Chapter 9

No, I don't wanna let go,

I just wanna let you know,

That I never wanna let go.

~Avril Lavigne.

Percy's POV

Once we stepped inside the cafeteria, silence took over. Thalia, Nico and I walked up to our table. Which was at the head of the room, on a slightly higher floor, like a stage floor. It was rectangular and long. Not like the rest of the tables, which were circular.

Once we sat down, I took a cup. And banged a spoon on it, softly. Causing it to make a noise that went like this;

Ting,ting,ting.

Everybody looked at us questioningly. Until Clarisse got bored and said,

"Dammit, Jackson. Entertain us with what you want to tell us, make it fast. Because, ain't nobody got time for that." Everybody was looking at Clarisse with wide eyes, but stayed quite.

I cleared my throat, "Uhm, Clarisse. It would be better if you watch your tone." I said, seriously.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever," She said, carelessly.

"Okay. Thank you," I said, then turned to the crowd, "We have bad news."

There was a couple of gasps, and wide eyes, I continued.

"You see, There are some signals, three actually. Forming a shape of a triangle, with this shelter in the exact middle," I said, nervously serious. "And we need to send most of us, four teams, one will stay here, and three will venture. And, we will choose the teams and how they are arranged." I heard a coupls of groans.

"And by 'we' he means, Nico, him, and I." Said Thalia, in my place.

"Yes, and now. About the signals, we aren't sure what they reach to, or who sent them, but we might have an idea, as our agent Grover here," I pointed to Grover, who was sitting at a nearby table. He nodded, "Proclaimed that these signals might be helpful, they might help us find the cure. We might end this apocalypse." I continued.

The crowd erupted into cheers.

"Okay, calm down. This isn't all goody goody news," Thalia instructed, "Now. This trip, might cause many deaths. Lets just hope against it."

The cheering died, the clapping stopped, and the smiles faded.

"But, don't worry. We are strong. As long as we work together, we can be unstoppable." Nico said, trying to lighten up the mood.

I smiled at him, grateful. He just nodded.

"Okay. So, you all have to work really hard. Practice alot, try hard. Who knows, you might be from one of the three teams that are going to go out." I said, opening a can of malt flavoured energy drink, and yes its free from alchohol, I couldn't get drunk. Not in a situation like this. "Go ahead everybody, eat."

And so, we all started eating.

ZOMBIEzombieZOMBIEzombieZOMBIEzombieZOMBIEzombieZOMBIEzombieZOMBIEzombieZOMBIEzombieZOMBIEzombieZOMBIEzombieZOMBIE

As I was walking down they hallway that's near my room, I kept on thinking.

I kept on thinking about the future, what would happen if we found the cure? Will we all be separated? Will everybody go find their own way? Find their own family?

I had so many questions, and I absolutely thought I'll never know their answers. Although I really wanted to know their answers.

I kept walking. Not knowing that I had passed my room. And kept thinking.

What if we all die? What if we never find the cure? What if this all turns out to be a trap?

So many questions, yet not one answer.

Great.

"Percy?" A low, soft voice asked. "What are you doing here?"

I looked around me, I was in the girl's hallway, and infront of me was my little sister, Layla.

Well, my step-sister.

I loved her so much, it hurts. And I was so overprotective of her.

"Layla!" I all but yelled. "You scared me, you little cute devil." I laughed while ruffling her hair.

"Percy! You were ignoring me all day, I kept searching for you, but never found you." She accused, glaring at me. I didn't find that scary, I actually found it cute.

"What did you want?" I asked. She turned red. I raised an eyebrow, "You're as red as a tomato, whats wrong, is your temperature high? Are you sick?" I ask, starting to get worried.

"No Percy! Can we go to your office to talk?" She exclaimed impationtly and asked.

I nodded.

And with that we walked to my office.

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"So, what up?" I asked once we got inside my office, Layla was locking the door, "Uh, Layla. Why are you locking the door?" I was now confused.

"Because! I wanna tell you a secret," She said, "But you have to promise not to tell anyone! And you have to help me!"

"Okay, sure kiddo, I promise. Now, spell the beans." I said laughing.

"IsortoflikeMatt," She said it so fast, I didn't hear anything.

"Huh?"

"UGH PERCY!" she yelled, I looked at her weirdly, she huffed, "I sort of... Like Matt..."

I burst into laughter.

"Your...Aren't..Serious.. Are you?" I asked between laughs.

She shook her head, my eyes were opened so wide they might've popped.

"Matt, as in Annabeth's little brother?"

She nodded, wow.

"Oh..." I said stupidly, "and you're telling me because...?"

"BECAUSE! I NEED YOU TO HELP ME OUT YOU IDIOT!"

"Wow, calm down, kid." I said, patting her head, "Just...Tell him that you like him."

"As easy as that? I thought boys were supposed to tell the girls that." She asked dumbfounded.

"Lay, you don't know if he likes you right?" She nodded, "Then just tell him that you like him."

"But, that would be embarrassing!" She exclaimed.

"Well, then you should wait for him to make the first move," I said winking.

She blushed, "Okay, thanks Perce." She came up to me and kissed my cheek. "Love you."

"Love you too," I replied. "Now, lets get you to your room, princesses also need to get some sleep."

She nodded and put her hands up, I carried her.

When we reached her room, I knocked, and Cayla, Layla's roomate, opened the door. I looked at her, then at Layla. She nodded and opened the door.

I put Layla on her bed, and kissed her forhead, "Goodnight, sweetheart." I whispered.

She mumbled something, then fell asleep. I smiled at her innocence.

I then walked up to my room, and fell on my bed, into a dreamless sleep. Smiling.

SORRY I DIDN'T GET ANNABETH INTO THIS CHAPTER, IT WAS MAINLY ABOUT THE SIGNALS, AND ANNOUNCING THE PLAN

Don't get mad! and PLEASE review, because that's the only thing that gets me to continue writing

xoxo,

Love,

~CluelessDorkIdiot.