chapter 30-Collapse

Leaving the building we haul a cab to camp.

I was worrying over Luke the entire way. If he were to escape even though Chiron knew what had happened, I would be so annoyed.

If he were to escape all I can hope for is that Luke didn't leave unscathed.

Arriving near the strawberry field we prepare to get off.

"Sir, you can leave us here," said Annabeth to the cab driver.

"Are you sure?" he asked hesitantly, but once he saw her nod he just accepted it.

Leaving the car we paid and thanked him.

We arrived at the edge of camp where two guards were standing.

One immediately started running towards us.

"Lukes gone rogue," he yelled at the top of his lungs.

The other guard just nodded at us, not giving any more of a reaction.

"What do you mean he's gone rogue?" asked Annabeth.

"Chiron took him to the big house and next thing we know he's running out of the big house. He ran to the woods chased by Chiron. It was the most insane thing ever. It turns out he was the lightning thief. Chiron told us to go after him but next thing everyone knows they're all fighting Luke and getting their asses beat," he took a deep breath in," then he slashes the air and this ripple appears and he enters, and poof he's gone."

Annabeth was in shock the entire time, she didn't look like she wanted to accept this at all, which made sense as he was her surrogate big brother.

"We need to see Chiron, where is he?" I asked.

"He's in the infirmary." The other guard said.

"Come on, let's go," said Annabeth.

"I need to go to the cloven of elders, I don't want to find out that I'm about to lose my job because I didn't come back in time, they are that vindictive."

Since he left me and Annabeth rushed there immediately, we saw that Chiron was currently helping the Apollo cabin in taking care of any injured campers.

"I told you I'm fine, I need to start hunting blondie," yelled out who could only be Clarrise.

"And I told you that you need to rest after the beating you got," said a child of Apollo.

She just growled but when Chiron showed up near her giving a placating look she just nodded and stayed quiet, even if she looked like she was ready to start attacking.

She almost did that when she saw me.

"What took you three so long, took a little rendezvous at a zoo," she snarked.

"Nah, we just went to your mom's place," I snarked back. I then reached the realization of what I said.

I meant to say something mean but nothing like this. I hate mom Jokes. I used to get in fights because of those jokes.

I was given a mild look of respect from Clarrise then she walked up to me and tried to punch me.

Instead of that happening the Apollo kid just dragged her back to the cot.

"Percy, I understand that she was rude but there was no need to say such a thing, what came over you," asked Chiron.

"Instinct, reflex, whatever you want to call it. I didn't think about it, I just did it. I'll say sorry to her later… okay now what is this about you Luke escaping when you had time to make sure that didn't happen."

Before he could answer, my mom arrived, frantically waving her hand.

"You arrive at camp and you don't come to me first I-," she then stopped talking and stared at me for a few seconds," how in the world did you get so tall in under a week."

"Uh, well I made a deal and it made me taller," I responded. I really should have thought about my answer.

"What kind of deal?" She asked.

"The kind of deal where you get stretched. Like really pulled. I mean there really is no downside to this deal."

"You met Procrustes? You're half-brother, the murderer?" Asked Chiron

"And you didn't think to call me about something like this." Yelled my mom.

"Well, I didn't think this through as much as I thought I did, but I now own a business," I then faced towards the other campers, "oh and uh anyone who wants to get taller will have to pay whatever amount Procrustes says, or at least don't be cheap. We're still talking over the business."

"I'm both proud of you and disappointed with you at the same time. Proud because you own your own business and disappointed because you left and didn't trust me enough."

Seems that's been going around for a while. Of course, I couldn't say that aloud so I closed my mouth.

"Well there's one more good thing, you're proud of me," I said with a smile.

"Yes, yes I am." She said with a fond smile.

"Now Mrs.Jackson I do apologize for this interruption of such a wonderful moment but we were dealing with something important," he said with a sheepish smile.

"Oh, right. Well, you guys talk and once you're done," she faces me," you are coming with me alright?"

I just gave a nod to my mom.

"Why did Luke betray us?" I overheard Annabeth ask Chiron.

"We believe it to be because of the same person who was in your head," he said

He probably didn't say Kronos because he didn't want everyone in the infirmary to know. We should probably leave it.

"Then there's a chance he could be saved, like me," she said hopefully.

"I suppose there is a chance, but with how he was acting I do not truly know." He said sorrowfully.

While they were talking I took the time to stew in my thoughts since I finally had the chance.

I was furious, Chiron had a chance, and we had time to get Luke. I shouldn't have told Chiron. I could have come back and beat Luke down so he could tell everyone what he did. At the same time, this wouldn't help me and would make me an outsider, with everyone in the camp.

Who would they believe, the person who has been there for years or the one who just arrived?

I could have just killed him before I left, I mean… *sigh* I keep making dumb plans.

"Percy you'll help get him back right?" Asked Annabeth.

I was so stuck in my head that I didn't notice I was about to get put in another quest, I don't even like the guy. I mean I heard snippets of what happened from Chiron's perspective that there's no more reason for me to talk to him, and at the same time talking to him would have led to this. So what's the point of talking to him…. What just happened? Did I go on another rant?

Facing Annabeth I responded," Yeah sure right, bring him back." I snorted.

I'm pretty sure I said that sarcastically. I don't know anymore I'm so tired. I feel like I just want to collapse and sleep on the floor. Something so easy compared to everything else.

Seems I was right since Annabeth whipped around to look at me, she frowned but said nothing.

"Ahem, right. We'll save him no worry," I gave her a thumbs up.

"Better, I suppose," she says.

"Right okay tell my mom I'm in my cabin I'm too tired for everything, and I mean everything. I'm going to sleep," looking at their incredulous faces I can't help but chuckle," Okay, toodles."

I then slowly walk back to my cabin. Till I see a little girl tending to a campfire.

I walk towards her, hoping she is who I think she is.

She looks up towards me and gives me a warm hopeful smile, like a ray of sunshine comforting me in the darkness.

"Hello there Percy, are you well? Hmm, no you are not. You are tired but with how worried you are you'll never be able to get enough rest. Come let us go to your cabin."

If I couldn't trust her, then who could I trust? I immediately followed her. I knew that she would be able to enter the cabin as my father adores her, and her kindness.

"Come get into bed and I will stay by your bed till you sleep."

I got into bed and closed my eyes, I heard some singing in ancient Greek. It was beautiful, and I felt better than I had in so long.

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Sorry for the late chapter but it was my brother's birthday yesterday so I didn't write one. I'm really tired, I had a physics test today and a trigonometry one. I wish I could do what Percy is doing but I can't because now I have to write chapter 31, hasta luego.