Hello, my peeps! 'Tis the return of RToC for another chapter in the icy deep! How are my octopus friendlys? OOH! FRIENDLY'S! Hahahahahahaha! Oh, my goodness ... I'm so not funny, and yet I crack myself up, xD Hahaha ... oh ... anyway. Where was I? Hmm. I don't think I was ever anywhere, actually. So.

This is the last chapter of Desolation. Yes, I know, it's only five chapters. But I'm not breaking for the third one, which will be coming right after this. And the third one will be long. I promise. :D

See if you can catch my Edgar Allen Poe reference! (And before you ask, no, I don't own "The Raven.") Can you find it? :D

DISCLAIMER: Unfortunately, while wet monkeys are very honorable, I am not. Does this not make sense? Yeah, well, too bad. It's your fault for not being in my school. And unfortunately, unless you have the same degree of honor as a wet monkey, you may not steal the rights of written works from other people. D: So, apparently, me does not own PJO. :(

Who made that rule, anyway? A wet monkey?

{DAY THREE}

I sat in the closet.

It was stuffy inside. Hot. Dust floated around, and I coughed; I tried to silence the following ones, in fear of Echidna's reaction.

I was in horrible pain. Excruciating. It burned me to the core.

I was crying. That doesn't happen often. But now that I was alone - so very, completely alone - I had no reason to hold back.

The blood was getting everywhere. There was nothing I could do about that.

But as I sat there, the blood began to pool. Sitting in a pool of my own blood.

I decided to try to see if I could stand. I grabbed the doorknob for support; however, I had gotten no more than two inches off the floor before the pain came and stabbed me again, and I fell back to the floor.

I looked at my arm, even though I knew I would not be able to see the word that was now there.

Was I a failure?

Yes, I realized. I am a failure.

I defeated Kronos, yet I couldn't handle her?

I could stop Oceanus, yet I can't Echidna?

You're a failure, I realized. You've let everyone down. Especially Annabeth.

Annabeth! I realized. What's happening with Annabeth?

I have to contact Grover.

But how? my mind countered. Echidna's probably right in that hallway. She'll hear you.

I have to try!

You can't. At this point, who knows what Echidna will do if she catches you?

I couldn't do it. It would only get me killed.

So I waited. As the blood slowly seeped from me and the pain spread, I hoped with everything I had that I'd live to see Annabeth once more.

Eventually, I had taken off my shirt and, one by one, pressed it against each of the cuts in a way I had learned that would hopefully stop the bleeding. Some were stubborn, and some I couldn't reach, but I managed to at least slow the bleeding of many of the slits in my skin.

A few hours after I had been locked in the closet, the door opened. Echidna held a small glass. There was water inside.

I was thirsty. I hadn't drank anything since I'd been taken, almost 48 hours ago.

Then the gears in my head started turning. Water ...

"If you're thinking on using your powers in any way on me, know that if I catch you, you'll practically be skinned before you escape alive."

Getting the message, I nodded nervously as she let me sip from the cup.

"When your girlfriend gets here, she's doomed."

I almost choked on the water. I swallowed and looked up at her.

"I assume she'll be coming for you. But when she gets here, she's not leaving alive."

She grabbed the cup and left the closet before I could ask for her meaning, locking the door behind her.

The time dragged on slowly. I thought of Annabeth. I thought of Grover. I thought of what Echidna would do to me if I contacted him.

I thought of Annabeth.

Submerged in darkness, I sat there, wondering, fearing, doubting myself, thinking thoughts no mortal ever had to ponder before. This was unbearable.

But then:

Percy? You there?

As soon as I realized the words had come from my head and not the closet or hallway, my spirits lifted. "Grover?" I whispered.

Percy! Please tell me that was you!

"Yes, it's me! I can hear you!"

Percy! Oh, thank goodness. Please say you're okay!

"Okay? Uh ... no, not really. Echidna's got me locked in a closet."

A closet? What happened to the jail cell?

"She moved me. I don't know where we are now."

A few moments passed. Then, You're in Powell.

"Powell? Where's that?"

It's also in Wyoming, he said dismissively. There must not be as great protection there, because I can clearly tell where you are. But what's happening?

"Well ... she's not exactly being good to me. But listen, I've been thinking. I think her plan is bigger than just this."

What do you mean?

"I mean, she's been talking about how she needs Annabeth to show up. Why would she need that? Something serious is going on here. I'm just the first step."

Isn't this just for revenge?

"That's what I thought, too. But then why am I still alive? She hasn't tried to kill me yet. No, there's something big happening. And Annabeth is involved."

What?

"Echidna told me that she figures Annabeth is on her way, but that she's doomed if she gets here. I've been trying to figure out why she would want Annabeth."

Well, at the moment, Annabeth is back at camp.

"Good. Make sure it stays that way. Wait - back at camp? Are you not at camp?"

Well, I'm coming for you, of course. Did you think I'd do nothing? And don't suggest that I stop.

"Grover -"

Because I'm not going to do it. I'm going to find you, Percy. I won't fail again.

"Grover, her entire plan -"

- Only involves Annabeth, as far as you know, he finished for me. And if no one comes for you at all, then what? Her plan fails. So what does she do? She kills you, that's what. Percy, I'm coming. That's final.

I sighed. "Fine," I told him. "But make sure she stays back."

Will do. So how are you there? What's happening to you?

"Well, like I said, she's not trying to kill me. She actually gave me some water earlier on today."

So that proves it - she especially wants you alive for something.

"Exactly. And Annabeth is involved. I just have to figure out how."

Okay.

"Oh, Grover? I need you to tell Annabeth something."

Yeah? What is it, Perce?

"Tell her how I'm doing, first of all. That I'm alive. Tell her to stay back. Tell her we'll all be okay."

Okay.

"And ... and tell her that I love her. I really do."

I could practically hear his grin on the other end. Wow, you're corny today. Okay, Percy. Anything else?

"Don't die on me, dude."

Will do.

The link died.

Suddenly - pounding on the door.

"HEY! BE QUIET IN THERE!"

The door flew open. She glared down at me from above. "What did I tell you before?"

Oh no.

She reached for Riptide.

No, no, no.

She uncapped the pen.

Oh, please, no!

And I screamed.

{DAY FOUR}

I felt like I would throw up when I awoke in the closet the next day. My body still burned, and in a few places bled. I couldn't do this anymore.

The door opened again.

I squirmed back as much as I could without hurting myself too much. The pain was growing unbearable. Echidna stood in front of me. "Ready for another session?"

Again?

Pain. I clenched my fists and my teeth as she worked.

This one was worse than previous ones, I noticed. She was angrier. She was more forceful.

When she finally stopped, I was near unconsciousness. I could feel myself fading, the darkness calling, calling ...

Give in... Give yourself over... Let yourself be consumed...

The darkness wants you...

Darkness...wait. Was there light?

I turned my head from where I was lying in the closet. There was a small gap by the edge of the door, through which light was seeping.

Was it possible?

Echidna had been so mad, she'd forgotten to make sure the door was closed all the way.

I reached over and lightly pushed the door with my hand. It started to swing open. I could see that the bolt was sticking out, meaning that she had intended to lock me in, not realizing that the door was still slightly ajar.

I almost grinned. Too perfect.

After confirming that I could not stand, or even crawl, I moved my arms forward and dragged myself along the marble floor. My energy was fading quickly. But I could not accept defeat. I had to escape at all costs.

Slowly, I dragged myself from the closet.

I used my arms to pull myself along as best I could. The pain was becoming agonizing, but I kept moving.

Ten feet, twenty feet. Bit by bit, I got closer to the end of the hall.

I glanced over my shoulder. I was leaving a giant trail of blood behind me; Echidna was nowhere to be seen.

Had to keep moving. Had to keep moving!

Faster now.

I could feel my energy dripping away. Had to stay awake. Had to get out of there!

My movements began to slow. I couldn't keep this up for much longer, and I still had half the distance to go.

But then a shadow fell over me. "Where do you think you're going?"

No!

Cold hands gripped my ankles.

NO!

And I was dragged away.

I clawed at the floor, struggled, tried to writhe out of her control. But to no avail: I slid down the hallway, desperately trying to stop.

"NO!" I screamed. I was practically crying all of a sudden. "Don't make me go back in there!"

She grabbed me and shoved me back inside. I was lying on the floor, defeated. In seconds, Riptide was at my throat. Echidna glared down at me.

"Kill me," I asked her abruptly. I couldn't believe what I was saying. But she was breaking me. My blood was all over this school. Annabeth was in the infirmary because of me. I couldn't take this anymore.

Echidna didn't move. The sword was still at my throat.

Another tear spilled. "KILL ME!" I demanded.

She smiled. And recapped the sword.

She knelt down to my level. "You haven't seen the kind of torture I can deal out," she whispered. "Your soul is not yet broken. This isn't over."

I stared up at her pleadingly. "What do you want from me?" I choked out.

Echidna laughed softly. "I want you to crack," she told me. "And I know how to do it."

The Chimera walked up behind her.

"I am going to leave," she continued. "My Chimera will keep you alive in here. I'll be on my way to your little camp."

My eyes widened.

"I presume your girlfriend is on her way, no?"

I said nothing. My face hardened.

She smiled. "I'll be leaving your sword here, with my Chimera. When she arrives, Sonny will give it to you."

Echidna leaned in closer: "And you will kill her."

What? "You - you can't make me," I sputtered.

"But I can. Because if she lives - if she stays here with you, or she leaves alive, or she frees you - if you do not kill her when I am gone, Sonny will alert me. And I will enter your camp. And I will kill as many demigods as I can before I am brought down."

I could feel a lump forming in my throat. This could not be happening.

"I will reform," she reminded me. "But they ... they will not. But when you do kill the girl, I will spare your friends. When my Chimera tells me that you have successfully murdered her, I will return, and your friends will be safe."

This couldn't be. "How will you enter camp? The Fleece protects the boundaries."

"I captured you, didn't I?"

No.

No.

No!

I closed my eyes. "Will you ... will you free me, if I ... kill her?"

Echidna smiled. "We'll see."

She stood. The Chimera got out of her way, and she stepped from the closet and shut the door. I heard the lock click into place.

Her footsteps echoed through the abandoned building. The front door slammed, worsening the aching in my head.

She was making me choose who would die. The lives of everyone from camp were in my hands.

Would I kill Annabeth? Or let Echidna murder dozens of campers?

I couldn't do this. No. No!

My energy was gone. The pain was consuming.

The sound of a starting car was the last thing I heard before I blacked out.

And that's it. *cackles* Goodness, that was fun to write. Am I a terrible person for grinning while typing this? xD

So. The third one is coming very soon, in early-ish July. I thought I was going to call it Devastation, but now I'm leaning toward Fragmentation. Which one do you like more? Tell me in your review. :D Fragmentation/Devastation will include the viewpoints of both Annabeth and Percy, as well as others in a few places, like the beginning.

Remember: Even if Annabeth can find Percy, is it over yet? No. They're dealing with an enemy far more powerful than they had imagined.

Hehehehehe! x)

- Tofu gopher!

- THE KIDNAPPED HERO TRILOGY 2: DESOLATION: OVER. -