Author's Note: Hello, everyone! So apparently I had only written up to chapter seventeen, so I wrote this today. Again, I'm sorry its short, but like I said, Luke chapters are hard to write. Also, I just wanted to let you all know that I may take a short hiatus so that I can write a few chapters in advance, and I will keep you all posted on that. As I'm sure you already know, I do not own Percy Jackson.

Chapter Eighteen: Luke POV: We're Running Out of Time

After our conversation, Thalia left the room, and I reflected a little bit. I had put on a façade pretending that I wasn't worried, even though I was, but I could tell that Thalia didn't buy it. She knew me well enough to realize that I was worried, and I could bet that she was already planning a way to help.

After the events of the day, I was exhausted, and I reclined on the bed, trying to stay awake. I needed to find a way to help Annabeth, like I knew Thalia was doing. My eyes slid closed, and I fell asleep, mind still racing.

I dreamed I was standing in a cavern. I couldn't see anything. The air felt humid, and it felt like there was something in the cavern near me.

"The boy escaped?" A harsh voice asked. It didn't seem to be coming from anywhere specific; instead, it was coming from all around me. The hairs on the back of my neck tingled. I shivered, and goosebumps rose on my arms. Kronos.

I realized he wasn't talking to me, and looked around. Obviously I couldn't see anything, as it was pitch black, but I knew that I wasn't alone.

"Y-Yes, Master," someone answered. The person's voice was clearly female, high-pitched almost to the point of whininess. I knew who it was instantly. Kelli the empousa.

"And you didn't try to stop him?" Kronos was getting angry.

"Well, we tried, Master," she stammered, "but he and the girl got away. We thought they died."

"Well, you thought wrong. We must plan an attack. The boy has rejoined his former allies."

"Master, what about the other boy? The one you're holding captive in-"

"Silence!" Kronos shouted. I flinched. "You never know who may be listening." He paused. "Kill the boy. The one we're holding captive. Even if they surrender, which I am sure they won't, the boy is too powerful. He must die."

"Yes, M-Master," Kelli stuttered.

Suddenly, a loud noise jolted me awake. In my sleep, I had stretched out an arm and knocked a vase off of the nightstand. It had crashed to the floor, spilling water and wilting lilies all over the floor. Argus was bent over, trying to mop up the mess with a handful of tissues. I leaned back against the pillows, breathing heavily. We needed to contact Annabeth, and fast.

"Argus," I said. He looked up, startled. I was about to tell him that I needed to speak to Chiron when the dinner bell rang, and Argus stood up, ready to escort me to dinner. "I need to speak with Chiron. They're going to kill Percy."

Argus looked at me, wide-eyed, and led the way out of the room, down the hall toward Chiron's office.