Lost

37

"Calm down! Calm down!" Thalia screamed as everyone started yelling and hastily trying to exit the car. "We're fine! That arrow—it's a hunter of Artemis's!"

Just as Thalia had predicted, several girls all in silver puffy coats and wearing moon themed jewelry approached us, all of them with bows in their hands and sheaths of arrows slung over their backs.

A few girls apologized insincerely about the van and all I could think about was how pissed Argus would be.

Then one of the younger girls stepped out and peered at us coldly. Her eyes were as gray as the moon and her long, auburn hair was pulled back in a ponytail.

"I am truly sorry about that," Lady Artemis said and with a flick of her wrist the windshield became whole again and all the glass that had impaled me was gone, not even a mark where they had touched me.

Everyone stared at Artemis in awe. Well, except for Thalia, who was pushing people in the face in an attempt to join her sisters.

"Lady Artemis, I can't believe you're here!" Thalia greeted as she rushed over to her. Artemis smiled timidly.

"I wouldn't miss a battle like this," she said weakly.

Then thunder boomed overhead. I peered up at the sky and scowled. "We get it! You don't like me!"

Artemis frowned. "No, I'm afraid that thunder was for me. My father....he isn't too keen I'm here and helping out. I'm afraid I also will have to leave early."

Leo shook his head profusely. "No offense, Lady Artemis and all her godliness, but you just got here. You sure you can't just help us out?"

Artemis looked taken aback by Leo.

"You'll get used to him," Thalia commented. "And, guys, don't blame Lady Artemis. I'm grateful she's even here. Now let's get going."

We all grumbled but agreed to get going. The walk was long but fairly easy as the road was flat and there was practically no one else.

I placed Annabeth's Yankee hat on when I could see the building. As I placed it on my head I inhaled the scent of lemons, which calmed me.

"I'll break the door open, girls, be ready to aim!" Artemis commanded as she peered at the door and aimed her mighty loaded bow at it.

As she released the arrow lighting cracked overhead. The door burst open upon impact and blew it off its hinges. Thousands upon thousands of little spiders all started to crawl out and scuttle towards us.

I pulled out Riptide and dodged several spiders. I watched as they climbed up my friend's legs. Leo screeched like a little kid.

I ran past them and into the warehouse. It was a run of the mill creepy abandoned warehouse that you saw in horror movies. It was absolutely covered from head to toe in spider webs and spiders—dead and alive.

Why can't villains spice things up and, I dunno, store hostages in a luxury hotel?

I ran up the creaky metal side stairs and down some ominous hallway. After trying most of the room doors I learned they were all locked.

The first door looked most used, so I took Riptide and slashed at it.

Inside it was dim. The only light poured in from a high industrial window. In the middle of the room sat a dim figure, her wrists in chains.

"Annabeth?" I whispered as I approached the figure and lifted her up. I shoved the Yankees cap off.

There sat Reyna. Her face was ghostly pale and she could barely hold her eyes open. She was dressed in her praetor's uniform but her cape had been torn off and ripped to shreds. Her hands were cold and she was full of blood.

Reyna peered up at me and grabbed my shoulders to support herself. "Percy, I'm s-so sorry. It's A-Annabeth....she's dead."