Escapade

My Personal Lift To Hell

Percy

He awoke in a large metal box. At least he thought it was a box. A lurching shudder rattled the metal floor beneath him, causing him to almost fall face first onto the ground.

He decided that maybe it would be best to sit down. Slowly sinking to his feet, he hugged his knees close to his chest in a futile attempt to keep himself warm.

Another jolt. The box shifted upwards like a lift.

He could hear machinery tinkering around him, the clang of metal against metal and the sound of chains and pulleys being hoisted upwards.

The bitter darkness was starting to nauseate him. He was alone. In a freaking metal box, who's messed up idea was this?

My name is Percy, he thought.

That was one of the only things he could remember about his life.

It was strange because he recalled how the world worked and small fragments of broken memories. He could picture snow slowly melting off of trees, a tall building in a busy city, the smell of strawberries on a summers day...

And a name. One simple name. Annabeth. All he knew was that whoever she was she was important. Important to him.

Yet he couldn't remember where he came from or how he had gotten here or who his parents were. He couldn't even remember his last name.

The room continued it's ascent, swaying silently upwards. He knew he wasn't exactly the smartest guy (again, a small nothing he remembered) but he could tell that minutes were stretching into hours. He must've been in this hellhole for at least an hour or so.

An eternity had passed and still nothing happened.

With a groan and a loud clonk, the rising of the room persisted. Percy looked around cautiously. There was no door, no exit, how was he supposed to get out?

He banged his fists on the iron frame causing his knuckles to bruise and bleed. He shouted for help and kicked the door in frustration which resulted in him twisting his ankle. He tried absolutely everything in his power that might get him out, but the box wouldn't budge.

"Someone..." He panted, "please just help me and... Get this... Stupid thing open... And let me out!" He shouted the last words, wasting his leftover breath.

A loud noise rang above him and he squinted in pain as he looked up. A thin strip of sunlight was beginning to widen on the ceiling. He shielded his eyes, which hurt from the sudden light.

Two double doors began sliding open making a heavy grating sound in their wake. After so long in the darkness the sunlight stung but he couldn't look away.

Was he... free?

Noises erupted from above which he determined as voices.

"Woah, woah, woah."

"What is it?"

"Is this some kind of joke?"

"Hey, what's going on?"

"Have a look for yourself."

Percy was feeling slightly disoriented and confused. The voices sounded odd, tinged with echo. He rubbed his eyes hoping they would hurry up and adjust to the light. Squinting, he looked to the origin of the noise.

There were people bending over the hole in the ceiling looking down at him, their faces painted with expressions of shock and bewilderment.

They were different shapes and sizes, just teenagers or young adults, not much older or younger than himself. Some of his fear subsided but nothing was able to calm his racing heart.

Someone lowered a rope with the end tied into a loop. Hesitantly, Percy placed his foot into the loop and clutched the rope while he was hoisted up into the sky.

He was pushed back into solid dirt as eyes scanned him begrudgingly. A tornado of emotions swallowed him whole; was he supposed to be scared, thankful?

Everyone was silent. They looked like people who wanted to ask him a million questions but were just holding back. Just.

Some people looked as though they were about to tear him apart and throw him back into the box while others looked towards him with... pity?

Before Percy could process anything else, someone stepped forward holding out their hand cautiously.

"Nice to meet you," the girl said. "Welcome to the Glade."