AN Okay so this is kinda awkward but I forgot that Alcatraz has tourists...so hehehehe just imagine people in fanny packs running in terror from what they think is a rogue criminal. Also I can't create fight scenes at all. I'm thinking that I may just have them retell it but inside the maze but then I thought why not just write a crappy fight scene!? So here is a terrible short fight and a ranch. Sorry chapter is so short.

"So what do we do?" I asked Thalia.

"Attack?" She offered and I shrugged. See this is why we need Annabeth but we still have no idea where she is. Grover was here too, but according to Thalia besides playing reed pipes he can't fight. Thalia tapped her shield and popped her canister of mace while I flipped my ring. Riptide. Now I am not the most qualified person to tell you, but this is what I have gathered about scimitars. They are short curved swords of death. The end. Also for extra fun you can coat them in a wispy green mist like Kampe did! We rushed forward but had to dodge as the wicked sharp scimitars came towards us.

"Annabeth! We kinda need your help!" I called out and ducked as I saw Kampe's tail sweep across the yard. I spotted Annabeth a few feet away talking to Braires. He seemed to be shaking in fear. To be fair, I would too if all my time was spent with Kampe.

"We need to retreat!" Thalia yelled as she, again, couldn't land a hit on Kampe. Annabeth huffed and grabbed Grover.

"Okay back into the maze! Quickly." Annabeth huffed with one last look at Braires.

"Don't have to tell me twice." Grover yelped as he jumped back down the hole. I followed with Thalia and Annabeth close behind. As my feet hit the ground I groaned.

"Guys...where are we?" I asked. Pretty sure we entered the same place from earlier but now instead of the small room with a ladder we were in a giant hall.

"Why don't we take a nap?" Thalia proposed as she plopped down on the ground panting. Annabeth nodded and we all arranged ourselves on the ground.

"I'll take first watch." I offered as I leaned against the wall. The rest nodded before they slowly drifted to sleep. I saw my necklace glow and grew confused before I looked at it. On the screen I could see Bianca and Nico... at a ranch? Last time I checked Camp Half Blood is a summer camp not a rodeo. They were talking quietly and didn't seem to notice me.

"Will this work?" Bianca whispered.

"A soul for a soul." Nico replied with a small grin that made me shiver. How can Nico talk about trading lives so easily? Who even sent this to me?

"Do you think Father will be happy?" Bianca asked. Hades? What are they talking about!?

"Of course! We can all be a family again." Nico exclaimed before the message faded out. I stared at my necklace before checking the time on the watch in my bag. It was ten minutes after my shift was supposed to be over. I nudged Thalia awake before closing my eyes.

I need a nap.

DreamTime

I was now in a small quaint house. The sounds of children's laughter could be heard from a distance and cookies could be smelled. I was sitting on a couch across from a middle aged woman. She was wearing a long black dress with pearl jewelry. Her black hair was in a bun and she seemed like an older version of Bianca. Her dark eyes stared at me and her thin lips were pulled back in a smile. She had tanned Italian skin. This was Bianca's mother, Maria Di Angelo.

"Hello. I heard that you have been friends with my daughter is that correct?" Maria asked me with a smile.

"Yes ma'am. Why am I here, not that you aren't interesting." I said but Maria just waved it off.

"Well I'm sure you saw the Iris Message of my children correct?" Maria stared with concerned eyes. I gulped and nodded, that was scary.

"They want to bring me back. Don't get me wrong, I love my children but they can't mess with the Fates like that. Show them the error of their ways." Maria pleaded.

"I promise." My eyes took on a determined fire as Maria smiled.

"Thank you."

DreamTime Over

"Percy! We gotta go." Thalia shouted and I winced. How is she so loud so early? I stood up quickly.

"Glad you're up! Let's go." Annabeth smiled before we packed up. After an hour of Grover mourning about his "tin can deficiency" we arrived at a grassy plot of land.

"We're not in Kansas anymore." Thalia muttered as we walked further into the lush paradise. Off in the distance was a barn.

"Have we been here before?" I asked but after the confused looks shot my way, I shook it off. Note; if you ever feel your instincts tell you something NEVER ignore it. Kapeesh? We headed I to the barn and I almost gasped. Bianca and Nico were sitting against a wall, being both bound and gagged. Geryon was walking around them and I could see Eurytion nearby keeping watch. I exchanged looks with Annabeth who slipped on her hat. A few moments later I heard a rustling noise. Ah the good old throw-something-to-distract them technique. Foolproof. We scurried over to the Di Angelos.

"What are you two doing here!?" I hissed as my dagger cut through their ropes. Bianca glared at Nico who smiled sheepishly. Before I could scold them anymore Geryon appeared.

"If it isn't the rescue team. Looking for someone?" He mocked. Annabeth was thrown on the ground, also bound and gagged. Sheesh what is it with these people and gagging!? Eurytion also was holding Thalia and Grover who had walked away when they saw Annabeth.

"Give me back my friends." I growled as my hand twitched towards Riptide.

"Why give you something for nothing?" Geryon laughed.

"Because the 'somethings' you took are actually people!" I retorted with a glare.

"How about this. If you can clean the stable of my horses by sunset, around three hours, you can go free and take your friends. If not I can sell you all. Half bloods are in high demand nowadays." Geryon ended with a smirk. It was so hilarious I almost laughed. I could take a old business man and little Mary easily.

"Or I could do this..." I trailed off before firing a arrow at Geryon, hitting his forehead. Eurytion simply shrugged and sat down.

"Eurytion help me!" Geryon demanded.

"Hm what was that?" Eurytion replied absentmindedly as he stared at a wall. I'll deal with him later. Focusing my energy on attacking Geryon, I wondered why he wouldn't fall after my countless attacks with both a dagger and Riptide.

"Hahahah you can't defeat three hearts foolish half blood." Geryon gloated when I smirked. I loaded an arrow and prayed to all the gods it hit the three hearts. Apparently the gods felt generous enough to listen, 'cause as soon as it hit he crumpled.

"Rule one of fighting. Never reveal your weakness." I tsked before freeing my friends.

"Bianca, Nico what's going on? First I get an Iris Message of you two talking about reviving someone from the dead for a soul then your mother visits me during my dream?" I looked at them.

"Mom spoke to you?" Bianca gasped.

"Yes," my eyes softened as I continued. "She said that you want to bring her back. She loves you two but no one can mess with the Fates."

"We're sorry. We just thought we could finally have our family together." Nico sighed and I hugged them.

"No problem! Now come on wanna go in the maze?" I grinned. They nodded.

"Annabeth?" I prompted.

"Let's continue." Annabeth rolled her eyes as she lead us back into the maze.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

I'm still not sure how or when we started following the mechanical spider but hey you have to roll with the tide. Hehe tide like water, Poseidon... okay I'll stop. Eventually it lead us to another door. I was all for passing it up but of course majority rules so we entered. The room was dark and I could sense someone else in the room. Suddenly, torches began to burn and I saw it.

The Sphinx.