Chapter 3:

Final Ground

The ground he stood on was slippery. The air filled with black smoke that bore into his nostrils. Black spots dotted his visions as Greek fire spread around the hill, erupting from mines or arrows. Constant screams and screeching noises were making it hard to keep his head straight.

Still Percy didn't stop for a single moment. Like a blender Riptide tore through anything in reach. The geysers that had exploded from the ground around him had dried up some time ago. Dust coated Halfblood Hill. The sky had a sick grey color. Rain kept slamming into Percy's face but it didn't make him feel refreshed. Instead it wore him down, making it hard not to slip.

Percy dared to take his eyes off the swarm in front of him. Behind him campers were desperately trying to fight back. Or to flee.

Hasty defenses shattered underneath the constant barrage of monsters. It didn't seem like there was a plan. The defenses they had set up. The plans the Athena cabin and the Hephaestus cabin had made; it all crumbled to dust the moment the magical barrier that surrounded camp faded.

When the clock reached 12 it all went wrong.

It went wrong in all the ways it could. Monsters of all sizes crawled up the hill. A thunderstorm began erupting above their heads A lightning strike hit the big house, setting it on fire.

And now, everyone was trying to fight for their survival.

Wind spirits tore through the sky, threatening to swipe campers off their feet. Hellhounds threw themselves against the defending demigods. Even more obscure and numerous monsters climbed up the hill like they were heading towards dinner.

Percy tried to reach one of the hasty build up barricades. It was surrounded by Greek Fire that somewhat kept the monsters at bay. Percy stumbled through one of the narrow gaps, narrowly avoiding an arrow that shot past him.

Behind the shields he was met with a group of demigods. He recognized a few but there were very young campers among them, looking frightened and panicked. One of the older Hepheastus Campers was tossing jars of Greek Fire at the surrounding forces. It looked like he was running low on vials though. He seemed to realize that too as panic flashed over him.

Percy tried to smile reassuringly at them but he wasn't sure if he could convince them it was going to be alright.

"Percy!" Annabeth materialized next to him. In her hands she held her Yankees cap. Her voice was hoarse and her blonde hair looked as if it had been dragged through a fireplace. Despite this her eyes still held a fierce determination. As if the monster army was just a puzzle piece waiting to be placed.

Immediately Percy felt better, ready to take on a hundred more monsters.

"Annabeth, how's the situation-" An arrow nearly pierced his head, he ducked. An Apollo camper took out the dracanae that shot him. "How are things going at your end?"

"Not good," she heaved in a deep breath. "Percy, you have to escape!"

"Eh?"

Above them the sky cracked. A loud thunder boom was followed by lightning gathering above their heads. The air around Percy felt heavy and smelled horrible.

Annabeth's eyes widened, a wave of panic seemed to crash over her. Her eyes fixated on Percy. With a sudden jerk she pulled him close. She shoved something in his hands. On instinct he took it.

"Annab-"

"RUN!" She pushed him away from the barricade. Before he could do anything a bright flash blinded him. A loud thunderous crack followed a split second later.

Percy's sight was blurred by white spots. His ears rang. He stumbled, maybe screamed but he couldn't hear himself. His skin felt like it had a thousand ants biting down on his nerve system.

He profusely blinked his eyes as he tried to erase the white spots.

Around him was a blackened area. He saw blurs at the edges but everything around him had completely evaporated.

His heart sank as the realization dawned on him. He was still holding onto the thing Annabeth had pushed into his hand. He glanced down and saw it was her hat. Her Yankees cap.

His eyes started to adjust. In the distance he could see his friends still fighting. Three bat winged creatures he hadn't seen before had joined the monster army. Were those the Furies?

He prepared to head right back into the fight. He had to keep moving. That was all he could do right now. As he made his first step something cracked underneath his foot.

He looked down and released a curse.

Somehow the vials of Greek Fire had survived.

Before Percy could fully utter the curse the ground underneath him exploded. He was blown away and lost his entire sense of direction. As his mind faded to black he could see a bright blue sky around him.

Then it all turned black.

A/N Typed 50% with my feet! Also, Gaia would look cool with Horns.

Cya later!

-CaptainMoonShine-