task of opening my eyes. It felt as if there were ten pound weights on each lid, shielding me from the terrors that awaited me.

But I was not a coward. I would have to face my fears and open my eyes to the life that I never wanted- the life I wish I never have had to live. I needed to be brave, I needed to be like my brother.

My eyes opened to a shade of white. It was extremely white, the kind of white that you would classify as clean and proper. The kind that was pure, untouched, and unscathed. But I knew differently. The white was calming, but soon it would be tainted and marked.

After all, this was the calm before the storm.

I felt my arms being restrained, and looked down to find myself sitting in a cold steel chair with my arms and legs strapped down. It was something you would see in one of those horror movies, and I couldn't help but wonder how I was going to die.

"Well, well, well. Look at who we have here?" The door had opened and revealed the man who had tried to kill me just minutes before.

"Go to hell, Luke," I rasped, my voice weak from misuse.

"Oh, there's that spunk that I was hoping had died along with your happiness in Door 21. Actually, I was hoping that you would die as well," Luke spoke, walking to stand in front of me. "Tell me, what was your dream? What will you never have? What will haunt you for the rest of your life?"

I glared at him, but slowly felt my resolve weakening from the thought of never being able to see Malcolm again, or see my parents happily married. But there was still hope for me and my friends. There was still hope to see Jackson again.

"Should I guess? Oh, I'm going to guess! Your brother was probably there. He was probably very happy in a very Malcolm-like way. He probably was even dating his little slut! What was her name? Alexa? Oh, yes. Malcolm begged me not to kill her. But I guess that made me want to do it even more."

I couldn't hold back the tears that started to stream down my face.

"I made him choose, you know," Luke's voice dropped to a whisper. "I made him choose between you and his dear Alexa. It nearly broke him to have to see Alexa be gunned down by one of my men. It was quite the sight, so to say."

I shook my head at him, my face wet from tears. "You are a monster."

"Oh, that doesn't even put in a dent in what I am, Bethy. And you know what? I'm even willing to bet that you saw your parents happy and together in your dream. Isn't that right? Malcolm used to think the same way. But well, what happened to him was the inevitable."

"You killed him, Luke. How is that inevitable? You are sick. And you know what? You're going to die. Just like Malcolm did. But I'm going to be the one to kill you."

Luke's icy blue eyes widened for a split second before narrowing. "That's a lot of talk for someone tied up in a chair, dearie."

"I'll take my chances."

Luke turned away from me, and I saw his shoulders move as if he were taking a deep breath. I knew it was really getting to him that he wasn't able to get to me. It was if he was turning on himself instead of ruining me.

He turned back around to face me, and I was surprised at the mischievous look on his face. "You know all this talk about how your brother chose you, how he chose death over the thought of hurting you… it reminds me of something, Annie."

All of the sudden the evil glint in his eye had returned and I felt my heart drop to my stomach. It seemed as though he was just as stubborn as I was.

"Go to hell." I silently cursed myself at how I let my emotions shine through in my voice.

"Gladly. But I do believe that I was speaking, dearie. You see, you compared your brother to your dear Jackson, and I just have to think that after the previous events, you couldn't have been more wrong!"

I felt a slight stinging in my eyes as Luke continued, "It is a disgrace that you compare Percy Jackson to Malcolm Chase, Annie. Percy Jackson left you to rot, he left you to die to run off with some lost love that had broken up with him a few months ago. All you are to him is the rebound, dearie. You mean nothing to him, and you and I both know that."

A single tear fell from my eyes as I recounted what Jackson had done to me. He did leave me to die. He knew that, I knew that. He willingly left me to save himself and Rachel.

"Now tell me my dear, sweet Annabeth. Tell me that I have won… tell me that I have finally made you break, because we both know that answer to that question, don't we?"

I couldn't help but think about the last words that Jackson had said to me. They were out of anger, out of spite. Jackson made his decision to leave me out of those same ordeals. And I know him well enough to understand that when he's angry, he doesn't always make the wisest decisions. Hell, even when he's perfectly normal he doesn't make the best decisions.

And I cannot persecute myself for the decisions that he made when he was angry at me.

"Luke, you are never going to win," I looked him in the eye. "You are never going to be able to beat me, whether I am alive or not, because I am stronger than you."

Luke's steely eyes widened for a second before narrowing. "I guess I am going to need to use different measures. Chris, please get Annabeth ready for her next little session."

A large, burly man with dark skin walked over to me and hit a switch on the back of my chair, causing it to unfold and the next thing I knew I was facing the ceiling, lying on my back.

"What the hell is this?" I exclaimed, trying to somehow maneuver out of the confines of the table. "Answer me!"

Luke walked over to me, a sickening smile on his face. He leaned down so that we were only mere inches apart. "Because you didn't break with my usual course of action doesn't mean I won't try new things, dearie," he leaned back into a comfortable stance. "You see, Chris here is an expert at a particular kind of torture," he paused. "Water boarding."

It felt as if my heart had leapt to my throat and my breathing started to become ragged. "Are you out of your mind? You could kill me!"

Luke just laughed, and I knew that wasn't good for me.

Tears started streaming down my face as the table was leaned down and my face was covered with a towel. "Please… please don't."

Luke took the towel off enough of my face for him to see my eyes. "Are you going to admit your defeat?"

I glared at him, and knew that if I did tell him he won, he would probably do this anyway. Then, since he didn't need me anymore for his sick sense of pleasure, he would kill me. I wasn't going to answer that question.

Luke sighed, then turned to Chris. "Carry on, then."

The towel immediately was put back on my face, and I waited for the torture to start. It came with a sense of dread, and the cold water immediately went through the towel, and when I couldn't hold my breath anymore, I couldn't help but start to choke.

The sounds that came from my mouth were terrible, but the pain that emitted from my chest was even more so. It felt as though an elephant was weighing down on my lungs, and I knew that I was drowning to death.

After what felt like hours, though was probably only for a few minutes, the water stopped coming, and I struggled and coughed and gasped for air. My eyes felt as though they were bulging out of my head, and I felt my body's fight or flight reflexes kick in as I struggled even harder than before to get out of the restraints.

"Will you admit your defeat yet?" Luke's voice mocked from above me.

I merely struggled even more on the restraints, trying to find a way to knock the smile I knew was probably on his face.

"No? Well, carry on, Chris."

The water came again, and I found it harder and harder to keep my resolve. I felt myself start to get light headed, and the black of the towel started to get even darker, and that is when the water would stop, and I would be left waiting for the next string of water to come.

I felt as though I was going to die, and oddly enough, it didn't scare me. That is why I was able to last for such a long time. I wasn't afraid to die, because I had already lost everything that I cared about. But one thing was for sure, I wasn't going to die after giving Luke what he wanted.

"Luke, we need to stop," A voice came through. "She has been under this for so long I think if we do it again she will die, and that's not what you want yet, right?"

There was nothing but silence for a long period of time, and my muscles tightened as I waited for another douse of water, and I could barely comprehend anything as I waited for my death.

"Enough, then. Bring her back to her cell, and we can move on to something else first thing tomorrow morning."

The towel was lifted off my face, and I squinted at the light that hit my eyes. "I guess we're going to have to move to some more painful methods, Annie." Luke said, his eyes burning with hatred. "But I am going to win. And then I am going to kill you myself."

There was a sharp pain in my neck, and then nothing.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

The leaves were changing, and central park has never looked more beautiful. I am walking alone now, but I am happy and content. I think about the birds and their chirping, the squirrels and how they are starting to become braver while coming up to humans.

I see a lot of families, coming out to the park to maybe have lunch together, or feed the ducklings. Maybe they are simply tourists, and are enjoying the simplicity of the park in the middle of the big city. The opportunities are seemingly endless.

I feel a sharp pang in my chest at the thought that I never got to come here with my family as a child, and imagine myself, decades younger, having a picnic with my brother and mother and father. The four of us, ready to take on the challenges ahead.

But that never happened, and I have made peace with it.

I cannot relish in the old, whilst I can create the new… and that is why I am here.

"Mommy!"

I turn around to see my moon and stars running up to me, her arms outstretched as she came in for a hug. I dropped my bag by my feet softly on the grass and prepared myself for her weight.

"Hi my little monkey!"

She jumped onto me, and wrapped her legs around my waste, and her arms around my neck. I laughed as she squealed in joy, and my heart warmed knowing her joy was because she was with me.

After a small moment, she pulled away just enough for our eyes to meet. Her beautiful sea-green eyes met my grey ones and my breath was taken away as I realized how much she really looked like her father. Even though she did inherit my hair, sometimes it seems that was all she got from me.

"Daddy let me have ice cream this morning," she whispered, her eyes wide in innocence. "But don't tell daddy I told you because I made a promise not to."

I couldn't help but giggle at her innocent face, but I knew that I was going to have to kick some sense into my husband later. "You should never break daddy's promises, pumpkin."

She groaned, and threw her head back. "I'm sorry mommy! I just wanted to share!"

"Share? Share what? I want a piece!" A voice exclaimed from behind me.

"Daddy!"

I felt arms wrap around my waste and I smiled as I could smell the sea rolling off of him like waves. He kissed me softly on the top of my head, and I smiled at the affection.

"Ewe daddy! Don't kiss mommy in front of me!"

He immediately retracted his arms from around me and grabbed our little girl from my arms before attacking her face with kisses and making her scream with laughter. "Daddy! Daddy stop! Mommy help!"

I just continued to laugh at the sight of the two most important people in my world drawing attention from others. "Okay, enough you two. You're making a scene."

My husband looked over to me, a smirk on his face and his sea green eyes gleaming with mischief. "Whatever you say, Annabeth." He saluted me, and nudged his mini-me beside him, and she did it too.

"Whatever you say, Mommy."

"Okay, you two, we need to hustle if we're going to make it to meet up with Auntie Thalia, and who knows? Maybe Jason and Piper will be there too!"

My daughter pumped a fist in the air, something that she caught on to from her father.

I grabbed her fist in my hand and picked up the bag that I dropped, and started to walk to my best friend's apartment, which is really more like a condo than an apartment. My little moon and stars looked up at me and gave a toothy grin, and I looked over at my husband who had her other hand.

He gave me a smile that could bring tears to my eyes, and mouthed, "I love you."

I mouthed it back with a smile, and he replied with a grin that could only belong to him: Percy Jackson.

"Hey, wake up!"

My eyes shot open to be staring face to face with one of Luke's goons. I let out a little shriek, unable to contain my shock. The man was African American, and was extremely built, but something told me that he wasn't here to hurt me.

"Woah, calm down, Miss Chase. My name is Charles Beckendorf, and I'm here to help you."

My eyes widened, and my brain was still a little fuzzy from the dream I just had. "Wait, what?"

The man chuckled, and leaned back away from me. "I'm going to help get you out of here, miss."

I nodded, and squinted at him, and then paused for a second. "Wait, how do I know that you're not working for Luke? How do I know that this isn't some sort of trick?"

The man gave a cheeky grin, and I knew that if Jackson were here, they would be able to get along just fine. "Well, maybe if I tell you why exactly I'm here it will clear some things up?"

I nodded, then gestured for him to continue. He smiled shortly before continuing, "I've been working for Luke's father, Hermes-"

"But Hermes is dead," I smartly pointed out.

"I know, Miss Chase. Will you let me tell you, or not?"

I blushed at my dumbness and then decided to not make a fool out of myself, so I nodded for him to continue. "I've been following Luke for years, ever since Hermes got this idea that Luke was going to try and overthrow him. So when Luke ordered the hit on his father and killed him, I knew that I needed to continue the investigation, and hopefully not let it go too far."

I looked at him confusedly. "What were you investigating?"

"I was investigating Luke's moves to take over Poseidon's business. You do know who Poseidon is, don't you?"

I nodded, "Jackson's father, and probably the richest man in the world," I offered.

Beckendorf gave a small smile before adding, "And probably one of the most powerful too. If Luke Castellen were to take over than business, it could be catastrophic. Hermes knew the vengefulness of his own son, and knew what he was planning to do. Your brother did as well, and that is why they are both not with us anymore."

"So Luke wants to take over Poseidon INC.? That's it?" I asked, annoyed to see that Luke's plan was really only so simple.

"Yeah, a psychopath wants to take over the single most powerful company in the globe. This could be the linchpin that destroys the very fabric of reality, and what we know. Hell, there's no telling what he would do in that positon of power."

"He could easily become part of the government, and that would be no good," I admitted, looking down at my hands. "But what does that have to do with me?"

"You're brother stopped Luke from kidnapping Percy Jackson all those years ago. So instead, Luke captured you and got Malcolm to come and try and rescue you, leading to his demise. Luke is indeed a psychopath, so he took it to extreme measures. He wanted your brother to suffer, and now he wants you to suffer because you were the one that got away."

"That's very annoying."

Beckendorf nodded. "I agree, Miss Chase. But now we need to figure out a way of how to get out of here."

I nodded in agreement, and leaned myself against the wall. "I don't suppose you have any ideas, do you, Charles?"

He threw me a white smile, and his dark eyes glinted with a bit of excitement. "Please, call me Beckendorf. And yeah, I got a few ideas. In my opinion, this place should burn to the ground. Me and a few other guys who I got to help us have come up with a few ways to make that happen."

"Do you have any explosives?" I asked, starting to think about all the possible ways this may work. "And how long do we have? I assume the rest of your shift, which is what? Four hours?"

Beckendorf nodded, his eyes widening. "I was told you were smart, but I have to apologize because I believe I just witnessed genius. You kept track of the shifts?"

I nodded. "Why do you think the shift times change so often?"

His eyes gleamed with excitement. "Well, I'm glad I have you on my side. So, about those explosives; one of my guys will be getting those and we will set them up on load bearing walls. But before we blow this bitch, I'm going to have to get you out of here and safe."

I shook my head. "Not before I give Luke a taste of his own medicine."

I looked at him with strong eyes, and I saw the resolve of him getting me out of here slowly fade away. Beckendorf isn't dumb enough to try and convince me otherwise. "Okay, okay. But first, I have a phone, you know. Because now I have no guaranties whether or not you'll get out alive, I'll let you make some calls… say goodbye."

"I'm not condemning myself to death, Beckendorf. It's just… he kept me here for so long, and he killed my brother and others that I care about. I'm not letting the courts decide whether or not he's guilty. He made it personal."

"You're going to have to live with his death for the rest of your life, you know."

"I'm going to have to live with it either way."

Beckendorf nodded, and I could see that he was stunned at the wisdom of my words. He wordlessly handed me a satellite phone, before got up and walked to the doorway. "You got five minutes."

I took a deep breath and looked down at the phone in my hands before quickly dialing a number I know by heart.

"Hello, this is Thalia speaking."

I let out a choked sob at the sound of my best friend's voice.

"Thalia?" I asked, and I heard nothing but silence on the other end. I took it that she heard me. "Thalia, I need you to give the phone to Jackson. I'm sorry, but there's something he needs to know."

"Jackson… It's for you." I heard on the other end of the phone. I smiled a bit knowing that he was with my friends… that everyone was together.

"J-Jackson? You there?" I asked, my voice hoarse from the sobs that I was choking down my throat.

"Annabeth?"

I couldn't help the tears that slipped through my ducts. "Oh my God, Percy, I'm so sorry, I should have never kept that from you, I'm so sorry that I betrayed your trust, and oh God, I'm just so sorry!"

"Annabeth… please, it's okay, I know why you did it… and God, please tell me you're okay. Tell me that you're okay and that you got out…"

I took a deep breath to compose myself. He knew what happened, and he knew that I did it to save him, and that's all that matters right now.

"Annabeth, please talk to me."

"I'm not out of here, Percy. I'm still stuck, but guess what? There's an inside man, you know. He worked for Hermes, and now he's kind of working for your father. I met with him and now we're going to end this once and for all."

"No, no ending anything for you, Annabeth. I want you to get the hell out of there and come home, okay? I need you, remember, I need you so you need to come back to me."

"I made you promise something, Percy. Do you remember that? I made you promise to never give up, even if something happens to me. I need you to keep that promise, Jackson."

I heard a sob come from him, and that only caused more tears to stream down my cheeks. "Annabeth, please just… just stay alive, okay? That promise goes both ways- never give up, Annabeth."

"I need to end this, Percy, you know that."

"But why does it need to be you?"

I sighed, and rubbed the tears off of my face, and looked up to see a solemn looking Beckendorf telling me to wrap it up. "You know why, Percy. And I need to go… I just… I just wish I was there with you, you know?"

"Please promise me that you will be alive, Annabeth. I need you to promise me that."

"Percy, I got to go."

"Annabeth-"

"I'm sorry."

I hung up.