Chapter 27: A leader's choice

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Things didn't go as planned as usual.

At Micheal and Annabeth's behest, Operation 'Get cheapass boogey men lineup for therapy' was a go (christening ft. Micheal). Percy charged into battle yelling atrocities. The Naiobids bodies shifting and reforming as they lashed out with clawed hands, but he was too quick. Tendrils of water shot up from the East River, surging toward the bridge. The liquid coiled and twisted, corralling the Naiobids into a tighter formation, forcing them closer together.

Percy yelled back. "There's no time like the present, man."

Michael smirked, gripping the bow tightly from his position at the abandoned school bus window, he chosen to take his spot in with Annabeth and Will. Without hesitation, he strung it with practiced ease, the motion smooth and precise. Will blinked in surprise.

"The trick is finding the siyah and tying it there so it stays taut," he explained with a shrug, as if reading Will's mind yet again, before checking his quiver,"It's not as complicated as it looks. Anyways three shots. That's all we've got."

"Wait-three shots?" Annabeth said, alarmed. "Isn't that disadvantageous?"

Michael grinned, his eyes flashing with determination. "No, it means I've got three chances to send all their sandy asses straight back to the Underworld."

Will shook his head. Clearly Annabeth had underestimated Micheal.

His reverie was broken by Micheal's sharp voice. " I am tending to that injured back when this over. So don't dare move much before that."

"How did you-" Will began before cutting himself off, sighing. "Right. Posture?"

"Posture," Michael confirmed with ,a knowing look of a superior doctor, before stepping forward. He nocked the first arrow and released. It shot forward like a comet, piercing through the first Naiobid and passing cleanly through the others. The monsters froze in place as the arrow disappeared into the distance, their glowing yellow eyes flickering.

But nothing happened.

Will's heart sank as the Naiobids began to move again, sand swirling to reform their wounds. "No-" he whispered, his stomach sinking.

"What the fuck?" Michael growled, lowering the bow and scowling at the Naiobids. "That was supposed to work!"

Annabeth's eyes narrowed as she analyzed the scene. "Something's wrong," she said, gripping her dagger tightly. "The arrow passed through them, but they're still intact. Why didn't it-"

Michael tightened his grip on the bow, his knuckles turning white. His jaw clenched in frustration.

"Are you sure you're doing it right?!" Percy called out, narrowly avoiding a Naiobid's outstretched, crumbling hand. The sand brushed against his T shirt, dissolving a section of it into dust. He cursed and tightened his grip on Riptide. "I'm not in the mood to serenade these things all night when Kronos might come any time."

Michael snapped, his voice echoing over the bridge. "You think I'm not trying? You keep them off me and shut up!"

Will swallowed hard, his chest tightening. He eyed his siblings taking cover behind the other vehicles, their faces pale and without confidence. The looming threat of being turned into nothing but sand was nothing to happy about. In the front, the darkness and coils of sand around the monsters increased even more. Will could sense the pure hatred and blood thirst radiating from them.

"I think there's only one option left," Annabeth said suddenly, her voice sharp with urgency. "We need to follow the prophecy. It might have guidance for how to use the bow and use those 2 chances properly."

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