Hey, Everyone!

So, this story will be coming to a close soon. A couple more chapters, I think.

Enjoy!

Chapter 10

My boyfriend is trying to kill me. My boyfriend is trying to kill me. My boyfriend is trying to kill me. That was the only thought I'd had on loop ever since dinner.

I woke up extra early. The sun was barely rising and Luke was still asleep.

I wasn't going to let him kill me.

I knew what he was up to now, so therefore I had the upper hand. Because he didn't know I knew yet. So I had to keep it that way.

But he knew where I lived now. So my house wasn't safe anymore.

But I still knew where he lived. I could use that.

I needed something to defend myself with. A real weapon. Words weren't going to cut it anymore. I needed serious defense.

I crawled out of bed, careful not to wake Luke, grabbed my cell phone off the side table, and walked into the living room.

There was someone I knew. A person who I hadn't talked to since he was kicked out of college. I needed him right now, and he still owed me that favor.

I was pretty sure I still remembered his name.

I looked him up on the White Pages, and sure enough, there he was.

Grover Underwood. I found his number, called him up, and he answered on the third ring. "Hello?"

"Grover? It's me, Annabeth."

"Little Annie Chase. I haven't heard from you in a little while. What's happening?"

"I need to cash in on that favor, Grover."

He didn't answer for a moment. Then, "Where should we meet?"

"You know the parking lot behind the grocery store where we used to hang out at those parties?" I asked.

"Which lot?" he asked.

"Lot A, parking spot A-11," I replied.

"When?" he asked.

"Now," I replied.

"Okay," he replied. "See you in a minute, Annie."

I hung up on him without saying goodbye.

I walked into my room, changed as quietly as possible, and left, leaving my cell phone behind on purpose. I wasn't ratting Grover out. I knew how this worked and I wasn't going to blow his trust when I needed him most.

I took Luke's car. Mine was still in the shop, waiting for me to come get.

Why hadn't I gotten it yet?

I drove off, needing to get there as quickly as possible.

Thankfully, there had been no party going on. I parked, and I looked around and saw the small black car I knew so well, in A-11, just like I said.

I walked over to him and Grover looked a little worse-for-wear. "You got a wire on you?" he asked.

"I'm an architect, not a spy, Grover," I replied. "So, no. And no cell phone. Left it at home. I'm looking for help, Grover, not to bust you."
He nodded. "Alright. Alright, Annie. Whatcha looking for?"

"Something small, lightweight. Easy to conceal," I replied.

He opened his trunk and picked up a small black pistol. "I think this might be exactly it."

He let me hold it. It fit perfectly in my hand and my index finger instantly settled on the trigger.

Grover pointed to the safety. "It's on right now. Just take it off when you're ready to fire. Don't test it here, or we'll both get arrested."

"I think that favor came with bullets," I replied.

"The chamber's full. Six shots. Don't waste them," Grover replied.

I smiled at the gun down in my hand.

The best offense is the best defense, right?

And right here, in parking space A-11, where Percy had started this all to begin with, is where I found the weapon to win.

Sorry about shortness!

Thanks for Reading!