Annabeth dropped the phone and glanced at Rachel. The redhead shot her a quizzical look, slipping off her shoes.

"What's happened?" Rachel asked.

"Percy... Uh, Luke got him."

Rachel sighed dramatically, "Drama."

Annabeth rolled her eyes sarcastically, "I know right? Now, let's go give Luke what he wants."

"You're going to marry Luke? Just like that?"

Annabeth bit her lip, "Hurting Percy is better than getting him killed."

~

Percy heard his phone ring. All he knew was that it was his ringtone, not where it was coming from or who was calling. He heard a door open and close, and Luke appeared right in front of him.

Percy had to use all of his strength (which wasn't much) to keep himself from whimpering. Luke was holding a knife. That wasn't the scary part.

The knife was up to Percy's pulse point on his wrist.

Percy's breathing quickened.

"Now, Percy, why would I kill you?" Luke growled lowly.

Percy's eyes flicked to the knife, and he shook his head. Luke pulled the gag out of his mouth.

"Wouldn't that ruin the fun? I mean, I am going to kill you either way, but not just yet. You need osme torture. Therefore, giving Annabeth more of a reason to give me everything I wanted." Luke's icy eyes met Percy's.

"Why would you target me, of all people Annabeth cares about?" Percy narrowed his eyes, "I'm probably the last person she'd want to save."

Luke cocked his head, "You know, you learn a few things about people when you... follow them. When you overhear their every conversation." the knife broke Percy's skin, "And when somebody else has the love that I want? I'm going to kill them, or use them to get what exactly what I want."

Percy stared at Luke blankly, "Now, I have a call to return to Annabeth." Luke hissed.

~

Annabeth tapped her foot anxiously. Rachel shot her a sideways glance, attempting to get a rock into the birdhouse once more (I must say, I always did this.). Annabeth watched as the rocks bounced harmlessly off of the tree that held the birdhouse.

She jumped when her phone started to ring.

Percy ;D

Annabeth quickly accepted the call, "Luke-"

"It's Percy."

"Percy! Oh thank the gods-"

"Forty-three hours, Wise Girl."

"I'm trying, Percy-"

"Don't give him what he wants."

Annabeth's mind blanked, "But he'll kill you if I don't!"

"He's going to kill me either-" Percy cried out in pain.

"Percy?"

No response.

~

Percy dropped the phone, pain shooting up his spine.

"What the hell, Jackson?" Luke snarled.

Percy drew in a sharp breath, "You said I could say what I wanted."

"I said you could say what you wanted. Anything else and I would hurt you, an possibly her." Luke hissed and muttered, "Idiot."

"She's a smart girl, Luke. She probably understood even though-"

Kick to the ribs.

Percy groaned, tucking his chin into his chest.

"Shut up." Luke growled.

Percy looked up, "I would normally say 'okay'-"

Another kick.

"Okay," Percy whimpered.

~

Annabeth paced the subway train, kicking stray litter across the car. Rachel had been attempting to calm her down, but nothing seemed to be working in the poor blonde.

Rachel finally pulled her down into a seat and held her down.

"Take a breath, Annie!"

Annebth glared at her, "Don't call me Annie."

Rachel shook her head and leaned back against the back of the seat. She watched as the tunnels passed outside of the small windows at the top of the cars. Annabeth leaned her head on her shoulder, a defeated look on her face.

"Annabeth, we'll find him and help him, okay?"

Annabeth nodded and Rachel continued to stare out the windows.

~

Percy stared up at the ceiling, kicking his legs. All of his attempts to get his feet free from the binds seemed to be in vain, for he the rope only slid down further, crushing his ankles together. He had managed to get the gag out of his mouth after Luke had put it back, but he was still unable to do anything else.

He couldn't yell for help, because he had no idea where he was, and he knew Luke would just back and gag him again. Percy vaguely remembered his dad telling him to always carry a swiss army knife. The one he had given him.

Percy's father had left when he was eleven. He had been an amazing father, but apparently Percy's family was a sin. It was just a cheat.

Percy wondered if Luke had been smart enough to search him for anything to get free. Percy pushed his back against the chair in an effort to push his hands to his back pockets.

Surprisingly, the knife was still there.

Percy fumbled with it until he managed to get a firm grip on it. He spun it around in his hand so the blade was in between his wrists. He closed his eyes in concentration, cutting the rope thread by thread.

He felt the binds loosening every time he cut one of the ropes threads. Percy grunted and dropped the knife. He huffed in frustration, yanking at the binds. With a snap, his hands were free. He looked around the knife, scooping it up as soon as he saw it.

He cut desperately at the bounds on his legs, hearing footsteps. As soon as the rope snapped, the door swung open.

Luke stood in the doorway, a scowl on his face. He approached Percy slowly, his scowl turning to a sneer.

"So, you're a swiss kid?" Luke smirked.

Percy stood still, keeping his face stony, "Guess so."

Luke circled him, giving him a perfect chance to run straight out the door. But he didn't take it. Percy knew he wouldn't have set this up like this, set it up so it was so easy to escape.

"No impulse?" Luke sneered.

Percy turned his head slightly to look at him, "Guess I'm smarter than you look."

Wrong move.

Luke kicked his legs from underneath him, knocking the wind out of him. The ground was quite obviously cement, meaning he had probably just cracked his head open.

Luke kneeled down next to him, "Run, Jackson. I wonder if I could even get to punish you, or if you're smart enough to get out of this. And, before you ask, I think you know how you can save yourself. But are you so selfish that you would leave Annabeth to do this herself? Ask yourself that, Jackson,"