You guys probably hate me for keeping you waiting for so long. You see, I had major writer's block. This was the best I could think of. Sorry, if this chapter sucks.

IMPORTANT: I am holding a contest. The 100th reviewer for Against All Odds will get a sneak-peek at the next chapter at any of these stories:

1) Against All Odds

2) An Arranged Marriage

3) Possessed

So REVIEW!

Disclaimer: Why would I be Rick Riordan? Rick better not be writing on fan fiction when he's supposed to be writing The Son of Neptune! I can't believe that we have to wait that long! UGH!

Annabeth POV:

"What's the plan, Annabeth?" Asked Grover, who was riding on Guido.

"Well if the Oracle said to travel west, I guess that means the Mountain of despair. So I think our best bet is to head there." I suggested.

"Wonderful," Grover Muttered. "One of the most dangerous places in America, and we are purposefully heading right towards it. My life couldn't be any better."

"Oh shut up, Goat Boy," Clarisse ordered angrily. "Man Up."

Grover went silent after that.

"What if you're wrong?" Clarisse asked me. "What if Nico and Thalia are somewhere else?"

I thought for a moment. "I don't know where else they could be." I admitted.

The whole quest was on my shoulders. We could succeed or fail, depending on if my prediction - that Nico and Thalia are being held at the Mountain of Despair - is right or not.

~o~

We flew for hours, and eventually it was so dark, that we couldn't see our hands in front of our faces. I was tired, and I knew that the Pegasi must be too, since they have been carrying us half-way across America, and haven't had any breaks.

"Let's stop some where for the night," I suggested.

"Where should we land?" Grover asked, scanning below us.

"No idea."

Clarisse groaned. "I think a place for us to land is kind of important."

I rolled my eyes. "Well do you see a place for us to rest, Clarisse?"

Clarisse looked down. "No one can, it's freaking pitch black!"

"Exactly."

We kept flying, as we scanned the horizon. Blackjack's wings were flapping slower and slower as the minutes passed, and I had a feeling that the other Pegasus' were too.

Finally, as my eyes were starting to droop, I saw a neon green sign below. I couldn't read it, but it meant that there had to be something there.

"Hey guys, look over there." I pointed towards the bright lights.

"Where? I can't see where you're pointing. I can't see you at all!" Grover exclaimed.

"A bright green sign about fifty degrees to the right of us," I clarified.

"Okay, I see it now."

We flew towards the sign, which read, Ara's Motel. We told the Pegasi to hide and rest on the top of the motel building. I don't think that the motel allows winged-horses.

We walked in, and there was a small, reception desk. Behind it was a woman wearing a beautiful and colorful woven dress. It looked as good as anything my mother could make. And that's saying something, with her being the goddess of weaving.

"Two rooms, please." I said to the receptionist. We decided that me and Clarisse would share a room, and Grover will have his own to himself.

"Of course, dear." She said with a smile. "Your name, please?"

"Annabeth Chase." For some odd reason, the woman cringed.

"Ugh, is the something wrong?" I asked.

"No dear. Everything is fine." She gave me another smile.

She handed us our room keys and we walked towards our rooms.

I fell asleep instantly in my bed. I was sleeping peacefully, until I awoke chained to the wall of my motel room. Before me I saw a HUGE spider!

"Sp-sp-spider!" I stuttered.

"Being a daughter of Athena gives way too much credit, Annabeth Chase." The spider spoke. It was easily twice the size of me. Then, realization flooded me. Ara's Motel. This is Arachne, my mother's arch enemy.

I couldn't think clearly. All I could think about is that Arachne, mother of spiders was standing right in front of me. And I was chained to a wall. I wanted to run. Run as far as humanly possible. But my chains prevented me to do so. And I was beginning to hyperventilate.

Percy POV:

I followed Annabeth, Grover, and Clarisse to this place called Ara's Motel. How did I find them? Well, you know how me and Grover share an empathy link? It's similar with me and horses, especially Blackjack. I can sense where he is, if he's injured, and I can even read his emotions.

I started to go around towards the back of the motel to rest, until I heard, Hey Boss! Whoa! You can stand now? Since when?

It was Blackjack, on the top if the motel building.

"I'll explain later. Everyone is safe, right?"

Yep, we're all safe and sound. A little tired but -

As if on cue, Blackjack was cut off from Annabeth's scream.

Hmm… Maybe we aren't all safe and sound.

I wasted no time. I ran through the doors of the motel and followed the loud cries. I burst open the door, and then I saw Annabeth chained to the wall, hyperventilating. I didn't quite understand why she was having a nervous breakdown, but that was before I saw the humongous spider in front of her.

Well that explains it, I thought.

"Son of Poseidon, great for you to join us." The spider said.

Annabeth looked up, and her eyes widened. She still looked crazy, but I could tell that she was shocked, angry, and happy to see me.

"Let Annabeth go!" I ordered, as I uncapped Riptide.

"No need to get feisty now," Said the Spider.

I advanced swiftly towards the monster, but it side-stepped quickly. It positioned itself to jump, but I quickly dived to the ground, and rolled around it. Half a second later, the spider turned itself around, but I was ready with Riptide. I sliced off it's head the moment it was in my range. The spider turned to a pile of dust on the carpeted floor of the motel room.

I turned my attention to Annabeth, who seemed to have calmed down. I broke the chains, using Riptide, and I held her in my arms.

"I-It was A-Arachne," she sputtered out, breathing heavily.

No wonder Annabeth was acting this way. She would have a meltdown if she saw an ordinary spider, but this was Arachne, the mother of all spiders.

"Okay, it's gone now, Annabeth. You're safe now," I soothed.

I kissed her cheek, and that seemed to have snapped her out of her trance.

"Wait, P-Percy? Your supposed to be at CAMP!" she exclaimed. "How are you standing! You had to get crutches to move around and you could have gotten hurt, and -"

I stopped her right there. "I made a deal with Nemesis. I would give her my invulnerability, if she would heal my leg. So can you please stop nagging me!"

"You Seaweed Brain! Do you know how dangerous this quest is for you! Whatever kidnapped Thalia and Nico is looking for children of the Big Three! You could be the next one missing! Not to mention that you're not used to fighting without the curse of Achilles, so you could easily -"

"Oh, so me defeating Arachne was just luck? I fought without invulnerability since last year, and I managed to stay alive."

Annabeth sighed. "Look, I'm just worried for you, okay? I would hate to see you get hurt again."

I brought her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. "I understand."

"I'm happy that you don't have to rely on crutches to get around anymore, though. So now when we get back we can have that sword-fight," Annabeth said with a gleam in her eye.

"You're on." I accepted the challenge. "But where's Grover and Clarisse?"

"Oh my gods! I have no idea!" She said, parting from the hug. "Look in every room. We have to find them."

Annabeth searched the hall we were already in, while I went further down, to the southern-most rooms.

I busted through every door between numbers thirteen through twenty one, until I finally found Grover chained to the wall, just like Annabeth had been.

"Perrrcy?" Grover bleated. "You can walk?"

"Yeah, man," I said as I broke the chains.

"Mind explaining?"

" Later. Now we have to find Clarisse."

Grover and I sprinted down the hall, and ran into Annabeth and Clarisse.

Clarisse raised an eyebrow when she saw me. "Kelp Head, weren't you crippled?"

"I'll explain later. I just want to get out of here."

Annabeth nodded. She probably wanted to get out of here more than I did, with this being the lair of Arachne and all. I bet she suspected a whole nest of spiders to be coming out of the rooms.

All four of us headed outside, and flew away on our Pegasi, only awaiting for what other dangers this quest had in store for us.

Yeah, I know this chapter sucked. It's just that I couldn't think of anything better to do, and my beta is on vacation, so yeah. But thanks for reading even after that long gap of not updating! I love all you guys! Thanks!

~Athena's Owlet24

Formerly known as percabeth4evr. (Yeah, I changed my pen-name.)

P.S. If you guys haven't heard, the chapter one preview of the Son of Neptune is up on the Heroes of Olympus site. Also, on youtube there is a reading of chapter two. :D