We only came close to dying six or seven times, which I thought was pretty good. Once, I lost my grip and found myself dangling by one hand from a ledge fifty feet above the rocky surf. But I found another handhold and kept climbing. A minute later Annabeth hit a slippery patch of moss and her foot slipped. Fortunately, she found something else to put it against. Unfortunately, that something was my face. "Sorry," she murrmured. "S'okay," I grunted, though I'd never really wanted to know what Annabeth's sneaker tasted like.
Rick RiordanNormally my sister, Sadie, or some of our other initiates from Brooklyn House would've come with me. But they were all at the First Nome, in Egypt, for a weeklong training session on controlling cheese demons(yes, they're a real thing; believe me, you don't want to know)
Rick RiordanShe was beautiful in combat. I know thatโs a crazy thing to say, especially after weโd just climbed a sewage waterfall, but her gray eyes sparkled when she was fighting for her life. Her face shone like a goddessโs, and believe me, Iโve seen goddesses. The way her Camp Half-Blood beads rested against her throatโOkay, sorry. Got a little distracted.
Rick RiordanWhat the creeping crud is that?" [Percy] demanded. "Youโre inside a giant glowing chicken-man!" "Hawk!" I yelled. I decided that if I survived this day I would have to make sure this guy never met Sadie. Theyโd probably take turns insulting me for the rest of eternity.
Rick RiordanIf youโre listening to this, congratulations! You survived Doomsday. Iโd like to apologize straightaway for any inconvenience the end of the world may have caused you. The earthquakes, rebellions, riots,tornadoes, floods, tsunamis, and of course the giant snake who swallowed the sunโIโm afraid most of that was our fault. Carter and I decided we should at least explain how it happened.
Rick Riordan