A/N Hello! Thank you so much to those wonderful people who took the time out to review and tell me what they thought. A special thanks to animelove22, ThisShipShallSail, and manicureval. It makes me really happy when I get truthful and descriptive reviews. It means a lot!

Now, this chapter is not in Annabeth's POV as I previously had said it would be. I tried it, but I was completely stuck, as it just wasn't working, so this chapter is in Percy's POV. However, the next chapter will hopefully be Annabeth's, so don't worry, she will get her chapter!

I get up from my sprawled position on the ground. The first thing I do is grab Riptide, which is lying in a pile of leaves under a bare tree. Something is wrong. I'm pretty sure that the last time I was here, that tree was full of green leaves. And the air certainly wasn't this cold.

I wonder how long it has been. It can't have been that long… could it? But then again, how do I know that half a day in the Land of the Lost doesn't equal to years of earth's time? A horrible feeling of dread creeps up on me, and I shudder at the thought. I need to know.

I gather up my belongings – which amount to pitifully little, as my backpack seems to have disappeared. At least I got my clothes on my 'visit' to the Land of Lost Souls. I don't like to think what would have happened to a half-naked demigod wandering around in the middle of nowhere. I check I haven't left anything, and look out over the hills.

I decide to go back the way I came. I'm sure I can see the town I came across… earlier. Although I guess it wasn't exactly earlier, as it seems to have been a lot longer than a few hours. I trudge back up the non-existent path, jumping over murky puddles and crunching through the dead leaves which are lying everywhere.

After about an hour, I approach the town. However, I can sense something not quite right. I cautiously edge closer, feeling apprehensive, and clench my hand tightly around Riptide. I almost trip over a piece of rusted metal, and look up. My mouth falls open in surprise.

The town is even more derelict than it was a few hours ago. Or, well, however long ago it was. The cars that were parked on the roadside are now orange with rust, paint peeling and wheels long since punctured. Down one alleyway, I can see a car turned on its side, with long lines scored along its door, which is hanging off, feebly creaking in the breeze. I turn into the alleyway, intent on seeing what has happened to this car. I have a bad feeling about this. I creep closer, taking care not to make a sound. Inspecting the overturned car, I see that the long lines are, in fact, claw marks.

Which can only mean one thing.

Monsters.

Hastily, I back away. I don't want to be in close proximity with any monster, thank you very much. Those claws belong to something big, and I really would not like to see what.

I turn and exit the alleyway, keeping an eye out for any sign of movement. Slowly, I advance through the deserted street, making sure I don't disturb anything.

And that's when I see it.

At first, it's just a streak of muddy brown, glimpsed out of the corner of my eye. I whirl around, Riptide already pulled out and ready in my hand. But there is nothing there. I breathe deeply, turning on the spot.

I hear a deep, throaty growl behind me, and I face the hideous monster stood behind me.

It has the head of a lion, and its mane is caked with blood, crusty bits of red-brown dropping off when it moves. It has the body of a goat, which is rather comically disproportionate to its head – I would find it funny if this situation wasn't so dire. To complete this beauteous creation: a ten-foot long diamondback snake headed tail, which grows out its shaggy behind. The snake's head has huge white fangs the length of my entire arm, their tips glistening with venom.

A Chimera. The last time I faced one of these was not the best… let's hope this time will be considerably better.

"Hey, you gigantic, ugly monstrosity, you." I pause, and smirk. "Come and get me."

It gives a roar, a ground shaking sound which makes the stones beneath my feet vibrate. And then it breathes.

I leap to the side, rolling on the ground and jumping swiftly back to my feet. The scorching, bright amber flames missed me by an inch. I see another helping of wonderful hotness coming towards me again, and I dodge it, determined not to be burnt. But this time, I was not so lucky. I can smell burning – it appears the hair on my left arm has been singed off.

I spot the snake head swaying around, and quickly think – could I chop it off? I decide to give it a try.

I suddenly jump forward, and the Chimera does the same. Its snakehead tail comes swinging around, and before I know it, it has squirted a mouthful of venom directly onto my t-shirt. I see the material begin to sizzle and a hole begins to form. I forgot the venom was acidic as well as poisonous, but luckily, it looks like the venom hasn't touched my skin.

I swing Riptide up, and bring it down in a perfect arc. It whistles as it sails through the air, but misses its destination by a millimeter, as the snake moves its head at the last second. Seems that plan did not work. I curse loudly.

The Chimera doesn't seem to like that at all. Who knew monsters could be just as sensitive about foul language as mothers? It bares its teeth at me, pouncing, landing where I was stood just moments before. It breathes in once more, and the snake head comes swinging around yet again. I can see the flames licking the inside of its mouth, and I can see the snakes' mouth opening, its fangs snapping out, droplets of acidic, poisonous venom spurting from the tips – I see all of this as if it's all in slow motion, and my hearts begins to thud in my chest. And then I do something which is both immeasurably stupid and extremely brave – I throw Riptide right into the Chimera's mouth, just as it breathes out its huge supply of scalding fire.

My arms and face miss the flames as I dive away, but I was not fast enough in withdrawing my hand, and I have the feeling that the fingers on my right hand are beginning to blister. I can feel the sheer heat of the inferno blast past me, and I screw my eyes shut, the brightness of the flames turning the inside of my eyelids a vivid orange. I lay on the ground, suddenly extremely tired, as of yet still quite unsure whether my last-ditch attempt at destroying the Chimera worked or not.

I hear a horrible choking sound, and a huge thud resonates through the air. I lift my head off the ground, and peer at the now still monster lying on the ground. Why isn't it disappearing?

I see the snake head still waving about.

"Ugh."

I push myself off the ground and spot Riptide lying inches away from my fingertips, which are now a bright pink, and are covered in angry blisters. I pick it up.

"Die, stupid snake."

And then I rush at the snake and slice its head clean off. It bounces on the ground, grotesquely gaping at me, with its fangs still out.

The Chimera disappears on the ground, leaving behind nothing but a stench of sulphur and a lot of burnt cars.

I collapse on the ground, breathing deeply, hoping that there are no more monsters in this weird, dead town.

I allow myself a few minutes of rest, before getting up again and forcing myself to carry on. I pick up my trustworthy backpack, which surprisingly is still intact, even after coming into close contact with fire. I pick up Riptide, which is back to being in pen form, and then I proceed to get out of this town, hoping I will never see it again.

xxxxxxx

I can see the beach. The beach which is so unbearably close to camp. The sun is setting, and the sky is pink, shot with streaks of gold and crimson.

That's enough traveling for one day, I think. I don't have the energy to go back to camp just now, and there's still the matter of how I'm going to disguise myself so no one knows who I am. So far, I've had no ideas.

I settle down beneath a tree on the outskirts of where I used to stay with my mom. Just thinking about her makes my heart clench painfully. But nowhere near as painfully as it does at the thought of seeing Annabeth again. Seeing Nick. Seeing Chiron.

I try not to worry about this until the morning, and instead, I close my eyes, not even caring about anything that might be lurking here at this hour.

"Oh, let them come," I mumble, not even sure what I'm saying.

I feel the hazy blankets of sleep come over me, and let them take me away.

xxxxxxx

I stand straight and uncap Riptide. My arms are covered in a soft, but solid black material – it feels almost like metal – and as I look down, I see that the same material is covering my entire body.

I turn around. I gasp. People are stood behind me. So many people. Boys and girls, men and women. And they are all looking at me. As if… as if they are waiting for me to speak.

And then I remember – of course. We are here to fight. This is my army. This is Chaos' army.

I stand up tall, raising my sword above my head.

"My comrades! My warriors! We shall win this war! We will defeat all those who dare to challenge us, who betrayed us, who turned our people against us. We will kill them all! Show no mercy to those who did not show us mercy."

Everyone raises their weapons in imitation of me. They yell and they shout, excited to start the battle. I smile.

Turning back around, I see dark figures opposite us. They march forwards, and I get a clear view of them. They all have golden eyes, and expressionless faces. I catch a glimpse of an elfin boy and another boy stood next to him: tall and blonde haired. I feel recognition flash through me, remorse and guilt and sadness, but it is quickly quelled. They are the enemy.

Hot, boiling anger and hatred surges through my veins as I see their leader. Nick. With his glowing golden eyes, golden as ichor.

But I was not expecting him to have someone beside him. I thought he would want to command his army alone. But, it appears not.

The person slightly behind him, to the left, steps forward. It is a woman – no, a girl. I catch a glimpse of blonde, curly hair. That smile I know so well – but transformed into something much, much crueller. And golden eyes, bright golden eyes, just like Nick's.

Annabeth.

My eyes snap open and I gasp for air.

A/N Thanks for reading! Please review, and tell me what you thought! You know, I'd quite like to do those question/answer things some people do. Would you like me to? Tell me if you would or not, as I'm not doing it if no one answers!

I will be updating mostly on weekends once school starts (tomorrow -_-) but sometimes if I get time during the week, after school, then I will also give extra updates.

Review, favourite, follow and all that... and bye bye!