Chapter 2

About 10 minutes later, we reached the first of many picnic tables on the preserve. It was strangely empty, but I didn't think much of it, other than to thank the gods for our good fortune. (Demigods are often interrogated by tourists trying to be helpful, and they had good intentions, but it was a big hassle.) Moments later, we passed another few picnic tables, all empty. "Is there a holiday or something that I missed?" I said to my companions.

They could only shrug, just as confused as me.

We kept going, and after a few minutes of passing empty picnic tables, I started to get nervous. The preserve was never this empty. Even in the dead of winter, there were always a few people wandering around. I rubbed my charm bracelet nervously.

"Is this normal?" Percy asked, fiddling with something in his pocket.

"No, this place is usually packed..." Kalia trailed off as we came around the corner and saw the visitor center.

It was glowing with eerie silver light. As we walked up, he doors opened, as if saying 'Come on in!'

We started walking up to it, but thought better and tried to turn around, but we couldn't. We just kept walking forward, unable to control our own legs. As soon as we were inside the building, the large wooden doors slammed shut with a loud BOOM!, sending shivers down my spine.

Blackness surrounded us. I looked in every directing, but couldn't see anything. I pulled my flashlight out, but it refused to turn on. "Percy? Kalia?" I said, feeling around with my hands, still being forced to walk forward.

"Rebecca?"

"Yah, I'm here," they responded, Kalia sounding as scared as I felt, Percy sounding as cool as a cucumber.

"My flashlight's broken... how 'bout you?"

I heard Kalia say, "Mine too, where are you guys?"

"Wait one sec... let's see if this works," Percy said. Moments later, a soft bronze light appeared and I stopped walking. From the impenetrable blackness there was a hiss and a skittering sound.

I dashed over to where Percy was standing with Kalia.

He pointed his sword out and said in a commanding voice, "Who is there? Come forward and your life may be spared!" We waited silently, listening for a response. Percy had just opened his mouth to speak again when we heard a soft voice coming from any and every direction.

"Oh, Perseus Jackson, it's you!"

Percy's eyes widened with surprise. "You! What are you doing here?"

"Who? Percy, who is it?" Kalia asked, pulling her bow out of her magical backpack.

"Dear Kalia Blake, have you not heard of me?" A woman in black stepped into the light of Percy's sword. She was wearing sunglasses, despite the lack of light, and her hair seemed to be moving in the bronze light.

"Medusa!" Percy said. "You've changed. You look uglier, if that's possible." I looked at Percy, shocked that he was teasing a monster that could kill us.

Medusa glared at Percy, but almost before it could be seen, her face changed to a sad face. "Why are you mean to me Percy?"

"Maybe because you tried to kill me and Annabeth and Grover, but I'm not sure," Percy shot back.

Medusa glared at him, no longer hiding her anger. "One of these days, your impertinence will get you killed. And, offence intended, I hope that day is today." As she spoke, torches were lit and a bunch of draconis and hellhounds appeared in the golden light. looking around, there were monsters everywhere.

"Surrender and you will not... actually you will be killed, but it will be less painful," growled a draconi.

I turned to look at Percy and Kalia. Without a word, we agreed to just go along with them. I took off my charm bracelet, breaking of a charm and hiding it in my hand. We handed them our weapons, and allowed them to lead us down the hall.

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