°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ENDGAME} act iii. . .
. . .true love, that doesn't exist
CHAPTER ONE°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
— 'rescue mission gone wrong'
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･Percy °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
It was Friday before winter break. My mom packed me an overnight bag and some deadly weapons. We were heading to a new boarding school. We picked up my friends Rayn, Annabeth and Thalia on the way.
It was an eight-hour drive from New York to Bar Harbor, Maine. Sleet and snow pounded the highway. We hadn't seen each other for months, between the blizzard and the thought of what we were about to do, we were too nervous to talk much.
My mom had no problem talking though. She talks more when she's nervous. By the time we got to Westover Hall, it was getting dark. She had told my friends every embarrassing baby story there was to tell about me.
Thalia wiped the fog off the car window and peered outside. "Oh, yeah. This'll be fun."
Westover Hall looked like an evil knight's castle. It was all black stone, with towers and slit windows and a big set of double doors. It stood on a snowy cliff overlooking this big frosty forest on one side and the gray churning ocean on the other.
"Are you sure you don't want me to wait?" My mother asked.
"No thanks, mom," I said. "I don't know how long it will take. We'll be okay."
"But how will you get back? I'm worried, Percy."
I really hope I'm not blushing, it was bad enough that my mom was driving me to my battles.
"It's okay, Ms. Jackson," Rayn smiled reassuringly. Her hair was in a braid, her eyes were the same colour as the ocean. "We'll keep him out of trouble."
My mom seemed to relax a little. She thinks that Rayn is the most responsible demigod. I don't really agree but, whatever stops this embarrassment.
"All right, dears," my mom said. "Do you have everything you need?"
"Yes, Ms. Jackson," Thalia said. "Thanks for the ride."
"Extra sweaters? You have my cell phone number?"
"Mom—"
"Your ambrosia and nectar, Percy? And a golden drachma incase you need to contact camp?"
"Mom, seriously! We'll be fine. Come on, guys."
She looked hurt, I was sorry about that, but I was ready to be out of that car.
The others followed me outside. The wind blew straight through my coat like ice daggers.
Once my mom's car was out of sight, Thalia said: "your mom is so cool, Percy."
"She's pretty okay," I admitted. "What about you? You ever get in touch with your mom?"
As soon as I said it, I wished I hadn't. Thalia gave me the biggest death stare, with her icy blue eyes, lined with black eyeliner. "If that was any of your business, Percy—"
"We'd better get inside," Annabeth interrupted. "Grover will be waiting."
Thalia looked at the castle and shivered. "You're right. I wonder what he found here that made him send the distress call."
I stared up at the dark towers of Westover Hall. "Nothing good," I guessed.
°❀⋆. ೃ࿔*:･
The oak doors groaned open dramatically and the four of us stepped into the entry hall in a swirl of snow.
"Whoa," I gasped. The place was huge. The walls were lined with battle flags and weapon displays: antique rifles, battle axes, and a bunch of other stuff.
Westover Hall is a military school, but jeez, all of this stuff was a little overkill. Literally.
My hand went to my pocket, I could feel my ballpoint pen, Riptide. I could already feel something off in this place.
Thalia was rubbing her silver bracelet, her favourite magic item. I knew we were thinking the same thing, a fight was coming.
Annabeth started to say, "I wonder where—"
The doors slammed behind us.
"Oo-kay," Rayn mumbled. "Guess we'll stay awhile."
I could hear music blasting from the other end of the hall. It sounded like dance music.
We stashed out bags behind a pillar and started down the hall. We didn't get very far when I heard footsteps on the stone floor. A man and a woman marched out to intercept us.
They both had short gray hair and black military-style uniforms with red trim. The woman had a wispy moustache and the man was cleanly shaved, it seemed kind of backwards to me.
"Well?" The woman demanded. "What are you doing here?"
"Um..." I realised we didn't plan this far. "Ma'am we're just—"
"Ha!" The man snapped, which made me jump. "Visitors are not allowed at the dance! You shall be eee-jected!"
He had an accent, French maybe. He pronounced his J like in Jacques. He was tall, with a hawkish face. His eyes were two different colours, one brown, one blue—like an alley cats.
I figured he'd toss us into the snow, until Thalia stepped forward and did something weird.
She snapped her fingers. The sound was sharp and loud. I felt a gush of wind fly past us.
"Oh, but we're not visitors, sir." Thalia said. "We go to school here. You remember: I'm Thalia. And this is Annabeth, Rayn and Percy. We're in the eighth grade."
The male teacher narrowed his odd eyes. I didn't know what Thalia was thinking, or even doing.
He looked at his colleague. "Ms. Gottschalk, do you know these students?"
Despite the fact we were in danger, I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from laughing at her name.
The woman blinked, like someone had woken her up from a trance. "I... yes. I believe I do, sir." She frowned at us. "Annabeth. Rayn. Thalia. Percy. What are you doing away from the gymnasium?"
Before we could answer. I heard more footsteps, and Grover ran up, breathless. "You made it! You—"
He stopped short when he saw the teachers. "Oh, Mrs. Gottschalk. Dr. Thorn! I, uh—"
"What is it, Mr. Underwood?" Said the man. His tone made it clear that he destroyed Grover. "What do you mean, they made it? These students live here."
Grover swallowed. "Yes, sir. Of course, Dr. Thorn. I just meant, I'm so glad they made... the punch for the dance! The punch is great. And they made it!"
Dr. Thorn glared at us. He looked like he wanted to shove us off the castle's highest tower.
"Yes, the punch is excellent. Now run along, all of you. You are not to leave the gymnasium again!" Mrs. Gottschalk said dreamily.
We didn't wait to be told twice. We left with a lot of salutes because it seemed like the right thing to do.
Grover hustled us down the hall in the direction of the music.
I could feel the teachers' eyes on my back, but I walked closely to Thalia and asked in a low voice, "how did you go the finger-snap thing?"
"You mean the Mist? Hasnt Chiron shown you how to do that yet?"
Chiron hadn't shown me anything like that. Why had he shown Thalia and not me?
Grover hurried us towards the door that had Gym written on the glass. Even with my dyslexia, I could read that much.
I looked at Rayn that was staring at the writing still, "it says gym," I whispered to her and she smiled.
"That was close!" Grover said. "Thank the gods you got here!"
Annabeth, Rayn and Thalia hugged Grover. I gave him a big high five.
It was good to see him after so many months. He had gotten a little taller, other than that, he was the same Grover with his red cap and baggy jeans.
"So, what's the emergency?" Rayn asked.
Grover took a few deep breaths. "I found two."
"Two half-bloods?" Thalia asked, amazed. "Here?"
Grover nodded. It was rare to find one, but two half-bloods?
Chiron had put the satyrs on overtime looking for more half-bloods. These were desperate times. We were loosing campers. We needed any new fighters we could get. The problem was, there's not many demigods out there.
"A brother and a sister," he said. "They're ten and twelve. I don't know their parentage, but they're strong. We're running out of time, though. I need help."
"Monsters?"
"One." Grover looked nervous. "He suspects. I don't think he's positive yet, but this is the last day of term. I'm sure he won't let them leave here without finding out. He's always there blocking me from them. I don't know what to do!"
Grover looked at Thalia desperately. I tried not to feel upset by that. Grover used to look to me for answers, but now Thalia had seniority.
"Right," she said. "These half-bloods are at the dance?"
Grover nodded.
"Then, let's dance," Thalia said. "Who's the monster?"
"Oh," Grover said, and looked around nervously. "You just met him. The vice principal, Dr. Thorn."
°❀⋆. ೃ࿔*:･Rayn °❀⋆. ೃ࿔*:･
Military schools are weird. Kids go absolutely nuts when there's a special event and they get to be out of uniform. I guess it's because everything's so strict all the time. I couldn't imagine camp being like that.
There was black and red balloons all over the gym floor, and guys were kicking them in each other's faces, or trying to strangle each other with the crepe-paper streamers taped to the wall.
The girls moved around in football huddles, wearing lots of makeup and tiny tops with brightly coloured pants and shoes that looked like torture.
There was some older guys, that looked uncomfortable, hanging around the edges of the gym, and trying to hide, like any minute they'd have to fight for their lives. Of course, for us, it was true...
"There they are." Grover nodded toward a couple of younger kids arguing in the bleachers. "Bianca and Nico di Angelo."
The girl had a floppy green cap, like she was trying to hide her face. The boy was obviously her brother. They both had dark silky hair and olive skin, and they used their hands a lot as they talked. His sister seemed to be scolding him. She kept looking around like something was wrong.
Annabeth said, "do they... I mean, have you told them?"
Grover shook his head. "You know how it is. That could put them in danger. Once they realise who they are, their scent becomes stronger."
He looked at me, and I nodded. I knew that your 'scent' could get you killed.
"So let's grab them and get out of here," Percy said.
He started to walk over, but Thalia put her hand on his shoulder. The vice principal had slipped out of a door and stranded near the Di Angelo siblings. He nodded coldly in our direction. His blue eye seemed to glow.
Judging from his expression, I guessed he wasn't fooled by the Mist trick Thalia had pulled. He suspected who we were. He just wanted to see why we were here.
"Nobody look at the kids," I said. "We cant let him know we're here for them. Act uninterested in them."
"How?"
"We're four powerful demigods. Our presence should confused him. Mingle. Act natural. But keep an eye on those kids." Thalia ordered.
"Dancing?" Annabeth asked.
Thalia nodded. She cocked her ear to the music and made a face. "Ugh, who chose the Jesse McCartney?"
Grover looked hurt. "I did."
"Oh my gods, Grover. That is so lame. Cant you play like, Green Day or something?"
"Green who?"
"Never mind. Let's dance."
"But I can't dance!"
"You can if I'm leading," Thalia said. "Come on, goat boy."
Grover yelped as Thalia grabbed his hand and led him onto the dance floor.
Annabeth smiled.
"What?" He asked.
"Nothing. It's just cool to have Thalia back."
I noticed that Annabeth had a growth spurt last summer. She was taller than Percy and I now.
Annabeth started talking about her new school. How she is able to design buildings on a computer.
"Hey!" Thalia called to us. She was slow dancing with Grover, who was tripping all over himself.
"Dance you guys!" Thalia ordered. "You look stupid just standing there."
I looked at everyone else in the hall dancing.
"Well?" Annabeth said.
"Uhh, who do I asked?" Percy looked all over the gym.
"Well, do you want to dance, with me?" Annabeth asked.
"...sure..!" Percy smiled and they walked onto the dance floor.
I stood there awkwardly for a moment. Until I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"Hey, hot stuff," a tall brunette guy said. I cringed at whatever pick up line he was trying to use. "Looking lonely, want to dance?"
I didn't have any choice, since the boy yanked me onto the dance floor and started dancing.
The boy would've been great, if it wasn't for his horrible personality and dance moves. He also kind of looked like Alexander, that made me want to throw up.
He leaned down for a kiss, the only way I could've escaped was head butting him and running but that would've caused a scene. It looked like it was over for me.
"Yeah, no," someone pulled me back, Percy did. "The Di Angelo kids are gone."
I looked at where they had been, emphasising on had.
"We have to go find them," Percy said.
"What about Thalia and Grover?" Annabeth asked.
"No time," Percy snapped. "They could be dead by now."
We ran through a crowd of girls to a door, Percy almost became their next makeover. I looked around, Annabeth had disappeared.
On the floor, was a floppy green cap, that Bianca Di Angelo had been wearing. A few scattered cards were on the floor as well. I caught a glimpse of Dr. Thorn. He was hurrying the Di Angelo kids out a door.
I still couldn't see Annabeth, she was probably looking for Thalia and Grover somewhere.
"We have to go after him," Percy said as he took Riptide from his pocket.
"What about the others?" I asked.
"He might get away," he looked over at me. "And we can't risk that."
We ran to the door Dr. Thorn had just walked through. It led into a dark hallway. I heard sounds of scuffling up ahead, then a painful grunt.
Percy uncapped Riptide. A faint golden glow lit the rows of lockers. I got my keychain ready.
We jogged down the corridor, but when we go to the other end, nobody was there.
Percy opened a door and it led to the main entry hall. I was pretty confused, I won't lie. I didn't see Dr. Thorn anywhere, but on the opposite side of the room, was the Di Angelo kids. They stood frozen in horror, staring at us.
We walked over slowly, I held up my hands and Percy lowered his swords tip.
"It's okay. We won't hurt you." Percy said softly.
They didn't answer. Their eyes were full of fear. What was wrong with them? Where was Dr. Thorn?
"My name's Percy, and this is Rayn," he said, "I'm going to take you out of here, to somewhere safe."
Bianca's eyes widened. Her fists clenched. I realised what she meant too late. She wasn't afraid, she was trying to warn us.
I whirled around and Percy had been slammed into a wall. I blocked Dr. Thorns attacks towards me with my keychain-sword.
"Yes, demigods," Dr. Thorn chuckled. "I know who you are."
I saw Percy, he was pinned to the wall by a spike, black dagger, thing.
"Thank you for coming out of the gym," he said. "I hate middle school dances."
WHISSHH! Another spike flew somewhere behind Dr. Thorn. He didn't move at all. It was like somebody else was throwing knives for him.
Bianca yelped next to me. The second thorn had impaled itself in the stone wall, half an inch from her face.
"All of you will come with me," Dr. Thorn said. "Quietly. Obediently. If you make a single noise, if you call out for help or try to fight, I will show you just how accurately I can throw."
"Not very accurate if you missed and hit the wall and not any of us," I looked at the blade in the wall beside me.
"What was that?" A blade flew above me and narrowly missed my head.
"Yeah, shitty aim," I muttered under my breath so he wouldn't hear.
THIS IS ALMOST 3K WORDS
I think the chapters r longer in titans curse idk tho
ANYWAY TYSM FOR READING<3
@gracexeo , 2024