Sorry that I haven't updated in forever! It's just that my best friend had to go to the hospital, and I had midterms and stuff... but i'm back now! This chapter is like the shortest I have ever written, but I felt like I just HAD to update so you wouldn't think I was dead. There will be regular updates from now on, I promise! And there was a bomb threat in my school yesterday... standing outside in the snow with no coat for two hours is NOT fun. I'll stop blabbering now. Sorry again!

Annabeth P.O.V

It felt like a dream. Like a really, really bad dream. Luke was back, and apparently he was invincible. There were so many unanswered questions. How did the car disappear so quickly? And how in the world is Luke back?

"Annabeth, I think you should call Nico." Luke suggested, sitting on the edge of the creaky bed, staring at me.

"Uh yeah…" I said. I walked over to the nightstand where there was an old phone. I glanced over at Percy, who was sleeping on one of the beds. The poor guy was exhausted, having to ignore his own injuries just so we could focus on Luke.

I picked up the phone and dialed Nico's number. It rang a couple of times, and then he finally picked up.

"Nico Di Angelo" he stated.

"Hi Nico, it's Annabeth." I said.

"Annabeth? God, I've been trying to call you for hours!" he exclaimed.

"Sorry, my phone broke…why is it that you wanted to call me?" I asked Nico curiously.

"Because we got a call from the Secretary of Defense. Percy Jackson is no longer your case, Annabeth. The Department of Defense is going to send some military officials to pick him up." I was shocked. Why in the world would they need Percy?

"What does the DOD need with Percy? This is a witness protection case, Nico. They can't do that." I argued. I looked over at Luke who was looking at me questioningly.

"Annabeth, you and me both know that the DOD can do whatever the hell they want. I have no idea why they need him, but apparently they do. So it's our job now to stop asking questions and hand him over." Nico said. I could feel the madness bubble inside me. I finally got a case, after three months, and the Department of Defense wants to take it away from me. But Nico was right. You can't argue with them.

I cleared my throat and put on my game face, even if Nico couldn't see me. "When are they going to be here?" I asked.

"In two hours. You need to be at the house. He can't take any of his belongings with him, so he shouldn't pack. Actually, they said that you aren't allowed to tell him at all, ok?"

"Understood." I said and hung up the phone.

"What did he say? And what's with the DOD?" Luke asked. I sighed and started pacing.

"The Secretary of Defense ordered that the DOD should come pick Percy up. I have no idea why." I explained to luke. I glanced over at Percy again, who was still sleeping soundly. The way his hair was all messed up, and the peaceful expression on his face, he almost looked…cute.

"What does the DOD want with him?" Luke asked. I stopped looking at Percy and turned back to Luke.

"I don't know, but there are going to be government officials at the house in two hours."

"Then we better get back to the house."

"No. I need to solve this case. I mean, all these things happened right after he came. They have to all be connected somehow." I said. I wasn't going to give up this case. Definitely not when these freaky things were happening.

Luke looked shocked that I refused orders. "Annie, do you know how many rules you're breaking? You could go to jail for this. Don't be crazy. "

"I don't care. I'm tired of the DOD taking my cases. This one is mine. I am definitely not handing him over to the DOD." I said stubbornly.

"Annie-"

"You heard me Luke. We're going to have to get going soon. We need new clothes, and probably fake identities. The DOD is going to be looking for us."

"And where in the world are we going to get fake identities?" he said, putting his head in his hands.

"The Stoll Brothers."

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