Sooo.... Just finished Sea of Monsters, and read the teaser to Titan's Curse, and let me just say one thing. Nobody drags Nico by his shirt without paying the consequences!!!!! IM LOOKING AT YOU, DR. THORN. YOU CAN GO TO TARTARUS!!!!!

Also, for some reason, I'm imagining Marion as Nico now. Don't as why. I guess that explains the... ahh... new character later in this chapter lol *wink wink*

When I got to the cafe, I walked through the door, straight into a fluffy pink cardigan.

Cupcake helped me off the ground. "Took you long enough. It doesn't take that long to eat pizza." "I helped Mike with his homework," I replied.

Cupcake rolled her eyes.

"We're closed now. And I really needed you."

"Whatever! I'm heading to the apartment."

I turned away from her and started down the street. A minute later, she was at my side. Just barely I heard Meghan Trainer from her pink cupcake shaped earbuds.

We walked in silence the whole way. I unlocked the door to our apartment, and went straight to my room, grabbing an apple on the way. Cupcake went to hers.

Inside the small bedroom, I took a bite out of the apple and set it on the dresser, then got my flute out from under the bed.

Taking the metal instrument out of its case, I took another apple bite and brought the flute to my mouth and blew, almost expecting a good sound.

Bleeeeeeeeet!

I scowled and tried again.

BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!

"Piece of shit!" I cried, and threw it across the room, watching it hit the knob of the closet and snap into its two parts. If it weren't bent, then I'd be nice to Cupcake for a year.

I was taking another angry bite from my apple when Cupcake stuck her head in. The small pink star tattoo beside her eye was a little smudged.

She leaned against the doorway, avoiding my gaze. I guess it didn't matter, since I was avoiding hers. It was silent for what seemed like hours, but was probably a minute or two.

"Your nail's bleeding."

I looked up. "Huh?"

"Your nail. Did you smash it?"

"Oh, yeah. This morning. The cash register drawer shut on my finger. It's fine now." I kept on avoiding her gaze, but she made it hard by coming over and kneeling in front of me. She cupped my face in her hands.

"Marion, are you okay?"

I pulled away, leaning on the wall and drawing my knees to my chest. "Yeah," I lied.

Cupcake looked at me for a moment more, then got up.

"Okay then. I'm heading to bed. See you in the morning."

I nodded, and asked "Is Mike home yet?" He and I were roommates when we had summer breaks or whatever, but he lived with Kevin while I'm back in school.

"No. I think he might still be at Pizza Hut. Why don't you go get him?"

I nodded and slipped on my sneakers. Cupcake was right. He probably fell asleep and Chica and Fritz didn't notice. I headed past my cousin and out the door, taking the elevator. We were on like the seventh floor, so it took a while.

Finally I was out. I muttered a "Hello" to Kora, the lady at the desk, and went outside. I knew New York pretty well, and the Pizza Hut wasn't far. Just past the café, which was a block or two down.

Once I got there, however, it was locked. A woman inside was sweeping the floors, so I knocked. She looked up and came over, opening the door.

"Hey, hun. I'm sorry, but we're closed."

"Oh! No, heh. I'm looking for a friend of mine. He's on the smaller side, brown hair and eyes, gray sweatshirt..."

The lady grinned. Her golden curls shone in the moonlight, yet her face was cast in shadow. I still caught the striking gray eyes. There were no words to describe them. They seemed to glow, emitting a warm feeling, like sitting by a fire on Christmas Eve. I was dragged from my thoughts when she spoke again.

"I think I know who you're looking for! I saw you with him and two other people earlier. He left soon after the other man and girl did, heading the way you just came from," she explained. I know I was meant to go look for Mike, but I didn't want to leave this woman. Whoever she was.

Her phone dinged, and she looked at it and yelped.

"I'm so sorry, I have to go! I hope you find your friend! I'm Beth, by the way." And with that she was gone.

I was glad the only light were the highly dim streetlights. Without them, Beth wouldn't have seen the huge rare smile on my face.

I was walked back down the street, keeping an eye out for Mike. He couldn't have disappeared. He knew the way to the apartment.

Unless he took a wrong turn. It wouldn't be the first time.

I got a text from Cupcake, and looked down to read it.

Cupcake- find Mike yet? If not, call me!

I quickly dialed her number and waiting, leaning against the streetlight. Finally she picked up.

"Where are you?"

"Um... 6th Avenue I think. I met someone at Pizza Hut, and she told me Mike had headed the way to the apartment. I'm looking for him now."

"Oh god... Marion this is bad. You know Mike-"

"Yeah, I know. We need to find him."

"Fast."

And she hung up. I gulped and looked around.

Suddenly, the light above me flickered, and eventually went out.

"I am one hundred percent done," I muttered under my breath, and went quickly down the street. I checked my watch. 10:45. Shit.

I jumped as something moved out of the corner of my eye. But it turned put to be a black ally cat.

"Hey, there. You lost?" I said softly. Well, I'm talking to a cat. Another weird thing to add to my list for today.

The cat looked at me, his violet eyes wide. Well, one was violet. The other was a bright vibrant green.

However, it shot off when a noise arose from farther down the ally. And I don't blame it, when I heard it properly. A scream. A human man's scream.