A thousand thoughts flew through my mind at once as I tried my best to focus on the rhythm of my armor clanking against me. My knees almost melted at the memory of last summer's events, especially the ones spent in tartarus. Having to face these demons almost wasn't my biggest worry. I was jolted back to reality from a hellish scenario when one of the dogs barked. Its a good thing they did because as I opened my eyes, an old woman swooped inches in front of me. Exactly where I would have been had I not slowed down. I swatted another with my shield as she dived straight towards me. I heard reyna withdraw her sword but before I could stop her she sliced through the middle of the closest ari. I could barely look as she made an attempt at a scream, but was cut off by arcs of blue electricity surging through her. "You fool!" I cried despretly. The smell of burnt hair filled my nose as I ran to her defence and stomped on the end of her braid. she lay motionless on the ground, but her chest still rose and fell shakily.

"Come to pla with us again Annabeth chase?" One hissed at me, landing a mere two feet away. "We may not be as numerous, but your curses have only risen in number. Which do you think i should give her this time sisters. Sliced in half? Consumed by her own exsistence?" I scowled as another cried out from around the roof

"Ooh! Do the one where she's stabbed by her own weapon!" My heart beat so hard i thought it would fly away.

"You'll never hurt me as you have before." I tried to rumble, but i dont think it sounded as convincing as it did in my head. Rey flopped over onto her back.

" i shoulda...listened...sorry" she heaved

" apology excepted " the hag replied. Her face turned into a freakish sort of grin as she spread her arms to attack, but evaporated. Revealing an angry arum holding a peice of grey cloth.

"Good boy" reyna muttered as she peeled herself off the ground and re-adjusted. " how..how long was i out?"

"Long enough to see elysium i would think. We've got six to go, and i need you. Lets get inside with no more incidents"

"Got it." She replied under her shaky breath. Arum whined. His throat leaked motor oil from seven evenly plaved rows of holes, sinking deep into the wired and cogs holding him together. "Oh shit. My baby!" She said, limply jogging over to try and patch the wound.

"Rey, there's no time. Bring him inside if you have to, but we've got to hurry up and finish this"

"Right. Sorry. " she scooped him up and made for the front door behind me. Three of them tried to attack, but i reflected them off my shield. When the door was locked, i tried kicking, but to no use. I pounded hard with my fists.

"Open up! We're gonna die out here! Its annabeth, from the card. And Reyna too. We're trying to helo get you out ao if you would pl-" the door flew open and the two ran inside as the door shut on the had of a fourth. They were in an abandoned

sort of entryway. To their right was the reminants of a closet, but the walls were gone, leaving a rug and white gaps in the hardwood floors. To the left was some old ripped up furniture in the doorway to a carpeted room containing sheets and imprints from the furniture barricade. A boy with tousseled brown hair and big frightened mud green eyes began an attempt to push the furniture back. he had a thin build, and his clothes were ripped in various places. Revealing either blood or medioker makeshift bandages. I ran to help him, pushing all four pieces into place to make a barricade. he sank down on the floor, breathing hard.

On the closet rug was a girl with matching scrappy brown hair covering her head as she looked down at her knees. Reyna sat rare her, using cushion filling to stop Aurum's oil leak. "So. How long have you two been here exactly?" I asked openly.

"One day and fourteen hours" the girl replied softly.

"And the phone you called us with is.." She pointed out the window at a pile of metal reflecting sunlight back at us."right. Well, you've made it this far, so you're already pretty strong kids. What are your names again?" I asked

"I'm carter. And this is my sister, -"

"Macy." She finished, looking up. Her hairfell back to reveal sunken eyes to match her brother's, a small nose dotted with freckles, and a sickly expression. She took a breath and straight end up slightly, pulling a hand away from her stomach to reveal a deep wound. Her hand practically dripped red, and it was clear she had tried to bandage it with some sort of short fabric and failed. Her hands shook as she looked into my eyes. "Please?" She asked faintly before reaching for her brother's hand and coughing up blood.