Hello guys! No, this early update is not a note about abandoning this story. I'm sorry if it seemed like it at first. But I decided to give an early update because I have one day of holiday yesterday due to National Day today. So in celebration of Sinagore's independence for 49 years, I'll update it early :)
To LastPower46: Haha thanks! I could imagine your idea you described! Although that wasnt how I planned it to go :)
To Bianca Valdez: Thank you. I just think Percy tends to trust people easily. But dont blame Percy, water just heals him magically. He cant tell himself not to get healed.
Enjoy!
Percy
The package that had dropped from the sky had contained a microphone, and a hurriedly scribbled note. But Percy had no doubt that the handwriting was Leo's. Leo had even signed off at the bottom of the note with his name.
Percy read the note quickly, his eyes canning the piece of post-it. Luckily for him, it was written in ancient Greek, which he could read in seconds.
His friends had crowded around him, shielding the note and package from the prying eyes of the capitol, so that he could read it in privacy.
Smoothing out the paper, he read:
To: Percy, Thalia, and Nico, peasants of the future.
This is a microphone, specially installed with a chip that will override any system when it is turned on, and it will instantly connect to speakers, all around America. I was instructed by some bossy, lightning guy up there (a.k.a. Zeus), to make this invention for you. Apparently he wanted me to write this: Remember, use this to start a rebellion. Make the districts angry. Make them want to overthrow the Capitol. Complete the quest, and we will send you back to your original time.
That is what he said, I think. Anyway, good luck with that quest of yours.
- This is your awesome, supreme commander of the Argo II. Still hot, still available Leo!
The note ended there. Katniss was still looking puzzled, unable to read the ancient Greek words. Percy didn't have time to think about how he could pass the message to her, so he did the first idea that came into his head. He hugged her, whispering instructions into her ear quickly.
He pulled away, just as the shadow of a hovercraft hovered over them.
"Good luck. You can do it! I trust you." Percy smiled. Thalia and Nico nodded in agreement.
Then, Percy slipped both the note and the little microphone into the inner lining of his jeans. Riptide was placed in his pocket.
The hovercraft descended slowly, and a ladder was extended to the top of the cornucopia, waiting for Percy, Thalia, and Nico to step aboard.
Percy knew that the minute he stepped on the rung of the ladder, he would be in the hands of the Capitol, in the hands of the president, who was determined to see his death. What the gamemakers were going to do to them, he didn't know. All he knew is that it wasn't going to be good. He just hoped that he lived long enough, until Katniss and Peeta got out of the arena as victors, so that he can send the last message, broadcasted to all of Panem and the districts, to create the extra bit of anger that will cause the districts to rebel against the Capitol.
Thalia and Nico looked at him, waiting for him to take the lead. He nodded, gave them a reassuring smile, and set his foot on the ladder.
The moment his right foot came in contact with the metal rung of the ladder, he froze, staying firmly in that position, which he found rather stupid.
Thalia and Nico followed, holding on to the metal bars. Like him, they were frozen, unable to move a muscle.
The hovercraft rose, bringing them upwards, The ladder retracted at the same time, lifting them into the interior of the hovercraft.
Percy knew he was suspended in the air, high above the ground. Fear started bubbling in his chest. Somewhere, Zeus could be watching, itching to blast him into a million pieces. But before he could say anything, a needle jabbed into his arm, and cool fluid was released into his bloodstream. His vision blurred, and Percy felt himself get lulled into a deep sleep.
When he awoke, Percy found himself lying on a hard, metal plank. Then, he realized that his wrists and ankles were strapped to the plank with metal cuffs. He was still wearing his jeans and T-shirt which he wore in the arena. Only his jacket and shoes had been removed.
His first thought: This was certainly not a comfortable place to have his beauty sleep.
He tried to move his arms, testing the strength of the metal cuffs. It was pointless. He only managed to cut his left wrist on the metal. The cuffs were perfectly shaped to the size of his wrists. It was impossible to break out of his restraints.
Percy strained his neck to see his surroundings. There wasn't much to see, since he was in a white room, with no other furniture around. He was the only occupant in this jail-like room. Thalia and Nico were nowhere to be seen. He merely hoped that they were safe.
He could feel a little pressure against his hip, and Percy immediately knew that Leo's microphone was still with him. It hadn't been taken away. Riptide was in his jeans pocket as usual. Whoever captured him probably couldn't get rid of his magical pen.
There was a sudden clicking sound. Percy raised his head as much as he could to see who the intruder was.
The white door to his cell opened, revealing President Snow himself. His white hair was combed neatly to one side.
"Perseus Jackson." Snow greeted. His eyes were hard.
"President Snow." Percy replied, resting his head back on the metal plank he was strapped to.
Snow walked closer to where Percy lay. He was holding a metallic stick, which Percy assumed was a force field shield. A shimmering transparent bubble around the President confirmed Percy's assumptions.
"Enjoyed the games, Mr Jackson?" Snow asked, locking his eyes on Percy.
"Sure I did. Though I was wondering why you took me out when I was having the time of my life in there. I could have won, you know?" Percy said lightly.
President Snow stood behind Percy's head, out of Percy's line of vision.
"You know why I took you out. I can't have you demigods starting a rebellion. So, while the remaining tributes are having their last fight, I decided to have a chat with you."
"I'm listening."
The president continued, "I have announced to the districts that you have cheated in the games, and as punishment, if you admitted your deeds, you will face the punishment of death. There will be a show trial tonight, where you will plead guilty for cheating, and you will be sentenced to death. If you agree to admit to your crime, I will make sure your friends – Thalia and Nico – are spared. Only you will have to face death, like how olden day's criminals do, by hanging. Your death will televised all across Panem, to act as a warning for people who attempt to defy the rules of the games. But by doing so, your friends will live." Snow paused before continuing, "So, will you follow this plan?"
Percy gritted his teeth in anger, and spat, "I didn't cheat."
The president gave a small smile, and said calmly. "I know. But you say that, and your friends die immediately. So, back to the original question, will you consent to that plan?"
Admitting for something he didn't even do? That was what made Percy angry. Not the fact that he was going to die. He'd been in the face of death a million times before.
"Deal. But I expect you to keep to your promise, and let Thalia and Nico live. Since you know about the Greek world, I want you to swear on the Styx." Percy said.
The president was quiet for a while. Percy took advantage of his fear, and repeated, "Swear you will not kill them, and I will admit for cheating in your show trial. Swear it."
President Snow glared at him, but he finally said, "I swear on the River Styx that if you state that you cheated during the show trail, I will not kill Thalia Grace and Nico di Angelo."
Thunder boomed. The promise was sealed. Snow looked upwards, at the ceiling of the white room, as though expecting it to cave in.
"Good." Percy said. "Now will you remove the restrains on my wrist? My back is sore."
But the president ignored him, and walked to the door. He opened it, and looked back at Percy once more.
"Goodbye, demigod. You have failed to cause a rebellion. Your trial is in the evening. That is five hours from now." Then, he smiled, and walked out, closing the door behind him.
Percy rested his head on the metal plank that was supposedly his bed. He didn't even know how long he'd been sleeping. He wondered if Katniss and Peeta were still alive, and if they were already out of the arena.
Before his plan to speak into Leo's microphone to convince the districts, he had to ensure the safety of Peeta and Katniss. If he sparked anger in the districts before they were out, the president would definitely not hesitate to kill both of them. Besides, he needed the capitol to assume that she and Peeta were willing to eat the berries, and show their defiance to the Capitol. Like what the Chiron had said, she was the spark, the key to the rebellion. If she died, then all hope of overthrowing the capitol would die along with her.
He needed a sure sign that Katniss and Peeta were out of the arena before he made the public announcement to get the districts to vent anger at the Capitol. But Percy didn't have much time. In five hours, he would have to go for a show trial, and after that, he would be hung in public for the world to see.
The only way Percy could prevent his death, was to finish Zeus's job, and he would be instantly teleported back to Camp Half-Blood in the past, along with Thalia and Nico.
Hours seemed to slip by, and Percy felt restless. His ADHD brain was itching to do something. Doing nothing was painful. Not being able to move was torture. With every passing hour, Percy's death was creeping closer.
Finally, after what felt like days, the white door swung open again, and two bulky sized men walked in. One of them stood by the door, while another walked straight up to Percy. The man took out a syringe from his uniform, and jabbed it into Percy's wrist.
Drowsiness took over Percy's senses, and the world blackened around him again.
End of chapter :) I just hope I manage to get the demigods out of the mess I put them into. Key word: HOPE. ('nuff said).
Care to review? Anyone?