Hey guys. You guys just about convinced me to publish this early! ;). Enjoy chapter 3!
III
Percy
I should've waited for Polybotes to come at me first. Instead being the seaweed brain I am, I charged him first. He anticipated this and tried to pierce me with his trident. I rolled out of the way just before it hit me. I got up; just to be knocked down when he came charging at me. Annabeth screamed my name as I fell. She tried to run to save me, but Polybotes caught her in his net as she was distracted. He held the trident at her throat. "Surrender yourself, and the camp, and your little friend here won't be killed." Polybotes said.
I shook with anger. I couldn't let him kill Annabeth. Athena's words came back to me, telling me of my fatal flaw. "To save a friend, you will sacrifice the world." Now I had to choose between Annabeth, and the camp. I looked at her. She was terrified, but her eyes told me to save the camp. I couldn't let her die. I did the only thing I could do. "Fine" I said. He got Porphyrion to bind my hands. Polybotes dropped Annabeth on the ground. She got up and tried to run to me, but Porphyrion stopped her. She looked at me. She desperately wanted to help me. Before I could stop her she spoke up to Polybotes. "Let Percy go. Take me instead." I thrashed in my binds trying to tell her to stop and run. Polybotes looked thoughtful. "Sorry girl, I can't let him go, but you can join him." He told her. I tried to yell "No! Run Annabeth!" but before I could a gag was placed in my mouth. Before I could try to stop it, Annabeth was tied up, gagged, and dropped down beside me.
I glared at Porphyrion. He just grinned and turned around signaling the others to capture the rest of the campers. I watched in horror as they gathered up the campers, bound them all together, and stuffed them into cabins. Annabeth tried to escape her bonds, but her knife was lying behind Polybotes. I tried to reach Riptide, but my hands were bound so tightly I could barely uncap it. It grew into a sword. I slashed at Annabeth's bonds, trying to set her free. Before I could finish, Porphyrion turned around and caught me. He grabbed my sword and threw it onto Half Blood Hill. I looked at Annabeth, and she looked at me. We knew it was helpless, but at least we were together. I heard a rustle in the bushes.
I looked, and I saw Frank, Hazel, Leo, Jason, and Piper hiding, waiting to attack. I signaled them to untie us then we'll take care of the rest. Jason got it, and tiptoed out of the bushes. He flipped his coin until he held an imperial gold sword. He took the gag out of my mouth. "Get Annabeth out of here!" I whispered to him. He looked pained, but turned to Annabeth, cut her bonds, and dragged her to the bushes. He left the gag in her mouth until she was safe so she wouldn't scream at him to get me first. Jason ran back to me and cut my bonds. Unfortunately, Polybotes heard us. He turned around and roared at us. I reached into my pocket to pull out Riptide. "Great" I muttered as I remembered that it was somewhere on Half Blood Hill in sword form. I didn't have much time to think because Polybotes was charging toward me and Jason. I rolled out of the way, and ran to Half Blood Hill. When I got there I immediately saw Riptide. I grabbed it and raced back to help Jason. To my relief I saw the rest of the seven helping him. Annabeth had grabbed her knife and now was fighting Polybotes, and she was losing. The blood drained from my face as I raced to go help her. Jason, Frank, and Leo were fighting Porphyrion. I guess they told Hazel and Piper to stay back. I knew that they probably tried to get Annabeth to stay back too, but knowing her for so long I knew she refused. "Annabeth!" I called to her. "Let me handle him! Get out of here!" "I'm not letting you fight him by yourself Percy!" she said when I reached her side. "I don't want to lose you Annabeth!" I practically begged her. "You won't Percy." She said, as she gave me a quick kiss. That gave me more strength. I charged Polybotes screaming "For Poseidon!" Annabeth was right behind me. She put her magic Yankees ball cap on and vanished. I felt her place her hand on my shoulder. I dodged Polybotes first strike, pulling Annabeth with me as I went down. She got up now visible, and charged him. I screamed for her to stop, knowing what he was going to do, but Annabeth surprised him. She stabbed his foot, and watched him fall to the ground in agony. Then she climbed onto him and put her knife at his neck. He snarled and threw her off. She hit the ground with a sickening thud. I could tell she was knocked out cold. "Annabeth!" I screamed. I ran at him angrier than ever. I stabbed him in his heart. He just laughed as I pulled my sword out.
"You can't defeat a giant without a god! The only weapon that could is in the Labyrinth! By the time you guys find it this place will be destroyed!" Polybotes boasted. Then I thought about the prophecy. It said we had to go to Greece to release the camp. Annabeth didn't have time to figure out how the Fleece worked before we had been attacked. I had an idea. A brilliant, but stupid, if it didn't work idea. I turned to Polybotes. "Let the seven try to find the weapon, give us time. It's the least you can do." I tried. Polybotes looked thoughtful. "You can have 10 days to find it. If you fail, this camp along with everyone inside will be…" Then he made a fist and smashed it against his other hand. "Got it" I said, as I ran to Annabeth. "Annabeth! Come on wake up!" I told her. She mumbled "Percy". I smirked knowing she was dreaming about me. I whispered her name once more, and she shot right up. "Dreaming about me again?" I smirked. "No!" Annabeth blushed. "Come on, we need to climb aboard the Argo II. Polybotes gave us ten days to find a weapon to fight them in the Labyrinth." I said. "Let's go find the crew!" she said. By the time I caught up with her, she had already told everyone about the plan. "Let's go start the Argo II up. Come on guys!" Leo said. We ran behind him as we crossed into the forest.
We found the Argo II. Leo got it running, and we shot into the sky. "I'm going to bed" I said to Annabeth. "I'll see if I have any useful dreams." "Okay, seaweed brain." Annabeth said. I kissed her and went to my room.
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