𝟎𝟎𝟐,𝐇𝐔𝐆𝐒

𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐑𝐀'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕

In the extremely tight bed space on the train the amidst the soft glow of a lantern, everybody settled in for the night. Three of them were already asleep, their steady breathing filling the air with tranquility. While me and Eden remained awake, sharing quiet conversation.

"Hey, check these out," I whispered excitedly, reaching for a stack of comics beside my bed.

The other girl's eyes lit up as she took the comics, examining them with interest. "Wow, these are awesome! Where did you find them?"

Grinning, the first girl explained, "I brought them from home. They're my favorites."

"Wow, these are awesome! Who's this character?" Eden asked, pointing to one of the comic book heroes.

With a smile, I replied, "That's Wonder Woman, one of the most iconic superheroes ever.See this is why you have got to stop drooling over young Ralph macchio."

The girl rolled her eyes but was still impressed , the girl nodded, her curiosity piqued as she delved deeper into the world of comics.

'*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*'

Soon Eden drifted off to sleep, most likely dreaming of Wonder Woman or Ralph macchio

"Are you asleep yet?" Percy whispered whilst lying on the 'bed' his eyes drawn to the ceiling.

"Yes" I simply say even though he knows dam well im wide awake despite the late hour.
"Of course I'm awake dumbass you could literally hear me talking."

"You and Eden are close."he randomly says.

"Yeah, we're close," I replied casually to Percy's question.

"How did you guys meet?" Percy inquired, his curiosity showing.

"Why do you want to know?" i shot back, a hint of defensiveness in my tone.

Percy sighed, "Can I not make a normal conversation with you without some stupid reply?"

"I mean it's not easy talking to the guy who brutally killed my mother."I said not making eye contact with the boy.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, "𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐞?"my 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫."𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.(roll the credits)

"Isn't that obvious I repeated it like 100 times"I complained throwing my hands u in the air.

"Yeah but you can't lie she was kinda a bitch."Percy said defending himself putting his hands in the air.

"Yeah."I chuckled."But a mother is very important in a person's life...you of all people should now that Percy.

there was a minuet of awkward silence until i decided to break that by asking his question from earlier.

"But if you must know apparently my mother saved her from someone I don't know who she never said but I've known her since I was 5 and we've been best friends ever since and I had Lucky for 2 1/2 years."

Percy's stomach rumbled audibly, betraying his hunger. "Hey, do you have any food?" he asked hopefully, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of snacks."im too lazy to go get grover's."

"I've got prawn cocktail crisps?," I suggested, offering Percy a snack option throwing the packet to him.

"Ew you actually like them."Percy said disgusted holding up the packet.

"Yeah there delicious!"I say offended by Percy's comment.

"Fine I guess I'll take them back if you're too stubborn to eat them."I reach to snatch them off the curly headed boy.

"no!"

"I'll eat them if that's the only thing you have."

I was about to reply to Percy's comment until Grover groaned.

"You awake?"I asked at the obviously annoyed Grover.

"Well, I am now. Thanks."Grover implied rubbing his eyes with a croaky morning voice.

"No need to be rude Goat boy."I snapped at him copying his annoying behaviour.

"First off all I'm not a goat for the millionth time and please just shut up."the satyr argued as he thrown a pillow at my face from above.

I launch the pillow at him with full force as he groans in pain.

"Are you okay?"Eden asked just waking up.

"He's super grouchy when he doesn't get enough sleep."Annabeth explained.

"Great now everybody's awake."Percy groaned hoping just to have one private conversation.

"Don't forget Lucky he's still asleep."i said whilst petting the fluffy golden dog.

"He's super grouchy when he doesn't get enough..." Nah!"Grover mimicked Annabeth.

"Wow."i say suprised at his sudden outrage.

"You've never been on the road with him before."Annabeth said.

"And I hope this is the last time."I say while Eden chuckled.

"A little different than a froofy boarding school."

"Did you just say fruity?"Eden wondered

"Who's froofy? You're froofy. What's froofy?"

"I think I need to eat."

"I can tell." I say.

'*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*'

"Two days until we reach Los Angeles."Grover said looking out the window.

"Plenty of time before our deadline to reach the Underworld."

"Can I ask a dumb question?"Percy asked even if i said no i knew he would run his mouth anyway so there was no point.

"I think it would be better if you just kept your mouth shut."Lucky said with a bit of sass.

"Shoot."Grover replied ignoring the dogs comment to Percy.

"I've never been to Los Angeles before."

"I'm guessing neither of you have been to Los Angeles."

"So, how will we have any idea where we're going."

"Have you ever heard of a map?"I say sarcastically.

"But how will we get one?"Percy asked.

"No idea."Grover replied.

"But that's like step 37, and we're still on step four."Grover implied.

"You guys forget they have powers I mean with them we can get anything we want."Annabeth elaborated.

"Followup stupid question."

"Dude.I'm a talking dog and even I talk less than you."Lucky growled at the person who was opposite aka percy.

"And you shall fail to save what matters most in the end."

"Back in Jersey, I told you the Oracle said this quest would fail."

"And no one's mentioned it since."

"Seems like something we oughta be taking a little more seriously."

"Hey.Look at that.Are those..."

"Centaurs."Grover finished his sentence.

Percy looked around if anyone had the same reactions but everybody just continued with there normal day activities. "No one even knows they're there."

"There used to be herds of them everywhere."

"What happened to them?"

"Humans."Grover turned to look at Percy.

Then Grover started telling to background story."A few thousand years ago, the god of the wild, Pan, disappeared."

"Like Peter Pan?"Percy questioned but Grover ignored him and carried on.

"And ever since, without Pan to protect the natural world, humans have been trying really hard to chip away at it."

"The bravest satyrs volunteer to become Searchers, trying to find Pan."

"None have ever returned."

"Your uncle we found in Medusa's, Ferdinand.He was a Searcher?"

"The Oracle didn't say the quest would fail."Annabeth began.

"Fail to save what matters most." That could mean a lot of things."
"That's how prophecies work, that's how fate works."

"It could mean a lot of things."

"The harder you work to understand, the harder it gets to understand."
"Sometimes, you've just gotta let it come to you when it's ready."

"Excuse me. Can I see your tickets, please?"A police officer asked us as we handed our tickets.

"You're in Cabin 17B?"The officer asked a rhetorical question.

"Isn't it obvious I mean if you have eyes it's what it says on the ticket."I hissed at the police officer then I felt a sudden hand the belonged to Eden cover my mouth before I say anything else and gave a fake smile the officer.

'*•.¸♡♡¸.•*'

"You wanna explain."

"Wait. Wait, you think we did this?"Percy said offended.

"Did you?"

"I mean... How? And why?"

"Sir, when we left to get breakfast, everything was intact."Grover explained to the officer.

"We don't know how this happened."I say.

"We got a witness here, says she heard the window smash, and then heard children's voices."Gesturing to the woman talking to the female officer.

"Oh, come on."i groaned.

"Can you tell me what time you left the cabin."

"Are we under arrest?"I ask in a not so nice way.

"I don't think you wanna take that tone with me, little girl."

"Are we under arrest?"I ask again this time my eyes flickered green making the man shut his mouth.

'*•.¸♡♡¸.•*'

"So we're just killing time 'til we find out that guy's like a werewolf or something, right?"Percy questioned as the man turned over to us giving us an unusual death stare.

*[announcer speaking over PA] The train is arriving at St. Louis Gateway station in ten minutes.*

"I don't think he's a monster."Annabeth stated

"Hard to say."Grover said challenging Annabeth's ide

"Well, if he's not a monster, what's going on here?"

"Why would anyone tear our room apart?"

"Maybe they were looking for something."

"We don't have anything."

"The people who think you stole Zeus's master bolt might disagree."

*Time skip because I'm feeling lazy and it's 11 am uk time*

Eden raises her hands and uses her powers to try and lock the door which becomes a success.

"Stop!"An officer shouts

"We can't just leave them what if they get eaten alive by that thing!"I say worried as the officers try to fight their way through the door.

"Hey!"

"Percy."Grover says.

" Open this door!"

"Come back here and open this door!"

"What is that?"

"It's a stinger."

"Grover, do you know what kind of monster has one of those?"Annabeth asked.

"I don't know. I mean, nothing good probably."

"Do you feel okay?"I ask checking on Percy noticing he was getting pale.

"I think so. Why?"

"Do you think it's poisonous or something?"the boy says worried.

"I mean I'm not sure but you're getting kinda pale."I say if I'm honest he looked really pale but i decided not to worry incase it gets worse.

"HOLY SHIT YOU LOOK LIKE CASPER THE GHOST!"Lucky barked. that was his favourite bedtime story he still reads it till this day.

"Wow that makes me feel sooo much better."Percy said in a very sarcastic and sassy way.

"Come on stop bickering."

"Hey!"

'*•.¸♡♡¸.•*'

"Why isn't it still chasing us?"

"What you want to become its prey!?"Eden replied obviously not seeming okay from the previous events.

"Echidna said whatever she was hiding in that carrier, it's young."

"It won't venture too far from her mother."

"She's learning to hunt... and this seems like the hunting part."I said putting the pieces together

"We aren't gonna be able to outrun them for very long."Grover said

"We don't need to. We just need a safe place to hole up."Annabeth stated.

"Some place safe."I recommended.

"Any ideas where we might find one of those

"I do."
"A sanctuary, dedicated to Athena, built by one of her demigod children a long time ago."

"nope I can't do this I'm not going to a place where the somewhat have to do something with Athena."I argued.

"I mean you're already on a quest with her daughter I mean what's the difference?"Grover asked.

"There is a lot of difference."i began."i mean shes not athena is she?"

"There is an Athenian temple hidden somewhere in the middle of downtown St. Louis."

"Yes."

"Except it's not all that hidden."

'*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*'

"It's 630 feet wide, 630 feet tall, both to within an inch."(drake?)

"It's got no internal support.Each side is balanced perfectly against the other."

"The arch is held up by symmetry.It's held up by math."

"And it's earthquakeproof, so Poseidon can't ruin it."

"Don't blame her for doing that."I said eyeing Percy."

"Nice."

"This is how you show Athena your love."

"And how do we do the opposite of that?"Lucky asked

"A monument to the power of perfection."

"It's a monument to some other stuff, too."

"You're talking about what some humans want this place to be about.

"I'm talking about what it actually is."

"Whatever."

"We're safe here, right?"

"No monsters can enter. Not even Echidna."

"We're safe."

"Great."

"Well, since our train exploded, I'm gonna see if there's another one we can get tickets on."

"We can't stay here forever."Eden said

"Just because we're prey, doesn't mean we need to be helpless."

"He doesn't like it when people mess with animals."

"Yeah."

"I know."

"I shouldn't have s snapped at him, I just..."

"I know."

"You know the tension is like really thick in here and it's making me uncomfortable."Lucky barked.

"Once again must you ruin the moment!"Eden complained shutting the dogs mouth.

"So, this is your mom's place?"Percy lets out a sigh.

"Wonder if she's around."

"I hope she is because me and her need to have a talk."I mumbled

"Oh is that Grover oh yeah he wants us over see ya bye."Eden made a ridiculous excuse.

"Why do you have a problem with my mom?"Annabeth asked.

"Oh I don't know maybe because she cursed my mom." I say."If that happened to your mom I'm sure you would have the same reaction because put yourself in my shoes."

"Whatever I'm gonna go."

"Be right down! Just going to the potty!"Percy made a ridiculous posh accent trying to make me feel  better but it worked only a little bit just a little bit.

I laughed at Percy's lame accent.

"Cute."

"I know I am cute."Percy boasted .

"Ha ha ha.Very funny."I say sarcastically.

Percy was about to reply to my comment till a  boy around my age came up to the both of us.

"Hey sorry to interrupt I was wondering if I could have your number and maybe you know we could link up?"The boy asked my me.

"Oh um sorry I actually have.....a boyfriend!"I made up an excuse I know Percy is going to hate me for this but I have no other idea.

"Oh who?"

"Uh it's him." pointing to Percy who was just quietly watching the conversation.

"Him really?Isn't he kinda you know out of your league."

"Excuse me?I'll have you know many guys and girls have asked me out."
"You can't even pull a pull door so I suggest you come ask me out when anybody wants to actually date you."

The boy had a scowl on his face and turned to leave and then when leaving the building he tried pulling a push door.

"Why did you say I was your boyfriend?"
"I mean it's not I had any other choice."

"You have powers!"

"Yeah but this way is more fun."

Percy had a playful smile although he tried to hide it it was very visible.

"You know you're not so bad as I thought."Percy teased.

"Careful. Peter I think you were about to call me your friend."

"It's Percy."

"Peter sounds better or would you rather me call you Perseus."

"You know Peter is a good name."Percy changed his mind rather not wanting to be called by his full name.

"Sleeping beauty."Percy mumbled.

"Sleeping beauty seriously that's the best you could come up with!"

"ill stop when you stop!"

"Never Perseus."

"Somewhere around here the Oracle is laughing at us, but you know Whoa!"I say as Percy drops to the ground

"Percy!"Annabeth shouted."I knew I shouldn't have left you alone with him!"

"Hey! What happened?"Grover said helping me lift Percy up.

"I think... I think those stinger things were poisonous."

"Yeah no shit."Lucky said as Eden was carrying him in her arms.

"Seriously not the time!"Eden said

'*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*'

"The water cured him back at camp, it should work for poison too, right?"

"You know, I think it's I think it's working."

"Couldn't we just throw him into a river and watch him be laughed at by the public."Lucky barked.

"Seriously not the time!"I say

"Well when is it the time!"

"This was a great call."

"Or not."Eden disagrees as Percy tried to stand up but ends up tumbling down

[Annabeth] Maybe it needs to be naturally running water for Poseidon to be able to heal him.

"Okay. We need to get back inside."

"No, we need to keep trying."

"Grover we don't have time."

"This isn't working. And she's coming."

"Okay, look, we'll take Percy inside, and we'll go the temple's altar."

"Altar? Where is there an altar?"

"The highest point, the best view."

"Okay, but what good is that even gonna do us?"

"We're gonna get to the altar and we're going to ask my mom for help."

"Oh my days let's be honest nobody want help from Athena."

"I thought we don't ask for help."

"Alright okay just ignore me then."

"Come on, let's get moving."

"Guys, d did you hear that?"

"Oh sorry that was my stomach."Lucky said

"Seriously how many times it's not the time."Eden argued

"Anyways what did you hear."

"Never mind. Come on."

[indistinct chatter]

[♪ tense instrumental music playing]

*[announcer] Please take your seats. The trams are about to depart.*

"What was that back there? What did you hear?"

"She spoke to you."

"Alecto did that with me back in the museum in New York."

"What you guys went New York!"Lucky said

"I'm actually so done with you just please keep quiet."

"What did she say."

"Was that the Chimera."

"I think... I think that was the Chimera."

"How did the Chimera even get inside here?"

"How did any monster get inside here?"

"Annabeth?"

"We're in a sanctuary. Athena would have had to let her in, but why would she do that?"

"Annabeth!"

'*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*'

"We gotta get everybody outta here."

[alarm blaring]

[automated voice speaking over PA] Attention. Attention.

[chaperone] Everyone, let's line up.

"You guys go down."I immediately say.

"What? No, no, no. W We're not splitting up."Eden argues.

"Eden, come on."

"No. No, no, no, no, no, she's right we're all getting out of here together."Percy complained.

"We won't make it. The Chimera is the demigod killer.Someone has to stay back to slow her down and buy everyone some time."

"Come on."

"Okay, help him down the stairs and get him to the river.And don't stop. Not till you get to Hades, not till you have the bolt, do you hear me?"

"Rory please."Percy begged

"You guys need to finish your quest and Eden you need to go with them and find somewhere safe to stay."

I looked at Eden with prickles of tears in my eyes.

"I love you 3 thousand."Eden said

"I love you 3 thousand."

"Okay, go."

"Wait."

"Take this."

"I don't need it Percy."

"Your powers aren't enough shes too powerful."

"Fine pass it."

As I reached to grab Percy's sword I was suddenly being pushed onto the stairs.

"Percy!"

"Open this door!"

I tried to use my powers but his stubborn arse wouldn't judge.

"Perseus Jackson open this door right now!"

"Hey! Percy!"

"Percy, please!"Grover begged.

'*•.¸♡ ♡¸.•*'

"Come on. Let's go find Percy."I ordered them.

"Aurora..."Grover began

"He's alive.I know it."I say

"Percy!"

"Percy!"

"Percy!

"Percy!"

"Hi."

I marched over to the young boy.

"Where have you been!?First you through me into a stairwell next you won't let me out Percy you had just been poisoned!You could've been injured or died!"

"You sound like my mum."Percy laughed.

I punched him hard in the arm.

"Ow.Look, I'm sorry about shoving you in the stairwell."he said rubbing it.

"Even hearing myself say that sounds really bad, but I just... I knew you'd never agree, and there wasn't enough time..."

I rushed up to him, enveloping him in a tight hug. We stood there for a few moments, the warmth of the embrace filling the air. As we pulled away, I felt a rush of flustered emotions washing over me, and I quickly stammered out an apology."Oh sorry."

"Ah young love."Lucky said

"Aren't you like 3"Annabeth said confused

"Actually I'm 24 in dog years."

"Cool your the same age as me!"

"Your 24!You look good for your age." Eden gasped in amazement

"I know I do look good for my age!"

Eden then smelt something fishy.

"Dude you need a serious shower you smell of fish."

"Yeah I know."

"So... you're not as dead as we thought you'd be."

"Surprise."

"What happened?"

"Short version, we need to go to Santa Monica."

"What, like now?"

"My father's gonna meet me there. He's gonna help us."

"Why is it always the gods I don't like."I complain

"What gods do you like?"Annabeth asked.

"I like Hades he seems cool he seems a lot like me!"Eden said.

"I like Aphrodite because you know it's obviously her that made me this beautiful."

'*•.¸♡♡¸.•*'

"Okay. Uh, just one problem with this plan."

AN:this is the longest I've ever done and the longest I think I might ever do I might have changed to third person some point by accident but I'm too lazy to proof read.
Did anyone get the Harry Potter reference 😉
But anyways Lucky really needs to work on his timing.

Sooo how are you how's your day been.<3
Mines been great I'm going to fly to Amsterdam tomorrow to visit family so it's going to be busy.

Anyways I'm going to go now bye!

Word count:3456

26/03/24