Chapter 13 - Penelope , Istg, I will punch you in the face

I didn't recognize what was going on at first. I saw Bear, slumped down against the wall but still breathing. But the other figure, I smelt before I saw. He stunk like a stable mixed with blood and crap. He was this giant hunk who towered over all of us at around eight and a half feet. I finally recognized him when I saw he had the head of a bull, as well as cloven hooves, and the dirty white underwear he wore which was the nastiest thing I had ever seen. He made loud breathing sounds mixed with a bull's growls. Miriam froze, her jaw dropping, Penelope froze for a second "Let's just" She started to back up. I stopped her, gesturing to Bear, Penelope looked at me like I was an idiot. But Miriam seemed to agree with me "We can't leave him" She frowned, Penelope sighed "Fine" She spat. "Mir, you distract him, I'll run in and grab Bear" I looked over at Miriam who nodded, Penelope looked at us like she thought we were both idiots which I didn't doubt. Miriam made a loud screech drawing the Minotaurs attention, she started to run down the hallway to the left of us. Miriam was fast, even in high heels, she made loud clacks as she ran down the hall. I rushed in, grabbing Bear and sprinting back with Penelope around the counter. Miriam looped around to meet us, she stopped to catch her breath "That was a terrible plan" She glared at me. "Well we got Bear didn't we?" I looked down at Bear, who was either unconscious or…or dead. "He isn't dead," Penelope assured us, can she read minds? Like genuinely can Penelope read minds? I really want to know. When we aren't actively going to die a bloody gruesome death we should do some sort of like study about that. Or I guess it's more if we are at any point not going to die, as I said before, a bloody gruesome death. "We need to keep going, Miriam, you carry Bear" Penelope instructed "Why do I have to do it?" Miriam asked, clearly annoyed. Penelope glared at her "Because I'm telling you to" She snapped "And?" Miriam snapped back, the two were both glaring at each other, a fight brewing like a storm in June. "I can do it" I offered, picking Bear up bridal style. I really didn't want the two to start fighting, we already had to deal with the Minotaur and whatever the Gamemakers were going to throw at us and I really didn't want us to have to deal with a fighting team and all that. Miriam seemed upset as I continued to lead the group to where I had originally started. Penelope didn't seem very annoyed, she just continued to follow, ignoring the loud clacks that followed Miriam's as she walked. I was pretty sure if us talking and being generally loud and annoying children didn't lead the Minotaur towards us, Miriam's heels would. I paused again at the familiar mosaic of the Gods sitting together at a table, Penelope kept going to the exact spot I entered in but Miriam paused next to me. We both stared at the mosaic, it wasn't really anything that impressive but…it was eerily similar to a tapestry on the wall of our school. Rumor had it that that tapestry was weaved by Arachne herself but I didn't really believe that, I kind of doubted that though seeing as that was a long long while ago and most of Arachne's tapestries were in a museum somewhere. Also she lived a good bit away from here, though Athena could've brought one of her tapestries here as a reminder not to go against her. "That looks like…" Miriam trailed off "The tapestry at our school," I finished. I heard Penelope kicking around over where I had started but I didn't look over until Miriam tapped on my shoulder, she gestured to Penelope . I looked over, Penelope was tearing at the walls and roof, trying to pry things apart with my dagger. "What the Hades are you doing?" I asked, Penelope looked over at us "I'm trying to find a way out, which is more than you're doing" She snapped. I sighed, I was getting really done with dealing with her, I had a feeling Miriam was too. "Alright, don't break my dagger" I rested Bear on the ground against the wall, walking over to Penelope . I put my hands on my hips, watching her be an idiot "You're being loud, he's going to hear you" Miriam mentioned. Penelope turned to look at her, glaring daggers for a moment before turning back to what she was doing. Penelope looked up, seeing a hatch in the ceiling "Looks like that's how you and Luke got in". Penelope tried to jump up and pry at those tiles, then something really sucky happened. Like I'm talking a very not wowie zowie moment, a real negative fifty two out of ten moment. I saw a spark start on the wall and the entire area was filled with a familiar scent, it was a little sweet and extremely pungent. Gasoline. The fire spread quickly in an inferno, I pulled Miriam and Penelope away, picking up Bear "Go!" I yelled. The two started to run, I followed, staying behind them a little bit in case anybody fell behind. The fire burned behind us, baking my back in an intense heat. Miriam started to trip, almost rolling her ankle. She fell back a little bit as Penelope just spead up. Miriam stumbled, her shoe flying off, she had definitely rolled her ankle now. Miriam fell behind before I could turn and get her. I watched the fire envelop her leg just as I turned. Her scream nearly shattered my ears, even Penelope turned back.