"You hesitated."

Annabeth, Percy, Grover, and I were walking through the woods. Grover was muttering about our lost stuff, Percy was quiet, I was quiet, and Annabeth kept talking to me like she couldn't read the room. Yeah, she was silent for three minute but she could not give me a freaking break.

"All of our money was back there," Percy muttered. "Our food, our clothes, everything."

"Well if you didn't jump into the fight we would've been fine," Annabeth told him.

"Sliced like sandwich bread," Grover mentioned.

"And burned like toast," I added.

"But fine."

"Shut up, goat boy," Annabeth told him before pointing at me. "If you didn't hesitate, we would've won that fight much easier."

"Oh, you're mad at me for hesitating when neither one of you had killed any of those monsters until they were distracted. And, last time I checked, you were thrown to the side like a stuffed animal."

Annabeth said nothing and just glared at me as I did the same to her. We glared at each other until Percy spoke.

"I heard the fury who was fighting you say 'I'm gonna finish what I started'. Do you two know each other?" he asked.

I said nothing, just looked down. "I don't know," was all I said before walking off.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Annabeth asked. "That thing was trying to kill you, how can you not know?"

"It was years ago," I told her. "I was probably a baby at that time, now leave me alone."

Annabeth tried talking to me but Grover kept her back.

"If she doesn't want to talk about it, don't make her," he told them.

Percy walked towards me, his eyes going to the daggers in my hand. "Where did you get those daggers from?"

I looked at the daggers in my hands. "It was a gift."

"From your father?"

"No," I replied. "Don't really know who gave it to me, but I assume it was one of the gods since it looks like it was made by one."

"What do you mean?"

I put three of the daggers together before squeezing them together. It created a blue light that made all three daggers fuse into one. Percy looked amazed.

"That is so cool," he said. "Do all your daggers do that?"

I nodded. "Yep."

"How long have you had them?"

"Since I was...eight."

"Oh...you've must've been alone since then."

I looked at him. "I wasn't, actually."

Percy looked at me with confusion. He was about to say something until I smelled something.

"What is that?" I asked, sniffing the air. "Does anyone else smell something?"

Grover sniffed the air, his nose wrinkling. "I smell it too," he replied.

"Smell what?" Annabeth asked.

Grover and I exchanged looks. "Cheeseburgers?" Grover said questioningly as he walked forward, with me following behind him.

We arrived at a small corrage with gnomes who looked too real for my liking. I came across a sign that said MANTY ME RADENG NOMEG POIERUM.

"Do you know what this says?" Percy asked Annabeth,

Annabeth shook her head.

"Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium," Grover translated for us.

I nodded thanks to him as I moved away from the sign. The gnomes gave me a very bad feeling.

Percy looked at the house. "Okay...everyone in favor of going in there?" he asked.

Grover looked like he wanted to raise his hand but I just stared at him.

"Percy, are you crazy?" I asked him.

"What, this looks like a normal place to me."

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with Heather," Annabeth said, walking towards me. "Are you crazy?"

"It looks like a normal house to me," he protested.

"Did you not learn anything from the furies?" I asked. "This place might be overrun with monsters."

Percy looked at the entrance, maybe thinking that we may be right. Instead of that, he shrugged.

"Maybe you two are overreacting. Grover, how about you?"

The three of us started at Grover, who was our usual voice of reason. He just looked at Percy before looking at Annabeth and I.

"I...am really hungry," he muttered.

Percy gave us a smug look. "See?"

I just groaned, looking around. "Let's just go before we catch some unwanted attention."

Annabeth and I walked towards the path we came from. Hopefully we could find a way through there.

Before we could do anything, Alecto fell from the sky, right in front of me and Annabeth. She and I backed away as she just came closer.

"I am going to break you filthy demigods apart limb from limb," she hissed.

Annabeth and I took our our daggers while Percy took our Riptide. Grover got out a reed pipe.

"Not on my yard, you're not."

I heard a voice coming front the cottage but something inside told me not to look. I closed my eyes as I heard careful footsteps coming closer.

"At least try to be civil," the person, a woman by the sound of it, spoke. "You don't want to go to your boss looking crumpled, do you?"

Crumpled?

I opened one of my eyes and saw Alecto looking away from the woman just like we were.

The woman let out a small laugh. "There's nothing to fear, children, she isn't going to hurt you as long as I'm here. Why don't you come inside. I have plenty of food for you to enjoy. That is, if you don't want to stay here with her."

We heard the woman's steps lessen before she closed the door completely. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I jumped, punching them in the nose.

"Agh," I opened my eyes to see Percy holding his nose.

"Oh, shit, I am so sorry, Percy," I said as I helped him up. "You scared me."

"Now I know not to do that again," he joked, still holding his nose.

I looked at Annabeth and Grover. Grover gave Percy a scared look while Annabeth looked from him to me like she was trying to figure something out.

"That's Medusa," I let out. "No wonder all these gnomes are here. It's from her."

"Well, now I am most certainly not going in there," Grover said.

"Well, maybe she changed," Percy assumed. "She did save us from her."

We all looked at Alecto who was still looking away as if Medusa was still there.

"Yeah, I doubt that," Percy said before walking towards the door. He looked a bit hesitant but ultimately went inside with Grover standing in front of the screen to make sure nothing happened to him.

Annabeth and I exchanged looks. The first time since we met each other we had the same thought.

Grover looked at the two of us. "Um...should we..."

I crossed my arms. "Do whatever you want, Grover. I'll stay out here."

Grover looked hesitant but ultimately walked inside, sitting down beside Percy who was just snacking away.

Annabeth's gaze was on me but I just stared at the boys.

They looked safe. Nothing was happening to them. Medusa wasn't hurting them.

I looked at Alecto who still thought Medusa was still out here.

"I'm not trying to make an enemy out of you," I turned towards Annabeth, an annoyed look on my face. "I just don't want you to be..."

I sighed. "Then why do you?" I questioned. "Why do you constantly question me and make me out to be the villain? It sounds a lot like you're trying to make an enemy out of me."

Annabeth opened her mouth but closed it back. I scoffed before turning back to the screen on the door where Percy and Grover was still eating inside.

"It's no use to stay out here," I told her. "We should go in there before Percy and Grover eat themselves to death."

I slowly opened the screen and walked inside with Annabeth following behind me. I kept my eyes on the ground while the sounds of chewing and slurping filled my ears.

"Finally decided to be welcoming, huh?" Medusa asked. I huffed. "Why don't you take a seat?"

I shook my head. "I don't...I'm cool with staying here."

Annabeth said nothing. I assumed that she was thinking the same thing.

"That's strange, isn't it?" Medusa questioned. "You weren't like this the last time we encountered. You were only a small girl."

My fist clenched tightly. I don't remember meeting her, so why am I angry? It's just like with Alecto, why do they speak to me like they know me already? Like I fought them before. I haven't. If so I've would've remembered.

"I don't...remember being here before."

"No?" she asked, sounding disappointed. "I thought you would considering your...history."

I finally looked at her, or well, the veil that covered her. What history? I would've remembered any of the monsters I've encountered, or even the past that came with them, but I don't.

"My, my, Annabeth," Medusa spoke, turning towards Annabeth. "What beautifully gray eyes you have. They remind me of someone I know."

I turned towards Annabeth, whose eyes narrowed. How did she know her name?

"It's nice," she spoke again. "That you have each other. I used to have someone. Sisters."

"What happened to them?" Grover asked.

"They passed long ago. You see...I was devoted to this woman. I loved her–"

"Yet you slept with Poseidon in her temple," Annabeth interrupted her. "You used her."

"I worshipped her," Medusa stared at Annabeth. "But she never gave me the same love. Not when I cried, begged for her to help me when Poseidon took advantage of me. But she didn't listen. All she saw was Poseidon acting recklessly with me willingly with him. She turned me into a monster, never to be seen by the outside world again until they cut off my head."

"You're lying," Annabeth glared at her. "Athena is a wise, all-knowing goddess, she would never mistake one thing for something else."

"But she did," I turned to her. "She did, because that's what the gods do. They take and take and take from us until there's nothing left of us but pain. Athena doesn't care about anyone but herself. It's the same with Poseidon and it's the same with Zeus."

Annabeth's turned red with rage as she stared at me.

"She gets it," Medusa spoke. "It's no use to follow the gods, look at what they did to me."

"My mother is not like that," Annabeth snapped.

"Look at yourself," I sighed. "You're constantly trying to defend Athena when she is constantly doing things to fuck people up! Arachne turned into a spider because Athena lost a weaving competition. Tiresias was turned blind because he accidentally caught her bathing. Key word: accidentally. Medusa was turned into a snake woman because Athena mistook her abuse for a willing arrangement and got mad at it when she made it clear that it wasn't the problem. She doesn't listen. She never listens. The gods don't listen. When will you get it into your head that–"

Annabeth slapped me. "You do not get to speak about my mother like that," she gritted her teeth. "I can't believe I even tried to apologize to you because obviously you wouldn't accept it if it hit you in the face."

I just licked my lips, saying nothing. Medusa looked behind her.

"Oh, look," she said, breaking the silence. "The burger patties are almost done. Percy, why don't you help me out in here?"

Percy looked at us before he got up and followed Medusa into he kitchen. Once they were out of ear shot, Annabeth spoke.

We're getting out of here," Annabeth told us.

"But how?" Grover asked. "We can't just go out there with Alecto."

I looked over at the screen. Alecto was still out there, but she was now walking around, possibly waiting for us to come out so she could kill us.

"We'll find something," I answered before going towards another door. "Come on."

—

Annabeth, Grover, and I crept into what looked like a statue graveyard. There were light shining above with possibly about a thousand statues around us.

"Shouldn't we wait for Percy?" Grover asked.

As if on cue, Percy ran towards us, panting heavily.

"We have to go," he said. "Like, right now."

"Yeah, that was obvious," I muttered. "But how are we going to escape her?"

I heard hissing from afar. I panicked. "Hide!" I hissed.

We all scattered, hiding behind statues or desks. I hid in front of a statue of a family. I tried to keep my breath as steady as possible while my eyes were closed.

"We are not like our parents," Medusa spoke. "Until we choose to be."

She crept closer and the hissing got louder.

"You three have chosen."

Her footsteps rang in my ears.

"A daughter of a self-righteous mother, who chose self-righteousness for herself." Medusa spoke about Annabeth, and I could sense her just seconds away from me.

"A boy, who could've shown his father what it means to stand up for someone you love," she was speaking about Percy now. "You could choose to save your mother, instead of doing your father's bidding."

I felt a scaly thing on my face. I closed my eyes tighter. "And you. Your could join me. You could show the gods that they don't matter to you. You already know that, do you? You don't have to stick with them. You can leave them and come with us. What do you say?"

I stayed silent, which made her scoff. "If neither of you will help teach these lessons, perhaps you should be the lessons. When I ship your statues to Olympus...maybe that will get my point across even better."

She walked away from me, which I was kind of relieved about.

"Stand up," she instructed someone. "Let's have a look at you."

I felt a hand on my head. She was still close to me. "Maybe I can get you this time."

One of her snakes were touching my face again. Even then, I kept my eyes closed.

Then, Grover started yelling. "I didn't think this through!"

"Now!"

Medusa yelled before a loud thud was heard.

"Did you hear that?"

"Hey, are you okay?"

I felt a hand on my shoulder. "It's okay," I heard Percy's voice. "She's dead."

I slowly opened my eyes to find Annabeth and Grover in front of me with Percy behind me. Percy helped me up.

"Are you okay?" Percy asked me. I nodded.

"I'm fine."

He moved his feet before it hit something and it made this gross squelching sound. I almost threw up.

"You found it?" Grover asked.

"Hope so," Percy groaned.

I nodded. "Well, we have an invisible head, and a fury outside," I mentioned. "What are we gonna do about that?"

—

We were back in the kitchen, well, Percy, Annabeth, and I were, Grover stayed down there.

"Want me to take it from here?" Annabeth asked Percy.

"No, no, I got it," Percy told her.

"Make sure it's in the right direction before you take my hat off."

"Good tip."

"Okay."

Percy walked out of the house towards Alecto. Annabeth watched with her face close to the screen. Alecto screeched at Percy before he uncovered Medusa's head and stoned the fury.

I stayed sat at the table, stabbing a hamburger with a fork. Percy came back with the head and gave Annabeth and I a tired look.

—

We met back up with Grover who was staring at a statue.

"What is it?" Percy asked.

"Uncle Ferdinand," Grover answered.

"Oh no," Percy muttered.

"Grover, I'm so sorry," Annabeth whispered.

"This is as fas as he got on his quest," Grover explained. "We aren't even to Trenton. But look at him. He's not line the others, he...he doesn't look afraid."

I put a hand on his shoulder, he gave me a thankful smile.

He then cleared his throat. "You used the, um, you used the head to get rid of Alecto?"

"Yeah," Percy murmured.

"Good. that was the right move." Grover looked at his feet. "Uh, we should probably get going. It'll be dark soon."

"What are we gonna do with that head?" I asked, motioning to it.

"I just took down a fury with it," Percy bragged. "And I wasn't even trying. We can't just leave it for someone to find."

"I could shadow-travel it away to the desert?" I suggested.

"Leave the hat on and bury it in the basement," Grover suggested. "That oughts keep it safe."

"Sure," Percy muttered. He then turned and put the head in a box on a desk.

"Now, can we talk about the bigger issue here?" Annabeth asked.

"What big issue?" Percy questioned.

"'You could have saved your mother.'" Annabeth quoted. "That's what she said to you, like you discussed it already."

"Is your mother still alive?"

"She's with Hades," Percy answered. "But I appreciate your concern.

"Guys, just please stop," Grover tried to speak.

"Oh, I'm concerned, "Annabeth ignored Grover. "What are you actually doing on this quest and why did I have to hear this from Medusa?"

Percy tried to speak but Annabeth interrupted him and turned towards me. "And what is it with you and thse monsters? Are you working against us? Why are you truly on this quest?"

"Oh, you're not going to fucking drag me into this Ms 'my mother is fair and just.'"

"Throughout this entire quest, throughout the entirety of the time we spent at camp even inches away from each other, all you cared about is yourself. And now the monsters are saying that they know you and they can't wait to finish what they started."

"And why are you so suspicious of that?"

"Because you had a history with them, it proves you're hiding something."

Annabeth turned back to Percy. "Are you going to answer me?"

"Enough!" Grover stopped her from saying anything else. He turned to Percy. "The hat was a gift from her mother. It's the only thing she's ever possessed that connects them. That oughta matter to you."

"Okay, but how are we gonna make syre this thing is safe?" Percy asked.

"I'm not up to that yet," Grover answered before turning to Annabeth. "And you, really? His mom is alive. Can you imagine how confusing that must be for him? Feeling like he may have to choose between the fate of the world and the fate of the only person who's ever cared about him?"

He then motioned to me, still talking to Annabeth. "And do you really think that fighting with someone, forcing them to reveal a part of themselves that is clearly hard for them to let out, is a good idea?"

I looked at Annabeth who looked down at the ground, embarrassed.

"Why are you talking like this?" Percy asked.

"Because all day I've been trying to keep this quest on track without upsetting either of you," Grover answered. "But maybe things need to get a little upsetting before they move forward."

Grover turned to Percy. "She asked you a question back in the woods," Grover said, motioning to Annabeth. "And you never really answered. What are you afraid of?"

"What are you talking about?" Percy questioned.

"You heard me."

"I don't know."

"I think you do. You've been fighting with her, you've been fighting with me, you've been fighting with everyone here except for Heather here, who's been fighting with Annabeth–"

'Because the Oracle said one of you would betray me. Okay?" Percy finally blurted out.

Everyone got silent.

"You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend," Percy recited the prophecy again. "And you shall fail to save what matters most in te end. That's the rest of what she said to me."

Percy motioned to Annabeth. "I don't expect her to betray me because I couldn't imagine we'd ever be friends." he then motioned to Grover. "And I chose you because I thought if I could count on anyone to be on my side, no matter what, it was you."

Percy and I locked eyes with each other. I knew what he was going to say so I just waved him off, allowing him to speak.

"And I don't expect Heather to betray me because we were never close enough to call each other friends."

I looked at him, confusion plastered on my face.

"And now, I'm feeling so alone," Percy continued. "I don't know what to think or who to trust."

Annabeth looked at him like she was hurt by his words.

"I didn't mean it that way," Percy told her.

Annabeth sighed. "While we were fighting the furies, Alecto offered to help our quest if I gave you up to her."

"What did you say?"

"I killed her sister."

I had on an amused smile on my face.

"Medusa offered to help me save me save my mom if I turned in the three of you," Percy sad.

"And what'd you say?" Annabeth asked.

"I cut off her head."

I chuckled. "Wow," I muttered. "That is...loyalty at its finest."

Percy gave me a small smile. I then frowned.

"I don't remember why those monsters know me," I told them. "Honestly. I saw something when I was fighting with Megaera. I was surrounded by fire and she was standing above me. I don't know why she was there, when that was, or anything. All my memories stopped when I was eight and I don't remember anything before then."

Percy gave me a sad look. I shook my head.

"It's fine, I don't think it bothers me much," I brushed it off.

"I believe you," Annabeth said, looking at me.

I nodded. "Thank you."

"You didn't choose to be demigods," Grover spoke. "We didn't choose this quest. But we can decide that as long as the four of us are together, none of us are gonna be alone. And if we can't do that, we might as well just head back to camp right now. 'Cause we won't make it."

Percy looked over at the box on the table. He then smirked. "I think I've got a better idea what to do with this."

Percy walked over to the desk, looked a it, and then turned it around for all of us to see. I smirked.

"Hermes Express?" I asked, surprised and amused.

"She ships these things all over," Percy said. "Some of it goes to Olympus."

I finally figured out what he was doing and laughed. While Annabeth and Grover looked horrified.

"Percy, you can't ship Medusa's head to Olympus," Annabeth told him.

"Why not?"

"Because the gods won't like it," Grover said.

"At all."

"At all at all."

"Why?" Percy asked. "That's what you do with dangerous stuff. Like batteries, you just send 'em back where they came from."

"Do it, do it, do it!" I chanted.

"No, don't!" Annabeth told him. "Okay, look, this is a bad idea."

"They will see this ass impertinent," Grover added.

Percy locked eyes with me. "We are impertinent."

"Yeah, you two are," Annabeth motioned to me and Percy. "But we're not."

"Really, very not," Grover agreed.

"Look," Percy said. "Medusa tried to derail our quest. She's got serious beef with your mom. When you look at it this way, this seems kinda like tribute or something, doesn't it? And besides..." Percy took the hat out of the box and handed it back to Annabeth. "This way, a part of your mom's still with us."

Annabeth took the hat. "Thank you."

"So, this isn't exactly what I meant," Grover spoke. "By choosing each other."

I snickered. "At least we're getting along, huh?"

"There are actual dangers involved here," Grover told me. "That cannot be–"

Grover stopped talking when he heard Percy clapping. I started laughing while Grover looked done with us.

"You're gonna sing the song, aren't you?" Grover asked.

"Song?" I asked between breaths, but my laughing got harder when he started clapping faster.

"Okay," Grover muttered.

Oh, golly

The roads gettin' bumpy

I was wheezing at this point. Annabeth was smiling, shaking her head at him while Grover face-palmed himself.

"Whatever," he mumbled.

Consensus.