Chapter 5

The truth is out there, finally

Here we have the updated version of this chapter after I used a script on SuperWiki, thanks to Alex (guest) who told me about this, not thanks because it was a really rude review.

Annabeth's POV

Percy and I went shopping for Halloween costumes, so now I have one! Finally! My costume is the best, I have bronze armour and a bronze helmet with a sheath for my sword (which is real steal) and a sheath for my dagger (like, MY dagger)

It's awesome. Percy's costume is very interesting, it's a devil, but it's blue. I have no idea where he found it but he said there was this section that had all these "green angel, or Red ghost, or blue devil" so he bought the blue devil, he looked rather stupid. But it was funny.

I walked along the field with Percy after Lunch, today was the day that I had no classes after lunch, Percy had one, but I was free.

"So, have you figured out anything worth telling about... You know the "S" guy?" Percy said.

I turned to him, "what's with the code name? And yeah, but I'm not just gonna say it right here and now."

Percy snorted, "okay," he said reluctantly, "whatever."

We continued to walk until we reached the apartment building, "see you in an hour!" I said to percy and we embraced and kissed, then Percy jogged off back to Stanford.

I sighed. He's just so amazing.

I walked into the apartment building and up to my house, or apartment.

I walked to se Nico sitting on his bed, and iris message I front of him.

He turned when I walked in and nodded.

Then he went back to his conversation.

I put my stuff down, and walked over to Nico he was talking to Hades, who was saying something about demons and Tartarus.

Hades noticed me and nodded, just like Nico did. I nodded in reply, then sat down on the bed.

Nico and Hades talked for about another minute then Nico waved his hand through the mist and Hades's image disappeared.

"What was that about?" I asked.

Nico sat down on his bed. "Not much, just another Demon escaped from Tartarus... Well, Hell but, you know.. and Thanatos finally realized."

"How long has he been out?"

"Uh, 32 years," Nico said.

"Yikes, Thanatos is really getting lazy."

"Ha! That's funny, cause I think this demon is planning to open the door of death, using a half-demon, what Hades calls "blood children" and he started already, all he really needs to do is feed them his own blood when they're, um I think 5 or 6 months old, then they get these demonic powers and stuff, so he can use them to open the doors and free this other demon, I think and... Well, start the apocalypse."

"Oh, okay that's pretty bad."

"Yep."

I sighed, "so did Hades tell you anything else?"

"No, just that I have to salt and burn every single blood child I find. Which I did once, hades just said that I had to kill this guy... I don't know why I have to salt and burn them, though."

"You very morbid Nico," I said.

"Yeah, what else is new?"

I shook my head and pulled out my laptop.

"So did you find out anything about Sammy?" Nico asked.

"Uh yeah, I think he ran away from home, and his family hunts... Uh I think monsters of some sort, and he just doesn't really want too."

"That's odd."

"Yes! you see, I was out side with my Yankees cap on and Sam saw me, or he noticed the grass pressed down beneath my feat, and he yelled at me 'I swore I was done hunting' so I think... I think maybe they hunt ghosts."

Nico laughed "what like, ghostbusters?" He asked.

I sighed "no, I'm serious."

"Oh okay hold on a sec..." Nico cleared his throat, "how does that song go? It's like; who ya gonna call?" He paused as if expecting feed back.

I jut looked at him in annoyance.

"Okay okay, well, uh who ya gonna call? Sam's bro! He ain't afraid of no ghost."

Nico looked at me a half smile on his face.

"His Dad hunts too," I said, "and their Dad is missing, on a HUNTING trip, and Dean is worried," I said.

"Who's Dean?" Nico asked popping off the lid of some coke.

"Sam's bro," I said my eyes darting around on the screen of my laptop.

Sam's story was slowly unfolding for me, I just love that feeling! The feeling that it will all make sense. Yay.

"Okay Nico, you need to go talk to Sam about... Well you know, okay don't threaten him, just ask him see if he'll tell."

Nico shrugged "why?"

"'Cause."

"That's not-"

"Just go!"

"Okay, okay, fine." Nico said getting up from the bed and exiting the room.

Nico's POV

I knocked on Sam's door and waited a couple seconds till he answered

"Hey is Jess over?" I asked.

Sam paused then shook his head "she has classes today."

"Okay well, I told you all about MY background and all that stuff... So now it's your turn"

"What?" Sam said.

"Okay, I know there's something up with your family, and I want to know what, so tell me," I said.

"Uh..." Sam paused looking at me.

"I'm just going to invite myself in," I said as I pushed past Sam and sat down on his couch.

Sam followed me onto the couch. "Um, how do you know about my family?" Sam asked.

"I have my resources," I said simply.

"What does that mean?" Sam asked slowly.

I paused, "um, well, the dead know more than most people would assume," I said without moving my gaze from the TV.

"Um, so your telling me to just spill everything that I've kept secret for all my life?" Sam asked.

I nodded, "pretty much."

Sam swallowed, "so, what's in it for me?"

I paused, "well, I can inform you if anyone you care about dies, and if you DONT tell me I can send you..."

I pointed at the ground.

"Oh ...okay..." Sam said slowly.

Annabeth's POV

Nico walked in about a half and hour later, a small smile on his face.

"What?" I asked starting to smile too.

"Well, you were right... They're ghostbusters." Nico said very strait faced.

I laughed "yeah right, they're not ghostbusters."

Nico shook his head and sat down on the bed next to me.

"He wouldn't tell me everything, you know too private, I mean I didn't tell him about the lotus casino so I was okay with that." Nico paused "but yeah, they hunt demons."

I turned to him "really?"

Nico nodded "wow, huh?"

"Yeah." I said slowly turning back to the TV.

It all makes sense now.

Dean being worried since their dads been on a hunting trip a really long time. Sam leaving home. Why he doesn't like Halloween. And why he wouldn't tell Jessica, she would probably book it if he did.

I smiled to myself at that thought.

"So, are you happy?" Nico asked.

I frowned, "what do you mean by that?"

"I mean, now that you know the truth, are you happy?"

"Well, yeah but I kinda feel like there's more to learn," I said.

Nico sighed, "geez you Athena kids just don't seem to know what 'good enough' means."

I laughed, "yeah Nico, I think you're on to something."

Tomorrow is Halloween.

I have this feeling... Maybe Dean'll come back on Halloween. Or maybe I'm just sleep deprived.

Yeah, that's probably the truth. I have not been sleeping, I've been outside with my Yankees cap on looking to see if Sam will leave his apartment.

It's happened once, thats it.

On Halloween night, I think I might wait in front of his apartment to see if Dean shows up.

Then... I don't know, I'll just wait. He probably won't show.

It's 7:49, Percy and Nico are watching the walking dead, or Nico is. Percy is just holding a pillow over his face trying not to throw up.

I'm just laying in my bed, thinking about all my research.

Sam told me about his laptop and phone "mysteriously" appearing again, and I said that was great and rather interesting. Him and Jessica, are probably watching a movie now, like always.

So I just stared at the ceiling, hoping that Dean will show up tomorrow.

When the soft click, of the clock hitting the 8:00 mark was heard, I sat up.

The walking dead should be over now, so I could actually communicate with Nico without him saying "shut up in watching a Zombie eat this guys guts out."

I came out to see Percy flicking through the channels, mumbling something like "is there ANYTHING, good on TV right now?"

"Percy, come on," I said and he turned to me.

"Hey Annabeth, come here!" He said.

I shook my head, "Percy, no. I want you come with me," I said flatly.

Percy frowned then through the remote at Nico, it hit him on the shoulder and he didn't budge.

"Okay," Percy said.

"I didn't think you meant this, when you said 'a walk'," percy said accusingly.

I nodded, "I know," I said.

We strode along the field, towards the bench that Sam ALWAYS sat on when he went out for a "walk".

We sat down, and waited.

"Annabeth, what if he doesn't show?" Percy asked.

"Do you know where these bags under my eyes came from?" I said.

Percy sighed "oh," he said meekly.

I smiled "I wanted company for the last time."

"Last time?"

I nodded "yeah, after Halloween, I'm gonna catch up in sleep."

"What if Dean does show up?"

"He won't, I mean, I'll wait for him. But I seriously doubt, he'll show," I said, "But then again..."

Percy nodded slowly, "what happens if he does? And Sam goes with him?"

I sighed "okay, first of all, Sam will most likely not go, but if he does then, I'll follow."

"I thought you needed to catch up on sleep?"

"Yeah, I'm like 99.999% sure that Sam won't go."

Percy sighed, "okay," he said.

We just sat there for a long time, waiting. But nothing happened.

"Lets go," I said and we stood up and walked back to the apartment.

We walked in, and I stopped.

"What?" Percy asked.

I frowned, closed the door but then looked out the peep hole, nothing happened.

I shook my head.

"Nothing," I said.

Percy nodded and crawled into bed.

I stayed up, Percy fell asleep almost instantly, but I put on my Yankees cap and slipped out the door.

I sat in the middle of my door, and Sam's door. Waiting.

Still nothing happened, so I held my ear against Sam's door, I heard what sounded like someone walking around. Most likely Sam.

The sound stopped, he probably sat down on the couch.

It started again, and became louder.

I realized almost to late that he was walking towards the door. I jumped back as Sam opened the door, he looked around. Then he closed the door again.

Maybe he heard something, or just felt a presence. Like, the feeling that someone is watching.

I got a pretty good sleep last night, after Sam left I went back and slept.

Now, I'm getting ready for the Halloween party. Putting on my costume and everything.

"I feel like Clarisse," I said as I slipped on the armour.

Percy laughed "I feel like Lucifer's aquatic twin," he said.

I looked at him, "you believe in Lucifer?"

Percy shook his head, "hades would smite me if I said I felt like HIS aquatic twin."

The percy looked down at the ground and said, "I'M SORRY!"

I shook my head and laughed.

I clicked on my helmet and yelled "Nico! Come on!"

Percy and I waited until Nico walked out of the bedroom.

He had a long black cloak on, he carried a long scythe.

"Your the reaper?" I asked and Nico nodded. "Nice scythe" Percy said.

"It's Thanatos's reaper stick," Nico corrected.

Percy stared at him, "Okay," he said, "I'll just accept that and move on."

"Let's go," I announced.

We walked out of the apartment and over to the bar, where the party was being held.

We walked in, and saw a lot of things.

Angels doing karaoke, Demons and ghosts laughing, high fiving and chugging various drinks.

I saw Jessica (who was dressed as a nurse) talking to a guy dressed as a zombie and Sam. (Who was dressed as himself)

I waved and tugged Percy's arm. We walked over there.

Nico stayed behind.

We walked over to them and said 'hi' and all that stuff, there was a lot of compliments on Percy's messed up costume.

Sam was saying that he had a law school interview on Monday, Zombie guy said "so how does it feel being he golden boy in your family?"

Sam shoo his head and smiled "Ah, they don't know."

I just about laughed out loud at that one.

"Oh no, I'd be gloating, why not?" Zombie guy said, I was pretty sure his name was Luis, though.

"Because we're not exactly the Bradys," Sam explained.

Luis chuckled, "And I'm not exactly the Huxatables, more shots?"

Sam and Jess both shook their heads saying, "No, no…" But Luis got up anyway and walked over to the bar.

"Well, I better go get Nico away from the dessert table" I said to myself more than to anyone else as Sam and Jess engaged in conversation.

Percy and I walked over to Nico who eating a large chocolate bar.

"Nico, come on slow down!" I laughed.

Nico stopped and swallowed, "Why?" He asked.

I frowned, "Well that's really bad for you" I said easily.

"Really, you shouldn't eat that much candy," I continued.

"It's Halloween, Annabelle! Plus, there's no sweets down in the underworld."

"Don't. Call me. Annabelle." I said firmly.

Percy winced, "Calm down guys!" He said in effort to calm us down

I breathed in, a thin smile spreading across my face "Fine then, Nico… SHOVE YOUR FACE!" I yelled and shoved a handful of little chocolates at his face.

"Whoa!" he said and tried to dodge it but some of them smeared on his cheek.

He turned to me, anger and laughter flared in his eyes.

"Oh no... Guys don't start... Guys...?" Percy pleaded.

Nico glared at me and smiled smugly at him.

He grabbed his root beer float and with one smooth movement, dumped it on the front of my costume.

"Ah!" I yelped and jumped backwards.

"Ha," Nico said smugly.

"No... No... No... Guys, don't start," Percy said trying desperately (and failing miserably) to calm us down.

I snatched a piece of pizza and smeared it on the front of Nico's reaper cloak.

He stared down at it "oh, Annabeth, Thanatos is gonna be SO mad," he said, but that didn't stop him from grinning evily.

"Wait, that's thanatos's?" I asked.

Nico looked at me and nodded slowly, still smiling.

I saw Luis out of the corner of my eye, he looked at us, and noticed the food smeared on our costumes. A grin spread across his face.

I turned to look at him. He snatched a handful from a near pie and smoothed it on one of his buddies.

His buddy gasped and dumped his root beer float on him.

"FOOD FIGHT!" Nico screamed.

'Whoa, that kid can yell' was the last thing I thought before the entire bar erupted into chaos.

I saw Sam and Jess running for the exit. But someone splashed a huge bottle of some type of drink on them and then took off.

Jess gasped. She shook her head and grabbed a hand full of chocolates then flung them across the room.

Sam smiled and shook his head as Jess laughed and they both darted out of the bar.

I stumbled around trying to find a weapon.

I beautiful bottle of Coca Cola shone on a table and as soon as I spotted it, I made a beeline to it. Then snatched it up.

I shook it a million and four times then popped the lid.

I spun in a circle as Coca Cola shot out of the bottle showering the people around me.

I laughed when it died down, then I chucked it over my shoulder and ran from the angry crown of Coca Cola soaked zombies, Angels, and various devil-like creatures.

"Ah man..." Percy complained as he held up his beer, pizza, pop and chocolate covered costume

I sighed and nodded "me too," I said.

I was wearing my PJ's (which was basically yoga pants and a light blue spaghetti strap tank top)

And I was trying to scrub the stains out of my costume.

Nico appeared from a swirl of shadows again, returning from the underworld.

"Well, I hope Thanatos doesn't wonder why his reaper cloak suddenly disappeared then reappeared in his laundry machine," he said.

I laughed.

Percy chucked his costume in the bathtub.

"I'll wash it later," he said, "Or probably not since I'm never going to wear it again."

I smiled an did the same, "me too," I said.

Percy pulled of his shirt and climbed into bed.

Nico sat on the edge of his, "I think i might talk to Jason for a bit" he said.

I shook my head "I'm going to see if Dean shows up," I said then I grabbed my Yankees baseball cap and exited the apartment.

I sat on the floor for what seemed like hours, then I realized something… Why would Dean come in his door? He hunted monsters… He would come in through the window.

I stood up and ran outside, the only thing I noticed was the black Impala parked outside the apartment building.

I looked up, "Oh…" I whispered to myself, I saw the open window… It wasn't to high up so Dean could've managed it, but could I?

Then I realized it probably wasn't Dean… They just kept their window open enough to let a person in?

I shook my head, whoever it was, I was invisible… nobody would notice.

I was just about to climb on top of the Impala when I heard voices coming down the back stairs.

"… middle of the night and expect me to hit the road with you!" Sam was saying.

I ducked behind the wall and listened.

"You're not hearing me, Sammy. Dad's missing. I need you to help me find him," Dean said.

I knew where this was going, before I Sam replied I darted off in the opposite direction running for the front stairs, I raced down the hallway and opened my apartement door as quickly and quietly as possible.

Nico, who was still talking to Jason, glanced at me. I took of my Yankees cap and said, "Nico! Come on DON'T ask any questions!"

Nico paused then said, "Jason, go back to bed," he got up and came up to me.

"What?" He asked.

"You can cloak yourself in shadows right?"

Nico nodded.

"Good come on, Dean did show," I said and put on my cap again then dragged Nico out of the apartment.

We quickly ran down the stairs and arrived at the spot where Sam and Dean were talking in the parking lot, infront of the Impala I saw earlier.

"…Trouble right now. If he's not dead already, I can feel it," Dean was saying.

Sam stayed silent, Nico glanced at me, he obviously was confused, but so was I.

"I can't do this alone," Dean said flatly.

Sam sighed, "Yes you can."

Dean nodded, "Yeah, well, I don't want to."

Sam sighed again, "What was he hunting?"

The brothers gathered around the trunk of the Impala and I turned to Nico, "Do you have your motorcycle key on you? Just in case," I whispered.

Nico shook his head, "back in the apartment, why?"

"Just get it," I ordered.

Nico seamed to understand, the possibility that Sam did go with Dean was becoming more and more likely.

Nico rushed off and I tried to listen in on the brothers conversation, it was hard but I caught bits and pieces.

"…Voodoo thing, down in New Orleans…"

"…hunting trip by yourself…"

"…Was checking out this two lane blacktop…"

"…his car, but he vanished…"

Was Dean talking about their dad or a victim to the monster their dad was hunting?

I tried to fit together the puzzle pieces but since I was making sure the brothers could hear my breathing or even sense another presence like they had been trained, I had to stay back.

"… Ten of them over the past twenty years…"

"… All men, same five-mile stretch of road…"

Dean shifted his position and said, "Then I got this voice mail yesterday…"

I tried to lean and listen but all I could hear was static.

"Never go home…" Sam muttered.

They stood up and Dean shut the trunk.

"You know, it's been almost two years. I never bothered you, never asked you for a thing" Dean said leaning against his car.

A pause drifted around.

"Alright, I'll go," Sam muttered, "I'll help you find him."

I almost gasped out loud.

"But I have to get back first thing Monday," Sam continued, "Just wait here."

Sam turned around but turned back as Dean asked, "What's on Monday?"

"I have this...I have an interview."

"What, a job interview? Skip it!" Dean said easily.

Sam sighed "it's a law school interview, and it's my whole future on a plate," he said.

"Law school?," Dean smirked.

"So we got a deal or not?"

Nico tapped me on the back and I just about jumped, but I turned around and he handed me a heavier coat and a bag with clothed in it.

"I heard them from our window, that he's going," He whispered.

"How did you hear that?" I replied, as we walked farther away from Dean just incase, Nico shrugged, "I don't know… I just did."

I clung to Nico as we zoomed along the highway behind the Impala, I was having a lot of trouble keeping my eyelids open, since I haven't gotten much sleep lately.

Eventually, I fell asleep, not sure how I managed that, though.

I woke up to see daylight.

I sat up in confusion. I glanced at Nico, who was drinking some Coke.

"Where are we?" I asked

Nico took another swig if his pop and said "Jericho, California"

"WHAAAT!?" I screamed as I scrambled off of the motorcycle.

Nico shrugged, "you said to follow them, well they're right there," he said pointing to their car parked at a gas station, Dean was getting gas and Sam was just looking at cassette taps.

"I didn't mean follow them THIS far," I said.

Nico shrugged again, "sorry, but here we are so might as well stay."

I shook my head and pulled out my phone, which I always kept in my coat pocket.

I dialed the apartments number.

"Hello?" Percy answered.

"Hey it me."

"Annabeth?"

"Yeah-"

"Where the hell are you?! You have classes in 5 minutes!"

I paused "I'm in Jericho," I said.

"What?" Percy's voice sounded like he was massaging his temples.

"Okay, Dean DID show last night and Sam went with him. I told Nico to follow them; he misunderstood what I meant... I fell asleep and then woke up in Jericho."

"Oh."

"But I have no idea why Sam and Dean are here so I want to figure that out."

"Oh boy."

"Don't worry I'll be back by Monday!" I said, trying ot sound reassuring.

"Ooookay."

"So tell everyone I have the flu... And Nico is visiting his... Girlfriend."

Nico winced for some reason.

"Girlfriend?"

"Who lives in Texas." I finished

"Okay then."

"Okay, Percy I love you! Bye."

"Bye."

I hung up and put the phone back in my pocket.

Then I sat back on the motorcycle watching Sam and Dean.

Dean had just gotten back in the Impala.

Nico noticed that and climbed on the front of his motorcycle, then when the Impala started up and drove off, Nico followed.

We arrived at a motel, the one that Sam and Dean are staying in, or the one that they broke into someone else's room.

I was watching the group of Cops when Dean exited their room, the hotel manager pointed at him.

Dean noticed this then he turned around and called someone on his phone.

I grabbed my Yankees cap and slid outside, I stood there and watched as Dean got arrested.

Then I climbed on the trunk of the car and held on for dear life.

Dean continued to say that his name was Ted Nugent.

The cop handed Dean a journal, with a lot of paranormal stuff in it, like reapers, demons, exorcisms and other stuff that I couldn't see.

The cop flipped to a page, it had Dean's name written on it, as well as cordinants.

I nodded to myself.

Smart.

Another cop stuck his head into the room and said something about a

9-1-1 call.

As the cop hand-cuffed Dean to the table I waited for him to leave, then when he opened the door, I followed him out.

Nico and I agreed to NOT get involved, because we shouldn't be here.

So we shouldn't be there if someone gets attacked then we have to same him... And it could just end in chaos.

So we just stayed in our room, when Sam left, I opened their room.

It was all stuff, like from the journal.

Devils, demons, all that. Then I notice something. A women in white.

Slowly in my mind all the puzzle pieces were put together. The spirit they're hunting is Constance Welch, a women in white.

And honestly, I don't give a rats ass about how to destroy her, that's the brothers job.

So I just returned to my room and read the book that a bought from that book store down the road.

Okay, yes... That was long but I just kept going. If your wondering with the Tartarus/Hell thing, both of them exist but Thanatos tries to keep track of all, but he only chases after the spirits and demons and whatnot that escaped from Tartarus.