Percy spun around, his heart hammering in his chest.

They had to move fast. The Telekhines thundered behind them, their heavy footsteps echoing through the twisting tunnels.

Kronos's army was coming.

He scanned the Labyrinth entrance ahead, shadows curling at the edges.

Grover was gasping for air, and Annabeth reached out to steady him. Nico stood in the center, eyes glowing black, hands poised and ready.

Rachel's voice cut through the tension. "We need to keep running! They're right behind us!"

But Percy's body froze. Where was Luz?

She had been right behind them.

"Wait! Lucia! Where's Lucy?!" Annabeth cried out.

"Luz?! Luz!" Percy shouted, desperation rising. "Nico, don't—!"

Too late.

Nico clapped his hands together, and the walls shattered.

A shockwave tore through the stone. Cracks spread like wildfire as the labyrinth folded in on itself, sealing the tunnel with a deafening roar.

Everything, swallowed whole.

Percy's ears rang. His stomach dropped like a stone.

"NO!" he yelled, shoving past someone without seeing who.

He lunged toward the collapsing entrance, but the opening was gone. Stone had shifted, melted, and reformed into an impenetrable wall.

"She was still in there!" Percy screamed, clawing at the rock with bleeding fingers. "She didn't make it out! She was right there!"

Dust stung his eyes as the tunnel continued to shift, seams twisting and folding.

She was gone.

Kronos had her.

Lucia, his best friend, his everything, was alone and afraid. Trapped with the crooked one: Kronos himself...

Percy tried to catch his breath. He couldn't breathe.

How could he let this happen?

Nico stood apart from the group, shoulders heavy with guilt, eyes cast downward.

"This is your fault," Percy snapped, voice sharp and raw. "You shut the tunnel!"

Nico flinched, swallowing hard. "I didn't know. I didn't see—"

Annabeth stepped between them, her hand firm on Percy's arm. "Percy, stop. Nico didn't do this on purpose. He was trying to save us all. Don't be unfair."

Her voice was steady, filled with fierce conviction.

Nico's eyes met Percy's, haunted and full of pain. "I never wanted this to happen. I swear. I'd never hurt Luz."

Percy believed him. He had to. He knew Nico cared for Luz in his quiet way but the anger simmered, raw and real.

"I know you didn't," Percy said, voice cracking. "But it doesn't change that she's gone."

Annabeth squeezed his arm gently. "Now's not the time to blame each other. We need to focus on what's next, getting to Camp and stopping Kronos before this gets worse. He'll have to give us Lucy. Or we'll make him pay."

Percy swallowed, nodding slowly as the knot in his chest tightened.

He wouldn't stop fighting. Not until he found her.