The Running Man: Chapter 3

"Oh Annabeth, you're such a dunce. And I thought you were a child of Athena?" laughed Althea Holli cruelly as she sat next to Annabeth Chase as she help up the sky.

"Please, Althea, help me, you're my friend!" Her voice was muffled and strained, some of the words so strained they were almost incomprehensible. Althea laughed.

"Oh my, you have no idea how much fun it is for me watching you suffer, and I may be your friend, but that doesn't make you my friend. Funny how that works isn't it?" She snorted loudly and stood up. "The unfortunate part is that I won't be able to kill you myself, but I guess your tortuous pain will make up for it." Althea smiled happily, relishing that thought. Althea began to say something else, but was interrupted by a new bystander that had just arrived.

"Leave Annabeth alone stalker!" cried Josh McLean as he and two others ran over to them both. Althea turned around and put on her best smile.

"That's no way to talk to a friend, is it Josh McLean?" He paused.

"How do you know my name, and a friend?"

Althea laughed as she patted his shoulder. Josh flinched while the his companions looked at them, confused as what to do.

"We all know your name Josh McLean, and yes, you are my friend aren't you?"

"Oh right. The show, and yes of course I am. Wait, but aren't you a stalker?"

Althea smiled again. "Of course, but that doesn't change the fact your my friend who is willing to do everything I say, same goes to the others, right?"

Josh smiled half-heartedly as the others nodded in response. "Of course, friend." Althea paused, then laughed as she motioned for the other two companions two walk forward.

"Now Josh, you see these two people over here?" She pointed to them as Josh nodded. "They aren't either of our friends, they want to hurt me, and you don't want them to hurt me, your friend, right?" Josh nodded again. "Do something about it." And Josh did, he walked over to the others and effortlessly cut them down. "Good, Josh McLean needs to die, but we can worry about that later, for now we have some work to do, now let's go."

Josh paused, "but what about Annabeth?" Althea smiled once more and began to walk away.

"Trust me my friend, we won't have to worry about her for much longer, besides, we have to get you back to Jewel." With that, they continued on.