*Runs away screaming as Rainbow ponies start chasing me screaming bloody murder*

Sorry, guys. I had like a million tests, and homework, and concerts, and fangirling, and yeah......(:

I felt bad, so I made it extra long. :P

So, Jellybeans-Here it is!!!

COUNTING STARS-ONE REBUBLIC

CHAPTER XV

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ANNABETH FELT LIKE TEARING HER HAIR OUT. HERE SHE WAS, a prisoner of Gaea, trapped in a tiny cage with an insane Percy and a depressed Luke.

Maybe she should back up a little bit.

So, after Percy managed to defeat Arachne and pass out heroically, Luke had decided they probably should move on before any monsters saw them. Because Arachne's 'Life dust'(As Percy called it) had moved to the west, they decided that the Doors of Death would be as far as possible to the monsters' revival home. So, they turned east, carrying a unconscious Percy(Who is very heavy, by the way) for almost three miles before meeting another monster.

A very scary monster.

*Flashback*

Annabeth stared at the tiny puppy in front of her, still wary. In the demigod world, if something is cute and fluffy, it usually is best to run far, far, away.

The puppy whimpered, its big blue eyes blinking up at her. Luke shifted his grip on Percy's arm, and looked at Annabeth.

Having a boyfriend that was a master at Puppy eyes, Annabeth didn't waver. That didn't stop her from wanting to pet it. Just once wouldn't hurt.......

As soon as she touched its wiry fur, it growled, and Annabeth heard the clanking of swords. Out of nowhere, hundreds of monsters suddenly surrounded them.

The last Annabeth saw was  the curling G gleaming on their shiny metal armour.

*Flashback ends*

So, here she was, stuck in a dirt cage, with a depressed Luke, and an insane Percy. He had woken up just after the capture, to find himself in a tiny earthen cage.

Annabeth didn't know what was wrong with him.

She looked over at the son of Poseidon.

He was shaking like a leaf, and sweat was beading on his brow. He was scratching on the walls, and his eyes were wide with fear.

Scratching turned to pounding, and he sank to the floor, rocking back and forth.

Annabeth had to admit, she was afraid to approach him.

She looked over to Luke, who was observing Percy's weird behavior. Suddenly, his eyes lit up.

"Claustrophobic." He said.

"What?"

Luke looked at her. "He's claustrophobic. Like.....afraid of cramped spaces? Hates to be contained, sort of thing?"

The daughter of Athena rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I know what it means. But he's never gotten this bad....." Her eyebrows furrowed.

Walking over, she sat next to him and enveloped his shaking body in a hug. She whispered into his ear, "Hey, don't worry. We'll get out. It's okay."

She continued to soothe him with comforting words until he finally stopped trembling.

Annabeth and Luke relaxed.

Percy was just as predictable as a hurricane; you had no idea which way they would turn and how hard they would hit.

In this relaxed state, she slipped off into strategy-land.

Exit-None. Solid dirt walls, 10X10 ft floors.

Companions- Former traitor, Son of Hermes. Approximately 24 years old, 6'1. Bulky build. Second-best swordsman in the last three centuries.   Current ally, Son of Poseidon. Approximately 17 years old, 6'2. Strong and bulky build. Best swordsman in the last three centuries. Leader of Camp Half-Blood, co-praeter at Camp Jupiter. Survivor of many battles, killer of three titans, Saviour of Olympus.

Enemy at hand-Gaea and her minions.

Current location-Unknown. Most likely in the center of Tartarus.

Status-Relaxed but exhausted. One companion slightly depressed. Another scared.

Conclusion-Stuck.

A deep rumbling broke her out of her thoughts.

The left wall began to crumble, reveiling a set of iron doors. They slowly creaked open, light spilling into the dark cell. 

A dark silhouette stood in the doorway, flanked by two guards.

The three heroes were blinking, their eyes still adjusting.

The black figure pointed to Annabeth. "Her. Take her to the bleeding chamber." Her voice was strangely female.

Bleeding chamber?

The two guards, Annabeth realized, were cyclops. They shuffled over to Annabeth, only to be stopped by a tall figure.

Percy!

His eyes were swirling dangerously, the iris fading to a furious midnight blue-black.

Luke scooted back. "That's not natural." He breathed.

Percy's fist was clenched in anger. "Nobody. Ever. Touches. My. Girlfriend."

A quick flash of sea green and the first cyclops collasped into dust.

Percy had Riptide pinned against the other's throat, and Annabeth's dagger pointed at the strange dark figure.

"Now." His voice was dangerously calm. "I suggest you back up and take a hike. None of my friends are going anywhere. Not on my watch."

The cyclops gulped.

The dark figure cackled evilly, dark eyes glinting under a dark hood. "Oh, but you see, Perseus Theseus Jackson,"(He flinched hard at this, nobody ever said his complete name) "I could care less about where you're friends are going. I am the all-powerful, amazing maiden, MEDEA!" She gestured widely, as if expecting a giant firework show or something.

Annabeth could practically hear the crickets chirping.

Percy growled.

Annabeth, to say the least, was rather startled. Percy never growls.

Medea cleared her throat and grinned awkwardly. "Ahem. Ah, well then. I will just have to take you instead, Perseus."

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BAM!

Sorry for not updating! I can't believe I haven't updated in a MONTH!!!! I feel so bad. :'(

Well, finally got the stupid Math placement test over with. And the writing test!

Now.......Math finals........yippie....

Well, then. Thanks for everything, guys! I now have 40 fans and 1600 reads! I feel so loved!!!
THANKS!!! B-)

SEE YA LATAH, ALLIGATAH!!!

BE AWESOME AND OBSESS OVER JOLLY RANCHERS

~<>EagleEye<>~

:P

:)

B-)