XI

PERCY

It was the one thing I thought she would never do. But as I felt the rubbing of the rusty metal cuffs around my wrists and the van driving to the place we had tried to steer clear of, I was sure this was real and not a dream. And I felt betrayed.

Did her mother get to her? Did her distrust of Panda in the beginning come back with a vengeance? I couldn't figure it out. Annabeth was never one to betray someone. She was the kind where you'd have to break her back before she reveals anything. So, why now? I felt my heart thumping slower than usual and the strength I had felt knowing she had my back was gone. My arms and legs moved sluggishly. Annabeth glanced into the review mirror every once and a while, but I didn't want to look at her grey eyes.

The eyes I used to stare into because I loved her more than my life and the ones that stared at me when I did something stupid. The eyes that now screamed traitor. I rested my head on Panda's and closed my eyes. I could smell the scent of trees and dirt in Panda's hair, but it wasn't repulsive. I didn't know how she did it. Running one mile, I stunk like a pig.

After about an hour we finally arrived to Camp Half Blood. Every camper was gathered around the Big House, waiting for the arrival of the three major criminals since Luke. Panda sat up and stared through the front window at the mob of campers.

"Can it get any worse?" Panda whispered, as her head drooped. Argus parked the van and Annabeth jumped out and slid open the door on my side. She looked at me, but I looked away and jumped out. Panda stumbled out behind me with Nico close behind.

When I looked at Nico, it made me glad I wasn't his enemy. He had a look of such hatred and betrayal in his eyes, it looked like he would've pulled out his sword by now if it hadn't been confiscated and Panda hadn't said to stand down. I think Annabeth and Panda were the only two people Nico ever sort of listened to.

"Let's go," Annabeth said, as she wrapped her fingers around my chains and pulled forward. She was gentle and rough at the same time. I could hear Panda and Nico's chains jingling as they followed behind me. All the campers silenced as they caught a glimpse of us. They slowly parted to make way for Annabeth and the criminals. I could hear them whispering.

Can you believe she was the one who killed—

Once a hero, now a criminal—

I used to like him—

Just like his father, you know—

Chiron stood on the porch of the Big House. He had the kind of look you'd rather was not directed at you. I bit my lip as I walked between the campers; the anger covering me like a cloud. We walked up the steps and Chiron held the door open and Annabeth led us inside. Another camper walked in, he took Panda downstairs while Annabeth took Nico and I to the back where they had two cages. She locked us inside; in a cage just tall enough for me to stand and wide enough for me to sit with my legs stretched out. She took the cuffs off me and opened the door.

"Guess friendship doesn't mean much anymore, does it?" I mumbled, as I walked inside and slid down until I was sitting on the floor with my head resting against the cage wall. Annabeth sighed as she locked the cage.

"You don't understand," she whispered, resting her forehead against the cage with her eyes closed. She looked pained and like she wanted to cry, which was a first for her. I stood up and it only took me one step to stand in front of her.

"Damn right I don't understand!" I said, as Annabeth lifted her head and locked her grey eyes with mine through the bars. For a second, I melted into them. I felt the same way I had the weeks before Panda had come back. And I felt guilty.

"You will," she said softly before she turned and left, hanging the keys to the cages next to the door. I grunted in frustration and kicked the cage.

"Dude relax," Nico said. I looked over and he was sitting cross-legged in one of the corners of his cage. "There's nothing you can do," he said. He had his eyes closed.

"What are you doing?" I asked, as I sat back down.

"Trying to relax," he said, but it didn't look like it was working because his face was contorted into an annoyed frown. I sighed and buried my face into my hands.

"This can't be happening," I whispered, as I lay down and curled up on the floor. I tried to sleep, but I couldn't relax enough to fall into unconsciousness. Her eyes kept popping up into my mind. Sad, hurt, but determined. Somehow I knew that look. A look that wasn't traitor. A look that couldn't have been betrayal. Maybe… just maybe I was wrong. But at these times, it was just hopeful thinking.

Okay, I took a long time for this chapter and I know it's not as long as the other ones, I'm sorry about that. I don't have much planned for Percy's side yet, so I'm at a loss in his chapters. But yes, in the future, Percy will have more chapters and they will be longer than this one. I hope you guys liked it. I'm a little iffy on it, so tell me how I did. Thanks guys! :)