XXII

Hazel

Hazel was walking around the Camp with Frank by her side, waiting for Percy and Carter to come out of the Big House. He came out looking determined.

"What was it?" Frank asked.

"Planning." Percy said. "Anyways, we have a bigger problem at hand. We're never going to be able to get around the maze without help. Can you go get the others?" he asked. Carter kept shifting around awkwardly in the background, like he didn't feel very comfortable with all of them around.

As Frank ran, she stared at Carter, trying to get a hold on exactly who he was. He had an aura of leadership to him- that was obvious- but what was he? He looked like he could be a son of Trivia or Hecate, but the techniques he used were anything but Greek or Roman.

Frank came running back with everyone.

"Okay, guys." Percy said. "This is not going to sound crazy to any of you, but we need to get Rachel. She can navigate the maze. She can lead us to Mount Olympus."

Annabeth slapped her head. "That's why we ended up here! We needed to get Rachel! You are right. Wherever we end up, there is always something of importance there, whether it's a weapon or a person."

She ran up the hill.

"First time Annabeth deems Percy smarter than her." Frank commented.

And the last, Hazel thought.

When Annabeth got back, she had with her a redheaded girl. She was wearing a jacket, on top of a T-Shirt that said, Hoover Dam. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail. She had tight-fitting jeans on.

"So, Rachel, this is Hazel and Frank. Hazel and Frank, Rachel." Rachel waved her hand and smiled a little.

"Okay, let's go." Rachel said. "We're on a tight schedule- every single giant in 3 days. Go!"

They ran through the woods, towards Zeus' Fist. The sun was starting to set, the trees and cabins casting long shadows across the campground. Hazel's bag was bulging with the food the other campers had given her.

Just as they were nearing Zeus' Fist, she felt a shake. A look at the others made her realize that they were feeling it, too.

Had the Romans broken through the barrier?

The earth in front of them started to crumble. A giant sinkhole opened up, uprooting trees and bushes everywhere. They curved and stretched to form a likeness of a lady's face.

Hazel trembled. "Gaia." She squeaked, then realizing she sounded like a squeaky toy. "Gaia." She said again, in a more normal voice.

Two trees on the sides of the sinkhole fell onto the ground. Then, they reanimated, creating hands.

You thought you could defeat me. Look again. All of my sons have been freed, and they will destroy everything you care about. Mount Olympus, Camp Half-Blood, Camp Jupiter, your friends and family. And especially to you four…

Her voice became more sympathetic as she looked at Percy, Annabeth, Jason and Frank in turn.

You will have a tough choice to make in the final stage of this quest. And it will most definitely result in your death.

"That's a lie, Gaia," Percy yelled, "And you know it!"

Gaia would have become angry, but this time she let loose a giant, cruel laugh.

You think I am lying? Here is your future.

Images appeared in the mist in front of them. In one of them Percy was holding Annabeth. They were both dangling off a cliff of some sorts.

In another Frank was vanishing in a burst of golden light.

And in the final one, Jason was in a giant explosion, his arms crackling with electricity.

Hazel knew that Gaia was lying. All these images weren't real. They were just Gaia's making. Even she was having a hard time believing that this could be possible.

"We've managed to get everyone back multiple times." Percy retorted. "Even when you tried to kill us, we've all gotten back together and defeat you. And on this quest, none of us are going to die. We are going to all get to Mount Olympus, defeat the Giants, and get back to Camp Half-Blood safely."

Gaia laughed. You will never make it. Even if you did, you would never be able to defeat my sons. You can try, but even with that piece of Eg-

She suddenly stopped.

Hazel took a step backwards, only then realizing that Gaia had been sinking them into the earth all along. "Gaia, go away." She said. She said louder, "Gaia, go away!" she used her powers to summon forth gems from the earth, and started to shove them into the Earth Mother's face, disrupting the image.

The giant sinkhole started to fill up. Within seconds, all that was left was a tiny mound of dirt on the ground.

Percy was trembling. So was Annabeth.

Hazel realized that she had to calm them all down. "Guys, Gaia was lying. She showed us those images to make us feel helpless. It worked. You can't give up! We are all going to make it. Don't listen to Gaia."

Percy nodded. "Let's just get back into the Labyrinth."

They ran through the woods at light speed, wanting to get away from that small pile of dirt.

They got there about 2 minutes later. Annabeth touched the hole, and it opened up, creating a tiny tunnel. Annabeth gestured to Rachel. "After you."

Rachel curtseyed very formally, obviously as a joke, and jumped in. Annabeth went in next, followed by Percy, then Leo, then Frank, whose body barely fit. She could hear the occasional scrapes of him trying to get down. Then she dropped down.

The ride was short but it felt exhilarating. Wind blew in her face as she descended into the tunnel once again.

She dropped into a giant passage through a tiny hole in the ceiling. Carter, Jason and Piper dropped in soon after, one after the other.

Rachel immediately turned left. "This is the way we have to go." She broke into a run.

They whizzed through passages like there was nothing that could stop them.

"Okay." Rachel stopped when they found a door, built into the wall. "Behind that door is an old enemy. But we have to go through there, so best brace yourselves."

She put her hand on the doorknob, and flung it open.

The room was completely dark, except for the dim flickering of torches outside. When they all stepped in, the door slammed shut. Torches lit up on the walls, showing them some kind of giant dome. The very top was lit up with a bluish light. "The coast of the sea." Rachel said helpfully.

A woman dropped down from balconies overlooking the ground floor, startling all of them. Percy and Annabeth had horrified expressions on their faces.

"No." Percy said.

"Yes." The woman said. She was wearing a turban, which covered most of her head, and spoke in a middle-eastern accent. She wore sunglasses, which seemed strange in a room like this.

"Long time no see, Percy Jackson." She said, smiling coldly. Her hands went to her sunglasses-

"Close your eyes!" Annabeth yelled.

Hazel shut her eyes. And she was plunged into darkness.