The group of quest-goers gathered near Zeus' Fist the next morning, early enough that the morning fog that clung to the ground had burned off, allowing rays of light to filter through the high branches of the trees. Reagan stood there, large bag heaved over one shoulder, eyelids heavy with sleep still. At times she'd sway, like a gentle breeze could just push her over. Whenever that almost happened, she'd jar herself awake before her eyelids would start to slowly drop again and the process would repeat again. Annabeth would purse her lips and shake her head, then as Percy and Tyson could be seen coming up the path, she looked away and in their direction instead. However, Percy looked equally as tired as Reagan.
"You look terrible," Annabeth commented as soon as the half-brothers were close enough.
"Percy killed the water fountain," Tyson said with a small pout.
"What?"
Percy shook his head dismissively. "It's nothing."
Before she could press any further, Chiron trotted over. "Well, you all seem ready!" he said, trying to be as enthusiastic as possible.
This didn't feel the same as Reagan remembered. Not like when she was thirteen, and Chiron said goodbye to them as they left to uncover what had happened to Zeus' master bolt. All around were barricades and traps, set to harm and stop any force that decided to walk out of that exit from the Labyrinth. It was ominous and foreboding.
"I'll meet you guys at the entrance," Percy said abruptly, and Reagan tore her eyes away from the spikes poking at the entrance to look at him quizzically. "Chiron, can I talk to you?" he asked, motioning to a thicket of trees a distance away from them.
As Chiron and Percy walked their way, the others walked towards Zeus' Fist. Grover walked over, dressed as a Human. Juniper was on the verge of tears, but was holding it together for his sake. He sniffed, glancing at the Labyrinth entrance with a grim expression as they walked in silence. Soon enough, Percy was speedily walking in their direction, his hand resting on his pocket absently before reaching up to hold his backpack straps instead. As Annabeth began to descend into the opening that appeared, Grover let out a whimper.
"Goodbye, sunlight."
"Hello rocks," Tyson agreed, and soon enough they were all climbing into the depths of the Labyrinth.
The tunnel Reagan and Annabeth were in before looked nothing like it did now. The tunnel was round, with charred red bricks lining the walls.
"We need to get into the center of the Labyrinth," Annabeth said as she turned on her small flashlight and shone it on the walls to examine them. "So the older the tunnels, the closer we're getting."
That proved easier said then done. They began to walk forward, and ten feet later the walls looked newer, cleaner and free of graffiti from taggers. Not as old as just a few minutes ago. It was almost like the Labyrinth could read their minds, because soon enough they came to a junction, where the hall split into to separate ways. Annabeth hesitated before the openings, then pointed to her left and they were on their way again. Eventually, the group found themselves in a large circular room, painted faces of mosaics staring back at them, with a dried out and rusty looking water fountain in the middle of the room. The mosaics depicted the gods in all of their glory, except they were all happy and got along.
Which definitely wasn't right.
"It's like this place is alive," Reagan muttered and trudged to the dry water fountain to gaze into it absently.
"D-Don't say alive. Please," Grover muttered.
Just then, an eerie groan echoed, and they all looked around but saw nothing. It was like the Labyrinth wanted to make that sound intentionally, as if to say, "I am alive!!"
"Let's keep going," Annabeth suggested.
Except there was a tunnel opening on each wall, leading to a new path of darkness.
"We could split up?" Percy offered meekly. "One for each tunnel?"
Annabeth shook her head. "No. there's a chance we'll all get separated and never find each other," she explained nervously. "We need to stick together. No matter what."
And with that thought in mind, they chose a tunnel and began to walk down it, the darkness swallowing them back up. The corridors twisted and turned. At one point, they were walking in some kind of wine cellar, footsteps echoing from the wooden floorboards above. They were so close, yet it felt so far for them. The worst moment was when they found a skeleton. It wasn't gross or anything though. The bones were dry, the clothes torn into tatters. The skeleton had a four-pack of milk bottles next to it, but the glasses were covered in a thick blanket of white dust. Reagan felt a foreboding weight press down against her, constricting her breathing entirely.
"How did he get down here?" Percy asked curiously.
"People used to be sent into the Labyrinth as sacrifices, however he looks like he just wandered in here and got lost. That happens too," Annabeth explained.
Reagan noticed the claw marks on the wall. "Okay," she muttered. "Let's just keep on going now," she squeaked out.
She felt an odd sensation in her gut, and realized she was thinking about Nico being somewhere down here. Plotting and waiting to kill her. What if he harmed her friends? Harmed Annabeth? The thought made Reagan want to bolt. To just get away from her friends before they got hurt because of her. But she resisted this urge, because getting separated in the Labyrinth wasn't a good idea at all.
As they continued on their way, they found themselves back in the large room, except this time they weren't alone. A man stood there this time, dressed in a long black coat with shiny black shoes and a matching black top hat that somehow managed to stay planted firmly on his two heads.
Two heads.
Reagan did a double take. He had identical matching sideburns on each side. She noticed immediately that the man almost resembled a hammerhead shark, because he struggled to watch them out of the corners of his eyes on either side.
"Well, Annabeth?" the right face sneered. "I don't have all day!"
"Don't listen to him," the left face said. "Come right along. This way, please."
Annabeth's jaw dropped. "Uh... I don't-"
"The funny man has two faces," Tyson blurted out.
"The funny man has ears, you know!" Lefty scolded. "Now come along, miss."
"No, no," Righty said quickly. "Right this way, miss. Talk to me. Please."
They were talking about literally choosing one of them, because behind the entire being was two wooden doors locked by iron locks. He juggled an old fashioned, large silver key between his hands. Those were the only two doors in the entire room, because behind them the tunnel they had just left was now gone. The wall was covered in the same old dusty mosaic tiles that covered the entire room. It was the same room they were in earlier, but now different.
"The exits are closed," the blonde said.
"Duh!" one face said.
"That's why you have to choose!" the second voice chimed in. "One will lead you into the direction you want. While the second door leads to your death."
Annabeth's grey eyes glinted, filled with sudden knowledge as it all came to her. "I-I know who you are."
"You're a smart one!" the right face sneered. "But do you know which way to choose? I don't have all day!"
"Why are you trying to confuse me?"
The right face smiled. "You're in charge now. All the decisions are on your shoulders. Isn't that what you wanted?"
"I-"
"We know you," the left face said. "We know your indecision. What you wrestle with every day. You have to make the choice sooner or later. The choice may kill you."
As the color drained from Annabeth's face, it was like a switch turned on inside Reagan. The thought of Annabeth dying was something she refused to think about. What did he mean anyways?? This didn't sound like just choosing between two doors.
"Leave her alone," the half-blood said and stepped forward confidently. "Who are you anyways?"
"I'm your best friend."
"I'm your worst enemy."
"I'm Janus," both faces said in harmony. "The God of doorways. Beginnings. Endings. Choices."
"I'll see you soon enough," the right face said. "Such difficult choices you'll be making one day, Reagan Romero," Righty said wistfully. "But now it's Annabeth's turn," he laughed. "Such fun!"
"Shut up!" Lefty snarled. "This is serious. One bad choice can ruin your whole life. It can kill you and all of your friends. But no pressure, Annabeth. Choose!"
The Child of Athena's Final Stand.
Reagan's heart turned into a stony lump and she felt it hit the bottom of her stomach painfully.
"Don't do it," Reagan pleaded breathlessly.
Annabeth glanced at Reagan nervously then back to the god. She moistened her lips and rose her hand to point to a door. "I choose-"
Before she could make that decision, however, there was a blinding light. The half-bloods all covered their eyes, and even Janus rose his hands and covered the eyes on each of his faces. When the light died down, they uncovered their eyes and saw a woman standing by the dry Roman water fountain. Her hair was chocolate brown and braided with golden plaits with matching gold ribbons.
"Janus," the woman said. "Are you causing trouble again?"
"No, milady," Lefty said quickly.
"Yes!" the right face said flatly.
The two heads bickered between each other, but eventually pulled out a silver key again and inserted it into the air and twisted, and they were gone. The lady turned to us and smiled, her hands clasped in front of her.
"You young heroes must be hungry," she said.
With a snap of her fingers, the whole room transformed. Clean, clear water poured out of the Roman fountain she stood next to, while marble benches and a table appeared, filled with lemonade and peanut butter and jelly and ham and cheese sandwiches.
"Who are you?" Percy asked.
She smiled. "I am Hera. Queen of Heaven."