(Y/N)'s POV
I was looking everywhere for my friends but I kept getting stopped by guys asking me to dance. I shoved them all away. Except for one guy, he was being a complete jerk. I had to slap him in the face so he could finally leave me alone. I blame my ADHD, but I wasn't going back to say sorry to that guy.

I finally found Annabeth talking to a guy but once she saw me in my frantic state, she excused herself.

"What happened?" She asked.

"They're gone. So is Dr. Thorn. Percy went after them."

Annabeth groaned.

"It could be a trap. Come on let's go get Thalia and Grover."

We raced towards them and told them what was happening.

'Please let them be alright.'

Percy's POV
I finally found the di Angelo kids in the corner of a dark room. They looked up at me with fear in their eyes. I slowly walked up to them.

"It's ok. I'm not going to hurt you." I said as I lowered my sword.

They didn't answer.

'What's wrong with them? Where's Dr. Thorn? Did he retreat?'

"My name's Percy." I said calmly. "I'm getting you out of here, get you somewhere safe."

Bianca's eyes widened, her fists clenched tightly. But I was too late to realize that she was trying to warn me. I quickly looked behind me.

WHISH!

Pain shot throughout my shoulder. I started to feel a little bit warm.

'Poison.'

Then I was slammed into the wall. I slashed my sword but I hit nothing. A cold laugh was heard in the room. Dr. Thorn stepped into the dim light.

"Welcome Perseus Jackson. So glad you can join us." Dr. Thorn said.

I swung my sword again but missed.

WHISH!

Bianca yelped behind me. A thorn-like object impaled itself in the stone wall, barely missing Bianca's face.

"All three of you will come with me. Quietly and obediently. Make any calls for help and I'll make sure you regret it." Dr. Thorn growled. "Now walk."

~

"Halt. I will summon your ride."

We stopped at a clearing near the woods. There was a cliff. I could hear the crashing of the waves from below.

"What ride? Where are you taking us?" Bianca asked.

"Silence, you insufferable girl!" Dr. Thorn growled.

"Don't talk to my sister that way." Nico said.

I was impressed that he had the guts to say anything. I tried to use the empathy link that me and Grover shared but I wasn't sure if it was working. Dr. Thorn pushed us, making me stumble back. Bianca caught me.

"Thanks." I mumbled.

"Who or what is he?" She whispered. "How do we fight him?"

"I'm working on it. Hopefully they get here on time."

"They?" She asked.

"I'm scared." Nico mumbled, fiddling with some kind of toy.

"Stop talking!" Dr. Thorn growls.

I looked down the cliff to see how far the ocean was.

'Maybe I could get the di Angelos to jump with me. I could use the water to protect us. Hopefully my dad is in a good mood.'

"I would kill you before you make your move." Dr. Thorn said as if reading my mind.

His hand went to his pocket and pulled out a phone. He dialed a number.

"I have the package. It's ready for delivery."

He put the phone back in his pocket.

"Who wants us? Because if you think you'll get a ransom, you're wrong. We don't have any family. Nico and I...we've got no one but each other."

"Aww don't worry. You'll meet my boss soon enough and you will have a new family."

"You work for Luke."

"He is looking forward to meeting you. So is the General. You are going to do him a great service, Perseus Jackson." Dr. Thorn said.

"The General?" I said, confused.

Dr. Thorn looked up.

"Ah, your transportation has arrived."

I heard the chopping of helicopter blades getting louder and closer.

"Where are you taking us and why?" Nico asked.

"You should be honored, my boy. You will have the opportunity to join a great army! Just like that silly game you play with cards and dolls." Dr. Thorn sneered.

"They're not dolls! They're figurines! And I don't want to join your-"

"You'll change your mind, boy. The Great Stirring is underway."

"The Great what?" I asked, trying to buy some time.

Dr. Thorn smilled wickedly.

"The stirring of monsters. The worst and the most powerful monsters are awaking. Soon enough we shall have the most important monster of all. And it will help us bring the downfall of Olympus!"

"Ok, he's completely nuts." Bianca whispered to me.

"We have to jump off the cliff. Go into the sea." I whispered back.

"Oh yeah that's a super idea." She said sarcastically. "Now you're completely nuts too."

I was about to say something back to her when an arrow flew past us, hitting Dr. Thorn on the shoulder. Then an invisible force knocked us to the ground. I saw (Y/N) loading another arrow as she, Thalia, and Grover advanced towards Dr. Thorn. I realized that it was Annabeth who pushed us out of the way by using her cap of invisibility. Thalia already had her spear and shield ready. Dr. Thorn winced and then growled when he saw Thalia's shield, Aegis.

"For Zeus!" Thalia shouted.

She jabbed her spear at Dr. Thorn's head but then he swatted the spear away. His hand turned into a paw with huge claws. He slashed his claws at her but luckily Thalia used her shield. I heard the helicopter coming closer.

(Y/N)'s POV
I launched another arrow at Thorn, this time hitting him on the chest. Dr. Thorn growled before launching dozens of spikes at me. I quickly pushed the button on my wristwatch. It instantly turned into a shield. I felt the spikes deflecting off the shield.

Once it was over, I looked up and saw that Thorn had a scorpion like tail with spikes at the end. Grover started playing his reed pipes, making vines come out of the ground and wrapped around Thorn's legs.

I quickly went to Percy and saw the cut on his shoulder. Annabeth, who was now visible, was there by the di Angelo kids making sure they weren't hurt. I looked at Bianca and Nico. They looked alright except for the Dr. Thorn part. They looked at me and they seem to recognize me.

"(Y/N)? Is that really you?" Bianca asked, shocked that I was really here.

"Uh yeah it's me." I said as I used me powers.

My hands glowed golden. Bianca and Nico stared at me, astonished. Percy's face relaxed as the poison slowly went away. The glow of my hands faded.

"H-How did you do that?" Nico asked, amazed.

Before I could answer, Dr. Thorn roared. We all looked back at Dr. Thorn as he started to change. He still had his human face as he grew larger. His body turned into lion's body as he whipped his deadly spiky tail in all the directions.

"A manticore!" Annabeth said.

Bianca grabbed my hand and looked at me desperatly.

"(Y/N), what is going on? What is that?" She demanded.

Nico gasped.

"A manticore? He's gots 3000 attack points and a +5 to saving throws!"

We were confused at what he was talking about. I looked back at the manticore who was clawing Grover's magic vines to shreds. He turned towards us, snarling before he released dozens of spikes at our direction.

"Get down!" Annabeth said as she pushed Bianca and Nico to the snowy ground.

Percy activated his shield as we both used our shield to protect Annabeth and the di Angelo kids. Thorns again impacted my shield but this time it dented the metal as well as Percy's shield. That monster demanged the beautiful shield that Tyson gave me and Percy during the summer.

THWACK!

Grover landed next to Percy.

I was so angry.

When someone I care about gets hurt I get very involved. It's my fatal flaw so I can't help it.

"Surrender!" Thorn roared.

"Never!" Thalia yelled from across the field.

I heard something behind us so I looked back and saw an armed helicopter. It flashed a light at Thalia and the manticore.

Thalia stopped charging as she tried to shield her eyes from the blinding light. This gave the manticore an opportunity to swat her away with its tail. Thalia landed in the snow. Her shield and spear flew in different directions. Thorn made his way towards her.

"Thalia!" I yelled as I ran towards her, not caring about the danger. Percy was right behind me.

Thorn saw us coming and he launched more spikes towards us. I ducked just as they flew over my hair but one spike scratched my arm. Blood was seeping out from the cut. I felt the poison burn my veins.

THWACK!

I looked up to see Percy landing in the snow. The back of his head hit a tree. He tried to get up but he couldn't.

I slowly got up, desperate to help save Thalia from that monster.

'I am not going to let Thalia get killed. Not after spending most of her life as a tree. She protected us. Now it's my turn to return the favor.'

I turned my damaged shield back to its watch form and slowly grabbed my bow and loaded another arrow, aiming it at the manticore.

Percy's POV
I tried to run towards (Y/N) but my head injury hurts too much. But then I heard a piercing sound. It sounded like a hunting horn.

"No, it can't be-" Thorn said but was cut short.

(A/N): Bam! Finished this chapter. Hope you liked it😊I wanted to upload now since I have a bunch of homework to do📚😞. Don't know when I'll upload next time but I think pretty soon. So um bye 👋🏼