A/N- Don't look at me like that! It's not my fault I had geometry homework! Anyways, here's the next chapter of "Wait- What did we just Explode?", so enjoy!

Disclaimer- I own absolutely nothing from the PJO series. You hear that? Nothing. N-O-T-H-I-N-G. NOTHING WHATSOEVER. Got it?

Chapter 6: In the Woods- Again

Naomi's POV

I ran through the woods, crashing through the underbrush, not caring if a branch hit me in the face, which one did. I was sick of it all. The comments, the glares, the stony silence. The way everybody acted like I was a different person then I had been previously. "I'm not any different!" I howled while I ran. I finally reached the creek and sat down, trying to think. That, however, was pretty much impossible with the water gurgling and rushing past my feet. I finally gave up trying to think and just lay on the ground and sobbed.

As a lay there, an idea came to me. I hated camp right now. And most of the campers hated me. So why didn't I run away? I knew how to survive on my own. I'd be out by myself, away from all the glares and the comments. Away from Drew, making my life miserable with her comments. Away from Skylar, who made it worse when she hung out with Connor all the time. Connor. In my opinion, he was the worst one. The way he acted like I didn't even exist. The way he looked at Skylar. The way he used to look at me, my subconscious added. The way he didn't seem to care. "I'll do it," I said out loud. "But first, this needs some serious planning." I leaned against a tree to think. I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn't even hear what was behind me until it was too late.

Khristi's POV

Michael and I walked through the woods. I was leading, knives at the ready in case of monsters. Michael followed with his bow, an arrow on the string. At first, we had called out for Naomi, but Michael pointed out that when she was angry or sad, she usually liked to be alone. If she heard us calling, she wouldn't answer anyways. After that, we just kind of crept through the woods. Michael was a silent as a panther stalking its prey. Okay, bad simile. Whatever. You get the point. "Khristi?" Michael asked from behind me, keeping his voice low.

"Yeah?"

"Are you feeling like-"

"-something bad is going to happen?" I finished, "Yeah. You too?"

Michael nodded nervously. "It's too quiet. The woods are stocked with monsters. We should have seen something by now."

"Thank you for that encouraging thought." I said sarcastically.

"You're welcome," he replied with equal sarcasm. That was about when pair of draecanae decided to charge us. They each faced off with one of us. Michael dropped his bow- it would be no use against armor- and drew a dagger from his sleeve. I threw a knife, but it bounced off the armor. The other knife made a small wound in one of its tails, but it wasn't anything serious.

The dracaena pulled a curious weapon seemingly out of nowhere and threw it. There wasn't enough time to dodge and the weapon pinned my shoulder to the tree. I winced in pain, but took the opportunity to take a closer look at the weapon. It appeared to be a wheel of blades. Most ingenious, I thought. Stop it! This is serious! my other side replied. I had reached across with my other hand and was about to yank the wheel out of my shoulder and the tree when I felt the sword at my throat. "Don't try anything," a voice hissed. It sounded suspiciously serpentine, and I realized that it was the dracaena.

"What do you want?" I gasped. A quick glance told me that Michael was also being held.

"We don't want anything. The one who employs us does."

"Who?" Michael asked.

"That is not for me to tell you," the dracaena hissed.

"Then take this!" Michael said, thrusting his dagger, which he still held, at the other dracaena. The monster wailed and exploded into gold dust, coating Michael from head to toe. He picked up his bow, nocked an arrow, and aimed it at the dracaena that held me.

"I wouldn't do that," the dracaena hissed. "She would be dead before your shot reached me."

"Want to bet on that?" Michael growled.

"If you insist on sacrificing her, go ahead." Why do I get the feeling that the her being talked about is me? Oh, yeah. It is.

"STOP!" rang out and Michael turned to face the voice. The day suddenly darkened. The dracaena released me and I turned to see what Michael was staring at. A woman dressed in black, with long hair darker then midnight. Nyx. I reached for my knives but couldn't find them. I looked around. We- Michael, the dracaena, Nyx, and I- were inside an orb of darkness. My knives were sticking to the outside, apparently trying to return to me.

"What do you want?" I said.

"I wish to give one last chance to join us. My brother was…hasty in his decision. You have no hope of winning while you remain on the side you are on. Join us, fight with us, win with us." Nyx spoke. Who's her brother? Who's Nyx's brother? Let's see…Nyx…that's it!

"You're with Tartarus?" Michael asked, apparently coming to the same conclusion I had.

"Of course. The both of us have been treated unfairly. We have found others who feel likewise. We are growing. Soon, we shall have an army capable of overthrowing the gods." A maniacal smile grew on her face as she spoke. "What say you? Neither of you has gotten the respect you deserve. Both of you deserve more. I could give you that. All you have to do is swear allegiance."

Michael scowled. "That's what my sister said. You won't be able to get me to follow in her footsteps. There's no way in Hades I'm joining you. Khristi?"

"Same. Ami tried to kill me. I have the scar to prove it." I turned my back on Nyx and pulled the back of my shirt up a little, revealing the bottom of the scar I had gotten last summer.

"Ah, your sister. She has chosen the right path," Nyx purred.

"Has?" Michael asked. "Don't you mean had? She's dead. I saw her fall."

"But did you see her die?" Nyx said. "No. You didn't. You can't kill a servant of Tartarus by pushing them into Tartarus. She lives." An orb of darkness appeared above her outstretched hand. In it appeared the face of a girl. One I knew all too well. Ami.

"Ami?" Michael asked.

"Yes, that is her. Or at least, what she looked like about thirty seconds ago. She is very much alive. And she is still on our side. What say you to my offer?"

"It's still no." I said.

"No. Definitely no. Just because Ami's still on your side doesn't mean I'm going to join you. She tried to kill me." Michael scowled. "I don't join with people who try to kill me."

"Then I guess I have no choice but to dispose of you," Nyx said.

"Not if we hurt you first," Michael said, reaching for his bow. He looked dismayed when he realized that it was beyond his reach. He drew his dagger, face grim. I rubbed my pendant and felt the quiver at my back. I passed the bow and quiver to Michael.

"You have a better chance with these." I said. He handed over his dagger. The balance was off, but it would work. Michael nocked an arrow and shot almost immediately. The arrow passed straight through Nyx. We charged together, but twin bolts of black energy came seemingly out of nowhere and wrapped around us, pinning us so that we couldn't move.

"That is not going to work on me," Nyx said. After all, I'm not really here. What you see is part of me, but so small a part that you can not injure me. Elsewhere, I am bringing night, commanding troops…but here, I believe I am holding you two captive."

"Let us go," Michael growled.

"Oh, I'm considering it. Especially since I already have one captive." The orb on her hand shifted and I gasped. Naomi was in what appeared to be a cage. I couldn't really tell, since it wasn't exactly a large orb, but that's what it looked like to me. "Yes, you're right," Nyx said like she could read my thoughts. "That is Naomi, and she is indeed captured. However, since she still might turn and join our side, and since you need a little more incentive, I believe I shall be taking one of you with me. Now, who shall it be, or is one of you going to volunteer?"

There was silence for a moment. "I'll go," Michael said.

"No!" I cried out.

Michael's face was pained, "Khristi, it's for the best. I can't risk you getting hurt. Don't worry about me. I'll be alright. I really will. We'll see each other again." No, we won't, I thought.

"No Michael! You can't go!"

"I must." I could see that he was trying so hard to be brave. I couldn't help it. I started crying.

"Well, well, as much as I hate to break up this little scene here, I have places to go, things to do," Nyx said. The energy bolts released Michael and I and we dropped to the ground. Michael reached over, hugged me hard, and kissed me quickly before standing up.

"I'm ready," he said. Black began to swirl around him, starting at his feet and working its way up his body. I looked into his eyes for what might be the last time. The black was up to his waist, and swirling faster. As it reached his chest I ran towards him, trying to stop whatever was happening, but I was held back by Nyx. Before the blackness covered his mouth, he said something. I only heard my name. Then he was gone, and I was alone with Nyx.

"No!" I shouted. "What have you done with him?"

"Oh, nothing much. Just pitted him against his nemesis. The dark." The orb on her hand shifted once more, showing me Michael, alone, in a cell made of pure blackness. He threw himself against the walls, but nothing happened. A slow trickle of black sand came from the ceiling, falling in his hair. Nyx closed her hand and the orb disappeared. "You've seen what you need to. In one week the sand will reach the top of his cell and he will die. You have one week to find us if you ever want to see him alive again. Bring as many people with you as you want. The choice is yours. Find me, if you dare."

She disappeared in a swirl of dark and I was left alone on the ground. Something landed next to me. My bow and arrows. I changed them back into my pendent. Something else fell into my lap. A dagger and its sheath. Michael's dagger. It was no use looking for Naomi anymore. I stood up, fastened the sheath to my arm, and tucked the dagger into it. I'll carry it until I find you, I promised Michael, even though he couldn't hear me. Then I grabbed his bow and started for camp. I had a quest to get.

A/N- Sorry for the shortness of this chapter. I think I made up for it with the action, though…Who do you want to go on the quest with Khristi? I have some ideas, but yours are welcome, too. Review? Face it, that little blue button is calling your name.

-smartone101