chapter 10:
                       amusement park

                                  𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
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They soon approached a the fair "Welcome to waterland?" Asteria read the sign "Weird name for a weird place" She shrugged, pulling away from Percy and making distance between the pair

"I haven't seen a lot of horror movies, but this seems like exactly the kind of place they'd suggest to avoid" Percy brought up

"Well we can't relate" Asteria snorted "We've never seen any kind of movies" Annabeth admitted speaking for both girls "Never? like never-never?" Percy questioned

"Movies aren't big at camp."

"Your missing out" Asteria only hummed in agreement walking inside the park "What are we waiting for?" Asteria questioned as they had all been standing there

"Let's get this over with" Percy walked in front of the blonde haired girl as she followed - Percy went to open the gate as loud metal clanged together "Percy wait" Annabeth warned

"What just happened?" He questioned panic in his voice "Stay still" Annabeth said "This is definitely here for a reason" Asteria realized "A god built this"

"What kind of god builds amusement parks?" Percy seemed stressed not wanting to be stuck anymore "Hephaestus" Asteria furrowed her brows at the familiar name

"Why would Hephaestus build an amusement park?" Percy asked more questions- Annabeth was trying to make jokes it clearly wasn't working as Percy and Asteria got annoyed

"Relax im on it" Annabeth groaned - Asteria stood there only watching feeling useless. "Push through it" Asteria suggested not breaking her gaze from the ground "Yes push" Annabeth agreed

Percy started ranting bringing up how one of them might die "Just push!" Both girls said in union - Asteria was the last to go through. The machine was very close to her head

"Oh my gosh" She muttered making it out almost stumbling backwards as Percy helped her stand straight- she smiled at him as a thanks which he returned

The group walked further in the amusement park "This place wouldn't be bad, you know without the creepiness" Asteria looked around

Asteria caught up to the group not paying attention to the conversation she was lost in her own thoughts

Asteria looked up to see a lit up sign of a ride, it looked like it was something to lure them in "Asteria come on" Percy caught her attention as she started walking next to him

"Shouldn't one of us wait outside just in case?" Asteria suggested "I will, if something happens i can warn you guys" Annabeth sacrificed herself "You sure?" Asteria asked "Yes now go, if something happens just yell my name" She gestured for them to go

Percy extended his hand helping Asteria into the boat - They sat in silence as the boat began moving- it was awkward to say the least.

"What's up with you?" Percy broke the silence, His tone was soft not wanting to hurt the girl - Asteria was about to answer but was interrupted by a song beginning to play

"What's going on?, this is weird" Asteria looked around the place as a ray of light went against the walls "Ive seen this before" He remembered

"It's Hephaestus's story" He looked at the wall as the figures moved "My mom told me these stories all the time. I remember this"

Percy realized something as Asteria's gaze met his, He explained to her as she only nodded her head not wanting to say anything that could offend him

Percy started talking about his mom "Maybe she did that for a reason Percy" Her eyes softened "She wanted you to be different, then all the other gods" He stayed silent

Asteria flinched at the sound of the machinery powering down "Holy shit!" Asteria yelled as the boat went down - Percy got ahold of her so they wouldn't get separated "Hold on" He told her

The ride went extremely fast before it slowed down - both of them looked at each other in shock catching their breath "There it is. Ares shield" Percy pointed out, the boat was heading towards a storm

"Jump!" He yelled - She jumped in as she struggled to stay afloat - the more she panicked the more she struggled. She was submerged underwater, last thing she saw was Percy trying to swim towards her

Asteria gasped realizing she was now on ground "What did you?" She questioned not understanding how she ended up there "I don't know" He was equally confused "Im figuring this out as i go" They both got up, staring up at the shield

"How are we supposed to get that thing down?" Percy questioned "The chair must be here for a reason" She suggested "I don't know how this works." She muttered not knowing how she could help

Percy explained what the chair does - "The chair is the bargain" She only stared at him "One of us goes in, the other gets the shield" Asteria stepped forward "I'll go, it's fine"

"What?" He was shocked he never thought Asteria would ever give herself up like that "You have to continue the quest. Im not that important."

"Im not letting you do this" He raised his voice "Percy it's better if i do it. Im useless on this quest, im sorry that i can never help with anything." She admitted as he stared at her

"You don't even know why i chose you to come on this quest"

Asteria stayed silent letting him speak "I needed someone who could listen to what i had to say, someone i would be willing sacrifice myself for. And that's you."

"I promised to protect you, and im doing exactly that im not letting you get hurt." She could feel a lump in her throat "What am i supposed to do without you on the quest?"

"That doesn't matter" He stepped closer towards her "I wish there was another way, but there's no way" He gave her the pen - her breath was heavy, she was all over the place

He pulled her into a hug, as laid her head on his shoulder, tears threatening to fall "Please don't" She whispered her voice breaking slightly "I have too." She could hear it in his voice that he was afraid

He let go as her breath hitched, staring at him tears in both their eyes "I promise ill find a way to fix this Percy" She whispered knowing if she spoke any louder she would end up crying

A tear fell down her cheek as he sat down on the chair - machinery started creaking "Percy" She whispered as the machinery started wrapping around his body "Get up, Percy!" She pleaded

"I can't" The tears in his eyes glistened "It's okay, Im okay, im okay" He whispered trying not to cry, Asteria wiped tears from his face "Im so sorry" The gold wrapped around his face and he was silent

Tears fell down her face seeing the boy in front of her, why couldn't he have let her sacrifice herself maybe then she would be worth something on this quest.

"Annabeth!" She yelled in hopes the girl could hear her and help, Annabeth always knew what to do. "You guys took forever so i came to check" Annabeth didn't finish her sentence as Asteria hugged her "Asteria! We have to help him!" Annabeth yelled pulling away

"I know, i just didn't know what i could possibly do" Asteria fixed herself up as Annabeth went towards the machinery maybe with their force it can make the machine shut down

A man opened the door "Who is that" Asteria took in his appearance he seemed like a worker of some sort "Can i help you with something?" He asked, before trying to kick them out "I don't know who you are but we're not leaving without our friend"

"Yeah that isn't how it works, i built it"

"Oh shit, that's Hephaestus?" Asteria asked as Annabeth slowly nodded - Asteria continued messing with the machine letting Annabeth do the talking, Asteria passed Annabeth the pen "Use it." She whispered "How?"

"I don't know threaten him or something!" Annabeth shushed the girl and continued talking to Hephaestus - Somehow Annabeth convinced him and the machinery started moving

The girls walked towards Percy who was now uncovered gasping for air - Asteria helped him up as he didn't have enough strength to stand straight "Lets go before he tries killing us again."

.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣
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𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐢 ⸻ speaks
im showing the way Asteria feels about herself more now. Anyways this scene was so sad but i loved it? Sorry that it's all over the place and rushed. Next update will most likely be on tuesday.