A/N: Please let me know if you see any spelling/grammar errors!

Ch 4

The second we stepped out of the camp boundaries I was nervous. Not my usual, I don't know how to act normal, nervous. It was like everything was this strange, dangerous world. I guess not leaving camp boundaries for 4 years does that to a guy. Annabeth was deep in her own thoughts while we waited for the cabbie to pick us up from camp so there was an awkward silence while I tried not to imagine a hellhound jumping us two feet from camp.

I spent most of the time fingering the miniature trident hanging off my camp necklace. It was the only gift I ever got from my dad. Since my brother was the be-all-to-end-all hero, he got most of the spectacular gifts from my dad, like Anaklusmos, or the superiour water powers. He gave my brother Anaklusmos the day we were claimed, and all he gave me was this stupid trident pendant.

But I still kept it because it was the only thing that reminded me of my dad, the big man of the seas. It reminded me of the times before my mom's death. It reminded me of when my brother and I could spend an entire Saturday playing video games together without him calling me stupid or useless or a waste of his time. It was the only thing connecting me to my old life, which is ironic since I only got it because I found out about my new screwed up life. I spent the rest of the time lost in my memories.

All of a sudden, I was 11 years old again and in my mom's kitchen. We had been making blue chocolate chip cookies to celebrate one of my rare good test grades. It was relatively early still, so my brother was still asleep, giving me and my mom some very rare alone time. I was straining to reach the food coloring on the top shelf and not getting near close enough.

"Honey, need some help?" questioned my mom after probably watching me struggle for a couple minutes.

"Nope. I got this," I replied. I walked out of the kitchen and came back with one of the chairs from the dining room. Setting it down in front of the cabinet, I climbed up and grabbed the food coloring. Turning around with a triumphant smile on my face, I saw my mom looking at me with a look on her face I didn't see very often.

"I can't believe you and your brother are turning 12 in a week. You two are just growing up so fast."

"Don't worry mom, we'll always be here for you… we'll always be your little boys. No matter how big and strong we get."

"I know Percy," she said quietly. "Now go get your brother up! He's slept in for long enough." I ran out of the kitchen and got my brother out of bed.

If we didn't tell you, you would never know my brother and I were twins. Where I had dark black hair and green eyes, my brother had blonde hair and blue eyes. He had 6 inches and 30 pounds on me. Being pre-teen boys, we were always getting in fights to see who was stronger or faster or smarter. He always one in the first two categories, but I always won the games of intelligence. You can bet we didn't play many of those games.

Anyways, when I walked out of the room we shared, I heard my mom scream from the kitchen. Before I knew it, I was in the kitchen watching my mom being choked out by a very angry looking seal-dog thingy. It had flippers for arms and a dog's head, making a very odd combo. Doing the natural thing for a 90 pound 12-year-old to do, I jumped onto the back of the animal's body, trying to get it off of my mom.

I almost passed out from the smell of the creature and ended up on the ground with the wind knocked out of me. Luckily though, the creature had directed its attention away from my mom and towards me. While it waddled its way over to me, I almost laughed. And I would have, if not for the lack of air in my lungs. By the time it finally got to me I was almost breathing normally. It reached out with its flipper arm things but before it could grab my neck it disappeared into a cloud of dust.

In its place stood a wicked looking knife. Behind the knife was an arguably scarier blonde girl, about my age, looking at me wildly.

"Where's your brother?" the blonde girl asked.

"Why do you want to know?" I shot back.

"I'm here to help you butthead. So where's your brother?" she questioned more forcefully this time.

I was about to make another remark about why I should trust her, but while she was staring at me with her stormy grey eyes I couldn't find the courage to say anything. Luckily enough my mom and my brother appeared behind the blonde.

"Annabeth, what are you doing here?"

"I came to take the boys to camp."

"What- mom you know this girl?!" I yelled, feeling betrayed by my own mother.

"Yes, Percy," she said looking at me, but offering no explanation. Turning to Annabeth, my mom looked madder than when I had broken her priceless vase. "You said they wouldn't be taken until they were 12! That's still a week away!"

"The situation's changed, Miss Jackson. Zeus needs to see the boys now." Thunder rumbled overhead, which was odd since it was forecasted to be sunny for the next week.

"Zeus, Zeus, Zeus! It's all about Zeus? What happened this time? Somebody tell him he has grey in his beard?" My mom yelled, getting louder each time she said 'Zeus'. More thunder rumbled overhead, getting much louder than before.

Annabeth looked extremely nervous after my mom's statements. "Miss Jackson, Zeus thinks your boys stole his master bolt, and has told Hades to send his most dangerous forces after the two boys. The only safe place is at camp. Hades' minions can't get the two of them there."

My mom took a deep breath and pulled me and my brother in close. "Be safe my boys. I love you. Don't ever forget that," my mom whispered.

Tears formed in my eyes as my mom pulled away. "No. You can't let us go! We won't leave without you!" I turned to Annabeth, looking for any glimmer of hope. "She can come with us right? I don't want my mom to be eaten by monsters!"

My mom grabbed my shoulders and looked me square in the eyes. "Stay strong Percy. You've always been the more emotional one, but right now I need you to be strong for me. Go with Annabeth to camp, you'll be safe there."

"Mom, NO! I won't leave without you!"

Suddenly I was picked up from behind and carried to the front door. I heard my mom yell as I was carried off: "Don't forget I'll always love you! Promise me!"

I couldn't find the voice to tell her. But I promised myself the next time I saw her I would tell her.

I never got the chance.