There were three lines leading into the Underworld and frankly, I didn't want to join any of them. The one in the middle was the longest and seemed to be moving incredibly quickly, though not one person looked happy to be there. Probably because they finally figured they were dead. Then again, they were happier than the lot on the far left.

It was a smaller queue, maybe a third of the size. Still, when I realised where it led, it seemed far too long. Every single person was terrified, fighting and screaming. Monsters that worked for Hades literally had to drag each and every one down the rocky corridor. I knew it led to the Fields of Punishment. There was no other place it could lead to. A shudder went down my spine and I turned, setting my gaze on the far right.

The line was even smaller than the line on the left. My stomach twisted and my eyebrows pulled together disapprovingly when I realised that this line led to Elysium. There were so few people stood there, waiting to be allowed in.

"Hey, are you sure you're okay?" Percy asked quietly, frowning at the look on my face.

"Look at that," I scowled. "Look at how few people there are!" The three of them followed my gaze and Annabeth sighed heavily.

"So many people just live," she said sadly. "Not many do any real good."

"I can see that," I muttered sourly. "It's even shorter than the line for the Fields of Punishment!"

"Can we go before she starts off on a rant about morality?" Grover hissed at Percy. "I don't fancy getting caught down here." I pursed my lips tightly, still scowling.

"So which way?" Percy asked, glancing around cautiously, his hand deep in his pocket. Annabeth stared at each line in deep thought, before pointing to the line in the middle.

"Since most people just live, that's the only line that doesn't pass through the Judgement Pavilion." I raised my eyebrows slightly, waiting for an explanation. She sighed impatiently. "When you die, you go before three judges, who decide where you should go."

"Lovely," I said sarcastically. "More people to prove myself to. Oh goodie." Annabeth scowled, taking me by the wrist and hauling me toward the line in the middle, that presumably led to the Fields of Asphodel. I took a deep breath, calming myself. I had said no negativity, that I wasn't going to let this place get to me. So I wouldn't. Simple, right?

The four of us joined the line, trying not to look too guilty of anything. Luckily, the monsters on guard seemed to be a bit preoccupied. Even more fortunate, it seemed Cerberus, Hades's three headed dog, was playing up and not doing his job. I found myself straightening slightly as Annabeth shifted anxiously in front of me. I shuffled forward carefully, inching closer and closer to the gates. There were metal detectors at either side of the gate. Damn. I had two swords, a locket that turned into a bow and arrow and a knife in my boot. The likelihood we'd get through them without being noticed was minimal. In fact, it was impossible.

"Annabeth, how many weapons have you got on you?" I hissed ahead.

"Just my dagger," she answered.

"Pass it back," I instructed. "Don't stop moving when you hear the alarms." She didn't look particularly thrilled with the plan, but did as I asked and passed me her dagger. Slipping it up my sleeve, I slowed a little and let the space between Percy and me close up a bit. Annabeth led the way with Grover, leaving Percy and me lagging behind. The closer the space was between us, the less time the monsters had to react when the alarms were set off twice. I really wanted to say that that is why I closed the gap between us, and afterward, I realised that it worked like that. But honestly, I was terrified. Sure, I was frowning and had a straight back as though no one dare touch me or my friends but on the inside... that was a different story.

"Ready?" Percy hissed at me.

"As I'll ever be," I mumbled. Taking a deep breath and cringing, I stepped through the gate, right between the metal detectors. Predictably, the place was in instant uproar.

"GO!" Percy urged. Annabeth gulped and burst into a run. Grover, in his fake feet, didn't seem able to move fast enough. Percy and I grabbed an arm each and ran for it, not looking back and trying to block out the cries from the monsters and the furious barks from Cerberus. Annabeth darted around a corner, heading gods only knows where, but we raced after her, none of us wanting to slow down. Ahead of us, Annabeth skidded to a halt and slipped into a small cave-shaped hole in the side of one wall. Percy and I shoved Grover in her direction, before sliding in beside them.

"We can't hide for long," I said breathlessly. "Does anyone even know where we are?"

"The Underworld," Percy answered stupidly, clutching a stitch in his side.

"Would you take things serious for five seconds?" Annabeth spat. "We could get killed!"

Percy snorted, his eyes narrowing. "So, what's new?"

"Guys, pack it in," I sighed, peering out into the rocky corridor. They ignored me completely.

"Gods, we had better get back to Camp soon! I can't stand another minute anywhere near you," Annabeth glowered.

"Yeah, well neither can I," Percy snarled. "In fact-" My jaw locked and my heart thudded as I prodded both of them forcefully. There was a small crack and each of them slumped into the wall behind them, eyes closed and out for it.

"Finally," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

"What did you do?" Grover breathed, eyes wide.

"They'll be fine. Just give it a few minutes. But I couldn't stand anymore of their arguing and I am not getting caught wandering through the Underworld with the Son of Poseidon." I glanced at their unconscious forms, rolling my eyes. "And everyone was worried about me and Percy working together," I mumbled sarcastically.

Grover snorted weakly, his eyes still wide as he glanced between Percy and Annabeth. I glanced outside again, then pulled myself back, breathing deeply. "Looks like we're good for now. When they wake up, we'll get moving." Grover nodded, gulping slightly as though he daren't question me after I knocked out Percy and Annabeth. I sighed heavily, leaning back and taking a deep breath.

Now that I had stopped moving, my mind seemed to catch up with me. I was in the Underworld again. One slight hiccup in anything we did for now on would bring me in front of Lord Hades, a god who hadn't been best pleased last time we met. I remembered being brought down here almost two years ago, and the frequent trips I had been forced to take to the Fields of Punishment. And trust me, whatever punishment they were giving the dead, it seemed to be ten times more painful for the living.

It took about ten minutes for Percy and Annabeth to come around, and by that point, I was being to get claustrophobic. I couldn't sit still, my hands kept shaking at my sides and every time I peered outside, my breath caught in my throat and I had to close my eyes for a few moments before I threw up.

Percy came to first, groaning and rubbing his arm where I'd prodded him irritably. "What'd you have to do that for?" he snapped groggily.

"You were going to get us caught," I replied simply. "Get yourself together, we can't stay here any longer. They'll find us soon." He grumbled something I couldn't make out, but clambered to his feet and took a few deep breaths as Grover helped Annabeth come to.

The moment we stepped outside of the cave, we picked a direction and kept moving. None of us were entirely sure where we were going or where to start looking, but no one voiced that particular problem. I wasn't sure whether Percy was planning to storm Hades's palace and demand to have it back, but I was getting increasingly worried about our prospects of returning to the world of the living.

We'd been moving for about fifteen minutes when Grover staggered in his steps. Percy caught his arm and hauled him back to his fake feet, frowning in concern.

"You okay?" he asked. Grover's eyebrows pulled together, but he nodded slowly. Percy continued to frown, but he let go off Grover's arm and shoved his hands in his pockets. I pursed my lips tightly and Annabeth was watching him curiously, as though she was trying to figure out the logic behind something that had absolutely none. We continued to walk, but within half a minute, Grover staggered again. Percy caught him and tried to haul him back to his feet, but he couldn't.

"Grover," Annabeth warned, as Grover's shoes suddenly sprang into action. The wings on the sides beat against Percy's grip hard and Grover's arm slipped from his hands.

"Guys!" Grover exclaimed worriedly, trying to get back on his feet. But the shoes weren't going down without a fight. They fought harder and Grover slipped, landing flat on his back. Before any of us could move, they fluttered angrily, pulling a yelling Grover down the rocky path.

"Grover!" Percy and Annabeth exclaimed. My face set and the three of us bolted after him as fast as we could, our feet thudding far too loudly on the damp stone floor.

But the closer we got to Grover, the harder the wings fought. Grover yelled louder, but none of us could quite reach him. I could hear Percy and Annabeth panting beside me as we tried to reach the satyr, but just as Percy's hand stretched out ahead of him, Grover was pulled around a corner.

"Percy, give me your hand," I instructed as I ran, a sudden idea flashing through my mind.

"What?" he yelled.

"Just do it!" He groaned loudly, but took my hand tightly. Pursing my lips, I focused as much energy as I could and felt my stomach tug sharply. Suddenly, the wind whipped furiously behind us and Percy and I lurched forward. He yelped beside me, holding on tighter, but the two of us reached out and just about managed to clamp a hand around an arm each. My stomach relaxed as the wind suddenly stopped, and Percy and me dug our heels into the floor as hard as we could. My soles heated almost immediately, but our speed decreased tenfold.

"Grover, kick the shoes off!" Percy instructed.

He whimpered, his legs kicking out. "I can't!"

"Try!"

"I am trying!" he insisted.

"Then try harder!" I complained, trying to pull back. He let out a bleat as he kicked his right leg against the wall, the shoe flying off. I watched it in horror as it flew down the path and dipped into the chasm at the end. My eyes widened and my jaw dropped as Percy cursed loudly. "GROVER!"

"I SEE IT!" he yelled back, kicking at the other shoe. I pulled back, straining so hard, I couldn't feel my legs. I could see the chasm closing in on us and knew that if Grover didn't get the shoe off in the next minute...

With a yell of triumph, Grover kicked the shoe off his foot. It flew after its other as Grover came to a sudden halt. I felt myself stagger forward and over the satyr, crashing to the ground and rolling down a small slope.

"ACACIA!" Annabeth screamed. My back slammed into the ground and came to a halt. I groaned, lifting a hand to my forehead.

"Never do that again," Percy muttered at Grover.

"Yeah, because I planned it," he frowned back, pushing himself to his feet and grimacing. I let my head rest against the ground, my eyes closing. Grover let out a nervous bleat. "Erm, Acacia? Maybe you should move. You know, this way a bit."

"What?" I murmured, opening my eyes. As I turned to look to my right, I let out a yelp and pushed myself toward Grover, rolling onto my front. I had been lay right on the edge of the chasm. "Thanks Grover," I breathed, chest heaving and eyes wide.

"Guys, can we go?" Annabeth whimpered, her eyes huge and bottom lip quivering. I raised my eyebrows, but I was as anxious to be out of here as she was. Something just wasn't right. I leapt to my feet, nodding.

"Hang on," Percy frowned, stepping forward and stopping beside me.

"No, Percy, we need to go now," Annabeth insisted, close to tears. I wasn't sure why but it couldn't be good. He waved a dismissive hand at her, tilting his head to the side.

"Can you hear that?" he asked cautiously. I frowned at him, but strained myself to hear whatever he was talking about.

"Guys," Annabeth whined, shaking on the spot. But I could hear it now. It was almost a whisper and it seemed to be chanting something.

"Is that... Ancient Greek?" Percy muttered.

"No," I answered instantly. "That's not Ancient Greek. Can you make out anything it's saying?"

"Well no, but it sounds kinda like Ancient Greek," Percy shrugged.

"It's almost..." I paused, trying to find the word.

"Older?" Annabeth guessed from behind us.

"Yeah-" I started, turning to her. I cut off quickly. She had lost all colour in her face and when her eyes locked with mine, my stomach turned in panic. As if it could sense this, the whisper became slightly louder and more insistent. "Percy."

"Um?" he asked, stepping backward with a worried look on his face.

"You trust me, right?" I asked carefully.

"No, Acacia, no impulsive stuff," Annabeth choked, silent tears streaming down her face as she shook her head furiously. "You can't beat it."

"What did you think I was going to do? Jump?" I sighed, taking hold of Percy's hand. He burned red immediately, but I didn't have the time. "Grover, take Annabeth's hand."

"What? Why?" he asked.

"Just trust me!" I pleaded. The whisper was suddenly a voice, echoing around the cold, dark room. I suddenly realised I had been here before. "Oh, no. Grover!" He reached out a took Annabeth's hand and I spun around. My hand tightened around Percy's as I caught Annabeth's free hand in my other. The wind stirred behind us.

"Acacia, this is just going to slow yo-"

"Just run already!" I snapped. I bolted forward, dragging them with me just like I had Percy, only now, it was triple the work and we were met with furious resistance. They staggered behind me, but the fact they were still running helped a little. The voice became a shout, furious and demanding. But it cut off abruptly and, as though it was inhaling, the wind in front of us began pushing us back. I slowed dramatically, the wind no longer helping me. Whatever was in the pit was using the wind to help it and it was far stronger than I was.

I just prayed I was strong enough to make it back to safety.