[A/N] Sorry for the late update guys! School is really tough now and I barely had the time to write this! I don't own Percy Jackson and hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Please review!

Chapter 27

…Percy's P.O.V…

So, I know what you're all thinking right now. Duh, Percy. Get that seaweed out of your brain and choose to live! Well, sorry but it's not that easy for me, you know.

My life is not one of the best out there, maybe even far from it. The best thing that ever happened to me was meeting Annabeth and don't get me wrong here that is pretty amazing. But… I don't think I have much of a reason to live. Not back then and not now either. I mean, if the world really ends and everyone gets killed, wouldn't it be easier for all of us to just meet in Elysium or something? Instead of having to struggle day and night just to survive. After all, you can't die twice. I hope.

So anyway, I was standing there, facing the portal but not actually looking at it. Maybe if I had been just a little more observant during my brooding, I would have seen that the portals were growing smaller. No just one, but both of them.

My eyes widened in horror as I stood there, gawking like a goldfish. Holy mother of ****. Was this supposed to happen in the first place? They were already making me choose in the first place and now they just have to give me a time limit.

Thanks fates. Just, thanks.

My eyes darted left and right like I was watching a tennis match. And yes, there are tennis matches in Olympia. Just not the ones you guys are probably used to. The two players will beat a green, magical ball of energy back and forth with a racquet and whoever gets hit on the skin disintegrates. Those are the normal ones at least. They also have different colours. The red ones will burn you, the yellow ones electrocute, blue ones will freeze the blood in you veins and the black ones will... uh… let's just say it's not a very pretty sport, shall we? Wait, what am I doing?

While I was so engrossed in my mental recap of the game of Olympia's tennis, I didn't notice some black swirls form and start to twist and turn slowly at first, then faster and faster until it became a rapid tornado. It was only then when I realised something was happening.

I really need to work on being more vigilant. Beating all my opponents in one go to become Atlantis' number one sword-fighting champion? No problem. Looking out for something happening like portals shrinking or a black tornado? Well, you've got me there.

I did little more than watch in horror as the tornado imploded, to reveal the form of Hades. Hades in all his deathly glory spread his arms in mock welcome, conjuring up two plush, black chairs facing each other. He gestured for me to walk over. I hesitated. It was one thing to not choose to live or die but defying one of the most powerful gods was another. Thinking I was referring to the portal, Hades said, "Do not worry, young Perseus. SA long as I am here, they shall not change."

Warily, I sat myself down on a chair, or at least the best I could still being a serpent, watching Hades all the while. Hades began, "This is the time for me to talk and explain things to you. Number one, I do not want Olympia to perish, no matter what the other gods may say.

"Second, you are probably wondering what is happening right now. We are at the place called some name that I cannot be bothered to remember but I do know that it is nicknamed Chaos' Perch, symbolising this was where Chaos stayed when he first created the world. This is where people come to decide to live or die. Although, not everyone gets to choose if not there would barely be any deaths in the world. There is probably only one every generation. The chosen will have to play a big part in how the future is going to play out, have the qualities of a true hero, and also be within saving.

"And I am proud to say that this time, it is you who was chosen. Percy, whichever path you choose to take will change the course of Olympia's future. As for your suffering, the fates made it that way as otherwise, you would not have the same sense of morale or the qualities that make you such a hero. Please. Do not be selfish and go back. Go back to save you friends. As much as I would like it to be, not all of your friends may make it to Elysium with you as I also depends on how they die.

"Make the right decision, Perseus. The fate of the world lies in your hands. Right now, your friends are preparing to bring you to the Capital to carry out your plan and if the soldiers find an unconscious serpent in the carriage, well let's just say your friends will not live to see another sunrise."

With the snap of his fingers, the chairs that I was just starting to get comfortable in disappeared and I once again found myself on my serpent butt. I mean, serpent form wasn't so bad once you got used to it and although it would be nice to change back once in a while, it was still pretty cool. But fruitlessly trying to sit down comfortably was one of the cons.

With a majestic sweep of his black robes, Hades disappeared in a blinding flash of white which was weird since the light was black, leaving a note behind:

Oh and by the way, it's been about a week since you fell into this state so your friends are quite worried. Also, your heart stopped whenever you touched that portal according to how long you were in contact with it. You will take another five days in real time to wake up which is not that long here so make your choice real quick. They are heading off now.

What? Heading off? To where? And why wasn't I informed? Oh wait, right… I was unconscious and on the brink of death. Ah well, time to make my choice. Hades' words actually made quite an impact and strangely, I trust it. Unlike the other gods, Hades has dealt with the heroes choosing their paths of life or deaths before and knew what the consequences would be as I was sure the other gods would not pay enough attention to this kind of thing.

And now I just realised the portals are shrinking again, even more rapidly this time.

Panicking, I was stuck in between the two choices as the two parts of my mind battled in a full-out war against each other. I took a deep breath and remembered what my mother had told me once when I was very young. "Just follow your heart and don't look back."

So, I followed her advice. [A/N] OMG. Aren't I just so evil? As for all you guys know, this might turn into a tragedy…

…With The Others …

"WHAT THE BLOODY FUCK WERE YOU THINKING RACHEL ELIZABETH O' DARE? YOU GAVE THE DRIVER A DIFFERENT SET OF INSTRUCTIONS TO THE DRIVER FROM THE ONES WE ALL AGREED ON?

"AND NOW WE ARE HEADING STRAIGHT THROUGH A CANYON NOTORIOUSLY KNOWN FOR BEING THE LAST PLACE TRAVELLERS EVER SEE! ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL US ALL?"

Annabeth was furious. Steaming. Livid. Vehement. We could go on, but then we would be stuck here for the longest time. Rachel had done something incredibly foolish and made a mistake that could get them all killed and probably would.

It had been decided that Katie would stay behind. Annabeth had felt that she had done and sacrificed so much for them already and refused to let her risk her life and family name as well. So, that left Annabeth, Apollo, Connor, Rachel and Travis on the carriage along with the driver.

Connor and Travis had been in charge of packing supplies and getting more weapons just in case. Apollo needed to be present for Percy's sake and Rachel was needed so that they could see Poseidon personally before the meeting started. Annabeth was in charge of planning the route and strategy. Before she had asked Rachel to give the instructions to her driver, she had shown the plan to Apollo and Hestia. Since they had both agreed that her route was the quickest that would get them to the Capital safely, she had not bothered to show the others including Rachel.

"Bullshit! What everyone? You didn't show me! And I bet you just carelessly made it and have a backup plan for someone to save you while the rest of us just die in a ditch!" Rachel shrilly shouted.

"Apollo and Hestia checked it over. And I didn't show you because I trust their judgement more than your anyway!"

Apollo put a hand on Annabeth's shoulder, trying to calm her down. "Calm down, Annabeth. Screaming and shouting will get us nowhere. But Rachel, that was truly very foolish. What were you thinking trying to change it? Even if you hadn't known that I had checked it over, you know that Annabeth is the descendent of Athena and is one of the best strategists out there."

Rachel pouted, trying to look innocent. "But I was just trying to help… My way is the fastest way and the faster we get there, the faster we can get Percy back to the medical care he needs." She said in a sickly sweet voice, especially when she said Percy's name. It made Annabeth feel sick to her stomach and want to beat the snot out of Rachel.

She really wished she could do the latter.

Gritting her teeth, Annabeth hissed, "Yes, but this canyon we are going through? Yeah? It's called Gold Canyon because this is where gold-diggers mug people for their money and the victims nearly always end up dead!"

Then there was a sudden crack and the carriage lurched forward. Simultaneously, five pairs of eyes turned to see what they had run over. On top of Rachel, Annabeth really feel like throwing up this time when she saw a bunch of bones cracked into tiny little fragments and a half of a skull with the rest of it indistinguishable.

For no particular reason, Annabeth felt a feeling of premonition that something bad was about to happen. The little incident left everyone in silence as the carriage moved onwards through the treacherous canyon. In the silence, nearly every sound or movement made everyone jump and look around anxiously. An hour passed with nothing happening. They started to let their guard down.

But why is it that something bad always happens when they do?

One moment, there was absolute tranquillity. Then, they heard an anguished shout from their driver cut off midway and everyone tensed up. What was happening? The horses were neighing like crazy now and they could hear shouts and the high-pitched clink of metal against rock. Seconds later, both carriage doors were yanked off of their hinges and the two sitting closest to the doors- Connor and Travis- had long metal blades against their throats. Then they heard someone with a voice radiating superiority and evil bark out.

"Get out of the carriage and put your hands up! Now! You have been surrounded!"

END OF CHAPTER

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