Chapter Tweelve!

The song for this chapter is called 'Winter' by Brian Crain. I honestly have no idea if it works or not. It was just the song I listened to repeatedly while writing this chapter.

Link on my profile for help. I don't think I'm going to say this anymore. I think you guys get it.

Let it commence.

Annabeth

We finally made it to the Pomerian Line, whatever that was, without being spotted. The guard that was assigned there took post and the other went in a different direction.

"The note says Terminus was a statue, right?" I asked. We were currently hiding behind a tree again, Percy breathing down my neck. I resisted pushing him away. It was awkward enough between us already.

He unfolded the letter for the umpteenth time.

"Percy, if you play with that note too much, it's going to rip. It's our guide to life right now, and I won't be happy if it's ruined," I hissed.

"Sorry, sorry." He scanned the letter. "Yeah, Terminus is a statue."

"Okay." I peeked around the tree again and saw the guard standing by a bust on a pedestal. "Bingo."

I took a step out when Percy grabbed my shoulder.

"There's a guard right by the statue. How are we going to take him down if we don't have anything to take him out with?"

I cursed. "You're right." I thought for a minute. "That guy seems like an idiot. Maybe I can distract him and you go to Terminus and get your sword."

"Yeah, and how are you going to distract him?" he asked, folding his arms. "I should do it. You'll get caught too easily."

"You're forgetting about this," I said, pulling out the hat and shaking it in front of his face. "Besides, if...uh, Past Percy...says that it's your sword, I don't know if I'll be able to get it."

He frowned at my logic. "I guess you're right."

"A daughter of Athena always has a plan," I said smugly. For some reason that sounded familiar.

"Daughter of Athena." He snorted. "This is all too crazy."

Thunder rumbled in the sky. I looked up, confused. It was a clear day. Shrugging, I looked at Percy again. "Dude, you can control water. Get over it."

Percy rolled his eyes. "So what are you going to do to distract him? How do I know when to get the sword?"

"You'll know."

I flipped my hat on my head and saw my shadow ripple and vanish. I was never going to get tired of that.

Percy grabbed my arm. How he did, I had no idea. "Annabeth, are you sure...?"

"Percy, this is the perfect time! There is no one in sight besides that one guard. We've got to get out of here now. I'm sure they're tightening up security because we've escaped. I have no idea when more guards are going to be around here because this seems to be the only way out. We've got to go now!"

He let go. "Fine. But if you're in trouble..."

"I won't be."

With that, I ran as quietly as I could away from the tree. I did a wide arc around the guard until I was facing is left shoulder several yards away. At one point, I stepped on a twig and his head swiveled exactly to where I was standing, eyes narrowed. I clapped a hand to my mouth and was sure that was going to charge right at me. My heart was pounding out of my chest, and I was convinced that he could hear it. His eyes just looked over me and he returned to his original position. It was hard to remember that you were invisible.

I checked and made sure that Percy was still behind the tree before slowly crouching to my knees and picking up a stone. Turning it over in my fingers, I sent up a silent prayer. I figured that if there were gods, I was going to need all the help I could get.

Please let this work...

I pulled my arm back and flung it forward. The rock flew from my hands and became visible when it left contact. It sailed toward the guard and landed a foot short. It fell at his feet, and he looked down.

"What the-?"

I grabbed another and ran to a new spot and threw it hard. The rock hit him on the shoulder.

"Hey!"

He turned to face me and ran forward. I sprinted away to a new spot, gathering rocks as I went.

Help me! I prayed.

I stopped in front of him when he was charging blindly at me, and threw a heavy rock as hard as I could. It hit him square between the eyes when he was just several feet in front of me. I could have stretched out my arm and touched him. He staggered and fell forward, his eyes rolling up into the back of his head. He fell and hit the ground hard, his hand brushing my shoe. I recoiled instantly, hoping that he wouldn't grab my ankle. He didn't.

I realized that I was holding my breath. I let it out and saw Percy bolt from behind the tree towards Terminus. Checking to make sure no one was near and that the guard was knocked out, I took off my hat and walked toward him.

"You are a lousy shot," Percy said.

"Shut up," I said, elbowing him in the gut. "I took care of him, didn't I?"

"Alright, alright," he said, holding his hands up in surrender. "Let's just get my sword. I felt completely helpless behind that tree. I need something to fight with."

We walked over to the scowling bust and saw a tray filled with weapons lying at the base. Percy bent over, picking up a large sword.

"Think this is it?" he asked, running his thumb on the blade.

"Absolutely not!" the bust yelled.

Percy jumped and then cried out in pain, blood running down his thumb. I clapped a hand to my mouth and saw the statue glaring at us.

"What do you think you're doing?" it demanded.

"You...talk?" I whispered.

"Of course I talk, you foolish girl! Do you want a slap on the face for asking such a stupid question?"

"Uh, no. No, thank you," I said, not mentioning that he didn't have any arms. "Are you...Terminus?"

"Of course I'm Terminus!" Terminus yelled. "Why are you acting so stupid? We've been through this before! Where's your disgusting warship?"

"My...what?" I said.

"Nevermind that!" he rounded on Percy. Well, sort of. "Where's you and your Greeks?"

"Terminus," Percy said. "We've lost our memories. We need to leave here and get them back. I'd like to have my sword. Do you know what it looks like?"

Terminus huffed. "What do you mean you're leaving?" He turned to me. If smoke could have come out of his ears, it would have. "You made me bend the rules for your horrible warship, and then you just leave three days later? What is the meaning of this!"

"I-I'm sorry," I said, shocked. I had no idea what he was talking about. "If we could just-"

"No! Don't think you're going to leave for a second! I'm tired of all this! All of you disrespectful demigods breaking my rules and taking over the city! Where's the order? I've had enough!"

"What do you mean, 'taking over the city'?" Percy asked.

"Don't act like you don't know, son of Neptune! Octavian and his followers! They've taken over the city and allow weapons inside the Line! Completely ignoring me! It's my Line, and my rules!"

"We can get rid of Octavian," Percy said quickly. "If you let us get our memories back, we can retake the city and take care of Octavian. Then people will respect you and your rules."

Terminus seemed to think about this. If he could have scratched his chin, he would have. "Alright. I agree. But you must promise that you will return once you've retrieved your memories."

"I swear."

"Good. Here is your sword." The tray filled with weapons lifted up, and a pen floated out among the knives and swords and went inside Percy's pocket.

"A pen? But-"

"Leave now before I lose my temper!" Terminus shouted, an explosion erupting in Percy's face. Percy dropped the sword that he was holding, grabbed my hand, and we ran away from Terminus as fast as we could.

Eh. Terminus was fun to write. I felt like the chapter went by too fast. I don't have an editor or a beta reader or anything, so...Ha, I don't even let my family read this. :)

Anyway, thanks guys for all the support! Ya'll are great!

I'll see you guys latah! Expect the next chapter tomorrow! I mean, I do post every day.

OKAY BYE.

R&R Terminus...