Chapter 8

The late morning sun filtered through the canopy of the forest, casting dappled light across the ground. It was quiet from where we were at, the usual sounds of camp seemed a world away as we strolled through the labyrinth of trees. The muddy ground had been trampled by the recent storm, leaving behind a mix of slushy patches and puddles.

Annabeth walked slightly ahead, her head tilted as she took in the surroundings. Her Yankees cap was now tucked away in her jacket pocket. She turned back while she was still walking and looked at me. "Why does everything look so… messy? Did something happen?"

I sighed, glancing around at the disarray. "Yeah, there was a huge storm last night. It hit right during the Capture the Flag game."

Her eyebrows rose in surprise. "During the game? That must have been chaotic."

I nodded. "You have no idea. The wind was so strong it was like trying to fight a hurricane. Trees were bending in the wind and there were these crazy lightning strikes."

Annabeth's grey eyes widened with interest. "That sounds intense. But at least you managed to finish the game?"

"Actually, we did," I said. "We played against the Hunters. We beat them, you know. "

Her face lit up. "The Hunters? They're here? How did you manage that?"

"Let's just say I got help from a certain daughter of Zeus," I said, trying to keep my tone casual but feeling a bit hesitant as the words left my mouth.

Annabeth's smile faltered, just for a moment. Her brows knit together as she processed what I said. "Thalia helped you guys win?"

"Yeah," I said, glancing away briefly. "She told me where the flag was, helped with positioning. Everything. She was still mad about how we lost to the Hunters the last time we played."

Annabeth's expression tightened slightly, though she tried to keep her tone neutral. "Thalia turning against the Hunters, even just for Capture the Flag... that doesn't sound like her. She's usually really loyal."

I tried to keep my voice steady, but my stomach churned. "She's... been going through some stuff. Second-guessing things."

Annabeth tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing as she studied me. "Like what?"

I shrugged, avoiding her gaze, already regretting bringing it up. "She's thinking about leaving the Hunt. She talked to me about it."

Annabeth blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Leaving the Hunt? Why?"

I hesitated, my mind racing. I shouldn't have said anything. Now I was in too deep, and there was no way I could explain it all without diving into the kiss, the storm, and everything else that had happened. "I don't know," I said, trying to sound casual, but it came out stilted. "I think she's just tired of everything. Maybe she wants a change."

Annabeth frowned, her grey eyes sharp as she looked at me, her expression thoughtful but guarded. "You two have been talking a lot, haven't you?"

I forced myself to meet her gaze, feeling my stomach twist. "Yeah, I guess," I muttered, realizing how bad it sounded. My words felt heavier than I intended, like I'd just revealed more than I should have.

Annabeth's frown deepened, her eyes searching my face like she was trying to read between the lines. "Oh... Did she say anything else?"

I swallowed hard, wishing I could rewind the conversation. The last thing I needed was for this to spiral further. "No, not really," I said, my voice a little too steady, trying not to give anything away. "She didn't get into specifics. Just... said things were different for her now."

Her lips pressed together in a thin line, like she was piecing something together, but she decided not to push. Instead, she gave a small, tight smile. "Well, I hope she figures it out."

"Yeah," I muttered, relieved the conversation was shifting. "She'll figure it out. She always does."

We fell into an awkward silence for a moment, the crunch of the slushy ground underfoot the only sound. Then, Annabeth broke the tension, her tone lighter but still a bit cautious. "Whatever's going on with Thalia, just make sure you don't get zapped by her. We've got enough problems without you getting struck by lightning."

I chuckled, grateful for the shift in mood. "I'll try to avoid that."

Annabeth smiled, but I could tell she was still mulling things over. The tension had mostly eased, but there was something lingering just beneath the surface. She let it go—for now.

As we kept walking, the mood shifted, becoming lighter. Annabeth brushed a stray leaf off her jacket and turned to me. "So, you ready for Olympus. I'm so excited I don't think I can wait any longer. We can talk to Mr. D about getting the camp van and having Argus drive us. He'll probably complain about it, but it's worth a shot."

I raised an eyebrow. "You think Mr. D will let us take the van that easily?"

She looked at. "We'll have to sweet-talk him. Well, I'll sweet-talk him. You'll probably just irritate him like usual."

I chuckled, feeling some of the tension finally ease. "You know me too well."

We walked for a bit longer, the forest thinning as we neared the edge of camp. The late morning sun made the ice patches on the ground glisten, but the air still held a lingering chill. Despite the lighter conversation, I could feel the weight of earlier words still hanging in the background, not heavy enough to drag us down, but not completely gone either.

Annabeth took her Yankees hat out of her jacket pocket as we reached the clearing. She turned toward me, her smile playful but a little more hesitant than usual. "Let's meet at the Big House in like... twenty minutes? That's enough time to pack some of your things, right?"

"Sounds okay to me," I replied, matching her smile, though part of me was still trying to figure out if we were really okay.

As we reached the edge of the forest, Annabeth paused, her fingers tracing the brim of her cap. She gave me a small, teasing grin, but I could see the hint of nerves behind it, like she was trying a little too hard to act casual.

"You know the drill," she said, slipping the cap through her fingers. "I'm still trying to keep a low profile, so you won't see much of me until we meet at the Big House."

I gave a small laugh, trying to push past the lingering awkwardness. "Yeah, because a daughter of Athena can't handle a little attention, right?"

She rolled her eyes, though her smile softened just a bit. "I can handle attention just fine, Seaweed Brain. I just don't need every camper probing me about my love life."

I opened my mouth to reply, but before I could say anything else, she slipped the cap onto her head and disappeared, the space she'd just been standing in now empty. I felt the faint sense of her presence still nearby, though it was more of a feeling than anything.

"See you in twenty," her voice echoed, invisible now, and I grinned at the familiar quirk of her invisibility, though the smile didn't fully reach my eyes.

"See you," I muttered to the empty air, turning back toward camp.

I headed back to my cabin, trying to push all the tangled thoughts aside. Inside, the familiar space felt strangely quiet. I grabbed my backpack, tossing in the essentials without much thought—sword, some nectar, ambrosia, an extra jacket.

Before I knew it, I was already at the Big House, the path there a blur of scattered thoughts and automatic steps. Annabeth appeared right next to me as I was about to walk up the porch steps.

"Ready?" she asked as she tucked her hat back in her pocket.

I nodded, though I couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. The conversation with Mr. D was probably not going to go as smoothly as either of us hoped.

As we walked up the porch steps, I spotted Mr. D sitting at a small table, engrossed in what looked like another complicated card game. He didn't look up as we approached, but I could tell he knew we were there. Annabeth cleared her throat.

"Mr. D," she said, voice steady but respectful. "We were hoping we could borrow the camp van to go to Olympus for the day. Just a quick trip, and we'll be back by tonight."

Mr. D didn't look up from his game, his fingers lazily shuffling the cards. "Oh, joy," he muttered, dripping with sarcasm. "Another thrilling request from my favorite demigods. And why, pray tell, would I allow that?"

Annabeth took a step forward, her expression determined. "We've done a lot for this camp—"

He cut her off with a dismissive wave. "Yes, yes, saving the world, blah, blah. What a joy it must be, being young and so heroic."

I glanced at Annabeth, sensing the shift in her patience. She was holding it together, but Mr. D's complete indifference was clearly pushing her buttons.

"We're only asking for one day," she pressed. "We need to get to Olympus, and it would be a huge help."

Finally, Mr. D looked up, his eyes locking on Annabeth with mild surprise, as if noticing her for the first time. His brow furrowed slightly, and for a second, I thought he might actually be considering it.

Then he leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "You want to take the camp van. For a joyride to Olympus. How adorable."

I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, Annabeth jumped back in. "It's important, Mr. D. Please. We'll be careful, and you won't have to worry about anything."

Mr. D stared at her for a moment, then sighed dramatically. "I'm gonna say no."

Annabeth clenched her fists, but kept her voice calm. "Come on, Mr. D. We'll owe you a favor or something. We'll even—"

"Enough!" he interrupted, his voice sharp. " No van. No favors. Now run along before I turn you into dolphins."

I felt Annabeth's frustration beside me, her foot tapping the porch lightly as she tried to hold back a more forceful response. But Mr. D was done talking. He waved his hand, dismissing us as if we were no more than a slight nuisance to his afternoon.

We hadn't made it more than a few steps from the Big House when Annabeth let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing her temples as she muttered under her breath. "I can't believe he's making this so difficult. It's just a van! How are we supposed to get there now?"

I shrugged, trying to think of alternatives as we continued walking away from the Big House. Annabeth didn't seem to care about avoiding other campers anymore. "Well, Blackjack's not around, and neither are the pegasi. And we definitely don't have enough drachmas for a cab ride to Manhattan."

Annabeth opened her mouth to say something, but before she could get a word out, a voice called from behind us. "Need a hand?"

We both turned to see Thalia standing a few feet away, arms crossed, bag slung over one shoulder. She looked like she hadn't slept, but her grin was unmistakable. Her eyes flicked between us, lingering a little longer than usual, especially when they landed on me.

"Thalia!" Annabeth's eyes lit up, and she immediately closed the distance between them, pulling her into a tight hug. "I didn't know if you were still here!"

Thalia returned the hug with equal enthusiasm, a chuckle escaping her. "The Hunters left this morning. I had some stuff to finish up here." She pulled back, giving Annabeth a quick once-over. "Look at you, Miss Architect of Olympus."

Annabeth laughed, stepping back but still beaming. "It's been too long. How have you been?"

"Busy, but you know how it goes." Thalia's eyes shifted toward me, and I gave a small, awkward wave.

"Good to see you, Percy," Thalia added, but her voice had a layer of something else—something Annabeth couldn't catch, but I did.

"Yeah," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "You too." Having both Annabeth and Thalia together felt a little surreal, especially after last night.

Thalia's gaze shifted back to me. "You two look like you're scheming something."

Annabeth let out a soft laugh, glancing at me briefly before answering. "We were trying to convince Mr. D to let us borrow the camp van so we could head to Olympus for the day. But he wasn't in a generous mood."

Thalia raised an eyebrow, her eyes flicking between Annabeth and me again. "Olympus, huh? Just the two of you?" she said casually, but there was something in her voice—a hint of confusion.

"Yeah," Annabeth said, oblivious as she smiled. "Just for the day. Percy and I need some time to catch up."

Thalia's grin faltered for just a moment. Her gaze shifted to me, and I could see the unspoken question in her eyes. What about last night?

I didn't have an answer for her.

"Sounds... nice." A brief flash of pain flickered in her eyes, subtle enough to miss if you weren't looking closely. Her gaze shifted toward me, something unsaid lingering between us. "Well, if you're looking for a ride, I might be able to help."

Annabeth blinked in surprise. "Help how?"

Thalia's looked back at Annabeth. "I can hot-wire the camp van for you. No big deal."

Annabeth's eyebrows shot up, clearly taken aback. "Wait, you can hot-wire cars now?"

Thalia shrugged as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "You pick up a few skills when you run with a bunch of immortal Huntresses." She glanced at me again, her smirk fading just slightly. "Besides, I've got to catch up with the Hunters anyway. I can give you two a lift."

Annabeth beamed, "That would be amazing. Thanks, Thalia. We'd really appreciate it."

I, on the other hand, couldn't shake the unease creeping in. Thalia's offer was helpful but the thought of the three of us in a van together would feel like being in a pressure cooker.

Thalia shrugged, her tone casual, but her eyes sharp when they finally met mine. "It's no big deal."

The words hung in the air for a moment, and I caught a subtle shift in her posture. Annabeth, oblivious to the tension, smiled brightly. "Let's head over, then."

As we made our way toward the camp borders, conversation started out light enough—mostly small talk about the weather, the game, and the usual banter—but it didn't take long for the silence to creep in. The air between us grew heavier with each step, the tension from before still buzzing in the background. Thalia walked slightly ahead, her bag slung over one shoulder, her eyes forward but occasionally flicking toward Annabeth and me.

Annabeth probably sensed the shift but chose not to acknowledge it, at least not directly. Instead, she made a few attempts at conversation, pointing out the leftover puddles from the storm or joking about the state of the camp van. But even her voice seemed a little quieter than usual, like she knew there was more going on beneath the surface.

When we finally neared the parking lot, the van sat parked just on the other side of the Big House, half-hidden by the trees. It looked innocent enough, like it hadn't just become the subject of our escape plan. The three of us paused for a second, eyes scanning the area to make sure Mr. D wasn't lurking anywhere nearby. Luckily, the porch where he usually held court was empty, and we all breathed a little easier.

"I guess Dionysus took a break from tormenting campers," I muttered, trying to break the silence that had settled over us.

Thalia's eyes were already locked on the van as she approached it with the confidence of someone who had done this before—or at least, someone who didn't mind breaking a few rules.

She knelt beside the driver's side door, her hands deftly working at the lock. "Okay, just keep an eye out," she said, her voice low but steady.

I leaned against a nearby tree, doing my best to act casual, though my mind was a whirlwind of questions. Annabeth stood nearby Thalia, her eyes scanning the camp in that methodical way she did when assessing a situation, but I caught her sneaking a glance at Thalia's hands as they worked. "You're sure you know what you're doing?" she asked, though there was a teasing edge to her voice.

Thalia didn't look up, her smirk audible even if it wasn't visible. "Oh, please. Give me some credit."

It took her no more than a few seconds to get the door open. I watched as she slid into the driver's seat, pulling a couple of wires from under the dashboard. There was a faint click, and then—like magic—the engine purred to life. Thalia grinned as she looked up, satisfied. "Told you."

Annabeth let out a laugh, shaking her head. "Remind me never to underestimate you."

"For sure," Thalia replied, giving a quick, almost smug glance in my direction before she gestured for us to get in.

Without wasting another second, Annabeth climbed into the passenger seat, while I slipped into the back. The interior of the van was as old and beat-up as I remembered, the faint smell of worn leather and sweat hanging in the air.

Thalia adjusted the mirrors, her fingers tapping the steering wheel lightly before pulling the van onto the dirt road that led out of camp. The engine rumbled low, filling the silence that hung in the air.

Annabeth, sitting in the passenger seat, shifted her bag onto her lap and glanced over at Thalia. "So… what else have you been up to?" she asked, keeping her tone light, almost too casual.

Thalia's eyes stayed on the road, but there was a small flicker in her expression—something almost unreadable, quickly masked. "Same old, same old," she said, shrugging slightly. "You know how it is."

Annabeth nodded, though her gaze lingered on Thalia a moment longer than usual, like she was trying to figure out if there was more behind those words. "Yeah, I get it. Things have been pretty crazy on my end too." She let out a soft laugh, as if to ease the tension she probably didn't fully understand. "Olympus is… well, it's a lot."

Thalia glanced sideways at her, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "You? Struggling with Olympus? Never thought I'd hear that."

"Hey," Annabeth replied, her smile faint but there, "even I need a break sometimes."

The van rumbled on, the silence returning but feeling heavier now, like something was pressing down on all three of us. From my spot in the back, I shifted, trying to act casual even though the tension between them was starting to gnaw at me.

Annabeth and Thalia kept up the conversation as we drove, but something about it didn't flow like it usually did. They were best friends, but today, their words felt stilted—almost forced. There were pauses where there shouldn't have been, moments where one of them seemed to search for something to say, only for the other to fill the gap with a simple nod or an awkward laugh. I sat in the back, quietly watching, sensing the tension in every unspoken word.

I noticed that the longer they talked the more I could see flashes of pain in Thalia's eyes through the rear-view mirror, as if talking to Annabeth was like repeatedly touching a hot stove.

Annabeth adjusted in her seat, glancing over at Thalia. "So, how's the Hunt been treating you?" she asked, her voice was casual, but there was a hint of curiosity behind it.

Thalia's hands tightened on the steering wheel for just a second, barely noticeable, before she shrugged. "Same as always. Never a dull moment."

"Mm," Annabeth replied, looking out the window, her fingers idly tracing the strap of her bag. "I bet. Seems like you're always moving."

Thalia glanced at me in the rearview mirror, a flicker of something crossing her face—like she was waiting for a signal, something unsaid. I caught her eye for a second, but she quickly turned her attention back to the road. "Yeah, we get around."

There was a pause, the quiet between them growing more pronounced, like they were both tiptoeing around something bigger.

Annabeth shifted, her voice a little softer now. "I've been thinking... it must be hard, always out there, never really staying in one place. Are you still happy there? I mean… if you're feeling like you need a change, maybe we can talk some more about it if you need to."

Thalia's grip tightened on the steering wheel, knuckles white for a second. Annabeth's words clearly caught her off guard. I saw the flicker of surprise in her eyes before she quickly pushed it down.

"Happy?" Thalia said, her voice a bit too casual, trying to dismiss Annabeth's words. "Yeah. It's what I signed up for, right?"

I could see Annabeth's curiosity lingering, like she was piecing something together, but she didn't press further. Instead, she gave a small nod, leaning back in her seat. "That's good to hear."

Just as the silence settled in again, the van jerked violently to the left.

Thalia cursed under her breath, yanking the wheel as something large and fast darted into the middle of the road—a flash of scales. I barely had time to register what was happening before we were spinning out of control.

Tires screeched, and my stomach lurched as we flipped, my body slamming hard against the seatbelt. The air was ripped from my lungs, every jolt rattling my bones as gravity yanked me in every direction at once. The sounds were deafening—metal tearing, glass shattering, the thudding impacts of the car hitting ground again and again. I lost track of how many times we flipped. All I could do was hold on and wait for it to stop.

We finally stopped rolling. The world felt tilted, and it took me a moment to realize the van had landed on its side, the driver's side pinned against the dirt. My head throbbed as I tried to orient myself. The windshield was a jagged mess, cracked like a spider's web in a hundred directions. I groaned and reached for my seatbelt.

Thalia sat slumped in the driver's seat, completely still. Blood trickled down from a small cut on her forehead, and her chest rose and fell shallowly. Annabeth was already free of her seatbelt, crouching awkwardly as she checked on Thalia.

"She'll be okay," Annabeth said, though her voice was tight. "We need to make the area's safe. I'm not in any position to pull Thalia out right now. You look beat up, but you'll have to do it."

She wasn't wrong. I was struggling to come back to reality. Annabeth grabbed her backpack, pushing herself upright as best she could, and I fumbled with my seatbelt, managing to free myself after a few clumsy tries.

We climbed out through one of the shattered windows, both of us moving sluggishly. Every muscle in my body felt heavy. The crisp air outside hit my face, sharp and bracing, helping me shake off the daze.

We moved around the van to the broken windshield. I reached in first, carefully lifting Thalia's limp form. Annabeth climbed inside to help guide her out, and together we maneuvered her through the broken windshield, trying to avoid the sharp edges. My muscles screamed with effort, but I refused to let go.

I finally pulled her free, lowering her gently to the ground. Her head lolled to the side, but her breathing was steady. I propped her up against the side of the van, making sure she was stable.

Annabeth stood beside me, scanning the road. The forest was eerily still, but something felt wrong. "What the hades happened?" She muttered, more to herself than anyone else.

Then I spotted them.

Out in the distance, two figures—slender, unnaturally graceful—moving toward us. They were far enough that the details were blurry, but close enough for the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up.

Annabeth had already fished through her bag and drawn out her dagger. I reached into my pocket and uncapped Riptide. My arm was throbbing so badly I could barely grip the sword.

As the creatures moved closer, the sound reached us—faint at first, then unmistakable.

The hiss of a hundred snakes.

"Look away!" Annabeth shouted. We both looked away and at each other. I saw a wave of panic go over Annabeth. I probably didn't look much better.

I didn't have to think twice about listening to her. I had heard this sound before, and I did not feel like getting turned into stone. The monsters' footsteps gradually became as loud as the snakes. They were so close to us.

"I wouldn't worry about turning into ssstone, darlingsss." One of them hissed. Her voice was raspy and feminine. Filled with malice.

"Unfortunately, we're not as blesssed as our other sisssster." The other voice added, equally vile.

I certainly did not want to risk looking at them. But I knew Medusa's voice personally, and neither of those voices—as awful as they were—belonged to her. I tried to remember the mythological story of the two snake-like women, but it was hard to think after the big crash. I knew they were called something kinda weird. Florgins? Wargons?

"Gorgons," Annabeth muttered to me, like she had plucked the word right out of my head. She turned towards them, "What do you want?"

"Jussst you, my dear." The first gorgon replied.

Before I could even process what was happening, they lunged. I should've seen it coming—probably should have expected it—but I didn't. The impact was like getting hit by a freight train. The two gorgons crashed into us with a force that knocked the breath out of me.

I went flying backward, the ground spinning beneath me, and for a moment, I felt just as dazed as I had when the van had flipped.

"We can look at them!" Annabeth yelled. I scrambled to my feet, tightening my grip on Riptide and prepared to take a swing. The gorgons looked just like Medusa—dark green skin, and heads writhing with snakes. Even though their eyes didn't turn me to stone, a wave of fear surged through me as I remembered my first encounter with their sister. Their massive, glinting knives didn't help ease my nerves either.

They were fast—faster than any human or regular monster. Every time I swung my sword, they dodged effortlessly, and it took everything I had to deflect their attacks. I was barely holding my own against them.

The fight became a relentless cycle. Swing. Strafe. Block. The gorgons were working together, gradually positioning themselves to separate me and Annabeth. I felt like I was starting to gain the upper hand with one of them, but then I heard Annabeth cry out in pain. I glanced over just in time to see one of the gorgons had landed a solid cut on Annabeth's arm.

That split second of distraction was all the opening the other gorgon needed. She swung the hilt of her blade hard at my head. The impact was brutal. My legs buckled, and I collapsed to the ground, dazed. My vision swam, dark spots clouding my sight as I tried to force myself up, but it was no use. I was too stunned.

The last thing I saw before everything went black was the gorgons dragging Annabeth's limp body into the forest, disappearing into the shadows.