{ ' I PLUNGE TO MY DEATH ' }

006. . . ( athena's betrayal )

————————————————

...        𝐓he four quest-goers sped walked to the arch, whilst also trying their hardest to look unsuspecting, which was proving to be easier said than done. During this short venture, Annabeth provided some information on the structure given as dedication for Athena: "It's 630 feet wide, 630 feet tall, both to within an inch. It's got no internal support. Each side is balanced perfectly against the other. The arch is held up by symmetry. It's held up by math. And it's earthquake proof, so Poseidon can't ruin it."

Percy rolled his eyes at the slight dig.

They had made it 'inside' the building. It wasn't really inside, it was more of a sheltered area providing information on the arch and a small gift shop. There was a school trip occurring, making the small group have to weave through a herd of children.

"This is how you show Athena your love." Annabeth stared up in awe. "A monument to the power of perfection."

"It's a monument to some other stuff too." Grover grimaced, fixated on the display of old hunting rifles and animal skulls.

"You're talking about what some humans want this place to be about. I'm talking about what it actually is." Annabeth countered, looking around at the room.

"Whatever." Grover mumbled, "We're safe here, right?"

"No monsters can enter, not even Echidna." Annabeth assured, nodding sharply. "We're safe."

"Great." He sighed, turning to face his friends. "Well, since our train exploded, I'm going to see if there's another one we can get tickets on. We can't stay here forever." He looked agitatedly over to a painting of two hunters chasing after a boar, moments before it was struck dead. "Just because we're prey doesn't mean we need to be helpless— and where's Pandora?"

The three young teens began looking desperately around the room, suddenly alert of their friends disappearance.

"You two find her. She walked in with us so she can't be far." Grover ordered, trotting off to find a ticket stand.

Annabeth and Percy searched the crowd of school children, wondering if Pandora had gotten mixed up with them. They called out for her on either side of the room, until she was found by the son of Poseidon.

She was resting the right side of her body against a wall, arms crossed over her chest as she spoke to a random boy. He was brunette, tall and seemingly built for someone his age. They were smiling and laughing with each other, conversing (or as Percy would say, flirting) like they'd known each other for ages.

"I can't believe people would do this stuff." Pandora shook her head, nodding at the painting hung up on the wall.

"It's gruesome, right?" He scoffed, except he merely glanced at the image, before staring back at Pandora. "I can't imagine you doing something like this. Wouldn't wanna get those pretty nails dirty."

"Oh, you like them?" She gushed, holding her hand up and showing off her glossy finger tips. "My sister helped me pick the colour."

"They suit you a lot." He nodded, gently holding her hand in his to admire them more. "What did you say your name was again?"

"Oh, it's—"

"'Dora! We've been looking for you everywhere." Percy called out, making his way over to them.

"Your name is Dora? Like the Spanish girl with the TV show?" The brunette laughed, making Pandora frown in confusion.

"Who?" She asked, tilting her head.

"You haven't seen Dora—"

"Pandora!" Percy repeated, standing behind her and placing his hands on her shoulders.

"Hi, Perce." She grinned up at him. "Percy, this is. . . What was it?"

"Oh, Liam." 'Liam' cleared his throat. holding his hand out for Percy to shake, but he only looked down at it before turning to Pandora.

"Nice to meet you, Lewis, but we've got to go." Percy smiled tightly, guiding Pandora away from the brunette and to a display on the other side of the room.

"So, Athena's place, huh." Percy gestured around to their surroundings. "I wonder if she's around."

"Yeah? Where's she going to come from?" Pandora sassed, placing her hands on her hips and looking at him with a smirk.

Percy shrugged and turned to the side, scratching the back of his neck. "Be right down! Just going to the potty!"

Pandora's head moved so fast she thought she gave herself whiplash. Her eyebrows were raised and a crack of a smile, before a laugh slipped out, making her cover her mouth with her hand. Percy looked around as if someone else had said it, before gaping at the girl and admiring the way her lips curved up perfectly and her white teeth aligned.

"That was quite the impersonation." Pandora grinned, small giggles still escaping her lips.

"I have a gift." Percy shrugged nonchalantly, he could've sworn her smile was contagious, because at every slight expression of happiness, his seemed to mirror it exactly. "Pretty lucky we happened to be in the right city for it, huh."

"Luck or fate?" Pandora challenged, tilting her head as she looked up at him. There was a thin silence in the air, before Pandora began speaking again. "I know what you think, by the way."

Percy furrowed his brows and looked at her as if to continue, having no clue what she was talking about.

"How it's all in my head. That I tell myself that my mother cares and loves me just because it's easier. You know, instead of coming to the realisation that she's never actually batted an eyelid in my direction—"

"I didn't say that." Percy denied, shaking his head. Pandora looked at him doubtfully, only making him shake further.

"I may not be an empath, but I'm pretty good at telling people's emotions and thoughts over a facial expression. Whenever you hear me talk about my mom, you're face does this sort of thing, like you're judging me."

"No! What, no! 'Dora, I'd never judge you!" Percy said passionately, stepping closer to her. "Look, I've only been a demigod since. . . last Saturday! You shouldn't listen to me."

"Have. . . have you ever wanted to talk to your dad? Could try it here, a temple is a temple." Pandora offered, trying to change to topic of conversation.

"No thanks." Percy blew off, looking at his feet. "Your thing with your mom. . . I get it. It works for you because you've known from young. You've had that faith. But my father. . . I don't want anything from him. He's had his chances. Honestly, you've done more for me in the past week! Than he has for my entire life. If I have to stick with someone I— I'm going to pick you."

Pandora stared into his eyes, noticing all the little shades of blue that moulded together to make his ocean-like iris'. "Really?" She asked, her voice low. It was her observing his face that made her take notice of the paling of his skin, and the dark rings around his eyes.

Then, he dropped. Pandora lurched forwards, grabbing his forearms and holding him up with struggle. "Perce? Are you okay?" She let him down slowly, resting his head in her lap. "What's wrong?"

"Hey! What happened?" Grover and Annabeth rushed over, looking down at the sickly-white boy and his ill-looking face.

"I think. . . I think those stinger things were poisonous." Percy uttered weakly, trying to sit up slowly, with the help of Pandora.

"I have an idea." Pandora said quickly, grabbing one of his arms and ordering the other two to help. Annabeth took her spot as she led them outside, looking back every other second to make sure they were still following.

————————————————

...        𝐏andora's idea included sitting Percy in the fountain outside while throwing the water over him, soaking him. Percy clenched his eyes shut as to not get any of the murky liquid in his eyes, and let his friends do their thing. They got very weird looks from passers-by, which Pandora hated.

"The water cured him back at camp, it should work for poison too, right?" Pandora panted, continuing to throw handfuls of water over the boy.

"This was a stupid idea." Annabeth mumbled under her breathe, dragging her hands along her jacket to dry them.

Pandora faltered slightly, swallowing thickly. "I was just trying to help."

"You know, I think— I think it's working." Percy nodded, trying to stop her doubting herself. "This was a great call." The boy then attempted to get up, before collapsing into the water again, too weak to even stand. "Or not."

"Maybe it needs to be naturally running water for Poseidon to be able to heal him." Annabeth suggested, applying some logic to Pandora's quick assumption.

A sudden car horn and the sound of collision stopped everyone's actions, looking over to the commotion. A black van came flying over the top of parked cars before crashing onto its back.

"We need to get back inside." Annabeth rushed, standing to her feet and pulling Percy with her.

"No, we should keep trying!" Pandora argued, slapping her hands in the water in frustration.

"This isn't going to work! She's coming." Annabeth shouted, placing a hand on Percy's shoulder. "It was a good idea, but now we have to go!"

Speaking of, Echidna appeared from the billowing smoke, in her horrible outfit and walking teasingly slowly.

"Okay, look, we'll take Percy inside, and we'll go to the temples altar." Annabeth offered.

"Where is there an altar?" Grover asked, shaking his legs somewhat dry.

"The highest point, the best view." She said.

"Okay, but what good is that even gonna do us?" Grover scoffed, waving his arms around dramatically.

"We're going to get to the altar, and then we're going to ask my mom for help." Annabeth explained, finally giving in to the idea of getting advice.

"I thought we don't ask for help." Percy said, his voice frail.

"Well, we don't have a choice!" Pandora yelled from under his arm, gesturing to the approaching Echidna.

Grover stepped in to support his other side, making it easier and fasted for Percy to walk. They stopped for a second, noticing Annabeth not following, instead staring at the enemy getting closer.

"D— did you hear that?" She asked, stuttering closer to them.

"Hear what?" Grover questioned back, giving her the answer.

"Never mind. Come on." She shook off, ushering them down the stairs and into the building.

————————————————

...        𝐓hey had all made it inside to the waiting area to get in an elevator. Percy was hunched over uncomfortably as the daughter of Aphrodite and his satyr protector dragged him along. The pair knew it was probably awful for him, but they didn't have any time to waste. All four of them slipped into a small box, the two girls on one side and the boys on the other. The room was the size of a small cupboard and was enlightened with blue LEDs.

"What was that back there?" Percy asked Annabeth, resting his arms on his knees tiredly. "What did you hear? She spoke to you. Alecto did that with me back in the museum in New York. What did she say?" The whole time Annabeth had been silent, only staring at the ground and breathing heavily. She then looked up, making everyone notice Echidna in the temple.

There was a large shadow behind her, one that looked like a terrible, horrible beast. A hybrid creation. A demon, if you will. The doors closed on them, blocking the view of the wretched monster and its mother. Pandora stared in horror, the same phrase running around her head: I'm going to die.

"Was that the chimera?" Grover whimpered, eyes fixated on the closed doors. "I think. . . I think that was the chimera. How did the chimera even get inside here?! How did any monster get inside here?"

"Annabeth." Percy said, looking at her through shivers.

"We're in a sanctuary. Athena would have had to let her in, but why would she do that?" Grover continued to rant.

"Annabeth!" Percy exclaimed, making her look at him. "What did Echidna say to you?"

"She said my impertinence wounded my mother's pride." Annabeth huffed, closing her eyes for a moment. "And that that will be my doom."

"Impertinence? What kind of—" Percy halted, coming to the realisation. Annabeth sent him a pointed look. "Medusa's head."

"I embarrassed my mother." Annabeth summed up quickly.

"But, I'm the one who sent the head to Olympus." Percy said in disbelief, his lips a pale blue and his skin white like a vampire's. "I signed the note!"

"And I went along with it!" Annabeth exclaimed, shushing him. "It embarrassed her. Now, she's angry."

"That is not very feminism of her." Pandora muttered, resting her head back on the wall behind her, trying to control her breathing.

"What is with you and saying things that no one cares about?!" Annabeth shouted, growing frustrated with her nonsense. "No one cares what you have to say! Your ideas don't work! I'm not even sure why you're here! Percy obviously just brought you along because he likes the way you look—"

"That's not true." Percy denied, furrowing his brows at her statement.

"Guys!" Grover yelled, stopping Annabeth's angry rant. "What are we going to do?!"

"She isn't going to help us when we get to the top to save Percy." Annabeth sassed, shaking her head.

"No, I meant what are we going to do about Echidna and the chimera?" Grover corrected. "They're going to be right behind us!"

The bell dinged, signalling that they had reached the top. Pandora was the first person out of the elevator, holding her bow (that sat around her torso like a satchel) tightly.

"We're not going to have much time." Annabeth said bluntly, "They'll be up here any minute. And if my mother isn't going to protect us, then we'll just have to fight it out up here."

There was an indistinct chatter as multiple groups of people surrounded them, peering out of the little box windows in awe.

"We gotta get everybody out of here—"

Suddenly, the fire alarm started blaring. This made the tourists quickly disperse and leave the room. The three looked over to see Pandora standing by the red alert lever, hands on her hips. "You're welcome." She made her way over to the group, looking at them with determination. "You lot, go. Follow them down."

"What! No. No, no, we're not splitting up." Grover shook his head in denial.

"Oh, come on!" Pandora scoffed, slightly pushing them towards the crowd of people.

"No. No, no, no, no, we're all getting out of here together." Percy heaved, wincing at every step he took.

"We won't make it!" Pandora pleaded, still moving them inch by inch. "The chimera is the demigod-killer. Someone has to stay back to slow her down and buy everyone some time!"

"I'll stay and help." Annabeth offered, starting to unsheathe her dagger.

"No. They need someone smart with them. Someone with tactics." Pandora declined, pushing her with them. "Besides, my ideas were stupid, right?" She slid her bow off her arm and loaded it with an arrow.

Annabeth opened her mouth to talk, but Pandora had already turned away. Grover looked at her with disbelief. "This is stupid, you know that?! That is a fire-breathing killing machine!"

"Grover, I am incredibly aware!" Pandora exclaimed, starting to push the door closed. "Okay, go. Help him down the stairs, and get to the river. Do not stop. Not till you get to Hades, not till you have the bolt. You got it?"

Percy shook his head, refusal to let her sacrifice herself all over his face. He looked behind her seeing the glow of orange embers. She peered behind her, noticing them herself. "Okay, go!"

"Wait." Percy stopped her from shutting her door. He spun his sword around in his hand and held it out to her. "Take it."

"No need." Pandora shook her head, holding up her bow and arrow. "I'm not good with a sword anyway."

"Pandora!" He shouted, losing his patience. His voice cracked slightly and she didn't know if it was because of the poison or something else, but he almost sounded emotional. "For the love of the gods, please take it."

Pandora gulped audibly and reached out to take it. In the blink of an eye, they had swapped places. His lips grazed her cheek in a goodbye sort-of-way, and he slammed the door behind him.

"No!" She screamed, trying to get to it, but it was too late. "Percy Jackson! I swear— Let me back in!"

"Hey! Percy!" Grover shouted, trying to kick the door down himself. "Percy, please!"

"Don't do this!" Annabeth yelled, ramming her shoulder into the door. "They'll kill you."

"Poseidon's never helped me before. He wasn't going to start now." Percy sighed shakily, resting his temple against the cool metal. "I would've never made it to Hades. But you can."

Pandora's hands smacked the door so aggressively they started going a vibrant pink. They burned and tingled but that didn't stop her. She pressed her forehead to the door and squeezed her eyes shut. "Percy. . . Perce, please. Please don't do this. Let me help." Her voice was quiet in order for her to stop the breaks that were trying to peak through.

"Go, 'Dora." He told, his voice audible through the crack. "I'll see you on the other side."

— 𝒋𝒂𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒔

so... beef w annabeth?? low-key
umm... anyway!!

episode six was so good but lin
manuel miranda being hermes is
RIDONKULOUS. I COULD NOT
TAKE IT SERIOUSLY💀💀

'seaweed brain' 🤝🏼 'wise girl'

i also watched deadpool 1 & 2
yesterday ITS TO FUNNY FOR
NO REASON I LOVE RYAN
REYNOLDS SM‼️‼️‼️