Theo's POV
Annabeth screaming was the last thing I ever wanted to hear, especially right now.
Polyphemus: I GOT NOBODY!
We crept to the cave entrance and saw the Cyclops, grinning wickedly, holding up empty air. The monster shook his fist, and a baseball cap fluttered to the ground. There was Annabeth, hanging upside down by her legs.
Polyphemus: Hah! Nasty invisible girl! Already got feisty one for wife. Means you gotta be grilled with mango chutney!
Annabeth struggled, but she looked dazed. She had a nasty cut on her forehead. Her eyes were glassy.
Theo: I'll rush him. Percy, take Clarisse and Grover back to the ship. I'll—
Percy, Grover, & Clarisse: No way.
Percy had uncapped Riptide. Clarisse had armed herself with a highly collectible rams-horn spear from the Cyclops's cave. Grover had found a sheep's thigh bone, which he didn't look too happy about, but he was gripping it like a club, ready to attack.
Clarisse: We'll take him together.
Grover: Yeah.
Theo: (sighs) Alright. Attack plan Macedonia.
They nodded. We'd all taken the same training courses at Camp Half-Blood. They knew what I was talking about. They would sneak around either side and attack the Cyclops from the flanks while I held his attention in the front. Probably what this meant was that we'd all die instead of just me, but I was grateful for the help.
I raised my sword and shouted off the top of my lungs.
Theo: HEY, DIPSHIT!
The giant whirled toward me.
Polyphemus: Another one? Who are you?
Theo: Put my friend down, dumbass! I'm the one who was insulting you!
Polyphemus: You are Nobody?
Theo: You're damn fucking right I am, you nasty bipedal sack of dragon shit! I'm Nobody and I'm fucking proud of it! Now, put her down and get your big ass over here so I could stab your eye out again!
Polyphemus: RAAAWWWR!
The good news: he dropped Annabeth. The bad news: he dropped her headfirst onto the rocks, where she lay motionless like a rag doll.
The other bad news: Polyphemus barreled toward me, a thousand smelly pounds of Cyclops that I would have to fight with a very small sword.
Grover: FOR PAN!
Grover rushed in from the right. He threw his sheep bone, which bounced harmlessly off the monster's forehead. Clarisse ran in from the left and set her spear against the ground just in time for the Cyclops to step on it. He wailed in pain, and Clarisse dove out of the way to avoid getting trampled. But the Cyclops just plucked out the shaft like a large splinter and kept advancing on me.
Percy slashed the giant's ankle with his sword and dodged just in time to avoid a kick from Polyphemus.
The monster made a grab for me. I rolled aside and stabbed him in the thigh.
I was hoping to see him disintegrate, but this monster was much too big and powerful.
Theo: GET ANNABETH!
He rushed over, grabbed her invisibility cap, and picked her up while Clarisse, Percy, and I tried to keep Polyphemus distracted.
I have to admit, Clarisse was brave. She charged the Cyclops again and again. He pounded the ground, stomped at her, grabbed at her, but she was too quick. As soon as she made an attack, I followed up by stabbing the monster in the toe the ankle, or the hand, while I flew around and went for the knees and hips.
But we couldn't keep this up forever. Eventually, we would tire or the monster would get in a lucky shot. It would only take one hit to kill us.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Grover carrying Annabeth across the rope bridge. It wouldn't have been my first choice, given the man-eating sheepiranhas on the other side, but at the moment that looked better than this side of the chasm, and it gave me an idea.
Theo: FALL BACK!
Clarisse rolled away as the Cyclops's fist smashed the olive tree beside her.
We ran for the bridge, Polyphemus right behind us. He was cut up and hobbling from so many wounds, but all we'd done was slow him down and make him mad.
Polyphemus: Grind you into sheep chow! A thousand curses on Nobody!
Theo: MOVE YOUR ASSES!
We tore down the hill. The bridge was our only chance. Grover had just made it to the other side and was setting Annabeth down. We had to make it across, too, before the giant caught us.
Theo: Grover, get Annabeth's knife!
His eyes widened when he saw the Cyclops behind us, but he nodded like he understood. As Clarisse, Percy, and I scrambled across the bridge, Grover began sawing at the ropes.
The first strand went snap!
Polyphemus bounded after us, making the bridge sway wildly. The ropes were now half cut. Clarisse, Percy, and I dove for solid ground, landing beside Grover. Percy made a wild slash with his sword and cut the remaining ropes.
The bridge fell away into the chasm, and the Cyclops howled...with delight because he was standing right next to us.
Polyphemus: FAILED! NOBODY FAILED!
Clarisse and Grover tried to charge him, but the monster swatted them aside like flies.
Percy charged at the Cyclops. He jabbed the Cyclops in the belly. When he doubled over, Percy smacked him in the nose with the hilt of his sword. he slashed and kicked and bashed until the next thing I knew, Polyphemus was sprawled on his back, dazed and groaning, and Percy was standing above him, the tip of his sword hovering over his eye.
Polyphemus: Uhhhhhhh...
Theo: Holy shit.
Grover: Percy, how did you...
Polyphemus: Please, noooo!
His nose was bleeding. A tear welled in the corner of his half-blind eye.
Polyphemus: M-m-my sheepies need me. Only trying to protect my sheep!
He began to sob.
One quick strike, and he would be gone.
Clarisse: Kill him! What are you waiting for?
Percy looked hesitant. I didn't understand why he would hesitate now...But I suddenly understood.
Polyphemus must've reminded Percy of Tyson.
Percy: We only want the Fleece. Will you agree to let us take it?
Clarisse: NO! KILL HIM!
Polyphemus: (sniffs) My beautiful Fleece. Prize of my collection. Take it, cruel human. Take it and go in peace.
Percy: I'm going to step back slowly. One false move...
Polyphemus nodded, and Percy started slowly backing away.
Wait...Polyphemus was too willing to give up the Fleece...OH HELL NO!
Theo: PERCY, LOOK OUT!
Before Percy could react, Polyphemus smacked him to the edge of the cliff.
Polyphemus: Foolish mortal! Take my Fleece? Ha! I eat you first.
He opened his mouth, intending to eat Percy. I quickly deactivated my sword and took out my bow and quiver. I was about to draw an arrow when suddenly...A rock the size of a basketball sailed into Polyphemus's throat.
A beautiful crispy clean 3-pointer that would make Steve Kerr proud.
The Cyclops choked, trying to swallow the unexpected pill. He staggered backward, but there was no place to stagger. His heel slipped, the edge of the cliff crumbled, and the great Polyphemus made chicken wing motions that did nothing to help him fly as he tumbled into the chasm.
I turned.
Halfway down the path to the beach, standing completely unharmed in the midst of a flock of killer sheep, was an old friend.
Tyson: Bad Polyphemus. Not all Cyclopes as nice as we look.
Tyson gave us the short version: Rainbow the hippocampus—who'd apparently been following us ever since the Long Island Sound, waiting for Tyson to play with him—had found Tyson sinking beneath the wreckage of the CSS Birmingham and pulled him to safety. He and Tyson had been searching the Sea of Monsters ever since, trying to find us, until Tyson caught the scent of sheep and found this island.
I really wanted to hug the big guy, but we had bigger problems right now.
Percy: Tyson, thank the gods. Annabeth is hurt!
Tyson: (confused) You thank the gods she is hurt?
Percy: No!
I knelt beside Annabeth and was worried sick by what I saw. The gash on her forehead was worse than I'd realized. Her hairline was sticky with blood. Her skin was pale and clammy.
Grover, Percy, and I exchanged nervous looks. Then an idea came to me.
Theo: Ty, can you get that Fleece over there for me?
Tyson: Which one?
Theo: The gold one hanging from the tree!
Tyson: Oh. Pretty. Yes.
Tyson lumbered over, careful not to step on the sheep. If any of us had tried to approach the Fleece, we would've been eaten alive, but I guess Tyson smelled like Polyphemus because the flock didn't bother him at all. They just cuddled up to him and bleated affectionately, as though they expected to get sheep treats from the big wicker basket. Tyson reached up and lifted the Fleece off its branch. Immediately the leaves on the oak tree turned yellow. Tyson started wading back toward me, but we were in a hurry.
Percy: No time! Throw it!
The gold ram skin sailed through the air like a glittering shag Frisbee. I caught it with a grunt. It was heavier than I'd expected—sixty or seventy pounds of precious gold wool.
I spread it over Annabeth, covering everything but her face, and prayed silently to all the gods I could think of, even the ones I didn't like.
Theo: Please, work. Please...
The color returned to her face. Her eyelids fluttered open. The cut on her forehead began to close. She saw Grover.
Annabeth: You're not...married?
Grover: (grins) Nah. My friends talked me out of it.
I chuckled, and then Annabeth started to sit up.
Theo: Annabeth, just stay down.
But despite our protests, she sat up, and I noticed that the cut on her face was almost completely healed. She looked a lot better. In fact, she shimmered with health, as if someone had injected her with glitter.
Meanwhile, Tyson was starting to have trouble with the sheepiranhas. He ordered them to stay down as they tried to climb him, looking for food. A few were sniffing in our direction.
Tyson: No, sheepies. This way! Come here!
They heeded him, but it was obvious they were hungry, and they were starting to realize Tyson didn't have any treats for them. They wouldn't hold out forever with so much fresh meat nearby.
Percy: We have to go. Our ship is...
The Queen Anne's Revenge was a very long way away. The shortest route was across the chasm, and we'd just destroyed the only bridge. The only other possibility was through the sheep.
Percy: Tyson, can you lead the flock as far away as possible?
Tyson: The sheep want food.
Percy: I know! They want people food! Just lead them away from the path. Give us time to get to the beach. Then join us there.
Tyson looked doubtful, but he whistled.
Tyson: Come, sheepies! Um, people food this way!
He jogged off into the meadow, the sheep in pursuit.
Theo: (to Annabeth) Keep the Fleece around you. Just in case you're not fully healed yet. Can you stand?
She tried, but her face turned pale again.
Annabeth: Ohh. Not fully healed.
Clarisse dropped next to her and felt her chest, which made Annabeth gasp.
Clarisse: Ribs broken. They're mending, but definitely broken.
Theo: How can you tell?
Clarisse: Because I broke a few myself, runt! I'll have to carry her.
Before I could argue, Clarisse picked up Annabeth like a sack of flour and lugged her down to the beach. Percy, Grover, and I followed.
As soon as we got to the edge of the water, Percy focused on the ship. After a few anxious minutes, I saw the ship rounding the tip of the island.
???: INCOMING!
Tyson was bounding down the path to join us, the sheep about fifty yards behind, bleating in frustration as their Cyclops friend ran away without feeding them.
Percy: They probably won't follow us into the water. All we have to do is swim for the ship.
Clarisse: With Annabeth like this?
Theo: We can make it. Once we get to the ship, we're home free.
Percy's POV
We almost made it, too.
We were just wading past the entrance to the ravine, when we heard a tremendous roar and saw Polyphemus, scraped up and bruised but still very much alive, his baby-blue wedding outfit in tatters, splashing toward us with a boulder in each hand.
Then he started wailing boulder after boulder at us, just narrowly missing us each time.
Percy: You'd think he'd run out of rocks.
Grover: Swim for it!
He and Clarisse plunged into the surf. Annabeth hung on to Clarisse's neck and tried to paddle with one hand, the wet Fleece weighing her down. Theo swam over and wrapped an arm around Annabeth and the Fleece, making it easier for them to get Annabeth to the ship.
But the monster's attention wasn't on the Fleece.
Polyphemus: You, young Cyclops! Traitor to your kind!
Tyson froze.
Percy: Don't listen to him! Come on.
I pulled Tyson's arm, but I might as well have been pulling a mountain.
He turned and faced the older Cyclops.
Tyson: I am not a traitor.
Polyphemus: You serve mortals! Thieving humans!
Polyphemus threw his first boulder. Tyson swatted it aside with his fist.
Tyson: Not a traitor. And you are not my kind.
Polyphemus: Death or victory!
Polyphemus charged into the surf, but his foot was still wounded. He immediately stumbled and fell on his face. That would've been funny, except he started to get up again, spitting salt water and growling.
Clarisse: Percy! Come on!
They were almost on the ship with the Fleece. If I could just keep the monster distracted a little longer...
Tyson: Go. I will hold Big Ugly.
Percy: No! He'll kill you.
I'd already lost Tyson once. I wasn't going to lose him again.
Percy: We'll fight him together.
Tyson: Together.
Polyphemus advanced carefully, limping worse than ever. But there was nothing wrong with his throwing arm. He chucked his second boulder. I dove to one side, but I still would've been squashed if Tyson's fist hadn't blasted the rock to rubble.
I willed the sea to rise. A twenty-foot wave surged up, lifting me on its crest. I rode toward the Cyclops and kicked him in the eye, leaping over his head as the water blasted him onto the beach.
Polyphemus: Destroy you! Fleece stealer!
Percy: You stole the Fleece! You've been using it to lure satyrs to their deaths!
Polyphemus: So? Satyrs good eating.
Percy: The Fleece should be used to heal! It belongs to the children of the gods!
Polyphemus: I am a child of the gods!
Polyphemus swiped at me, but I sidestepped.
Polyphemus: Father Poseidon, curse this thief!
He was blinking hard now like he could barely see, and I realized he was targeting me by the sound of my voice.
I started backing up as the Cyclops grabbed air.
Percy: Poseidon won't curse me. I'm his son, too. He won't play favorites.
Polyphemus roared. He ripped an olive tree out of the side of the cliff and smashed it where I'd been standing a moment before.
Polyphemus: Humans not the same! Nasty, tricky, lying!
Theo was helping Annabeth aboard the ship. Clarisse and Grover were waving frantically at me, telling me to come on.
Tyson worked his way around Polyphemus, trying to get behind him.
Polyphemus: Young one! Where are you? Help me!
Tyson froze.
Polyphemus: You weren't raised right! Poor orphaned brother! Help me!
No one moved. No sound but the ocean and my own heartbeat. Then Tyson stepped forward, raising his hands defensively.
Tyson: Don't fight, Cyclops brother. Put down the—
Polyphemus spun toward his voice.
Percy: TYSON!
Suddenly, a glowing silver arrow hit Polyphemus in his right shoulder blade. It created a flurry of silver sparks and a powerful concussive blast that sent Polyphemus flying away from me and Tyson.
I looked back at the ship and saw Theo holding his silver bow and his right forearm glowing silver.
He shot the arrow...but he didn't scream, "SELAS."
I knew he spent the last few months trying to do that, and that was the first time he actually pulled it off.
Theo looked at his right arm in surprise.
I turned around and saw Polyphemus get back up, only for a regular arrow to hit him right in his eye.
Polyphemus yowled in pain. Tyson tackled him, pulling him down. I ran to them—sword in hand, within striking distance of the monster's heart. But I locked eyes with Tyson, and I knew I couldn't do it. It just wasn't right.
Percy: (to Tyson) Let him go. Run.
With one last mighty effort, Tyson pushed the cursing older Cyclops away, and we ran for the surf.
Polyphemus: I will smash you.
His enormous hands were cupped over his eye as Tyson and I plunged into the waves.
Polyphemus: Where are you?
He picked up his tree club and threw it into the water. It splashed off to our right.
I summoned up a current to carry us, and we started gaining speed. I was beginning to think we might make it to the ship when Clarisse shouted from the deck.
Clarisse: YEAH, JACKSON! IN YOUR FACE CYCLOPS!
Shut up, I wanted to yell.
Polyphemus picked up a boulder. He threw it toward the sound of Clarisse's voice, but it fell short, narrowly missing Tyson and me.
Clarisse: YEAH, YEAH! YOU THROW LIKE A WIMP! TEACH YOU TO TRY MARRYING ME, YOU IDIOT!
Theo: CLARISSE, SHUT THE FUCK UP!
Too late. Polyphemus threw another boulder, and this time I watched helplessly as it sailed over my head and crashed through the hull of the Queen Anne's Revenge.
You wouldn't believe how fast a ship can sink. The Queen Anne's Revenge creaked and groaned and listed forward like it was going down a playground slide.
I cursed, willing the sea to push us faster, but the ship's masts were already going under.
Percy: (to Tyson) DIVE!
And as another rock sailed over our heads, we plunged underwater.
My friends were sinking fast, trying to swim, without luck, in the bubbly trail of the ship's wreckage. Not many people realize that when a ship goes down, it acts like a sinkhole, pulling down everything around it. Clarisse was a strong swimmer, but even she wasn't making any progress. Grover frantically kicked with his hooves. Annabeth was hanging on to the Fleece, which flashed in the water like a wave of new pennies. Theo was hanging on to Annabeth tightly while trying to kick himself towards the surface.
I swam toward them, knowing that I might not have the strength to pull my friends out. Worse, pieces of timber were swirling around them; none of my power with water would help if I got whacked on the head by a beam.
We need help, I thought.
Then I heard Tyson's voice loud and clear in my head.
Tyson: Yes.
I looked over at him, startled. I'd heard Nereids and other water spirits speak to me underwater before, but it never occurred to me...Tyson was a son of Poseidon. We could communicate with each other.
Tyson: Rainbow.
I nodded, then closed my eyes and concentrated, adding my voice to Tyson's.
Percy & Tyson: RAINBOW! We need you!
Immediately, shapes shimmered in the darkness below--three horses with fish tails, galloping upward faster than dolphins. Rainbow and his friends glanced in our direction and seemed to read our thoughts. They whisked into the wreckage, and a moment later burst upward in a cloud of bubbles—Theo, Grover, Annabeth, and Clarisse each clinging to the neck of a hippocampus.
Rainbow, the largest, had Clarisse. He raced over to us and allowed Tyson to grab hold of his mane. His friend who bore Annabeth did the same for me.
We broke the surface of the water and raced away from Polyphemus's island. Behind us, I could hear the Cyclops roaring in triumph.
Polyphemus: I did it! I finally sank Nobody!
I hoped he never found out he was wrong.
We skimmed across the sea as the island shrank to a dot and then disappeared.
Annabeth: Did it. We...
She slumped against Theo's back and instantly fell asleep. Almost instinctively, Theo adjusted his position to make Annabeth more comfortable as he made sure she was covered with the Golden Fleece.
I didn't know how far the hippocampi could take us. I didn't know where we were going.
Oh, right...I just remembered...I still owed the gods a debt...And now I owed Theo a pizza.
Theo's POV
I covered Annabeth in the Golden Fleece that we'd been through so much to get and said a silent prayer of thanks. The Fleece was draped over my shoulders as well and Annabeth was sleeping against my back.
I didn't know what I would do if anything had happened to her. I was so worried when I heard her scream, and I was really pissed when I saw that she was badly hurt.
Well, I guess that explains a lot...I have a massive crush on Annabeth Chase.
Theo: You're okay, Wise Girl. We're home free.
I felt the Fleece's power, and I ended up falling asleep.