I'm not gonna try to apologize.

-Jaz

~~~~

Chapter 2

"What is it?" Thalia asked him as they ran.

"Deadly!" Luke shouted back.

"No shit Sherlock!"

~~~~

"You're taking me," Annabeth states crossing her arms.

"Annie..." Thalia started.

"No. If Luke can go so can I," she declared.

Thalia rolled her eyes yet she gave Annabeth a smile. "I tried. But I knew you would wanna come."

"Yes!" Annabeth cheered grabbing Thalia in a hug.

"I still think you're too young to be on a quest," Luke stated as he looked to Chiron for help (the centaur didn't put in his input).

"There are three of us," Annabeth told Luke. "Three. The three of us survived out there without proper weapons before. Now we are trained and ready. And it can be so bad all we have to do is find some kid right? It's three against one."

Luke sighed and looked to Chiron. "When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow morning. Until then I suggest that until then you think of strategies of narrowing down the child's position."

The trio nods and head out of the Big House.

"Could there a saytr with him?" Annabeth asked, wheels turning behind her gray eyes.

"Maybe. But we can't just track down every Saytr in the state," Thalia told her. "Anyway go pack. We can talk
More afterword."

Annabeth nodded and hurried off.

"This is a terrible idea," Luke deadpanned. "She's too young."

"Yes but-"

"I'm not sure about you but I want her to live to her 10th birthday."

Thalia's eyes narrowed. "Of course I do!" She snapped. "I know it's dangerous out there. I-"

"You didn't go out on your own," Luke said quietly.

"You're right. I didn't," Thalia agreed. "I stayed here. I stayed here, lying awake at night because I wasn't sure if my best friend was coming back. I didn't go out on my own. I didn't suffer any physical pain," she continued running her finger down his scar. "But I suffered. I sat and I waited. And I sat and I waited. And then I comforted Annabeth while trying to comfort myself. There was nothing we could do but sit and wait. Now... the reason I want Annabeth to come? Because I don't want her to have to go through that again, much less alone. She's a little girl and has already been through enough. I want to protect her, and the best way to do that is by keeping an eye on her. I'm in charge of this quest so if I say she can go she can. Now, I have packing to do." Thalia walked off before Luke could reply.

Luke took a deep breath as he shuffled toward his cabin.

~~~~

"So... Where to?"

It was Annabeth who had spoken but the older two didn't have an answer for that.

Zeus hadn't exactly given Thalia clear instructions. Having no better ideas the three had no choice but to wander the streets of Manhattan hoping something would go their way.

"This gonna take forever..." Luke muttered.

"You can try to be optimistic," Thalia pointed out.

Luke rolled his eyes. "It is going to take forever. Do you have any idea the amount of people in this city and we are looking for one kid."

"We could track a monster to the kid," Annabeth suggested.

"There's still more than one demigod, and I rather not encounter monsters if I don't have to."

"So what do we do then?"

"That's what we are trying to figure out."

"We walk," Thalia pointed out. "We walk and hope for the best."

"Yay."

~~~~

There was screaming. She wasn't sure if it was hers. She could see the bolt of light. Everything seemed to be in slow motion. It streaked toward her but something was faster. She saw the form of a person.

They were running to help. But they wouldn't make it. She was going to die. Die at her father's hands.

Her eyes looked at the person she couldn't see details but two things were certain. It was a boy.

And he was crying.

Thalia jolted awake and sat up, her breathing heavy. She had had the dream once again. It was a dream she used to have often but it hadn't plagued her in months. So why now?

Beside her Luke spoke softly. "You okay?"

"Just that dream again. About the guy who saved me... It still doesn't make sense. How did he save me? Why?" She shouted annoyed.

"Shh," Luke said his eyes drifting to where Annabeth slept. The three had found a spot in a public park to stay the night. "I think you're asking the wrong questions."

"What should I be asking?"

"Why you're father wanted to turn you into a pine tree in the first place. Or why he can't tell you the location of this kid."

"Maybe-" Thalia cut herself off her eyes drifting upwards to the sky.

"What?"

Thalia didn't respond her eyes glued to the sky.

"Thals?"

"Huh? Sorry. I just thought I saw something..."

Luke joined her in looking at the sky. "What'd you see?"

"I don't know..."

"Maybe we should head elsewhere to sleep. Somewhere indoors."

Thalia nodded. "I'll grab the stuff. You get Annabeth." Luke quickly got up so Thalia could pack up the sleeping bags as Luke scooped up the tired little girl in his arms.

Annabeth began to wake. "What are you doing?" She yawned.

"We're gonna move sleeping spots. You can stay sleeping. I got you."

"I wanna help," Annabeth protested.

"Annabeth it's fine you don't-"

"No," Annabeth said squirming out his arms. "I wanna he-" she was cut off as something streaked by her the only clue that something had been fired was her hair moving and the strange projectile now lodged in the tree.

"Run!" Thalia shouted she pulled out her mace canister and Luke drew his sword. They ran out of the park their purser following.

Luke led the way and took a sharp turn into an alley. Annabeth and Thalia followed quickly and hurrying down the alley.

"Shit now what?" Thalia screamed.

"Up the fire escape!" Annabeth screamed running for the fire escape.

Luke ran for the fire escape and jumped up to grab the ladder and pulled it down. Annabeth went up first and Thalia after her. Luke glanced behind him at the thing coming closer. It was still to far away to see what it was but he saw a feather fly by his face and lodge itself in the brick wall. With a gulp he hurried after the girls.

"What is it?" Thalia asked him as they ran.

"Deadly!" Luke shouted back.

"No shit Sherlock!"

They continued up the steps until Annabeth suddenly cried out as the stair gave way. Luke quickly grabbed her backpack and pulled her up.

"In here!" Thalia shouted trying to open the window as another feather streamed by.

Luke went to the window and unlocked it just as Thalia screamed an arrow lodged in her calf.

Luke climbed in the window and pulled Thalia in behind him and Annabeth hopped in. Luke shut the window. They were in a tiny bedroom. A kid's room judging by the small amount of toys and small bed (thankfully unoccupied).

The door was closed but it wouldn't be long before someone came to investigate what was going on.

"It stinks in here," Annabeth noted.

Luke nodded. "I'm gonna check the place out. Help Thalia."

Annabeth nodded and grabbed the bag of medical supplies.

"I'm fine," Thalia assured them.

Luke rolled his eyes and went for the door but before he could it opened and a little boy ran in, he couldn't have been older than Annabeth. A bruise covered part of his face and his sea green eyes were full of fear but confusion tinged them as his eyes landed on the three people occupying his room. His mouth opened but then voice too deep to be his rang out.

"You little shit! Get your ass back here, Perseus!"