Hi guys! I'm really really really so so so sorry for taking so long. I could tell you all of my excuses- but that's all they are- excuses. I've actually gotten a good amount written, I just haven't had time to type it up, so at least for the next couple chapters, I should be fairly prompt- no waiting another 9 months this time. So, without further ado, here is chapter 3:

Annabeth woke up. As she was packing her things into her bag, she saw an envelope tucked into her book. She pulled it out and saw that the blue paper was unmarked. After breaking the seal, Annabeth pulled out a folded sheet of paper.

Annabeth-

9 o'clock to Chicago. Don't miss it.

-A

Annabeth knew that her mother was probably helping more than Zeus wanted her to. She pulled the train ticket out of the envelope and pocketed the letter. She had a few miles to travel to the train station, based off of the map on the back of Athena's note, and only an hour and a half to travel them.

"Where's my mom?"

Annabeth turned around. She saw the boy who had been in the car with Emma. "Who?"

"My mom. Emma."

"Emma's your mom?"

"Yeah. Well, one of them." Seeing Annabeth's look of confusion, he added, "It's a long story."

"Listen . . . um . . . what's your name?"

"Henry."

"Okay. Listen Henry. Emma's . . . um gone. But I'm going to bring her back. She'll be back in no time."

"Is she in trouble?"

"No," Annabeth lied.

"You're lying. She's in trouble. Okay. I'm coming with you."

"No you're not."

"Yes, I am."

"No. Henry, you'll only slow me down. I promise you, I'll bring her back here, but you can't come with

me."

"Okay fine. I'll be waiting."

"Thank you. Now I have to go."

Annabeth started walking, after losing ten minutes talking with Henry.

When she arrived at the train station, Annabeth bought a bagel for breakfast and a newspaper. After finding her way to her seat, she opened the newspaper, looking for any mention of her sister or her kidnapper. She first flipped to the Crime Watch section. After scanning through and finding no mention of either, Annabeth flipped back to the front. She munched on her bagel and and scanned the passengers in her car as the train left the station. One boy a few rows back looked slightly familiar, but with his sweatshirt hood up, it was hard to tell. Annabeth continued reading her newspaper.

"ATTENTION ALL PASSENGERS. WE HAVE NOW REACHED THE CHICAGO STATION. PLEASE COLLECT YOUR BELONGINGS AND EXIT THE TRAIN. THIS IS THE LAST STOP. ALL PASSENGERS MUST EXIT THE TRAIN," the conductor's voice echoed over the intercom, waking Annabeth from her slumber. I must have fallen asleep, she thought as she peeled the the sports section from her face. She stood up, gathered her limited luggage and exited the train.

Annabeth had no idea what to do next, so she decided to do a little sightseeing until she found her next step. She made her way to the Tribune Tower, a piece of architecture she had always wanted to visit.

Annabeth was looking out of the window of a lavishly decorated office when she heard a voice in the hallway.

". . . Camp Half-Blood will fall."

The voice sounded close. Annabeth was just able to hide behind a curtain before two people entered the room.

"Yes. Now that we have the girl, we'll be able to distract Chiron. They probably thought they beat us, but we're just getting more followers. In fact, we've pretty much already beat them. The end is coming."

"Don't be a fool Nakamura. We've hardly started."

At that point, Annabeth recognized the voice from the hallway. Ethan Nakamura, son of Nemesis. Annabeth had never actually talked to Ethan at Camp Half-Blood, but she remembered his eye patch. He was always so angry about having to be with the Hermes kids all of the time, but Nemesis didn't have a cabin of her own.

So, what do you think? I thought it was a little short, but that seemed like a good stopping place for the chapter. Please review!

Thanks for all of the nice reviews I've already gotten. Again, I'm really really sorry. I'll be better.

Quote:

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone."

Question:

What song is stuck in your head?

My answer: All I Ever Wanted by Basshunter

What's your answer- REVIEW!

Signing off,

Hoologan