I uncap Riptide and prepare to face Chimera-Ragtin when Maria also morphs.
Maria now has one bronze leg and one leg of what appears to be a donkey. Her hair is flaming and her nails have become claws.
"You've got to be kidding me. Is anyone here a mortal?" I quip.
"No one but your passe, darling," Maria sneers.
Without warning, Ragtin pounces, his paws slamming into my chest and then pinning down my shoulders, effectively sending Riptide sliding away. Ragtin reaches back and lunges forward towards my neck but something slams into his face. I squirm while he shakes his head and turns towards his attacker, but it's no use.
Helen shouts something I can't quite hear but it immediately steals the lions attention.
I turn my head against the linoleum floor and see something that makes me blink and look again: Helen is poised with her bow and arrow but last time I checked, she lost that days ago. The tip of the bow has been set on fire. Green, Greek fire.
"Don't make me fire," Helen warns in a solid voice. "One shot and you can have your ticket back to Tartarus. I don't miss either."
What is going on? Ragtin snarls but he has loosened his grip on my shoulders. His goat head is still watching me, prodding my ribs every few seconds. And then, slowly, it dawns upon me: child of Iris. She must have created an illusion.
While Helen stares down Ragtin, Jessie and Anton struggle to hold back Maria, shouting and clashing together.
I sense that Riptide is back in my pocket and I slowly slip my hand in, as to avoid the goat head's gaze.
Then, I bring it out, just behind the goat head and struggle to uncap it with one hand. My thumb flicks the cap but it's no good.
"Take your best shot. You wouldn't dare now that the boy is so close," Ragtin taunts, and I feel a tremor in his body as he applies some pressure. But no, it isn't just pressure, there's something else. I double my efforts to uncap Riptide, rubbing the pen and flicking the cap in desperation.
I feel warmth against my body and my fear is confirmed when the mouth of the lion head illuminates and opens. Just then, I uncap Riptide. The goat shrieks and the lion hops off of me just as I swing. A few golden hairs float in the air and sway slowly. Darn. I only got the mane.
Ragtin isn't happy with his new haircut, as observed from the fireball he unleashes.
I leap out of the way and the fireball slams into a wall behind me, sending a shower of flames everywhere.
Helen launches a few rocks at the Chimera but they perish under the fury of the next flame.
I snap my head back and see Maria claw through a portrait, revealing the terror in Anton's eyes. Jessie takes the moment to stab Maria in the back. A shriek pierces the air but something grabs my hand and tugs me before I can see the result of the skirmish.
Helen pulls me away from a fireball I had ignored. Ragtin charges and then leaps. A rock sinks into his windpipe and the serpent tail sinks into Helen's ankle just before I slice it off.
The serpent writhes on the ground, hissing wickedly before going still. Ragtin roars and launches more fireballs in arbitrary directions.
Helen clutches her ankle and I tackle her before she's engulfed in flames. We hit the ground hard, the wind leaving my lungs. Helen moans and clutches her head. I roll over rapidly to get the fire off my thigh until finally, I fall onto my stomach.
"Anton," I wheeze. "We need a venom antidote." He must have one handy. Athena always has a plan, right?
As if I'm cue, a shape darts in front of us. But it isnt Anton. It's Jessie.
Anton kneels beside Helen, and shakes something that looks like a vial in his hand. "You can depend on Athena," he says with a grin.
I stand back up and start circling the Chimera with Jessie. Maria is nothing but powder so it's just us and the Chimera.
Ragtin scowls and scampers away in the opposite direction. What? He morphs back into a human and begins working on a latch. I suddenly notice the large dents on a metal door I had previously ignored. Not to mention the demonic rancor.
"Stop him!" I yell, and take off after him.
Jessie and I run but the latch opens when Riptide is a hair's breadth away from Ragtin.
Before I can connect, the door comes flying off of its hinges, whacking Ragtin out of the way.
What comes out is even more daunting. A boar, no, a buffalo charges out along with a pack of monsters as well as a few flying creatures; a shrill voice screams, "Get out of there!"
I don't need to be told twice. I latch onto Jessie's wrist and book it.
The beast comes stomping behind us, as does it's legion of monsters, flying and running, all with the intention of slaying us. Anton scoops up Helen and they take a turn into a corridor. Jessie and I follow behind, occasionally ducking to avoid being singed by a ball of flames.
We bound across the ground but a figure stops Anton and Helen. Mr. B stands in their way, with an electrical spear in his hands. We slow down.
I whip my head back and spot the sea of monsters behind us. We have no choice.
I race towards Mr. B, Riptide handy, and I clash with his spear. The sound of metal and the sheer force makes my ears ring. He lunges towards my stomach and I parry. I hear the grunts from the monsters and the calls of distress from my friends.
I jab at Mr. B's arm and he smacks the sword right out of my hand. He swings for my head and I duck and then kick him. He staggers back and I hear a cry come out from behind me. The slight distraction was enough for Mr. B to stab me in my stomach. My entire body is jolted and then there's nothing but black.
When my eyes open again, I almost panic. I don't see anything. Then, after a moment, my eyes begin to adjust to the darkness and I see a dim light source coming from above me. My wrists feel sore and my stomach burns. I struggle but there is heavy resistance against my movement. The clinking metal allows me to deduce I've been chained. At least I'm alive.
"Jeremiah!" someone whispers.
I turn in both directions but I can't make much out. "Who's there?" I whisper back.
"Its me, Helen. Are you alright?" she asks.
"Yeah, for the most part. What about you? The antidote worked? What happened and where are we?" I ask.
"I'm better now, thanks to Anton. We've been captured and now we're in some form of dungeo--" she is cut off before she finishes.
"We're in the temple's basement," a familiar voice explains.
"Temple? Wait, who are you?" I ask.
"I'm a camper, just like you. I'm the one from your dream. My name is Jacob," he says.
"So wait--if you're here, then the other campers must also be here, right?" I conclude.
"Correct," he says, and yawns.
"Where are they, exactly?" Helen asks.
"Ahead of us, on the ground," Jacob explains.
"Wait, wait," I interrupt. "What I don't understand is, where are Jessie and Anton and why are you restrained, Jacob? How are you the only one who's awake?"
"Well--I don't know about them. I don't think they're here. We were separated. They might have actually escaped," Helen says.
"They restrained me because they realized I was awake," Jacob propounds, and then yawns. "I'm awake because I'm immune to the potion they gave us. But we don't have time--"
Some commotion behind a wall is enough to hush up Jacob. Once the movement stops, there is silence for a moment.
"Do these monsters have anything to do with your warning: he's not alone?" Helen whispers before I can.
"Yep," Jacob replies in a grim voice. Suddenly there is some clunking of metal and Jacob cries, "Wait, did you say you were with Anton?!"
"Yeah, why?" I say, suddenly worried.
"No, no no. This isn't good. Not him," Jacob mutters.
"Jacob, can you please explain what's going on? There is a lot we don't understand and I get the feeling you can tell us. Maybe then we can work on getting out of here," Helen establishes. Leave it to her to try and put the pieces together.
"Where do I start?" Jacob asks.
"Anywhere. Something is better than--actually...What happened on your quest?" I decide.
Jacob explains how his group set out as the oracle ordered and how they were captured after encountering some monsters. Surprisingly, no one was killed; they were all drugged with some sleep potion, which Jacob was immune to. I guess there is a benefit of being the son of the God of sleep. However, before they were drugged, Anton pleaded and the monsters spared him in exchange for his help. He had thrown his teammates under the bus in exchange for his own life.
"Jeremiah. That girl we helped with the wheelbarrow--that was no ordinary girl. I was trying to explain it to you guys but no one understood. That girl was Echo," Helen says, and pauses to let it sink in.
Emotions turn inside of me as if within a kaleidoscope. She asked for our help and led us to Anton. I want to slap myself even more once I make another realization: Echo set us up. She led us to Anton knowing we would help a fellow camper and we helped, oblivious to Anton's treachery. All because I insisted on disobeying Helen.
"Jeremiah?" Helen calls.
I sigh.
"So now, Anton is with Jessie?" Jacob asks.
"I think so," Helen replies.
"Argh, darn it. Anton was the one who made the travel plan; he was the one who paid for our food and clothes; he was the one who cured the venom from that serpent. He was just a mask of good over deception," I mumble.
"I never thought he would betray the entire camp to save his own skin. I wouldn't have pegged him for a coward," Helen admits. "We have to reach Jessie before he does something to her."
" 'Athena always has a plan,' " I mock Anton. "Some plan he had."
Jacob clears his throat. "There's more. The mosnters don't seem to be trying to kill us. They've been almost collecting us. I don't know why though. I've overheard some conversations but I couldn't get a lot from here. All I know is, they have plans for the morning of the solstice."
I look to the light coming from the window above. "So we have to stop them tonight," I whisper. "What horrible timing."
"Such is the life of a demigod," Helen says softly. Her tone blends sorrow and regret into a mixture that is heart shattering. This isn't the first time either.
Alright that's it. "Helen...You always seem to... imply something with an occasional mystic comment. Why do you sound so sad when you mention quests and demigod business?"
I know I've asked the right question because Helen is silent for a long time. I can make out the cracks in the wall with the help of the dim light and I register the feint buzzing of a fly in the distance as well. Just when I think Jacob has put her to sleep, she replies.
"It's not something I ever talk about. But. Given our current predicament, I'll share now. My sister--" she stops.
"My younger sister. My only sister. She was killed by the hands of the enemies of the Gods. We were on our way to camp--we discovered it was a safe haven. We were alone and," she makes a sound that resembles choking and sobbing.
"My sister dropped her necklace as we were crossing a street. She realized it once we were on the other side. I warned her not to go back--I did. I really did," Helen croaks. "But she got out of my grip and ran back. It was--the--it only took a second. The lightning flashed and my sister was no longer standing. I was too far. I fired an arrow from a bow I had but I might as well have had a blindfolded toddler fire instead. My sister, who was six years old at the time, who wasn't acquainted with life's pendulum, perished without having wronged anyone. Elise, who would wear the clothes I knit for her. Elise who used to be afraid of her own shadow. Elise who dreamed of a life where we wouldn't have to run away."
There is a stifled sob and a pause. "Quests remind me of how she had no say in her final moments."
A heavy silence falls upon us. Thunder rumbles outside.
Maybe that's why Helen is always trying to get me to forget about the past. She wasn't able to in her past and it has haunted her since. The girl who would always giggle and support me on the outside was also the girl who was wounded deeply on the inside. She wanted to make things right after her beloved sister was taken away. There was no way she could be the one to cross us. I almost feel relieved that Anton is the deciever.
"Helen--I. You've...Despite everything, you have been one of the most selfless girls I've ever met. Not spiteful nor inconsiderate. Please, don't let your--what you claim is your shortcoming--ever weigh heavily on your conscience. I--you mean so much to me. I won't let you beat yourself up over anything. I know you must have been a good sister. Emily is counting on you now, too. Look at you now, you've become dear to us all and your archery exceeds that of any child of Apollo. Let it go," I say.
"Thank you," Helen says in a low voice. "For everything, Jeremiah."
"Now, how are we busting out of here?" I ask.
Jacob laughs. "I haven't heard optimism like that in a long time."
"Okay, so I have Riptide in my pocket but my hands are chained. However, my legs aren't. I'm not sure how that helps though," I admit.
"How close are we to one another?" Helen asks.
I stretch out my legs and feel the rocky wall. My arms struggle against the shackles and I hear similar sounds a few feet away.
"Too far to help each other," I say, the bleakness of the situation beginning to bear down on me.
Ok so Helen's powers: creating illusions and iris messages on the spot. Not applicable here. My powers: none. Ok maybe I'm deft when it comes to battle but that's really it. Then, an idea goes off above my head.
"I have a plan. But I'm not certain it will work," I concede.
"It's all we've got," Jacob says.
I kick my shoes together and the wings start flapping. Good thing I'm already wearing them. I will the shoes to fly and lift my legs. My thighs stop leaning against the wall and then my torso moves up with the rest of my lower body. If I could just.
"What's going on?" Helen asks, probably because of the flapping of the wings.
My body bends and my legs are now vertical, facing the sky. I feel Riptide sliding down from my pocket and I move my hands as far as the shackles will let me. I try to fix the angle of my thighs so that Riptide can fall into my outstreched hand.
Riptide falls out of my pocket and I struggle against the shackles to catch it. It slips into my palm and almost falls but my fingers clasp it before it can.
Now I have it. My heart sinks as I realize my new problem. I can't hack these chains if Riptide us still in its pen form. I'm going to have to uncap it with one hand again.
"Can you fill us in?" Jacob asks.
"I have Riptide in my hand but it's a pen right now," I say and laugh.
A ballpoint pen. A prisoners salvation.
I notice it's upside down this time, I turn the pen cap with my pinky and continue to do so. I hope that I can take it off the way one unscrews a bulb. The pen cap falls off and I grip the sword, except it's facing the ground.
I swallow. The angle is a little difficult to work with. I try to hack at the chains but the sword is too close to me and the chains are too short to allow reasonable arm mobility. I scrape the wall a few times, hitting the chains every so often. Not nearly enough to do some damage.
"What's going on? Have you made any progress?" Helen asks, hopefully.
I exhale. "I've uncapped it. But. The thing is, I don't have a good angle. I can't get the chain--"
My sentence is cut short by a rumbling noise behind our wall. I hear some conflict and some thuds, maybe an explosion too. Why did it sound like a Michael Bay movie?
"What's going on?" I whisper.
"Don't ask me, I dunno," Jacob replies.
My question is answered as something metallic crashes to the left of me. The metal screeches against the floor and stops, leaving an empty doorway of blinding light. My eyes struggle for a moment to adjust and my ears pickup familiar voices.
I stare in disbelief as two teammates approach us, grinning like idiots. Jim and Lucas were back, holding bags and weapons.
"What's good, you thought you wouldn't see us again?" Lucas taunts.
Jim laughs and adds, "No punk steals my Jaguar and gets away with it. Little did he know, Satyr city was working to kick his butt."
They release us from our shackles and then Lucas cringes as he comes upon a few motionless bodies on the ground. "Who the heck are--"
I think the Camp Half-Blood t-shirts answered his question.
"Wait, there are only five," Jim says.
"The other one is with Jessie but we're not sure we can trust him," Helen replies.
"Then we have to find her. But how are we supposed to haul these kids out of here?" Jim asks as he scratches his head.
"I'll carry two and you carry two. Jeremiah and Helen will watch our backs," Jim says, and hands Helen her bow and arrows.
As it turns out, Jacob is incompetent with every weapon we hand him. We just run out and have him carry our bags.
Just as we turn into a corridor, a monster comes swooping in, claws outstretched. It flies above us and Helen immediately launches a volley of arrows, each nailing the Griffin in the side. The monster crashes into a wall and crumbles to the ground.
There is some commotion behind a wall and just as we pass it, the bricks fall out and it collapses.
A band of Cyclops rushes out, tossing bricks and debris at us. Helen and I retaliate as the others try to gain ground. I cut cleanly through one and before I can react, something rocks my head forward. Dazed and in agony, I collapse. I bring my hand to my head and a ringing sound ensues in my ear which merges with the sound of some yelling and thumping.
I reach into my pocket, pull out a cube of Ambrosia, and quickly pop it into my mouth. I scramble to my feet and bolt when another wave of monsters emerges.
The fog in my head begins to subside and the throbbing becomes more bearable. Helen shoots monsters left and right, I just run wildly to join the group.
My ears register some arguing. "It's this one!" Lucas insists, pointing to the left.
I realize we've come to a fork in the path. There is one leading to the right and one leading to the right.
Jim yells something and gestures for us to go to the left. We run but Helen and I lag behind; I struggle to sprint and Helen stays behind to watch my back.
A bird screeches from down the hallway and before we can stop, a shaft opens up beneath us. Lucas, Jim and Jacob get ahead while Helen and I struggle to shift away from the gaping hole in the ground. Helen fires a blind arrow behind her as she creeps along the wall.
Without warning, the remaining strips of land also give way and the two of us plummet into the unknown.