all our broken skies, a kotlc + pjo/hoo fanfic

chapter nine

Sophie gazed out the window, hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. It had taken hours to get out of the city, but they were close, or so Rachel claimed. Percy was staring at the phone with a frown on his face.

"It says we have four and a half hours until we arrive," he announced. "You're going the wrong way, Rachel."

"I can literally see the tree, Percy," she said flatly. "We're almost there." The redhead raised a hand, pointing to the barely visible crest of a hill. It was hard to make out, but there did appear to be something standing on it.

Percy squinted at the screen. "I don't know..."

"You're only supposed to be using the phone for emergencies anyway," Rachel told him. "Turn it off before they start showing up."

"Right, right."

Sophie glanced at the device. "Is that Angry Birds?"

"No," he said quickly, powering it down.

Rachel glared at him. "Percy. Why are their apps on your phone if you keep it off?"

"I..." He shrugged. "I need something to distract myself when I'm babysitting Estelle."

"Oh my gods, you're an idiot, Percy." Rachel groaned, hitting her head against the top of the steering wheel. It was a good thing they were in the middle of nowhere or they'd be in a car crash by now.

Before the argument could escalate, Sophie said, "So where are we going?"

Percy glanced at Rachel. "It's...a camp? Sort of? But, like, a really intensive camp."

"Cult camp," Rachel supplied.

"No."

"Only a li'l."

Percy scowled. "Don't call Camp Half-Blood a cult."

"Half...blood?" Sophie said tentatively. "That sounds..."

"Not good, yeah, sorry." Percy winced. "It's not... No. You'll see when we get there." He turned to Rachel. "How much longer?"

"Five minutes, maybe?" She shrugged. "I dunno exactly."

Percy sighed. "Drive faster."

"You don't want to see me drive fast," Rachel warned.

"Just hurry up, please."

The redhead chuckled. "Okay, but when you refuse to get into a car with me again, don't say I didn't warn you."

-

Rachel wasn't kidding when she said they didn't want to see her drive fast. She drove like she had nothing to live for—never anything below eighty miles per hour for three hundred forty-six seconds. Sophie would know; she counted. She needed something to do while her nails were gouging the fabric of the car seats.

"Remind me to never let you drive again," Percy croaked as they slowed, throwing open the door and stumbling a few steps. He dropped to his knees and kissed the ground. "Thank the gods."

Sophie laughed weakly. "Y-Yeah. I think Percy should drive on the way back."

"Hey, I warned you."

"I didn't think you'd drive that fast," Percy complained, clambering to his feet. "Didn't you go to finishing school?"

Rachel scowled. "We don't talk about finishing school."

Percy held up his hands. "Okay, okay."