Soul

Percy POV

My eyes widened when I saw the scene in front of me. The cafeteria was littered with zombies. They were growling and biting into their new victims. There were groups of zombies chowing down on recent victims. Pretty soon, they will turn into zombies too.

I froze at the entrance of the cafeteria. I have to cross this area to get to the Native American exhibit and the south sector. That's where Stella must be.

I pressed myself against the wall with my spiky bat in hand. I should've grabbed a gun or machete, but I didn't have time. I was too focused on finding Stella that I barely thought about a plan of action. My baby sister is in danger, and that's all I'm thinking about.

A quick survey of the room showed over 40 zombies.

They seemed to be distracted though. There were at least 25 to 30 victims laying lifeless on the floor. I didn't want to wait till they also turn into zombies. They were already outnumbering me, and the zombies didn't need more advantages.

I stayed close to the wall while quietly making my way around the cafeteria. My back hurt from the straight position against the wall. Plus, I was walking very slowly not to raise attention. Fortunately, the zombies are dumb. They were only focused on the flesh and blood of their new victims. I felt bad for them: my former camp members.

I reached the other side of the cafeteria and slipped into the hallway. I ran through the museum's halls while smashing zombies along the way.

A bad feeling crept into my gut.

There were more zombies as I got closer to the Southside. A growling zombie rampaged toward me. I steadied myself before jumping up and slicing his head. Then, I flipped around and smashed another zombie.

My heart raced as I pounded to the Native American exhibit. This is bad. A whole horde of zombies was growling inside. The noise was deafening. My feet planted at the doorway as I looked around the busy room. The zombies didn't sense me yet. They were too focused on the three people inside.

Hestia was carrying Stella in her arms. A look of terror was plastered on Hestia's face as she hugged Stella to her. She was standing inside a Native American exhibit. It was positioned as a cubical indentation in the wall. Luke slashed at the zombies that were coming too close to them. He was protecting them.

However, it was clear that he was getting tired. The zombies seemed to be endless, and his sluggish movements emphasized his exhaustion.

I looked around for a strategy, but I came up blank.

Brute force is the only option right now.

"LUKE," I shouted. "PERCY, thank the gods," he exclaimed back. I ran into the room while swinging my bat like a madman. Seeing Stella still alive fueled me with unknown energy. I smashed every zombie that came near me.

There were too many zombies though. More groups of zombies were staggering from the hallway on the other side of the room.

I fought my way toward Luke, Hestia, and Stella. My sister was nustled safely within Hestia's arms.

Luke and I fought side by side (very unexpected for us).

"WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE," I exclaimed.

Suddenly, a loud cracking sound reverberated through the room. This entire side of the building shuddered violently. My eyes wandered to the ceiling. Pounding footsteps were echoing through the room and teh ceiling was giving out in response.

A lot of zombies must be on the second floor as well.

Luke slashed a leftward zombie violently. Then, he propelled the zombie into the zombies behind him to give us an opening. I grabbed Hestia's arm with my left hand and motioned for her to stay close. My other hand kept swinging at zombies.

Luke and I worked together to fight our way through the zombies. The ceiling was splintering on all sides. We wouldn't last too long here.

As soon as we made it to the hallway, we ran for it. Luke was ahead of the group while I was behind. We protected Hestia and Stella between us. We reached a fork in the museum and turned to the South sector hallway.

We were running on impulse and nothing else.

Surprisingly, the south sector wasn't rampaged with zombies. There were a few here and there, but we easily ran through the hall. Luke reached the American fashion exhibit first. If you don't remember, this is where the research zombies are caged up.

Luke pounded on the door while shouting to open up. If the door was bolted shut, then someone must've been inside.

A large, fat zombie barreled from behind us.

I jabbed my spiky baseball bat into the zombie's head. the motion went from under the zombie's chin up into its brain. The zombie crumbled taking my bat with me.

Luke calmed his nerves before speaking again, "if anyone is in there, we need you to open up. We aren't zombies, but we'll turn into some soon if we don't come in."

"YEAH, COME ON," I shouted boldly. "LUKE, YOU HAVE TO TAKE OVER. I'M WEAPONLESS."

Luke ran in front of me just as another zombie ran at us. I quickly took Stella into my shaking arms and hugged her tightly. I didn't want this to be the end. Stella cried against my shoulder because of the noise. The building kept shuddering. Considering the state of the building, I wondered how many zombies must be inside. There were probably hordes of zombies upstairs; they probably barreled the stairs and those exits/entrances first.

"WILL, ARE YOU IN THERE?" Hestia asked the door again.

Just then, the door swung open, and we scrambled inside. Luke and Will immediately bolted the doors again just as zombies pushed against them. The groans and screeches died after the doors shut behind us.

The zombies still pounded against the door though. The zombies inside the room were also growling and scratching their glass cages.

"Are you guys okay?" Bianca asked with concern.

"Yes. We are okay. Thank you for risking your safety and opening the doors. We really appreciate it," Hestia answered.

I was still breathing like a dog due to exhaustion. My muscles were tingling with sensation as I shifted Stella in my arms. Hestia is a pacifist, so she doesn't fight. However, she has other gifts like taking care of and keeping Stella safe. I'll never forget how she held onto my baby sister despite the situation.

"There are too many zombies between us and the North sector. Plus, we'd have to cross the entire museum to get to the buses," Will informed.

Nico nodded along to everything Will was saying.

I looked around the group. Hestia was the only older adult in the room. The rest of us were young, and most of us were guards. Thalia, Will, Nico, Bianca, Luke, and I could fight for our survival. Hestia would have to hold the baby.

Hestia understood the assignment and took Estelle again. "Well, the only way out of this is to get back to the North sector," Thalia expressed.

"We can make a plan," I suggested.

Gods, Wise Girl is rubbing off on me. I shook my head despite the smile that graced my face while thinking about Annabeth. The entire group got closer together as we formulated a plan of brute force.

We have a solid amount of weapons in this room. After all, we have to control the caged zombies, especially if they were to get out. My eyes scanned Silena's zombie. She wasn't recognizable anywhere more, and that's a good thing.

Bianca and Will took the two guns into the room. They were the best shooters. Nico and Thalia had knives in both hands. I had a steel baseball bat while Luke continued to use his machete. Hestia traveled in between our survival group. Will and Luke were in front. Thalia and Bianca were on the sides of the circle. Nico and I brought up the rear. We made a circle around Hestia and Stella.

My baby sister is the pure soul we're all trying to save. The defensive circle allowed us to protect them and provide a visual on all sides.

"Are we ready?" Luke asked everyone.

"Yes. Let us get back to the North sector," Hestia said calmly. "Also, if you see a zombie you recognize as a camp member, don't be distracted."

I nodded firmly to myself. That's going to be the hard part.

Luke busted the doors open and immediately started slashing. Will and Bianca didn't waste any time shooting the zombies in the hall. We moved efficiently but with care. We also maintained our defensive circle.

The scary part was the cracking and splintering of the ceiling. The building was collapsing due to the sudden influx of hundreds of zombies. The museum is strong, but it's not built to carry hundreds of tons of zombies moving recklessly.

Once we got deeper into the middle sector, Nico and I got our share of work. The zombies were attacked from all sides. Luke and Will were guiding us while the others (including myself) defended our group from the zombies.

We made an excellent team.

We reached the cafeteria soon. Will and Bianca reloaded their guns before shooting the dozens of zombies in the large room. It was much easier terminating the zombies in an open room. However, they growled and stumbled toward us from both hallways.

"Guys, we have to keep moving," I shouted.

Luke and Will rushed to the other hallway. This hallway will lead us directly to the north sector where I came from.

Will disappeared into the dark hallway while Luke stood in the hall. Hestia calmly walked through the cafeteria with Stella in her arms. My baby sister was wide awake, soaking everything in, but she was surprisingly silent.

At least, she's okay. She's okay.

A loud cracking splinter drew my attention. My gaze wandered away from the zombies and looked up at the ceiling near the entrance of the hallway.

"OH MY GOD," Thalia murmured.

"EVERYBODY, RUN. COME ON," Luke barked urgently.

Hestia and Stella started running toward Luke. There were too many zombies, so the rest of us were several yards away from them. I swung my bat at two tall zombies. Neither of them died, but they did fall over.

Another female zombie rushed at me with teeth flared. Its mouth closed around my steel bat. I twisted my weapon to knock the zombie away.

"HESTIA," Luke shouted.

Everything slowed down next.

The zombies slowed around us as I stared at my baby sister. Luke rushed forward and grabbed Hestia and Stella in his arms. He pulled them into the northern hallway behind the cafeteria.

The ceiling had finally given out.

A bunch of rubble crumbled from the ceiling. I gasped whilst my eyes widened. The ceiling near the hall's entrance crumbled down harshly. Dust clouded our surroundings.

CRASH. BANG. WHOOSH.

"STELLA," I shouted while running forward.

"PERCY," Thalia yelled. She grabbed me and forced me away from the crumbling ceiling. I fought against her arms, but she kept me from running into the crushing marble. Dust spread around us from all angles.

Gunshots were fired as Thalia and I fell to the floor.

"NO. STELLA," I gasped.

I coughed violently while standing up quickly. I ran to the rubble near the entrance. The rest of the ceiling would be falling very soon as well. I didn't care though. I pounded against the heavy marble and rubble. "STELLA."

"PERCY," Luke's voice exclaimed. "We're okay. They're okay."

I couldn't see Luke until a piece of stone broke away from the rubble. Luke's face was in front of the hole made in the rubble. The hole was only about 6 inches in diameter. I could barely his features.

We all looked like a mess. Stella had dust all over her, but she was okay. Hestia was holding her and making sure that I could see her through the opening.

"Oh, Stella. I love you so much," I whispered.

Tears bristled my eyes while I lowered my head once before looking up again. Dust, sweat, and tears masked my forehead. Hestia nodded at me while Luke turned around to defend against two zombies on the other side.

"We're all right," Hestia repeated.

I tried moving the rubble for a way through, but it was no use. Our path to the north side was completely blocked.

Luke rushed back to the hole. "Percy, you guys need to find another way to the garage. I'll try to hold the departure as long as possible. I promise I'll get Stella and Hestia to safety."

"Take Estelle to Annabeth and Grover," I ordered firmly.

I strained my face to look through the hole. On the other side, Luke listened intently. He nodded aand was about to say something else, but his words were cut off.

They were fine, but I WAS NOT.

I was yanked away from the rubble. My body crashed against the floor, and my face hit a nearby dining table.

"AAHHHH."

An agonizing scream echoed out of my mouth. Something (no, Someone) slashed at my upper back. The pain was insurmountable. For a second, my worst nightmare flashed in my mind: a zombie sinking his teeth into me.

No, please. This could not be happening.

"PERCY. PERCY," Luke shouted for me. Stella's crying rang through the room, but she was cut short. More of the ceiling crumbled.

I whirled around, kicking the zombie that was on my back.

Pain flared around the marks on my back. But, that pain was nothing compared to what I was feeling inside.

Stella was gone. Grover's gone. Annabeth was gone.

Those thoughts rampaged my delicate mind as I pounded my hands against the rubble. I could no longer see or hear my sister. My route to Annabeth was gone too. Tears escaped my eyes at the prospect of turning into a zombie.

My soul left my body as I violently bashed every zombie around me. Tears flowed down my face as moved in a haze. This couldn't be happening.

Bitten. I'm practically dead.