CHAPTER EIGHT ━━ MY BEST FRIEND LEAPS TO HIS EFFING DEATH

THANK THE GODS (NOT YOU ZEUS) FOR THE GATEWAY ARCH or else they would have been goners. Annabeth led the four of them down the stairs leading towards the large building while she ranted about the architecture of the arch itself. There was chatter of other people around them as they walked down the stairs to enter the building. If Eurydice was gonna be honest, the place was pretty cool. She would have thought it was cooler if they weren't running for their lives right now.

Annabeth seemed to be having the time of her life info dumping about architecture. "It's 630 feet wide. 630 feet tall, both to within an inch. It's got no internal support. Each side is balanced perfectly against the other." Eurydice tried her best to follow along, nodding even though she didn't understand a thing she meant. Measurements were beyond what she understood in school. She couldn't even do well in Math if she tried.

Annabeth continued ranting, it seemed that Eurydice was the only one of them actually listening as Grover and Percy were more concerned with speed walking inside. "The arch is held up by symmetry. It's held up by math." Eurydice winced dramatically. "I hate math." She had flashbacks to the summer math homework she was supposed to do, but obviously didn't get to. Annabeth hummed in thought. "Well, we can work on that." The girl said happily, being in her mother's temple seemed to be lifting her spirits up.

They naturally blended in with the other kids their age around the place with backpacks on. They were clearly on some kind of field trip, so they didn't look out of place. Which was lucky for them. She turned to Annabeth after a second. "What do you mean by we can work on it?" The other girl laughed. "I can tutor you." Annabeth said simply. "I think I'm a lost cause." Eurydice muttered dramatically, shaking her head at the other girl.

She just laughed in response. "We'll see about that." Wow, she was really determined to get Eurydice good at math. That takes dedication. She shrugged slightly as they walked down the stairs. "Okay then." Percy just gave her a really confused look, to which she shrugged again in response. Grover seemed used to Annabeth's ranting. It made sense since they had travelled together already.

They were walking towards the group of kids as Annabeth muttered. "Oh, and this place is earthquake-proof, so Poseidon can't ruin it." She finished as they started making their way through the crowd of kids. "Nice." Percy nodded, still confused by going with it. "Sorry!" Eurydice muttered to a girl with black hair she accidentally bumped into. When she glared at her on her way out she winced.

Annabeth wasn't done her rant yet, apparently. "This is how you show Athena your love." She continued as they passed the crowd of other kids. "A monument to the power of perfection." Grover huffed. "It's a monument to some other stuff, too." He pointed out as they stared at a few skulls of some animals and wildlife. "Huh, weird." Eurydice muttered to herself as she pokes the glass surrounding a bunch of animal skulls.

Annabeth shook her head at their satyr friend. "You're talking about what some humans want this place to be about." She put her hand to her chest passionately. "I'm talking about what it actually is." She sounded really into it. Grover sighed, looking away from her. "Whatever." He muttered dejectedly as he stared at the glass surrounding some of the skulls on display. "We're safe here, right?" He asked Annabeth for confirmation.

She nodded. "No monsters can enter. Not even Echidna." Annabeth muttered. "We're safe." Grover sighed in relief. "Great." Eurydice nodded. "Thank god, or uh, I mean. Gods?" She muttered in confusion. "I think that's right." Percy muttered. Grover put his hands in his pockets. "Well, since our train exploded I'm gonna see if there's another one we can get tickets on." He was a lot more responsible than any of them gave him credit for.

Eurydice nodded at her friend. "Yeah, of course." Grover nodded, still not smiling. "Yeah, we can't stay here forever." He said to them as he stared at one of the paintings on the walls. "Just because we're prey doesn't mean we need to be helpless." He finished as he walked away. Percy and her shared an immediate wince. Annabeth seemed to be missing the bigger picture here, which was that Grover was sensitive with about wildlife.

Percy frowned slightly as he walked towards Annabeth. "He doesn't like it when people mess with animals." Eurydice nodded in agreement. "He believes that they all should get a chance to live freely. So this kinda thing... it's hard for him." Annabeth sighed, seemingly to have remembered now. "Yeah." She breathed in slightly. "I know." The other two looked at her in confusion. "What?" Eurydice asked in confusion.

Annabeth winced. "I shouldn't have s-- snapped at him. I just..." She trailed off, and then sighed again. "I know." Percy nodded slowly. "So, this is your mom's place?" He said. "Wonder if she's around." Eurydice narrowed her eyebrow at him. "Is that how that works?" She asked, entirely clueless. The boy just shrugged in response. "I dunno." He muttered under his breath.

Percy tried his best to change the subject. "So, Annabeth. This is your mom's place?" He asked. "Wonder if she's around." The girl looked away from the both of them. It seemed like she didn't like to talk about her mom at all, despite the fact she had been defending her against Medusa earlier. But that was her mom, so it made sense.

When Annabeth didn't respond to either of, Percy spoke in an imitating high voice. "Be right down! Just going to the potty!" He sounded like a posh british woman on helium. She couldn't not hide her laugh. Coughing into her hand loudly as Percy tried his best to keep a serious face on. But she could tell he was struggling.

Annabeth did not seem to be impressed with either of them, until after a second she chuckled. "Would you like to go to the potty with me my lady?" Eurydice used a fake british accent and dramatically took Percy's hand. He nodded poshly, pretending to fan his face with his hand. "I would be delighted!" He replied in the same high voice as before. This time, Annabeth could not hide her laugh. "Nice." She snorted. "We have a gift." Percy's voice cracked slightly.

Annabeth chuckled again, it was nice to hear her laugh when she was usually so serious. "I guess you were right by the way." Percy said to Annabeth. "We needed a safe place and your mom had one waiting." Eurydice was glad they were finally getting along. It made for less of a headache for her and Grover. "Pretty lucky we happened to be in the right city for it." Percy shrugged.

Eurydice nodded. "Yeah, very lucky. Almost too lucky." She pointed out in some thought. Annabeth had a thoughtful look on her face for a moment. "Luck or fate?" She asked. The other two went quiet at that. Maybe it really was fate, she couldn't tell if it was leading them more towards survival or death. "Maybe it's a bit of both." Eurydice muttered under her breath.

Annabeth sighed, looking away from them again. "I know you two think it's all just in my head." Eurydice interrupted her. "Hold on— we don't!" She reassured her quickly. The other girl shook her head at her. "No it's okay. Really. I tell myself my mother cares because it's easier that way." Percy blinked in confusion. "We didn't say that." She nodded in agreement. "Really- we didn't. It's just that I think that maybe your mom is a little-" Percy finished her sentence for her. "Unfair?"

Percy shrugged. "Yeah, kinda. But look. We've only been demigods since... last saturday." Eurydice gaped. "Wait, has it really been that long? It's felt way longer." She muttered with a tentative look on her face. Percy shrugged. "Anyways, you shouldn't listen to me, or Eurydice. We are still entirely clueless." He said with a nod. And Eurydice couldn't disagree with him, they were used to being confused at this point.

Annabeth chuckled. "You know, this is my mother's place but a temple is a temple." She pointed out, trying to say something. "Maybe you could say hi to your dad while we're here." Eurydice blinked in confusion. "Oh, not you Eurydice. Considering your dad—" She sighed. "Is the one we're trying to stop." The smile on her face vanished immediately having to think about her father again. She didn't know if she wanted to meet him if he was the reason why they were on this life threatening quest in the first place.

The fact he was actually looking for her was even stranger. She wasn't sure what she would do when they had to actually face him by the end of this quest. Percy shook his head, not seeming keen on talking to his dad either. "No thanks." He said with a sigh. "What could it hurt?" Annabeth asked him. Percy sighed again. "Your thing with your mom... I get it. It's different. It works for you. But my father..." He trailed off. "I don't want anything from him. He's had his chances." He shook his head. Eurydice patted his arm slightly in sympathy.

He swallows slightly. "Honestly, you've done more for me in the past few days than my father has done in my entire life. And that's only if I don't include the years Eurydice's been there for me. Which has been like, forever." She smiled at the boy softly. "Aw, thanks dude." He smiled back at her, going to continue his speech. Percy cleared his throat, looking at Annabeth. "If I have to stick with anyone, I—" Damn she stopped him.

She was actually very excited at the thought of Percy and Annabeth being friends. It meant she didn't have be on both of their sides anymore, and that Grover didn't have to play peacemaker and snap at them like he did back at Medusa's. Annabeth interrupted him, knowing what he was about to say. "Careful, I think you were about to call me a friend." She warned him. "Somewhere around here the Oracle is laughing at us. But you know—" Before any of them could process it Percy had nearly fallen to the ground.

The two girls caught him instantly. "Whoa! Percy." Annabeth muttered worriedly. "Oh crap. What was that?" Eurydice muttered as she tried to hold Percy up from the floor. Percy frowned. "I don't—" Grover ran towards them fearfully. "Hey! What happened?" He asked worriedly as he ran over to them. Eurydice looked down at Percy anxiously. "I don't know! He just fell!" She grasped on of Percy's shockers to keep him steady.

Percy swallowed slightly. "I think... I think those stinger things were poisonous." Eurydice paled immediately. "Oh sh—" Grover shut her up before she could finish her sentence. "Wait— then it should be happening to Eurydice too!" He said worriedly. Eurydice immediately felt like she wanted to throw up. "Oh gods. Oh gods." She muttered to herself in a high pitched panicked voice. Percy shook his head at her. "I don't think it entered her blood stream long enough to hurt her. You took it out right away, right?" He asked.

Eurydice nodded shakily. "Yeah." She sounded slightly relieved, even though Percy was clearly poisoned. "Oh gods. But what's gonna happen to Percy?" She asked feeling the fear rise within her. "I have an idea." Annabeth said. "Come on, help us pull him up." She said to Grover as the three of them helped Percy up.

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APPARENTLY ANNABETH'S BEST IDEA to help Percy. Was to soak him in fountain water. Which was funny considering getting someone drenched in water from the water fountain back at Yancy had gotten them expelled. Now the three of them were frantically splashing water on Percy, who winced uncomfortably when they kept splashing the water at him. "You know, maybe we should get a bucket." Eurydice muttered thoughtfully.

Annabeth shook her head at the girl. "That is a great idea, Eurydice. But we do not have a lot of time." She nodded. "Right, you're right. Let's continue doing this I guess." She shrugged, throwing more water into Percy's face who winced. "My eyes, Eurydice! Jesus." She winced apologetically. "Oops."

Some onlookers looked back at them weirdly, some guy with his girlfriend pointed at the weird sight of them splashing their friend in water. "Hey! Don't act like you've never seen kids throwing water at each other!" She glared slightly at the couple, who walked away faster. Grover gave her an unimpressed look. "Eurydice, seriously?" He asked her in disapproval, a grimace on his face. "What?" She said in clear confusion. "They were looking at us weirdly."

Annabeth ignored her last sentence. "Anyways. The water cured him back at camp. It should work for poison too right?" She asked slightly panicked as the three of them continued throwing water at Percy. This would be the most ridiculous thing she had ever done if Percy wasn't dying slowly from the poison. Grover had a fearful look on his face, while Eurydice shrugged not knowing what to say. "You know, I think it's- I think it's working." Percy tried to say as more water was splashed out his face. "This was a great call." He muttered as he went to go stand up.

The fact he immediately fell back told they it hadn't worked. "Or not-" They had caught him before he could hurt himself. Eurydice sighed. "I don't think it's working!" Grover nodded just as panicked. "Clearly!" Annabeth sighed. "Maybe it needs to be naturally running water for Poseidon to be able to heal him." She offered them another possible solution. Before either of them could agree they could hear a car horn in the distance, tire's screeching loudly and glass shattering from the building. She gasped.

A car had been thrown upside down onto the street in front of the large white building. "Oh we're fucked." Grover looked at her. "Eurydice! Language! We seriously need to get you to wash out your mouth or something." She frowned. "I'm sorry! I can't help it. I do it when I'm nervous!" She defended herself anxiously. Grover sighed. Annabeth was starting to panic now too. "We need to get back inside." Grover shook his head at her. "No, we need to keep trying!" He insisted.

Percy was quiet as their two friends argued. "This isn't working. And she's coming." Annabeth pointed out as the car's honk started to get louder. The four of them looked back into the street the car had crashed on. They saw the figure of a certain woman walking towards them as they looked back at Percy. "We need to do something! We can't be sitting ducks!" Eurydice muttered as they looked back at each other. Annabeth breathed in shakily. "Okay, look. We'll take Percy inside, and we'll go to the temple's alter." The other two stood up while Eurydice held onto Percy.  

Grover looked confused. "Altar? Where is there an altar?" He asked her in confusion. Percy looked up at the gateway arch for a moment. Annabeth answered him quickly. "It's the highest point. The best view." She muttered. "Okay, but what good is that even gonna do us?" Grover argued. Annabeth's face had a desperate look now. "We're gonna get to the altar and we're going to ask my mom for help." She swallows, like she would never do this unless they were desperate.

They could hear police sirens start to wail in the background, her fear was only heightened which would not be a good idea. Percy looked over at Annabeth in confusion. "I thought we don't ask for help." He looked up at her from on the ground. They heard a car horn honking as Echidna started getting closer to them. "This is all very nice, but we have to go!" Annabeth nodded. "She's right." The three of them helped Percy up from the ground. Grover and Eurydice helped Percy limp towards the building as Annabeth looked back at Echidna.

She was zoned out for a second until she blanked out of it and yelled over to them. "Guys, d-did you hear that?" She muttered anxiously as the two stopped moving. "Annabeth?" Eurydice muttered in confusion. "Hear what?" Grover said, just as confused. Percy's arms were wrapped around Grove and Eurydice's shoulders to be able to keep him up and steady. Annabeth sighed. "Nevermind, come on." She shook her head trying not to think about it as she followed behind them.

She swore she could hear eerie whispering from the back of her mind as they started frantically walking into the building. But she shook it off and carefully help Percy walk down the stairs while Annabeth was ahead of them, making sure to move onlookers out of their way so they could move easier. The four of them sat in one of the blue glowing trams, getting Percy in first and then the rest of them. "What was that back there? What did you hear?" Percy asked Annabeth shakily, it seemed that he was getting weaker and weaker due to the poison in his system.

Eurydice looked at Annabeth too. "Did she say something to you? All I could hear was whispering." She muttered in thought. "She spoke to you?" Percy asked the other girl. "Alecto did that with me back in the museum in New York. Eurydice couldn't hear it." She nodded. "Yeah, it was like whispering." She winced at the memory. "What did she say?" Percy asked Annabeth again. Right as their tram closed Annabeth's eyes widened as she realized Echidna was inside the building with them.

Grover shakily muttered as their team closed. "Was that the Chimera?" He asked. "I think... I think that was the Chimera." He sounded so panicked that she could feel herself slowly slipping into one too. Eurydice swallowed hard. "Wait, aren't monsters supposed to not be let inside of here? I thought this place was safe!" She looked around slightly. "Oh my god. Oh my god." She breathed in shakily.

Grover had his head in her hands. "How did the Chimera even get inside here? How did any monster get inside here?" He questioned nervously. "Annabeth." Percy looked over at the dark haired girl. "We're in a sanctuary. Athena would have had to let her in." Grover realized. "But why would she do that?" Eurydice immediately paled at his words. "Annabeth?" Percy asked the girl again.

Remembering what they had sent to Olympus. She had a realization. "Oh, no. Oh no. Oh gods no." She shakily whispered to herself. "Annabeth!" Percy yelled as the girl looked at him. "What did Echidna say to you?" He demanded one last time. Annabeth looked like she was disappointed in herself. "She said my impertinence wounded my mother's pride. And that that will be my doom." Eurydice winced in sympathy. "Oh no. Annabeth I am so—" Percy interrupted her in confusion. "Impertinence what kind of--" He then realized.

Eurydice frowned. "Medusa." Percy paled slightly. "Her head." Annabeth frowned. "I embarrassed my mother." He shook his head at her frantically. "But- I was the one who got the idea to sent the head to