We Are Cursed (A Percy Jackson AU) || BOOK 2

Chapter 21 || Annabeth

Annabeth hadn't ever been a fan of fast rollercoasters. This was ten times worse. The moment they got out onto the sidewalk, she puked her guts out, spilling everything she had that day into a bush nearby. Frank was doing the same. Nico, however, seemed perfectly fine, just slightly paler.

"You okay?" Annabeth gasped after she had finished her vomiting.

"Yeah." Nico yawned. "Just a bit tired, that's it. Shadow-traveling takes up energy."

She nodded before Frank stumbled over, shaking his head.

"Where are we now?" he asked.

"Somewhere about ten feet in front of that building," Nico pointed to the tall skyscraper.

"Okay..." Annabeth pulled up the image on her watch. "We need to follow this route."

She began to draw a route in red ink on top of the holographic picture using her finger. It passed right through like a bloody slash before ending with a stab on the castle.

"We'll have to pass through some woods," Nico said. "Only the gods know what's gonna happen when we get in there."

"Hopefully, we find a hydra," Frank replied before tying his shoelaces, one having gone mysteriously undone. "But we've got no time to waste. Is anyone up for some food?"

"I think buying some from the gas station and waiting until our stomachs stop churning is a good idea," Annabeth gagged.

Nico nodded and they crossed the street to enter the gas station. Annabeth selected some blue sodas from the fridge before buying packs of beef jerky and energy bars. Nico had picked out bags of chips and cookies. Frank had grabbed instant noodles, matches, and some plastic forks. Getting out of the gas station, they began their hike.

Gods, no, it wasn't like the ones families took on vacations. They were on the edges of mountains on slivers of rocks with barely enough room for a foot to fit on. Squeezing themselves between boulders because scaling a cliff wasn't the ideal option. It was hardcore. Annabeth felt the stone underneath her lurch and she gasped, catching the attention of the other group members.

"You okay there, Annabeth?" Frank asked, grabbing onto another stone.

"Yeah, sorry, I just slipped a little," she said, slightly embarrassed.

Annabeth continued upwards, looking around to see if there was a view of the castle. Then, she remembered. She had a shapeshifter on her team! What was she waiting for?

"Frank!" she called.

"Yeah?" Frank asked, turning to face her.

"Do you think you could turn into an eagle and see if the trail is anywhere near?" Annabeth asked. "I'd ask you to turn into a dragon, but I don't wanna push your limits too hard."

"Sure. And now that you mention it... We're almost off this mountain trail. It'll be easier for me to take off when we're in the forest, and Nico can shadow-travel. Having you on my back is just the right amount of weight," Frank said.

Annabeth sighed in relief. "Good, because I'm about to collapse with fear any second now!"

Nico mumbled something and she turned her head to see him. "Huh?"

"What?" Nico looked up.

"You said something and I didn't catch it... What was it?"

"Oh, nothing," he waved it away.

Annabeth frowned but said nothing as they continued climbing the mountain. She looked down and felt her heart drop to her stomach. They were over a roaring gorge, the wind whistling with death. She thought about Percy... What he was going through. She had to get through this. For him.

She took another step and paused as she felt something shift under her feet. Before she could register what was happening, the rocks gave way beneath her as she hurtled through the air.

"HELP!" she screamed as she fell.

The wind was roaring in her ears and she screamed when a rock hit her in the face. Oof. That was sure to leave a bruise.

"ANNABETH!" she felt sharp talons grabbing her and they cut her skin as a bird's cry broke through.

She was roughly dropped on a boulder as Frank collapsed next to her, breathing heavily. Nico was at their side in an instant, checking them.

"Gods... are you okay?" he gasped, looking them over.

"I'm good," Frank panted. "Just tired."

"I'm alright... thanks to you," Annabeth breathed, beyond grateful for the talons of Frank's eagle form.

"No problem. I mean... what are friends for?" Frank smiled.

Annabeth gave him a half-smile before Nico sighed, helping her up.

"We've gotta keep going before it gets dark," Frank announced as he got up from the boulder, brushing the dirt off of himself.

"How far until we reach the forest? I guess the ideal goal is to get to the forest by nightfall so we can set up a camp. Hanging out here doesn't seem like a stable place to sleep," Annabeth motioned around herself.

"Let's just keep going..." Frank turned into an eagle, soaring up into the air. He came back, landing on two feet. "We're not too far. If we move quickly, we can get to the beginning of the forest in two hours time."

"Good," Annabeth nodded as she hoisted herself up the rocks, looking over the horizon.

She smiled to herself as she saw the clear blue sky. He'd always loved blue, especially ocean blue.

"Best color of this planet if you ask me," Percy said, biting into a blue cookie.

"Why's that, Seaweed Brain?" Annabeth laughed, her small twelve-year-old hand slipping into his.

"Because 70% of the planet is blue," Percy responded. "Where else do you think the oceans are? In the sky? My ass."

"Percy! Langauge!"

"Sorry! It slipped out!" he laughed. "Do you want a cookie?"

"I thought you'd never ask." Annabeth chuckled, snatching the cookie out of his bag.

"Hey! That was the last one!" Percy pouted.

"Sorry, Kelp Head!" Annabeth smirked. "This cookie belongs in my stomach."

"Annabeth, stop!"

Frank's call got her attention and she realized that she was right before a huddle of trees.

"We're at the perfect campsite."

She smiled at the stars in the sky before looking down to see Frank turn into a small dragon, blowing fire down on the wood Nico had gathered.  The fire lit up the night like a flicker of hope.

"Get the water on the stove, Frank!" Annabeth tossed him a bottle of water.

He placed it on a hollow rock he'd found, the water bubbling as he added in the instant noodles.

"Not this again!" Nico whined before taking the bowl of noodles reluctantly, blowing on the steaming hot, spicy noodles.

"I've always loved the heat. That's why I buy extra spicy instant ramen. It just makes me happy," Percy said, casually slurping in a noodle while Annabeth panted from the heat.