The desperation in his voice when he says her name hits her hard, but she steels her face and keeps tugging him along. There's a reason loyalty is his fatal flaw. Eventually she just breaks into a run, knowing he'll keep up, but they need to lose the kedan.

She knew the risks in coming down here, they all did, but leaving Leo behind, despite knowing there was no other choice, leaves a horrible taste in her mouth, and she doesn't let go of Percy's arm as she hurries through the sewers. She can't lose him, too.

But they're both quick, and she memorizes the route as they take it. She takes a sharp left, then spots a ledge, drainage, but it looks like only water and it looks big enough. They can crawl in there till the sounds of kedan chasing them disappear.

"Give me a boost," Annabeth hisses, the edge just out of the reach of her fingertips.