Jason fell to the ground in a heap at the stranger's feet. Looking up, his eyes widened. Fear coiled around his heart and clutched it tight. Stormy eyes glared down at him. He looked his just like wanted posters, Jason thought. The sweep of his raven black hair across his tanned face was unmistakable.

WANTED: PIRATE CAPTAIN PERCY JACKSON. WARNING: He is incredible dangerous. Reward for capture, dead or alive.

Jason scrambled backwards as the Captain approached him.

"Well look what we have here Annabeth." Jackson said.

A young girl appeared from the shadows. Her beach blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she stared down at Jason with a look of disdain. Her eyes were hard and grey like stones smoothed over by the ocean's current. She looked him up and down, flicking her eyes over him for a brief moment before turning to the Captain.

"He's just another street rat. Take care of him and lets go."

Jason scrambled back, rocks and dirt digging into his skinned palms. He shuddered as Jackson let a feral smile creep onto his face.

"He's not even armed Annabeth, what fun will that be?"

"Since when do you do this for fun?" She asked.

A somber expression flashed onto his face before quickly being replaced with his cocky smirk.

"You got me there." He said.

Jason's eyes darted around him, desperately looking for an escape. Ahead of him, two vicious pirates. A wall to his left and a burning house to his right. He continued to push himself back until his back slammed into cold rock. He turned his head slightly and caught sight of the building.

It was the armory. Perfect.

"And where do you think you're going?" Jackson's slick voice broke through the smoke.

He raised his sword as he approached him but before he could swipe, Jason jumped to his feet and bolted around the armory. His heart pounded in time to his footsteps. behind him, Jason heard the pirates racing after him.

He rounded the corner of the building and threw open the door. Dashing inside, Jason slammed the door shut just in time to feel a heavy thump against the wood. He fumbled with the lock, his fingers trembling. Finally, he felt it click into place and slide the deadbolt across the door. Again, the door rattled. They were trying to break it down. Looking at the rotting wood, he knew it wouldn't hold much longer.

He turned and scanned the room for anything he could use. He knew the weapons were stored above the main floor and the door was not only locked at all times, but much sturdier than the front door. As the Jackson continued throwing his weight against the door, Jason tore the room apart, throwing drawers open, flinging paper to the ground and searching high and low for the emergency key his father had spoken about.

From outside, he could hear the pirates talking.

"What are you doing?" Annabeth asked, the annoyance in her voice clear.

"This won't take more than a minute my lovely Quartermaster." Jackson said as he slammed what Jason thought sounded like a boot into the door.

"We came here to get the map, not to chase after every little bilge rat that stumbles across our path." Annabeth protested.

Jackson muttered something that Jason didn't catch, but Annabeth sighed loudly and didn't argue further. Furiously pushing papers across of the desk, Jason spun around. If he didn't find the key soon he'd be in deep trouble. Leaning on the desk, he nervously dug his fingers into the underside. Tapping his fingers was a nervous habit he'd learned from his father and he drummed his fingers on the downside of the desk.

It sounded odd at first. Jason frowned and tapped it again. His heart leaped when he realized that he recognized the sound. Under one of his fathers grand desks, the one he conducted all his over sea affairs with, was a false bottom. Under it, he kept money, documents and others important things.

Frantically, Jason bent down and felt around for a notch in the wood. When he felt the wood dip beneath his fingers, he pressed down and pulled it towards him. The drawer slid smoothly out and Jason set it gently onto the table. Glinting in the torchlight, the bronze key sat alone in the box. Relief flooded through him and he grinned.

Snatching up the key, Jason sped up the stairs. The old door creaked and groaned under Jackson's weight, sending a wave of fear rippling through Jason, silencing the joyous relief. He reached the top quickly and jammed the key into the lock. Yanking the door open, Jason stepped in and marveled at the wall decorated with weapons, swords, knives, guns and even cannon balls. Although he longed for something as simple as one of the muskets next to the door, Jason knew less than nothing about how to shoot a gun and worried that he'd shoot himself instead of the pirates.

A crash on the main floor seemed to shake the entire armory. Jason flinched at the sound. He raced to the back of the room and grabbed a sword. The blade gleamed. Despite a few nicks it was well polished and a good balance. Footsteps thundered up the stairs and Jason steeled himself. He may be useless with guns, but he had been practicing with swords as long as he could hold one. With one of those in his hands, he stood a chance.

As soon as Jason saw the Captain burst into the room, he launched himself forwards, slashing at him. Jason saw the pirates eyes widen in surprise as he faltered for a brief moment. He hesitated just long enough for Jason to land a cut on his upper arm, although it turned out to be more shallow than he would have liked. The pain seemed to pull the Captain out of his surprise.

Jackson sprung up, hacking away at Jason with the speed and ferocity that he has infamous for. He managed to block Jackson's attack and when he stepped out of the doorway, Jason darted behind him and cut overhead. Jackson turned just in time to sidestep and block it. He thrusted the tip of his blade, forcing Jason to move down the steps.

He knew that Jackson held an advantage when he was on higher ground. Jackson swung his sword and Jason did the only thing he could think of. He turned down the stairs and fled.

"Annabeth!" Jackson called as Jason ran.

When he reached the first floor, Jason caught a flash of silver around the corner. He ducked his in time to avoid loosing his head and continued out the door with the Quartermaster on his heels. His feet hit the blackened cobblestone and Jason turned to fight. Before he could move, Annabeth dove towards him and knocked him to the ground. His sword went flying and as he hit the ground, be could feel the breath getting knocked out of his lungs.