chapter twenty three
bittersweet reunion

BEFORE THEY WENT BACK INTO the maze, they would go see Percy's mom. Lennon was happy Percy was getting a chance to see his mother but she couldn't help but be a bit nervous. She'd heard a bunch about her but she had yet to meet her.

Traffic was heavy but they'd made it to Percy's apartment around noon. As soon as she'd opened the door, Sally Jackson enveloped Percy in a big hug. Lennon smiled at the sight.

"I told them you were all right," Ms. Jackson said as she pushed back from the hug. She had her hands on Percy's shoulders and was looking over him as if inspecting for injuries.

Percy gave his mom a smile. "Hi, mom,"

She shook her head at him. "Oh, don't 'Hi mom' me. You were missing for two weeks," Jokingly she glanced over at Lennon and Annabeth. Making a look that said What am I going to do with him?

Then she reached over and gave Annabeth a hug. Lennon stood awkwardly to the side as they greeted each other.

"Annabeth! How are you? Keeping him out of trouble?" She sent a glance towards Percy who huffed at his mother's words.

The blonde laughed a bit. "Trying to,"

Ms. Jackson chuckled at her words and then set her eyes on Lennon.

She stepped forward, "Hi, I'm—"

"Lennon! Percy's told me all about you," she gave the girl a hug, much to her surprise. Then she lets go and says with a conspiratorial smile, "He can't stop talking about you actually—"

"Mom!" Percy says with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. "Shoudn't we get inside?"

Ms. Jackson chuckles and nods. "Yes. It's nice to finally meet you Lennon. You can call me Sally,"

Lennon nodded. "It's nice to meet you too,"

"Now come in, I made cookies,"

Eventually, they were all sat down at Sally's kitchen table. She had a plate of blue cookies set out for them. Percy had told her about their thing with blue food but she'd never gotten the chance to have any of it.

They caught her up on their quest so far. Percy explained most of it, and he seemed to leave out anything that made it seem dangerous. From time to time Lennon and Annabeth would chime in too.

The girls laughed when Sally said, "I can't get him to clean his room, but he'll clean a hundred tons of horse manure out of some monster's stables?" after hearing about their time at Geryon's ranch.

"So," Sally said when they finished telling the story. "you wrecked Alcatraz Island, made Mount St. Helens explode, and displaced half a million people, but at least you're safe."

"Yep," He agreed. "That pretty much covers it."

"I wish Paul were here," she said, half to herself. "He wanted to talk to you."

"Oh, right. The school."

Lennon remembered Percy telling her about how he'd encountered empousai at his high school orientation. And that he also left things in flames.

"What did you tell him?" Percy asked.

Sally shook her head. "What could I say? He knows something is different about you, Percy. He's a smart man. He believes that you're not a bad person. He doesn't know what's going on, but the school is pressuring him. After all, he got you admitted there. He needs to convince them the fire wasn't your fault. And since you ran away, that looks bad."

Lennon listened with a frown. She knew it was common for Halfbloods to have bad luck with school. She hadn't actually gone to school for years but when she was in school she had been labeled a nuisance. It wasn't her powers or wild occurrences that earned her that label but instead her talkative nature. Her teachers thought she was a distraction and it didn't help that her dyslexia made it harder for her to learn.

"I'll talk to him," Percy promised his mother. "After we're done with the quest. I'll even tell him the truth if you want."

Sally put a hand on his shoulder. "You would do that?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, he'll think we're crazy."

"He already thinks that."

"Then there's nothing to lose."

"Thank you, Percy. I'll tell him you'll be home..." She frowned. "When? What happens now?"

Annabeth broke her cookie in half. "Percy has this plan."

"Its a good plan," Lennon said hopefully, trying to ease the tension.

Percy explained the plan to her and she nodded. "It sounds very dangerous. But it might work,"

"You have the same abilities, don't you?" Percy asked. "You can see through the Mist."

Sally sighed. "Not so much now. When I was younger it was easier. But yes, I've always been able to see more than was good for me. It's one of the things that caught your father's attention, when we first met. Just be careful. Promise me you'll be safe."

"We'll try, Ms. Jackson," Annabeth said. "Keeping your son safe is a big job," The blonde folded her arms and glared out the kitchen window.

Lennon frowned and attempted a easy smile. "We've been good at it so far though,"

Annabeth still had her arms folded and Percy was picking at his napkin. Lennon hated to see her to best friends at odds.

Sally gave the brunette a questioning look. Lennon gave her what she hoped was a encouraging smile. The truth was Lennon wasn't sure if she'd be able to fix things, at least enough to complete their quest.

"Well, remember," Sally said, "Grover and Tyson are counting on you three."

"I know," the trio said in unison.

Sally smiled. "Percy, you'd better use the phone in the hall. Good luck."

They'd set up a meeting with Rachel Dare in front of the Marriott Marquis, and she was completely painted gold. Her face, hair and clothes were all painted gold. She was standing like a statue with five other kids all painted metallic—copper, bronze, silver. They were frozen in different poses while tourists hustled past or stopped to stare. Some passerby threw money at the tarp on the sidewalk. The sign at Rachel's feet said, URBAN ART FOR KIDS, DONATIONS APPRECIATED.

The trio stood their for a few minutes watching the girl, but she made no show of noticing them. This of course just fueled Annabeth's dislike of the girl.

"Maybe if we push her over," The blonde suggested.

Lennon sent her a look and Annabeth shrugged cooly.

After another few minutes, a kid in silver walked up from the hotel taxi stand, where he'd been taking a break. He took a pose like he was lecturing the crowd, right next to Rachel. Rachel unfroze and stepped off the tarp.

"Hey, Percy," She grinned. "Good timing! Let's get some coffee."

They walked down to a place called the Java Moose on West 43rd. Percy and Annabeth ordered smoothies, Rachel ordered something called an Expresso Extreme. Lennon settled for a Latte with 2 shots of expresso. Lennon didn't plan on sleeping at all so she'd need the energy.

Rachel had looked at her with a raised brow, "You're a coffee fiend too?"

Lennon shrugged awkwardly. "Lately, yeah,"

Rachel nodded, tucking her golden hair behind her ear. "It's nice to see you again. Especially since last time you were running from skeletons,"

Lennon laughed a bit. Weirdest sentence ever. "Yeah,"

"Shouldn't we get to business or something?" Annabeth huffed.

"Sorry, yeah you're right. Uh, Annabell right?"

"Annabeth," She corrected. "Do you always dress in gold?"

"Not usually," Rachel said. "We're raising money for our group. We do volunteer art projects for elementary kids 'cause they're cutting art from the schools, you know? We do this once a month, take in about five hundred dollars on a good weekend. But I'm guessing you don't want to talk about that. You're a half-blood, too?"

"Shhh!" Annabeth said, looking around. "Just announce it to the world, how about?"

"Okay." Rachel stood up and loudly announced, "Hey, everybody! These three aren't human! They're half Greek god!" Nobody even looked over. Rachel shrugged and sat down. "They don't seem to care."

"That's not funny," Annabeth said. "This isn't a joke, mortal girl."

Lennon frowned.

"Hold it, you two," Percy said. "Just calm down."

"I'm calm," Rachel insisted. "Every time I'm around you, some monster attacks us. What's to be nervous about?"

"Look, I'm really sorry about the band room. I hope they didn't kick you out or anything."

"Nah. They asked me a lot of questions about you. I played dumb."

"Was it hard?" Annabeth asked.

Lennon nudged Annabeth with her foot, sending her a look that said Play nice. The blonde shot back with a raised brow that said Why should I?

"Okay, stop!" Percy sighed. "Rachel, we've got a problem. And we need your help."

Rachel narrowed her eyes at Annabeth. "You need my help?"

Annabeth stirred her straw in her smoothie. "Yeah," she said suddenly. "Maybe."

Percy told Rachel about the Labyrinth, and how they needed to find Daedalus. He also told her what had happened the last few times we'd gone in. Annabeth had been intent on staring at the plaques on the wall when he retold that part of the story.

"So you want me to guide you," Rachel said. "Through a place I've never been."

"You can see through the Mist," Lennon said with a smile. "Just like Ariadne,"

Percy nodded. "I'm betting you can see the right path. The Labyrinth won't be able to fool you as easily."

"And if you're wrong?"

"Then we'll get lost. Either way, it'll be dangerous. Very, very dangerous."

"But dangerous is common for this kind of thing," Lennon said reassuringly.

"I could die?"

"Yeah." Percy said.

"I thought you said monsters don't care about mortals. That sword of yours—"

"Yeah, celestial bronze doesn't hurt mortals. Most monsters would ignore you. But Luke...he doesn't care. He'll use mortals, demigods, monsters, whatever. And he'll kill anyone who gets in his way."

"Nice guy," Rachel said.

"He's under the influence of a Titan," Annabeth said defensively. "He's been deceived."

Lennon defitnietly didn't have the mental capacity to touch that. She sent Annabeth a small smile.

Rachel took a second to observe the trio then said, "Okay, I'm in."

"Really?" Lennon's eyes widened.

"Are you sure?" Percy asked.

"Hey, my summer was going to be boring. This is the best offer I've gotten yet. So what do I look for?"

"We have to find an entrance to the Labyrinth," Annabeth said. "There's an entrance at Camp Half-Blood, but you can't go there. It's off-limits to mortals."

"Okay. What does an entrance to the Labyrinth look like?"

"It could be anything," Annabeth said. "A section of wall. A boulder. A doorway. A sewer entrance. But it would have the mark of Daedalus on it. A Greek ∆, glowing in blue."

"Like this?" Rachel drew the symbol Delta in water on their table.

"That's it," Annabeth nodded. "You know Greek?"

"No," Rachel said. She pulled a big blue plastic hairbrush from her pocket and started brushing the gold out of her hair. "Let me get changed. You'd better come with me to the Marriott."

"Why?" Annabeth said.

"Because there's an entrance like that in the hotel basement, where we store our costumes. It's got the mark of Daedalus."

A while later they found themselves standing before a metal door that was half hidden behind a laundry bin full of dirty hotel towels. At first, Lennon didn't notice anything but then Rachel pointed it out. A faint blue symbol etched in the metal.

"It hasn't been used in a long time," Annabeth said.

"I tried to open it once," Rachel said, "just out of curiosity. It's rusted shut."

"No." Annabeth stepped forward. "It just needs the touch of a half-blood." As soon as Annabeth put her hand on the mark, it glowed blue. The metal door unsealed and creaked open, revealing a dark staircase leading down.

"Wow." Rachel said calmly, though Lennon had a feeling she was pretending. The redhead had changed into a ratty Museum of Modern Art T-shirt and her marker-colored jeans, her blue plastic hairbrush sticking out of her pocket. Her red hair was tied back, but she still had flecks of gold in it, and traces of the gold glitter on her face. "So...after you?"

"You're the guide," Annabeth said with mock politeness. "Lead on."

Rachel entered first and Lennon followed after her, turning around to give Annabeth a look (and Percy too, just for good measure). It seemed Lennon's current objective would be trying to keep their group from bursting into any arguments.

The stairs led down to a large brick tunnel. It started to get dark so Lennon summoned a ball of light in her hands, urging it to glow bright enough. Rachel yelped as a skeleton was illuminated, grinning at them. It wasn't human. It was huge, for one thing—at least ten feet tall. It had been strung up, chained by its wrists and ankles so it made a kind of giant X over the tunnel. The kicker was the single black eye socket in the center of its skull.

"A Cyclops," Annabeth said. "It's very old. It's not...anybody we know."

She sent Percy a comforting smile. "Tyson's probably fine,"

Rachel swallowed. "You have a friend who's a Cyclops?"

"Tyson," Percy explained. "My half brother."

"Your half brother."

"Hopefully we'll find him down here," Percy said. "And Grover. He's a satyr."

"Oh." Rachel's voice was small. "Well then, we'd better keep moving." She glanced at Lennon. "What's with the... light?"

"My powers," Lennon said simply.

Rachel just nodded slowly. "Sure," She stepped under the skeleton's left arm and kept walking.

The three halfbloods exchanged looks. Annabeth shrugged and they followed Rachel deeper into the maze. After fifty feet they came to a crossroads. Ahead, the brick tunnel continued. To the right, the walls were made of ancient marble slabs. To the left, the tunnel was dirt and tree roots.

Percy pointed left. "That looks like the tunnel Tyson and Grover took."

Annabeth frowned. "Yeah, but the architecture to the right—those old stones—that's more likely to lead to an ancient part of the maze, toward Daedalus's workshop."

"We need to go straight," Rachel said.

They looked at her. Lennon furrowed her brows, "Really?"

"That's the least likely choice," Annabeth said.

"You don't see it?" Rachel asked. "Look at the floor."

Lennon saw nothing but well-worn bricks and mud.

"There's a brightness there," Rachel insisted. "Very faint. But forward is the correct way. To the left, farther down the tunnel, those tree roots are moving like feelers. I don't like that. To the right, there's a trap about twenty feet down. Holes in the walls, maybe for spikes. I don't think we should risk it."

Lennon squinted down the tunnel. "A brightness? Are you sure?"

"Very. There's nothing like that down the other tunnels,"

Percy nodded. "Okay. Forward."

"You believe her?" Annabeth asked.

"Yeah," Percy said. "Don't you?"

Annabeth glanced at Lennon unsurely and she shrugged. Rachel was their guide for a reason. Annabeth waved at Rachel to lead on. Togetehr they continued walking down the brick corridor. It twisted and turned, but there were no more side tunnels. They seemed to be angling down, heading deeper underground.

The darkness made Lennon anxious. Annabeth and Percy had pulled out their flashlights when Lennon's light started to flicker. She wrung out her hands, anxiously glancing at the walls of the maze. In the darkness, Lennon started to feel like any second they would enter a tunnel just like the one from her dream.

Percy had fallen back beside her, as Annabeth and Rachel took the lead. She snuck a quick glance at him only to see he was already looking at her. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Yeah. Uh, just a little anxious,"

"Well everything is going well so far," he looked ahead at the girls. "Rachel, no traps?"

"Nothing." Rachel knit her eyebrows. "Should it be this easy?"

"I don't know. It never was before."

"So, Rachel," Annabeth said, "where are you from, exactly?" She said it like, What planet are you from? But Rachel didn't look offended. Lennon observed their conversation.

"Brooklyn," she said.

"Aren't your parents going to be worried if you're out late?"

Rachel exhaled. "Not likely. I could be gone a week and they'd never notice."

"Why not?" Annabeth asked sincerely this time.

Before Rachel could answer, there was a creaking noise in front of them, like huge doors opening.

"What was that?" Lennon asked.

"I don't know," Rachel shrugged. "Metal hinges,"

"Oh, that's very helpful," Annabeth drawled. "She means, what is it?"

Then they heard heavy footsteps shaking the corridor—coming toward them.

Annabeth let out an annoyed huff and said, "Well, shit,"

"Run?" Percy asked.

"Run," Rachel agreed.

They turned and fled the way they'd come, but they didn't make it twenty feet before they ran straight into two dracaenae, who leveled their javelins at their chests. Standing between them was an empousai dressed in a cheer uniform. Lennon could only assume it was the same monster Percy had encountered at school.

"Well, well," Kelli said.

Percy uncapped Riptide, Annabeth pulled her knife and Lennon began to snap her hairtie into a bow but before she could Kelli pounced on Rachel. Her hand turned into a claw and she spun Rachel around, holding her tight with her talons at Rachel's neck.

"Taking your little mortal pet for a walk?" Kelli asked. "They're such fragile things. So easy to break!"

Behind them, the footsteps came closer. A huge form appeared out of the gloom—an eight-foot-tall Laistrygonian giant with red eyes and fangs.

The giant licked his lips when he saw the,. "Can I eat them?"

"No," Kelli said. "Your master will want these. They will provide a great deal of entertainment." She gave a smile full of fangs. "Now march, half-bloods. Or you all die here, starting with the mortal girl."

Being restrained by giants and forced to watch as Percy entered a death arena was definitely not how Lennon expected things to go. Not to mention, Luke was there.

Percy's half brother, Anataeus grinned as Luke presented Percy to him. "A son of Poseidon? Then he should fight well! Or die well!"

"If his death pleases you," Luke said, "will you let our armies cross your territory?"

Lennon scowled at him.

"Perhaps!" Antaeus said.

Luke didn't look too pleased by perhaps.

"Luke!" Annabeth yelled. "Stop this,"

"Let us go!" Lennon added.

He seemed to realize they were there. He looked stunned as he looked at them. "Annabeth? Lennon?"

"Enough time for the females to fight afterward," Antaeus interrupted. "First, Percy Jackson, what weapons will you choose?"

The dracaenae pushed him into the middle of the arena.

Annabeth glanced at her whispering, "Anataeus. His mother is Gaea," Lennon's eyes widened as Annabeth yelled Percy's name, interrupting whatever they were speaking about. "His mother is—" The giant holding Annabeth back clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Gaea!" Lennon finishes frantically. "His mother—" The Giant holding her clamped his hand over her mouth, muffling her words. Lennon thrashed around hoping Percy understood what they were trying to say.

Down in the arena, Percy yelled to his half brother. "You're crazy, Antaeus, if you think this is a good tribute, you know nothing about Poseidon."

The crowd screamed insults at him and Antaeus raised his hand for silence.

"Weapons," he insisted. "And then we will see how you die. Will you have axes? Shields? Nets? Flamethrowers?"

"Just my sword," Percy said.

Lennon watched as the monsters erupted into laughter, though, it died down when Riptide appears in Percy's hands. His bronze sword glowed with a faint light.

"Round one!" Antaeus announced. The gates opened, and a dracaena slithered out. She had a trident in one hand and a weighted net in the other. Lennon watched as she jabbed at Percy. He simply stepped away. She threw her net but he sidestepped easily and sliced her spear in half, then stabbed Riptide through a chink in her armor. With a painful wail, she vaporized into nothing, and the cheering of the crowd died.

"No!" Antaeus bellowed. "Too fast! You must wait for the kill. Only I give that order!"

Percy quickly shot a glance towards the girls. Lennon tried to give him an encouraging look but it's hard when her mouth is covered. Her, Rachel and Annabeth were still stuck.

Luke said something to Percy and then Anataeus bellowed again. "Round two! And slower this time! More entertainment! Wait for my call before killing anybody. OR ELSE!"

The gates opened again, and this time a young warrior came out. Glossy black hair peeled out the bottom of his helmet. Then he looked over at Anataeus and she got a clear view of his face. Lennon knew instantly who he was.

Lennon's heart stopped as she watched him walk out. He was thinner than the last time she'd seen him (older too). She could feel Annabeth watching her but Lennon's eyes were still glued on him.

Lennon thrashed against her giant captor, she called Ethan's name but it was muffled by the giant's hand. She'd never thought she'd see him again, and as much as she wanted to see him again, she hoped it wouldn't be on opposite sides of a battlefield.

"Hey!" a monster jeered from the stands. "Stop talking and fight already!"

Ethan charged at Percy and their swords met in midair. They parried and jabbed at each other, fighting around the arena.

"Blood!" the monsters cried.

Ethan yelled a battle cry and charged at Percy, but he parried his blade and backed away, letting him come after him.

"Boo!" Antaeus said. "Stand and fight!"

Lennon glanced over at Annabeth. They needed a plan quick. Whatever they did, the girls both knew they wouldn't be able to do anything without a distraction.

Annabeth's eyes flicked down to her dagger hanging of her giant captor's belt. The brunette nodded slightly and flexed her hands. They had the makings of a plan but... Rachel. The mortal redhead was still held by Kelli, her claws at the redhead's neck.

The monster audience jeered angrily and Lennon looked back to the arena to see Percy slam the butt of his sword on Ethan's helmet, who's swords had fallen to the ground. Ethan fell on his back and Percy put the tip of his sword on his chest.

Percy looked up at Anataeus who held out his hands, presenting a large thumbs down. Percy sheathed his swords, causing Ethan to groan. Percy held out his hand and helped the boy up.

"No one dishonors the games!" Antaeus bellowed. "Your heads shall both be tributes to Poseidon!"

Percy said something to Ethan then turned back to Anataeus. "Why don't you fight me yourself? If you've got Dad's favor, come down here and prove it! Or are you too lazy sitting on your ass and watching people fight?"

The monsters grumbled in the stands. Antaeus looked around and realized he had no choice. He couldn't say no without looking like a coward.

As a demigod, you're often in dangerous situations. Lennon is used to being worried for any of her friends whenever they're in a fight, but it's worse now. Watching Percy take on Anataeus left an anxious fear in her stomach.

"I am the greatest wrestler in the world, boy," he warned. "I have been wrestling since the first pankration!"

"Pankration?" Percy questioned.

"He means fighting to the death," Ethan said. "No rules. No holds barred. It used to be an Olympic sport."

"Thanks for the tip,"

"Don't mention it."

Annabeth shook her head emphatically and Lennon watched Percy. She could tell this was one of his i-haven't-figured-out-the-plan-yet plan. She just hoped it would result in a good enough distraction for the girls. She and Percy met eyes before he turned back to his half brother.

He pointed his sword at Antaeus. "Winner takes all! I win, we all go free. You win, we die. Swear upon the River Styx."

Antaeus laughed. "This shouldn't take long. I swear to your terms!" He leaped off the railing, into the arena.

Lennon glanced at Annabeth again and she pointed out with her eyes any other threats around them. They could get out if they could get a distraction big enough to distract Kelli and free Rachel.

Anataeus bellowed in pain And Lennon whipped back over to the fight. Antaeus groped for the hilt, pulled out Percy's sword, and tossed it behind him. Sand poured from the wound, the earth rising up to cover him. Dirt coated his body all the way to his shoulders. As soon as the dirt spilled away, Antaeus was fine.

"Now you see why I never lose, demigod!" Antaeus gloated. "Come here and let me crush you. I'll make it quick!"

Lennon urged Percy to understand what Annabeth had been trying to tell him. Percy glanced at Annabeth and the blonde widened her eyes trying to get him to understand.

Percy tried to skirt around him, but Antaeus anticipated his move. He blocked his path, chuckling. He was just toying with Percy and now he had him cornered.

Percy looked up where chains hung from the ceiling, dangling the skulls of his enemies on hooks. He feinted to the other side. Antaeus blocked him. The crowd jeered and screamed at Antaeus to finish him off.

"Puny boy," he said. "Not a worthy son of the sea god!"

Lennon took a page out of Annabeth's book and made a mental checklist of everything they could do. All the things she could do to distract their captors.

She looked back to the arena to see Percy climbing the chains like they were a rope course. His plans get crazier and crazier. He used his sword to saw off the chain next to him.

"Come down here, coward!" Antaeus bellowed. He tried to grab Percy, but he was just out of reach.

Percy yelled, "Come up and get me! Or are you too slow?"

He howled and made another grab for him. He caught a chain and tried to pull himself up. While he was struggling, Percy lowered his sawed-off chain, hook first. Lennon watched as it took him two tries to snag Antaeus's loincloth.

"WAAA!" he yelled.

Percy slipped the free chain through the fastening link on his own chain, pulled it taut. Antaeus tried to slip back to the ground, but he stayed suspended by his loincloth. He had to hold on to the other chains with both hands to avoid getting flipped upside down.

While Antaeus cursed and flailed, Percy was scrambling around the chains, swinging and cutting. Eventually, the giant was suspended above the ground, hopelessly snarled in chains and hooks. Percy dropped to the floor, panting.

"Get me down!" Antaeus demanded.

"Free him!" Luke ordered. "He is our host!"

Percy uncapped Riptide. "I'll free him." Then he stabbed the giant in the stomach. He bellowed, and sand poured out, but he was too far up to touch the earth, and the dirt did not rise to hep him.

Antaeus just dissolved, pouring out bit by bit, until there was nothing left but empty swinging chains and a big loincloth on a hook.

Lennon would be freaked out by the scene but she was a demigod and this wasn't the worse she'd seen.

"Jackson!" Luke yelled. "I should have killed you long ago!"

"You tried," Percy reminded him. "Let us go, Luke. We had a sworn agreement with Antaeus. I'm the winner."

"Antaeus is dead. His oath dies with him. But since I'm feeling merciful today, I'll have you killed quickly." Then pointed at Annabeth. "Spare the girl."

Lennon scowled at him. Gods she couldn't stand him.

"I would speak to her before—before our great triumph."

Every monster in the audience drew a weapon or extended its claws. Now they were trapped.

Lennon watched as Percy took something out of his pocket. Lennon recognized it as Mrs. O'Leary's dog whistle. He blew on it and there was no audible sound as it shattered into shards of ice, melting in his hand.

Luke laughed. "What was that supposed to do?"

Suddenly, Mrs. O'Leary appeared behind the girls, knocking the giant holding Annabeth into the wall, blowing past Percy. Lennon took the opportunity to bring her hands up and burn light into the giant arms that were restraining her.

He cried and let go of her stumbling back. Kelli scowled and looked at her but there was nothing she could do as Mrs. O'Leary picked her up like a chew toy and tossed her through the air, straight into Luke's lap. Mrs. O'Leary snarled, and the two dracaena guards backed away.

Lennon scrambled to help Rachel and Annabeth up while the monsters in the audience were caught by surprise.

"Let's go!" Percy yelled. "Heel, Mrs. O'Leary!"

"The far exit!" Rachel cried. "That's the right way!"

They raced across the arena and out the far exit, Mrs. O'Leary right behind us. Lennon was pretty sure she'd seen Ethan running out with them. As they ran, she could hear the disorganized sounds of an entire army trying to jump out of the stands and follow them.

    Lennon's first friend at camp hadn't been one of her siblings or Annabeth, it had been Ethan Nakamura. Lennon had been young and so very new to the world of gods. She was confused when she'd been placed in Hermes cabin, labeled unclaimed. Her first friend had been Ethan Nakamura.

    They told each other everything, huddled atop their sleeping bags in a corner of the cabin. There was a solidarity formed by the gods' apparent rejection of them, but then a week later, she had been claimed by Apollo. At the campfire sing-along, the Stoll brothers volunteered her to sing. As soon as she started singing the first few lyrics of Landslide, a shining lyre appeared above her head.

    She glanced over at Ethan in shock but there was just this utter look of betrayal on his face. From then on, it was like Etthan had a wall up between them. Not soon after, he disappeared from camp.

Now they were all following Rachel's instructions as they ran through the maze. Finally, they'd lost Luke and his minions.

Ethan collapsed on the floor. "You people are crazy." He pulled off his helmet.

Annabeth gasped. "I remember you! You were one of the undetermined kids in the Hermes cabin, years ago."

He glared at her. "Yeah, and you're—" He paused as he finally noticed Lennon. Standing up, he said, "Lennon?"

She had always imagined what she would say if she saw Ethan again. The scenarios often ranged between yelling, hugging, or crying. But now she's speechless. So her heart takes over and she surges forward to pull him in a hug. For a second she's surprised when he hugs her back. She feels like a little kid again.

Finally she lets go and notices the frayed, black cloth he was using an eyepatch. "What happened to your eye?"

He doesn't meet her eyes. Just like that the wall from when they were kids comes back up. Instead of answering he steps back, "Look at that, you're on a quest,"

"Crazy, right?" she lets out a small laugh. Of course, he remembers how eager she was to prove herself by going on a quest. Why wouldn't he?

"Can you still..." He does jazz hands, hinting to her powers. The action reminds her of the hyperactive kid that had explained the entirety of Batman's different robins while huddled atop their sleeping bags.

She laughs again, a bit of proudness in her smile, "Yup,"

"You must be the half-blood from my dream," Percy said suddenly said, cutting the reunion short. He looked kind of annoyed. "The one Luke's people cornered. It wasn't Nico after all."

"Who's Nico?" Ethan asks, turning to Percy.

"Never mind," Annabeth said quickly. "Why were you trying to join up with the wrong side?"

"Annabeth!" she scolded.

"There's no right side," Ethan sneered. "The gods never cared about us. Why shouldn't I—"

"Sign up with an army that makes you fight to the death for entertainment?" Annabeth said. "Gee, I wonder."

Ethan shook his head with a scoff. "I'm not going to argue with you. Thanks for the help, but I'm out of here."

"You're leaving?" Lennon frowned.

He avoids her eyes as he says, "Yeah,"

"We're going after Daedalus," Percy said. "You should come with us. Once we get through, you'd be welcome back at camp."

"You really are crazy if you think Daedalus will help you."

"He has to," Annabeht said. "We'll make him listen."

Ethan snorted. "Yeah, well. Good luck with that."

Lennon reached for his arm, "Ethan, you can't go into the maze by yourself. It's dangerous,"

Percy hummed, muttering, "It's practically suicide."

Ethan looked at Percy with barely controlled anger. "You shouldn't have spared me, Jackson. Mercy has no place in this war." Then he looked back at her. "Good luck, Lennon,"

He ran off into the darkness, back the way they'd come. Lennon watched with a deep frown on her face. It just didn't feel right.

They were so exhausted, they decided to make camp where they were. Percy found some scrap wood and they started a fire. Lennon tried to keep up their spirits but it was hard when her own spirits were dampened. She hadn't seen Ethan in so long and just like that he was gone.

"Something was wrong with Luke," Annabeth muttered, poking at the fire with her knife. "Did you notice the way he was acting?"

"I don't know Annabeth. He didn't seem that different," Lennon said.

"He looked pretty pleased to me," Percy shrugged. "Like he'd spent a nice day torturing heroes."

Lennon sent him a warning look as Annabeth said, "That's not true! There was something wrong with him. He looked...nervous. He told his monsters to spare me. He wanted to tell me something."

"Probably, 'Hi, Annabeth! Sit here with me and watch while I tear your friends apart. It'll be fun!'"

Lennon sighed, rubbing her face exhaustedly. Luke was always a touchy subject with Annabeth. She understood how important he was to the blonde because Lennon once looked up to him the same way. Percy wouldn't understand it because he hadn't known the good Luke for as long.

"You're impossible," Annabeth grumbled. She sheathed her dagger and looked at Rachel. "So which way now, Sacagawea?"

Lennon nudged Annabeth's knee with her foot. Rachel didn't respond right away. She'd become quieter since the arena. The redhead had burned the tip of a stick in the fire and was using it to draw ash figures on the floor, images of the monsters we'd seen. With a few strokes, she caught the likeness of a dracaena perfectly.

"We'll follow the path," she said. "The brightness on the floor."

"The brightness that led us straight into a trap?" Annabeth asked.

"Lay off her, Annabeth," Percy defended her. "She's doing the best she can."

Quietly, Lennon said, "Well, she did lead us into a trap,"

"You too, Lennon?" Percy looked at her in disappointment.

"No! I'm just saying that she did," She glanced at Rachel. "Maybe if you could explain why, it would be easier to understand,"

Rachel glanced up at her. "Following the brightness just feels right. That's the only way I can explain it,"

"Yeah, that's helpful," Annabeth muttered sarcastically. Then the blonde stood. "The fire's getting low. I'll go look for some more scraps while you guys talk strategy."

Lennon followed after her, getting up, "I'll go too,"

Together, they walked off into the shadows, Lennon's light illuminating the way.

"Are you okay?" Annabeth asked as they looked for more scraps.

Lennon nodded as she glanced at the maze floor. "Yeah just..." she hated admit it but there was no other way to explain it. "Sad. Are you... How are you?"

Annabeth paused. "It's exhausting. Nothing is going right and we went straight into that trap,"

"Rachel didn't do it on purpose,"

Annabeth sighed at that. "I know she didn't. It's just so irritating, having to rely on a mortal. And of course Percy thinks shes so amazing. I hate not knowing everything,"

Lennon nodded. "You have to stop being so hard on yourself,"

The blonde didn't respond instead she said, "Can you shine some light over there?" she pointed to the ground. She did and they gathered a handful of cardboard and sticks.

As they walked back, Lennon said, "I can take first watch when we get back,"

But Annabeth shook her head, "I'll take first watch. Don't think I haven't noticed how tired you are. Have the dreams gotten worse?"

"A little," Annabeth gave her an unconvinced look and Lennon shrugged. "It doesn't matter. We have a quest to focus on,"

Annabeth didn't say anything else as the made their way back to their camp. They tossed the scraps in the fire. Rachel had fallen asleep and Percy sat there, watching the fire.

"I'll take first watch," Annabeth said. "You guys should sleep, too,"

"Ok um..." Percy said as Annabeth had silently settled near the entrance, glancing down at her knife. He glanced at Lennon. "So, how do you know that Ethan kid?" He seemed annoyed by something.

"He was the first friend I made at camp,"

Percy must've picked up on the sadness in her voice. "You two were close?" his face was exceptionally neutral but Lennon still noticed the way his voice went up and octave.

Lennon thinks for a moment. Were they close? They hadn't been friends for long. "I think so, yeah,"

"You think so?"

"Well, after I was claimed we weren't as good friends," Lennon sighs, toying with the hem of her camp shirt. "I missed him though,"

Percy doesn't say anything for a beat then, "He was trying to join Kronos' army,"

Lennon hums. Quietly, she says, "I think being his friend was the first time I felt normal after learning I was a halfblood,"

In the light of the fire, Percy's face softens. His face was illuminated in an yellow-orange light. She found herself studying every feature of his face.

"He meant a lot to you," Percy says.

"He did," she agrees somberly.

"Are you okay?"

His question breaks her from her staring. Had she been moving too sluggishly? Had she given away how utterly tired she was? "Yeah, I'm okay," Lennon gave him a smile.

"Why do you do that?"

Lennon knew what he was asking. Why does she lie? Worry about everyone but herself. The only response she could give to that was that she had to. She couldn't not do that. So she faked cluelessness and responded, "Do what?"

Percy just frowned and said, "Nevermind. Annabeth is right, we should get some sleep,"

AUTHORS NOTE:
so yes ethan and lennon used to be friends, tbh it was kinda a short friendship but very meaningful cause he was the first person she really connected with at camp.
also lennon being a stressed mom in the maze is so real of her, like please help her she's so exhausted
anywhoo don't forget to vote and comment, it lets me know ur enjoying the story and i love hearing ppl's thoughts!!