WARNING: LONG AUTHOR'S NOTE AHEAD

Hey guys!

Sorry I've been MIA for a so long. I was gone last week to my cabin over the weekend, I'm leaving over the weekend again this week. And, since it's FALL BREAK for me, I have time to post! The main reason why I haven't posted in like, two weeks, is because I've had a lot of homework, what with my three AP classes, studying for the ACT, and basically having a meltdown about college.

Normal stuff.

I'm not done with all of that stuff, but I feel like I should take a well-deserved break. So here I am.

ALSO,

MARK OF FREAKING ATHENA.

I finished it in like, three days, and I promise I won't say anything! I do not spoil! It's annoying when people do! There will be no hints or spoilers to it in this story, also. (because it's before Mark of Athena happens. Also, I know it won't tie in perfectly with the book because I started this before the book came out. Meh.)

Once I finished the book, I felt like I died a little inside because I read it so fast, so I needed some closure. So I reread the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series again. Over three days. I've just been in a huge Percy mood. Also, to settle it, I've been staring at art by burdge-bug on DeviantART. I still don't know how I feel. I still feel like there's a gaping hole in my chest because I have to wait ANOTHER YEAR FOR HOUSE OF HADES TO COME OUT, DANG IT. Now that he doesn't have Kane Chronicles to worry about, can't he just publish it a little faster? Just a little? I'm totally fine with it coming out in, like, June or July. But OCTOBER?! NO. I WON'T STAND FOR IT.

So let the flood of House of Hades fanfictions commence.

And, also let this commence.

Percy

Bethany seemed nice, but I was still cautious. You never knew when something like this could bite you in the butt later. She did swear on Styx that she wouldn't turn us in, so that made me feel a bit better about trusting her.

"Let's check and see what provisions we have," Annabeth said lightly. She glanced at me uneasily, but I kept my face straight. Her mouth was a line, but she turned back to Bethany.

By some unknown miracle, we'd managed to keep the backpack that Frank had given us the entire time. Annabeth slid it off and dumped the contents on the counter that Bethany was leaning on.

There were some crushed remains of granola bars, the thermos full of nectar, ambrosia squares, the flashlight, the ACE bandage, a smaller wad of cash than we'd started out with, and three golden drachma.

"We also have this useless flyer," I said, dropping the DOA advertisement on the pile.

"I have some more mortal money that we can use to get us to Camp Jupiter," Bethany said, pulling out a baggie with several twenties in it from her pocket. "I also have some denarii, if that'll help."

Annabeth surveyed the pile, a finger in her mouth. "This seems good. We might need to stop somewhere and get food, because all we have now is some granola bars that won't feed all of us. It might be a problem now that we know that there are other people looking for us here."

Bethany grimaced. "Sorry. They wouldn't let me go alone."

Annabeth nodded as if she expected this. "It's fine. We could always use you to scout ahead. They won't be looking for you, just me and Percy."

"Sounds good," Bethany said. "What weapons do we have?"

"I have my knife and Percy has his pen that turns into a sword," Annabeth replied.

"I also have a sword, and I have an extra knife as well," Bethany said. "I've also looked around, and the ways to leave the building are through the door that you came through, the back door, and a loading area where all of the sheds are for storage."

Realizing that I wasn't a part of the conversation anymore, I walked away from them and started looking around. Even though this place seemed like it was open on the outside, it looked abandoned. Boxes were stacked in the corners of the room, and empty shelves had a thin layer of dust on them. None of the lights were turned on, and the only source of light was from the sun that made it through the slightly grimy windows.

Nothing in the room looked interesting to dig through, so I started to walk back towards Bethany and Annabeth when something caught my eye.

Behind the counter, there was another door, and it wasn't one that Bethany had mentioned. It was slightly open, and it looked like a dim light was coming from the crack.

"Hey, guys…" I said, staring at the door. "What is this?"

They didn't hear me; they just kept talking about ways to leave LA and get food.

"Annabeth? Bethany? Hello?"

They kept talking, not even reacting to what I was saying.

Feeling annoyed that I was being ignored and making a face behind their backs, I scowled at them and walked around the counter. Old keys were hanging on hooks, probably for the storage units. More boxes were underneath the counter, and a whiteboard mounted on the wall by the door read in dull blue: Closing soon! Be sure to get your belongings and possessions quickly!

Looking back at the girls one more time, and my curiosity getting the better of me, I uncapped my pen and nudged the door open with my sword.

It swung open easily. The light was coming from a single bare lightbulb hanging from the ceiling by a string. It was spotlighting a jar.

It was huge, and had intricate paintings and carvings on it. I walked towards it, trying to get a better look.

The jar was the only thing in the room. Nothing else. It came up to my waist, and was jet black covered in orange pictures. The paintings looked like a person giving fire to other people. I knew that pottery sometimes told stories about the gods, and I guessed that it was the story of Prometheus.

The jar looked extremely familiar.

With a jolt I realized what it was.

Pandora's Jar.

How it had gotten inside a storage unit, I had no idea—

Dora's Storage Unit.

Dora's Storage Unit.

Pandora.

"What the—?"

"Percy?"

Annabeth's voice rang through the silence. It felt like cotton was removed from my ears, and the dull pounding of my heart ringing in my head turned into a quieter throb.

"Where are you?" she called.

"Back here," I said, still staring at the pithos.

Annabeth pushed open the door, and she and Bethany walked in. Bethany immediately put her hand on her sword.

"This wasn't here before…" she muttered.

"What do you mean?" Annabeth asked.

"I did a scout of the building before you came in. I don't remember room here, much less a door." Her eyes darted around the room, looking for escape options.

Annabeth turned slightly pale, and turned even whiter when she saw what was sitting in the middle of the room.

"But that's—"

"I know."

"But how—?"

"I don't know."

"But I thought—"

"Me too."

Bethany's hand was lying on the hilt of her sword. "What is it?"

"Pandora's Jar," Annabeth replied. "I don't like this, Percy. I don't like this at all."

Bethany was still confused. "How do you know about it?"

I heaved a shaky sigh. "During the Titan War, Prometheus presented the jar to me. He said if I released Hope, he would know that we would surrender, but I didn't. I gave the jar to Hestia, and she said she would guard it. I don't know how it got here."

"We've got to get out of here," Annabeth said. "Right now."

"The jar will come when we're most vulnerable. We can't escape it."

Annabeth was scared. "I'd hate to think…when will we be vulnerable? When will we see it again?"

"I don't want to find out," Bethany said. "Stuff like this doesn't just happen. It's a sign."

"But a sign for what?" I asked, not really wanting to know.

Bethany didn't answer, and it felt like a cold fist had grabbed my stomach.

I slowly backed out of the room, Annabeth and Bethany right behind me. With every step, the jar felt like it was getting bigger and bigger. Once we were all out, I slammed the door shut.

Annabeth quickly shoved everything inside the backpack, and she and Bethany bolted out of the building.

Giving the area one last sweep with my eyes, and Riptide in full form, I ran out as well.

The door to the pithos had vanished.

Ooh! References to the Last Olympian! I love it!

I've decided that the Last Olympian is my favorite book in the PJO series. I just...love it so much.

Anywho, I'll hopefully see you on Sunday! I'll be back by then.

ALSO. NO SPOILERS FOR MARK OF ATHENA IN THE REVIEWS, PLEASE. I know that some people who are reading this story haven't read it yet, and I don't want it to be spoiled for them.

One more thing: I've been thinking about doing a story of just one shots. Should I, or should I not? I know that there are a lot already, but I enjoy reading them. If there's too much, let me know. I still might post it, even if you tell me "No!", but I just want a general opinion. I've been thinking about things to write about already, but I can't decide if it should just be Percy/Annabeth one shots, or just one shots in general. Like, a Demigod Diaries type thing. (I haven't read Demigod Diaries. No spoiling it for me, please!)

Tell me what you think!

OKAY BYE.