"What?" Raph cried, his anger clear on his face.

"You heard me." I grabbed my backpack, and tossed it over my shoulders. "Now follow the little spider thing before we're lost again!"

Will was already up and his first aid kit was being shoved into his bag, and he was hot in my heels.

"Nora!" Raph cried.

"Come on Hot Stuff! Move it!" I called over my shoulder.

He was on my heels a split second later, his backpack on, but his sword gripped tight. The little scuttling machine bug glowed slightly, its red lamp like eyes casting an erry glow around the concrete walls.

"Okay, explain why we're running after a machine bug? And what happened to you? You yelled a few times, and you started to literally smoke. And you were muttering the whole time, your eyes were blank and glossy...it was weird."

"I told you. I saw Helios somewhere in the Labyrinth, I saw Camp Half-Blood- Lee and Clarisse and Mrs. O'Leary were all standing guard, it was night. I saw Percy and Annabeth, Grover and Tyson and some other weird looking creature, all in some kind of waterfall cave in the Labyrinth. Looked like they just escaped something. And then I somehow had a full conversation with Hephaestus-"

"The actual god Hephaestus?" Will cut in.

"No my animatronic red lizard named Hephy... Of course the god Hephaestus! He was in his workshop...he said some weird stuff...but said because of who I was, he said he'd help get us to the beginning."

"So...his help is us following the machine spider?"

"Hephaestus is the tinker god, ya?"

"Yes." Raph sighed, like he resigned himself to our fate.

We had to run to keep up with the machine. For being so tiny it was incredibly quick. We took a turn after turn, the walls and floor changed from concrete to bricks to Coble stone to wood planks to earth and then there was a glow up ahead.

"Either we're dead and that's the pearly gates of heaven or that's actual real sunlight!"

"If we're dead, it really sucks." Will said.

We had to speed up and ran after the machine down the hall. The concrete hall slowly transitioned into a gold bricked path. Warm sunshine filled the hall. We all three our hands over our eyes after being in the dark for so long it burnt. I knew it was real sun because I could feel myself healing, I was feeling less dizzy and my strength was coming back.

Big fancy hedges and trees grew on each side of the road. All kinds of bright coloured flowers grew in big fancy pots along the path.

"Did we just find the yellow brick road?"

"Uhhh...where in Hades are we?" Raph asked, slowing down and coming to a halt. Will and I both slowed to a stop and looked around.

"Well we definitely ain't in Kansas anymore!" I replied, gazing with wide eyes at a few hedges in the shape of a chubby baby. One was holding a harp, the other held a little bow and arrow, another one a big cluster of grapes.

"What in Hera's underpants is going on?" I muttered.

The walls were still there, but they seemed far away. If I concentrated I could see the Labyrinth walls, they were old and ancient, but if I stopped trying to focus on the wall I could see green rolling hills. A large wrought iron fence went all around the green grassy front lawn.

"It's like an optical illusion." Will said, he looked almost cross eyes trying to focus.

"Come on, were loosing the thing." I cried. And hurried after the machine. It scuttled up to the big fancy iron gate. There was a big giant metal plaque on the gate, in big gold swirly letters that took me a while to figure out:

Geras Nursing Home & Assisted Living Facility For Deities, Heros, and mythological Creatures.

Enjoy your visit.

I watched in disbelief as it punched a few of the buttons on the security code key pad and the gates swung open. The scuttling little machine marched up the front walk way and up the steps and disappeared inside the big fancy glowing gold and mahogany doors.

"Well...for a beginning start...this seems like...the wrong place. It's a nursing home!" Raph muttered.

"Thank your grandmother for her wonderful choice of words." I rolled my eyes.

"Come on guys! This is actually super fascinating!" Will was almost vibrating.

He was the one who led the way. I followed Will's lead. We passed the gates and they swung closed. I glanced nervously over my shoulder. The big dance facility doors swung open. I was hit hard with the strong smell of sterilizer, moth balls and sunshine. The doors closed behind us with a thud. I slowly looked around. We were in some kind of waiting room. Plastic chairs lined two walls, the same kind of weird plastic chairs with the hard cushion seat you would find at doctors offices. A table stood in the middle with pamphlets and old magazines.

There was a big desk on the far wall. A big RECEPTION sing hung over the desk. A woman with curly black hair pulled into a bun on top of her head sat at a computer.

"Do ..do we check in?" I whispered. "Like can they see us?"

"I dunno. This is your quest." Raph shrugged.

"Put your weapon away! This is. Nursing home for gods sake." Will scolded. He readjusted his backpack and marched over to the lady.

"Good morning. Uhh afternoon?" Will started. "Hi! So-"

"Great start, my young embassedor." I rolled my eyes.

"Please sign in." The ladt snapped.

"What?"

"All visitors need to sign in." Without looking away from her computer she pointed to a clip board that was definitely not there a second ago. "For the health and safety of our patrons. I don't make the rules, I just follow them. Please sign in, and I will get you registered." She sounded very board, like she had said this many times.

"I guess we sign in." I picked up the pen and wrote my name, followed by Will and Raph. The lady took the clip board and started typing our information into the computer.

Something behind her printed and she got up and rumiged around a drawer and came back with three visitor passes.

"Please wear these around your necks at all times. We have a few...shape shifters and escapees. This will identify you as guest who can leave when you wish. Visiting hours are Monday through Friday 9 to 5. Saturday 7-9pm and Sundays 8-8pm excluding Holidays. Please be sure to double check your pockets and personal belongings before leaving. Thank you and enjoy your visit."

She motioned with her hand and a door appeared to our left.

"Umm....thank you?" I said unsure what was going on. Seriously this was becoming a moto for my life right now. 'I had no idea what was going on.' But I walked over to the doors and was buzzed through by the reception lady.

The three of us stepped through the door and I wasn't sure if we walked into the cirusus a mental institution, a casino or a day care. The three of us froze. Raph turned trying to go back out but the door had disappeared.

"What in Hades is going on?"

"Holy Hera! I was not expecting this."

"Oh Styx."

It took me a solid few minutes to adjust to what was going on in front of me. From the dark quiet creepy Labyrinth to the serial silent reception area...to this chaos took a moment on the brain.

Everywhere I looked something wild was happening. Creatures like centuries and Sytres were everywhere, but unlike ones I'd ever seen. A few had wheelchairs like Chiron when he was in the mortal world, a few Sytres rode around in scooters. All of them were old and greying. I saw one Sytre with such a long white beard, it kept getting caught in his walker. I slapped a hand over my mouth to keep from laughing.

"I don't even know how to process this." Raph stuttered. His dark eyes were wide and his head was swiveling in every direction at once. We slowly turned in a circle, not really knowing what to do or where to go. The little scuttling machine from Hephaestus was long gone. I made a mental note to either curse him out for leading us here or thank him for leading us through the Labyrinth.

An old wrinkly man suddenly stood in front of me. He had a terrible comb over, like I mean three or four long white whispy hairs were combed over his bald head, his eyes were a brilliant shade of blue. But his face was so shiny and stiff, it took me a minute to realize why. He had so much Botox and plastic surgery done he could hardly move the muscle in his face. Like a horribly ugly old Ken doll.

"Hello pretty lady!" He grinned. And when he did I cringed. He was missing most of his teeth, his tongue flopped around his mouth, and he drooled a little while he licked his ridiculously swollen Botox filled lips.

"Like what ya see, eh?"

I shivered. I didn't like this guy. Like at all. He gave me the creeps. He was wearing a long knee length trench coat, white socks, one pulled up halfway up his calf and bath slippers on his feet.

"Umm...what?" I stammered.

"You like what you see, don't ya?" He tried to smile and wink. "Don't you think... I'm too sexy?" He twirled the trenxh coat belt as he swiveled his really old creaky hips. I shuddered.

"No." I said flatly.

His crazy eyes trailed up my dirty bruised and banged up body "Hello pretty little love bug."

"Nope. Not today ya crazy old man." I stepped backwards.  This old man reminded me of all the creepy flashers I was warned about as a child.

"What's the matter, Love Bug? Do I drive up your...passion?"

He slowly sauntered closer to me, slowly undoing his trench coat buttons. He was absolutely singing I'm too sexy for my coat. I was freaking out. I didn't know where Raph and Will disappeared to. They were literally right beside me, now I was trapped in a corner with some creepy old man about to fling his coat wide open.

"I'm a model, you know what I mean
And I do my little turn on the catwalk
Yeah, on the catwalk, on the catwalk, yeah
I do my little turn on the catwalk..."

He kept singing, walking closer. I desperately looked around for help. But everywhere I looked, it was just crazy old...beings. I involuntary whimpered, I was actually more scared of this creepy flasher then fighting a demon cheerleader.

"I'm too sexy for my car..Too sexy for my car. Too sexy by far..."

He had me backed into a wall. He was only a few feet from me. I could smell the burning plastic and old man smell. I actually felt the tears in my eyes. He reached out and lifted my chin, his bright blue eyes held some wild irrotic lust and I whimpered again.

"What's the matter little love bug? Doesn't Adonis turn you on? Adonis is the most handsome in all the world!"

All I managed to do what whimper and I felt the sting of tears. I was trapped, and my heart was slamming, my chest was tight, making breathing impossible.

With my chin still held firmly in his old plastic like hand, he reached down and undid the last button on his trench coat. And was just about to fling it wide open when he was shoved quite aggressively out of the way. Raph and Will stood where this old Adonis guy was. Will didn't ask or say anything just pulled me into his chest and his arms wrapped around me. I clung to his t shirt and held tight as the tears slipped over my lashes.

I peeked over Will's shoulder and saw Raph standing infront of us, his back to us, his shield out. I don't know where they had disappeared to, but I was so thankful they were here now. I pulled away and used the heel of my hand to wipe the tears.

"Nora?" Will asked quietly. "Did he hurt you? Touch you?"

"No." I shook my head. "Thank you."

I just heard Raph growl, glaring at the guy still laying on the floor. He scrambled to his feet. His trench coat was wide open. I shuddered when I saw his white pasty legs sticking out of the bright red gym short shorts- like old school 1950's gym shorts- and a wild Hawaiian patterned button up t shirt. I was thankful he wasn't naked like I thought. Like I actually muttered "Thank Apollo!' But still his outfit was definitely cringy. Raph still growled at the man, and Will hadn't fully let me go from the hug.

A lady fully tinged light pink floated over. She was wearing pink scrubs and lime green crocks. Her hair was white blond and pulled into a high pony and the tips were died pink. She had a light pink Lilly flower tucked into her elastic.

"Adonis" she scolded, "how many times do we have to tell you? Keep your clothes on and leave the visitors alone."

"But they have to know how sexy Adonis is!" He protested.

"I understand. Why don't you go draw them a picture? Aristaeus is just starting arts and crafts outside!"

"But I don't wanna do more bee keeping crafts!" He whinned.

"Go." She shooed him. "Go on."

He gave me one last hopeful look which I narrowedy eyes and snarled at him. He turned and shuffled away in his bath slippers. The pink lady turned to us, and gave us an apologetic smile.

"Good afternoon Demi god's! We have been expecting you!" She smiled kindly at us. "Please follow me. And please hold onto your weapons, we have a few pit pocketers. Young sirs if you would walk on either side of the young Eleanora we will prevent another incident like this."

She turned on her heel and floated through the crowd. Will and Raph and I exchanged a glance. And I shrugged.

"This can't get much weirder!"

"Wanna bet?" Raph muttered.

He placed a hand almost possessively on my lower back, and steered me after the lady. We followed the pink lady through the crowd of chaos. I gripped the hilts of my twin blades tightly. Will walked so close his shoulder kept bumping into mine. And I was very aware of Raph's hand on my back.

"Can you tell me what's going on? Where are we and why we're here? And who was that creepy flasher?"

"In a moment dear." She smiled.

"Can you at least tell me your name?"

"Lilly. And before you ask, I'm The daughter of Chloris."

"The goddess who was associated with spring, flowers and new growth?" Will asked, forgetting to walk so close to me, he quickened his pace to catch up to walk beside her. I was glad Raph stayed, his large powerful hand stayed on my back and I felt my body slowly exhaling the fear. I would rather take on any number of monsters than one creepy old man.

Demigods and mortals alike, if a creep tries anything, please tell someone.

Lilly was busy chatting away with Will, "...yes dear boy. She fell in love with a flower. I'm part nymph and part goddess."

She came to a door on the other side of the wild room and swooped her pass card. It dinged green and opened. She led us down a hall, which was quieter, but still full of wailing, some wild giggling, someone was singing a child's hopscotch song and from another room there was a rhythmic banging.

She pushed open the door at the end of the hall. It was a small office like room. A small couch and a few plastic chairs, there was a coffee table in the middle with out dated magazines and a box of tissues.

"Please have a seat. Lunch will be served shortly and then the doctor will see you."

"Wait. What...doctor?" I asked.

"Yes dear child. Asclepius. Did you not have an appointment to see the doctor? You were on our visitor lists, and labeled next of Kin. He needed to talk to you about a Health Care Directive."

"Yes. Of course. Of course, how silly of us. Long day, ya know? Wondering about the Labyrinth of death..."

"Understandable dear ones. Hang tight."

She floated away and closed the door. I flopped down onto the couch, snatching up a magazine, "Newest Season of Hephaestus TV!" "Starting October a new show is coming. Mr D and who is your Godly Parent?" "Newest fashion trends hitting Olympus thrown room, yeah or neh?"

There was a polite knock on the door. We all froze and looked up, we each had a weapon in our hands within a few seconds. After what we had gone through a polite knock ment nothing.

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