Chapter 5 – I Phone a Friend

I didn't have a clue who to choose. All I'd heard all day was "You should pick her…"

It didn't get easier when the contestants started to offer things.

Drew had cornered me in the dining-hall. "Hey, Percy!" She'd shouted. "Pick me and my mum will relinquish her promise to make your love life hard!"

It was really embarrassing when she said that in front of everyone. But….the more I thought about it, the more I liked her bribe. I mean, it would be great to not have Aphrodite hassling me and trying to make an exciting drama out of my relationship with Annabeth.

So, my mind was pretty much made up, when Annabeth came to my cabin that evening. "Pick me and I'll give you my cap of invisibility!"

I'd always wanted that cap. It would be so much easier to fight monsters with it. But, I was confused. "Why did you enter the contest?" I asked. "You always say things like this are stupid!"

"I know. But, that apple says 'to the greatest'. If some Aphrodite kid got it, it would be ridiculous. Greatness isn't about appearance; it's about being knowledgeable, too."

I understood.

The next morning, I found a note on my bed. I knew it was from Hera, because there was a little cow in the left-hand corner. She'd written, "When you die, you'll be immortalised in the stars if you pick me."

Now, you have to admit, Hera's gift would be awesome! I'd never be forgotten, and I'd be next to some really cool heroes, like Hercules.

So, I had three really great gifts to consider. That made it even harder to decide. I needed some help.

I picked up a drachma, and Kaylie's can of hairspray, and hurried over to the cabin's sink. I sprayed the hairspray into the air, and then chucked the coin through it. "O Iris, Messenger of the Gods, accept my offering", I said. "Show me….Thalia Grace."

Suddenly, I could see Thalia in the mist. She was running through a forest, with the other hunters.

"Thalia!" I yelled.

She turned around, looking confused. Then, Thalia caught sight of me, and smiled.

"Hey, Percy! Long time no see!"

"I know," I said. "But, I have something I need to tell you."

"What is it?" Thalia asked.

She listened intently as I told her all about the golden apple.

"Oh, gods," she muttered, when I'd finished. "And I'd thought things would get easier, now Kronos is gone…"

"What should I do?"

"I'm sorry, Percy – I would help, but I'm needed here. I think you should go to the Underworld and get some advice though. Ask…"

That was a really good idea. Thalia was about to tell me more, but her image crackled, then vanished. A voiceover came on:

"Thank you for using I-M. Put in another drachma to call again."

I put the things away, thinking. Thalia was right. I should go to the Underworld and get some advice. But I needed a pearl to get out afterwards. Reaching into a draw, I pulled out the map Luke had given me years ago that showed where the pearls were. Opening it carefully, I studied it.

The pearl was at London Olympic Stadium. That was strange. Usually they were somewhere associated with Greek Myths…

I grabbed a bag from a pile of my things, and started to pack some clothes. I checked that I had Tyson's watch on, and Riptide in my pocket.

I picked up the bag. Then, putting on my new night vision goggles, I sneaked out of the cabin.

Author's note

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I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I will add another soon.

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