Lost

18

We arrived at the nearest airport in record time as I was driving and, even though Grover protested, I heavily broke the speeding limit.

With our remaining money we bought two cheap plane tickets and immediately boarded, not even stopping to think about a storm that would most likely occur.

The flight seemed like it lasted forever. Surprisingly, though, there were no storms and the plane was able to fly through the sky clearly.

When we landed we instantly rushed into the street and got a cab to camp, using up all of the money we'd brought with us.

As we rushed through camp it seemed strangely empty, no camper in sight. It wasn't unusual as it was the school year, but there were usually a few satyrs or nymphs playing a volleyball game or hanging around.

"I've gotta go find Juniper," Grover said, clearly panicked. "She'll want to know I'm okay. She was freaking out when I left, so I have to go check on her."

I nodded, although losing Grover by my side did hurt. "Okay, go. Check on Coach Hedge, too, while you're there. Then come to the Big House once you're done, okay?"

He agreed before rushing off towards the woods. I finally made my way to the Big House, which looked equally as deserted as the camp.

Without even bothering to knock, I burst in through the doors and saw no one. Although I heard campers speaking.

I finally found the source of the noise—the meeting room where we would discuss things. As head of Poseidon cabin, I would often attend these meetings.

I pushed the door open and the room fell silent, everyone staring at me, eyes wide and mouthes open.

"Percy, you're back," Chiron said, his voice sounding concerned. He ushered to an empty seat. "Please, take a seat and tell us what you've learned."

I sat down at my usual seat and explained to all the silent heads of cabins what I'd learned. I explained to them everything from Arachne to Reyna.

"That's where he is," a voice said from the end of the table. It was Will Solace, and he had seen better days. His eyes were puffy and red from crying and he looked pale. "Arachne must've taken Nico."

My eyes widened as I peered at Will. "Nico's missing?! Where's Coach Hedge, is he alright?"

Katie Gardener, head counselor of the Demeter cabin, simply nodded. "I saw him this morning and he seemed alright, although Nico has only been missing for two days..."

"You sure he didn't just...leave?" I suggested. "I mean, it's not so unlike him."

Will glared at me angrily. "No, he didn't just leave. He wouldn't! He would've told me, he knows we would all be worried about him. And the Hades cabin looks exactly like how you described Reyna's room to look like."

"If this is Arachne's doings we need to track her down," Chiron said firmly. We all nodded in agreement. "When we find her we'll also find Annabeth, Reyna, and Nico."

Then the door burst open and revealed Coach Hedge and Grover. Coach Hedge was wearing his typical baseball hat and holding his signature weapon of choice—a baseball bat.

"I heard someone was trying to kidnap me?" Coach Hedge growled. "Not today, cupcake..."

Chiron gestured to two empty seats near the table. "Why don't you two sit down while we come up with a plan?"

Coach Hedge muttered something else before sitting down along with Grover, who seemed somewhat terrified of the satyr besides him.

"How will we even find Arachne?" I asked desperately. "We have not clue where she could be. And without the Oracle or a prophecy, there's no way we can find them!"

Chiron sighed as he rubbed his temple. "It is difficult...we need guidance as soon as possible. Since the Oracle hasn't given us any, I think our best bet is to go to Olympus."

I frowned at Chiron. Several campers gasped. "Go to Olympus? Will they even let us?"

"I don't know, Percy," he admitted. "It's not the Winter Solstice yet, but they might let us speak to them. I can't go, of course. I'm only allowed on Olympus when summoned, and since I wasn't you demigods must go alone."

"Who's all going?" Clarisse interjected. "I can't trust this punk not to screw it up..."

"I won't, Clarisse," I replied, too weak to even try and come up with a comeback. "And I volunteer."

Suddenly all sorts of campers, some I'd never even seen before, piped in with volunteers of their own, causing Chiron to sigh and shake his head.

"We need a plan before we have volunteers," Chiron said, shutting everybody up. "Olympus is a very hard place to break into. We may just have to wait until the Winter Solstice."

I shook my head as I straightened up in my seat. "We can't, Chiron! Annabeth could be dead by now, and there's no way of even knowing if she's alive now."

"I see your point, but it's risky. The volunteers for this must be up to the task," he said firmly. "Please only volunteer if this is something you feel you can handle."

"I can, Chiron," I assured him, pleading with him. "I can talk to them, I swear. I just can't sit here and wait."

"I volunteer, too," Hazel piped up. I peered towards the back of the room where she was sitting as the representative for the Hades cabin as Nico was absent. "I can help with the mist in case mortals are nearby."

Chiron nodded. "I agree Percy and Hazel should go, any other volunteers?"

"I volunteer."

Thalia stepped in through the open door, her hand raised. "As a huntress of Artemis I could be useful, and Zeus is my father, so I could appeal to him much better than this kelp head could."

I couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, she's right. Zeus straight up hates me."

"I agree that Thalia should go as well. I think we have our team, you three should leave tomorrow morning," Chiron commented.

"I want to go!" Will protested. "After all, my father is the god of prophecies. Maybe I could help."

We all glared at Will. Even though he was the child of Apollo, the god of prophecies, healing, and music, he hadn't inherited all of his father's talents.

Although Will was an excellent healer he'd never had a prophetic gift in my knowledge and I'd heard him sing at the campfire—he couldn't carry a tune to save his life. And neither could I. Honestly, if I tried I'd probably start an avalanche.

Chiron sighed. "It's too risky. We need a medic like you here, Will. The infirmary can't function without you."

Will sighed. "Fine, but if anyone finds anything out about Nico—"

"You'll be the first to know," I assured Will. "I promise."

He nodded and slumped back in his chair, still looking devastated. I felt bad for the guy, but Chiron was right. Will was clearly more useful here than on Olympus with us.

"Everyone should go off to bed now, big day tomorrow," Chiron advised grimly. "Especially you three."

He dismissed everyone and people started filing back to their respective cabins, so I headed back to the Poseidon cabin alone.