Sorry I haven't been updating lately. I hope to keep switching back with the two stories or just take a short break with one, then do it a different time. Oh, and I need to add this: Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Rick Riordan deos. Well, hope you like the chpater.

Chapter Eighteen

Wait. What? No, this has to be a mistake. There is no way Luke could be the bad guy. No way. But Percy can't lie. Percy sucks at lying. Maybe he's just playing a prank on me like he did when we were younger.

"Are you sure? Are you positive, Percy?" I asked, shock on my whole face. Unfortunately, he nodded. I swallowed down a cry. Percy looked down at the ground, sadness in his eyes. They were just like mine. Sad, disappointed, angry, and disbelief.

"Look, I am just as surprised as you are. But he has our friends. We can't just let him kill them. We have to go on a quest." He looked strait into my eyes. "Annabeth, for our friends." I had already started crying. Luke has been there for me ever since I was little. He would teach me to fight for my life, talk about how our families are doing, and how great our lives seem to be getting. There has to be something inside him that, that is keeping him from already killing them. I have to help them. Luke betrayed us.

"Okay. Let's go tell Chiron." We walked out of the mess hall and into the night. Chiron, a legendary centaur, was the trainer of heroes and usually stayed in a wheelchair. He stays at the Big House, which is a sky-blue building. It was bigger than most of the cabins and contained three stories. Percy and I found Chiron on the porch, staring out into the distance. Then, he spotted us.

"Ah, if it isn't Annabeth Chase and Percy Jackson. It's a pleasure to see you two here." He smiled at us. He's always been like another father to me. One that isn't going to let anyone down. I just shook the thoughts out of my head.

"Chiron, it's so long since I've seen you. You haven't changed a bit," I said as I hugged him.

"Hey, Chiron. It's been so long since I've seen you. I can't believe that you haven't grown." Percy gave him another hug. We both looked at each other, then back at the wise centaur.

"Well, when you're immortal, you can't age. Well, what brings you here today?" The happy faces we had on suddenly turned dark. I knew that Chiron was able to sense it too. "What happened?" he said in a serious tone. I took a shaky breath and swallowed.

"It's Luke. He kidnapped Nico, Jason, and Althea. Percy said that he was going to lure us into a trap. We need a quest." Chiron looked shocked.

"Well, if you want. Annabeth, you are going to lead this quest. You may choose two companions." Okay. That was an easy choice. I'm going to pick Percy and Thalia. But what will Thalia say when she finds out. Is she going to believe me? I know that Thalia and Luke were close. I could tell by the picture of the two of them in her room.

"I choose Percy and Thalia." I made no hesitations.

"Very well. You may now consult the oracle." I took Percy's hand for support. He blushed, but he knew why I did it. We both walked over to a cave on the other side of Camp Half-Blood. When we reached there, Percy squeezed my hand.

"Don't worry, Annabeth. I'll be here." I gave him a reassuring smile and then walked into the cave. But before I could do that, Percy grabbed me by the waist and hugged me.

"Everything's going to be fine, Annabeth. I promise you that." My face turned deep red, but the warmth took me over.

"Thanks, Percy. I really do have great friends." We let go and I walked into the cave. It wasn't as creepy as the attic. Instead, it was decorated with pictures, paintings, and drawings. I knew that my old friend, Rachel Elizabeth Dare was the new Oracle of Delphi. As I stepped into the room, lights filled the air. I could see Rachel, sitting there, sketching. I met Rachel when I was at camp the first time. We actually became good friends even though she was the oracle and not another demigod, but she had had differences with her parents like me. She had cherry red hair, freckles, and emerald green eyes. Today, her hair was back in a ponytail, with pencil marks on her cheek from all the drawing. A green t-shirt and ripped jeans was all she had one. She noticed me when I took a step closer. At first, she didn't look like she recognized me, but then, realization dawned on her.

"ANNABETH!" she yelled. She got up and hugged me in a very tight grip.

"Hey, Rachel. It's very nice to see you again." She let go after I started to choke.

"Sorry. I just can't believe that you are actually back! So, what do you need help on? Art? Facts? Boys?" I laughed.

"No. Actually, I'm here because I need a prophecy. Um, someone has been captured, and the evil person that did it will pay." It was really hard calling Luke, evil.

"Okay. Well, I can't make this stuff happen. It just takes over my-" Suddenly, her eyes turned into a bright flashing green. Green smoke filled the cave and sudden;y, she spoke. It was almost as if there were a few Rachels talking at the same time.

"Three must start, to east they will go

They will travel to a place they know

Lightning's birthplace is where you need to find

One's betrayal and one's own kind

You shall see what has begun

But fail to see what has been done."

Suddenly, Rachel jolted forward and would have fallen if I haven't caught her.

"Whoa, what just happened." She stood up strait. I was in shock. I had just heard that the prophecy had something to do with a betrayal. Is it Luke? It has to be, he's the only one. Right? And the line about failing to save what has been done. There is something about it that gives me the chills.

"Thanks Rachel. I'll see you." I waved to Rachel as she groggily sat down and started to sketch again.

I reached outside and saw Percy waiting there, tapping his foot onto the ground.

"Percy!" He turned and saw me running out of the cave.

"Annabeth! What did Rachel say? Is it bad? It's bad isn't it. Oh, I knew that it was going to be bad." Such a Seaweedbrain.

"Percy, I haven't even started yet. He looked at me and chuckled nervously.

"So, what did the oracle say?" I took a deep breath and repeated what Rachel had said.

" Three must start, to east they will go

They will travel to a place they know

Lightning's birthplace is where you need to find

One's betrayal and one's own kind"

Percy took a shaky breath. "Is that it?"

"Yes," I lied. I didn't want him to hear about that last part. It was kind of disturbing.

"Do you know what it means?" he asked. I had to think about it.

"Well, we know that there will be three people. Thalia, you, and I. And we know that we will have to go east. To travel to a place we know..." Suddenly, I had an idea. "It might be my house. I mean, you and Thalia have gone to it before. We all know where it is. So that means we are going to San Francisco." My face turned into a confused one. Lightning's birthplace. What did that mean? "Sorry, Percy. That's all I got." I looked back at him. He gave me a 'That's okay' face. But I knew that it was not okay, okay? I knew that it was going to be dangerous and scary. But we have to save our friends. They are the best and I can't bare to lose them. Plus, there are questions that haven't been answered, like 'Why did Althea lie?' or 'Why does Luke want us to fall into his trap. I thought that I could trust him. I guess I was wrong. I yelled out int frustration and sat down.

"Hey, Annabeth. It's not your fault. It's Luke's. He is the one who betrayed you. You shouldn't get mad at yourself." He tried to calm me down, but it didn't work.

"Stop it, Percy. I know that you know it is my fault. I let them get away. I was stupid enough to actually let them go all by there selves and now, they might be killed by the one person I thought I could trust besides Thalia." I didn't mean to say it like that.

"So, you don't trust me?" he asked. His eyes were starting to look even more disappointed.

"No, that's not what I meant. I mean that, I think I know Luke a lot longer than you. I feel like I can trust him more." But I met Percy the same year I met Luke.

"Why are you so upset with Luke? I mean, they guy does something horrible like kidnap our friends, and you are sticking up for him! Why? I don't get it?" Percy was starting to get me really angry.

"Well, I know what he's like, okay! He's a nice person. I know there is a part of him that doesn't want this to happen. He is doing the right thing, Percy! Why can't you see that!"

"He's a jerk, Annabeth! Why can't you see that? You're always talking about Luke. Even when we were at camp years ago, you would talk about Luke this, and Luke that! I'M GETTING SICK OF IT!"

"YOU DON'T KNOW HIM LIKE I DO, PERCY! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW I FEEL! WHY DON'T YOU JUST LET ME DO THIS QUEST ON MY OWN, THEN? WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO PROVE ME WRONG?" He didn't answer.

My face was only a few centimeters away from each other. Our noses were barley touching. I was fuming and he was glowering down at me. I turned and walked, then, ran in the opposite direction. I knew that I can never trust Percy. He's just making it harder. He's still that idiotic boy I knew. Not the one I met at camp. The one that played practical jokes on me was the Percy I was seeing.

I ran all the way to Thalia's pine and sat there, crying. When did my life become so complicated? It went from perfect, to a horrible nightmare. And the worst thing is, Percy might actually be right. Why can't I let go? Why?

I just sat there, hugging my knees up to my chest and crying. Crying myself to sleep.