The drive to Buffalo was way too long but when I passed the sign that read “Buffalo Population…” interest the number I couldn’t remember and I whistled to Chance. She woke up fast, eyes wild and she actually pulled a switchblade from her sleeve.

“We’re here,” I announced as I focused on the road ahead of me. For some reason if I turned my attention away from there I'd always veer off the road. It did send me into the ditch once, it was bad enough when I was alone and in no hurry. This time I'd have a crazy demigod with me and have to worry about alerting the gods. Figured I'd better not risk it. 

“Give me a heart attack,” she muttered as she sat up, more alert,eyes blinking like an owl. “We have to get out of the downtown so we have find a road leading out into a residential area.”

“Why?” I heard myself ask again. I figured there wasn’t much a point she’d probably just say “later" or "shut up". Or idiot, she seemed really fond of that word and especially using it to describe me.

“I’ll explain once where there, it’s safer," she promised glancing back down at the map.

“Safer? What?” I asked instantly afraid. Had Artemis recovered that fast? Did they know where we were now? How was I supposed to fight with only one arm? Could I even do that? How long would I last?

“Later,” she growled sticking her head back into her map. Okay… Well I had no intention of follow her directions-we’d just start arguing.  So did what I figured was a very good idea. I followed the mini-van in front of me. Mini-vans usually meant moms and moms meant kids, and families, and families meant neighborhoods. We’d find this “residential area” no problem at all.

***

I was right. The minivan led into a nice little neighborhood where I parked on the side of the road and cut the engine. And I was smiling like a smug jackass. “You’ll lead us on a wild goose chase” my ass. “Anything you want to say to me?” I asked Chance who unbuckled her seatbelt while I smiled smugly.

“Yeah, you’re an idiot,” she said propping her feet up on the dashboard. “Okay now I’ve got a little quiz for you. What’s your dad the god of?"

“The sky,” I answered hoping this quiz would be short. I'd never do well on tests when I did have time to study for them, and I still didn't do better than a C plus. Surprise tests always screwed me over.

“Good," she remarked.  "What’s Artemis the god of?”

“Goddess,” I corrected, “And it’s hunting right?” I knew she and her twin used bows. Wasn't sure what he was the god of though, I never took a mythology class and now considering who I was fighting I wish I had. The whole knowledge was power thing was making a lot more sense now that I was walking blind and without the ability to use Google.

“Correct, now this brings me to my point, the gods run different things therefore wherever their territories are they can focus their gaze so to speak on us.”

“You’ve lost me,” I said only able to picture that flaming eye from Lord of the Rings. I'd never watched those movies, just seen gifs. Those took way too long to watch and frankly it took too long to get to the action.

“Okay,” Chance said taking her hair out of its ponytail and putting it back again.  “Your dad runs the skies; his domain runs everywhere. Posiden runs the sea, when you go out to the open sea the only gods who peek around there are your dad and Posiden. They can focus in on there. If you’re in a place where, the sky, the sea, lovers, the sun, travelers, buildings and so on are all in the places so many gods domains are running through there that their vision over that place blurs because of how many others are trying to take a look. Does that help?”

“No," I said slowly shaking my head, the information running around in my head like wild dogs.

Chance took her hair out again and put it back up taking deep breaths. “It’s like the border between Mexico and the U.S.A. Or the U.S.A. and Canada, too many powers crossing in that place for anyone to really lay a claim on it; they can watch it, but since it goes both ways it’s hard.”

"Oh, that makes much more sense.” I said cheerfully, “So what’s the point of you explaining this to no-mans-land stuff to me?” I tacked the last part on as an afterthought. Why was she telling me this stuff? She kept saying "later" when I asked questions but I didn't think she actually would tell me. Usually when girls said "later" it was really another way to say "never". Same with "fuck you" and "fine."

“So if by some freak accident you manage to ditch me you at least know how to stay as well hidden as you can.” she replied with the usual snap in her tone of voice.

Um thanks?” I said not sure whether she was trying to help me or mock me since I was pretty sure I wouldn’t  be able to ditch her. She'd just catch me before I could and kick my ass...Okay maybe she wouldn't but still what did I have to gain by leaving her? My odds were shit by myself, with her they were just a little less shitty. We were running from the gods after all so the odds sucked no matter which was you diced it. One was just less sucky.

“Whatever,” she said dismissively taking her hair out yet again. Jeez, leave your hair alone it looks fine-ish. I thought, kind of annoyed. I hated it when girls always did their hair. A little frizzy and dirty but fine either way. “Just remember that,” she said glancing out the window at the near houses. “Now please stay here, stay quiet, keep a lookout and wait for me to get back.”

Before I could mutter the response of “okay” she was already out of the cab and off to rob innocent people. Yes, it was clear her Jiminy Cricket was defective. Well whatever-she was right about the fact that we were broke. Unless we came by a huge amount of cash we’d have to steal stuff to hold us over. I glanced up at the bright blue sky and leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes. I had a lot of driving ahead of me. I might as well rest now while I had the chance.

***

“WAKE UP!” a loud voice and the sound of something slamming on glass shocked me out of my sleep and I woke up my heart pounding.

I looked outside my window into the thunderstorm that was coming down with the force of bullets and saw Chance who looked like a drowned, ginger rat.   I unlocked the trunk and she ripped open the door and slammed it shut tearing her hair out of its ponytail yet again.  This time it wasn’t that bored, I’ve-got-nothing-better-to-do action, but an angry, scared motion. Whatever this was; it was really bad.

“You idiot!” she shouted at me as I started the engine and blasted the heat figuring she was cold from her trek in the rain. “I told you to keep watch and what do you do?! You fell asleep! You’re dumb enough to fall asleep! Ugh! You idiot!”

  “Calm down,” I said in as calm voice as I could, hoping to deter her temper. A dangerous task indeed if you go with the stereotypes of redheads. Which she by these actions she was fulfilling.

  “Calm down!?" she screamed, head snapping around to stare me down with angry purple eyes. "I can’t calm down! You’re dad found us!” Oh shit, I didn't even wait to ask questions or to put my seatbelt on, I put the truck into gear and slammed my foot  on the gas.

********************

I'm back! So I decided to edit this chapter and then upload it! Thoughts on how Chance avoids the gods? Or the cliffhanger I ended with? =P Love to hear them!