[1] 𝐼𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑢𝑠 - 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑦 𝐽𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑠𝑜𝑛

1.07

-

KATNISS TORE across the Mall, not daring to look behind her. She burst into the Air and Space Museum and the mist dropped once she was through the admissions area.

Katniss felt someone tap on her shoulder. She was so paranoid she drew a dagger from her belt and pressed the point under the person's chin.

Percy yelped and held his hands up in a surrender fashion. He opened his mouth to say something but Katniss grabbed his hand with her free one, forcing him to run with her.

She just needed to get away from her father. She would go all the way to Greece rather than see him again. The scar ached each time she thought of him.

The main part of the museum was one huge room with rockets and airplanes hanging from the ceiling. Three levels of balconies curled around, so you could look at the exhibits from all different heights. The place wasn't crowded, just a few families and a couple of tour groups of kids, probably doing one of those holiday school trips. Katniss wanted to yell at them all to leave, but she suspected that would only get her arrested. She had to find her friends. Any minute, the spartusi were going to invade the museum.

She ran into Thalia—literally. She and Percy were barreling up the ramp to the top-floor balcony and slammed into her, knocking her into an Apollo space capsule.

Grover yelped in surprise.

Before she could regain her balance, Zoë and Bianca had arrows notched, aimed at Percy's chest. Their bows had just appeared out of nowhere.

Zoë's eyes widened. "You!" She accused Percy. "How dare you bring her here! Do you know the danger you are putting her in?"

"Percy!" Grover said. "Katniss! Thank goodness."

Zoë glared at him, and he blushed. "I mean, um, gosh. You're not supposed to be here!"

Cassiopeia crossed her arms. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Luke," Percy said, trying to catch his breath. "He's here."

The anger in Thalia's eyes immediately melted. She put her hand on her silver bracelet. "Where?"

"Zoë," Katniss said. Her voice shook against her will. "He's here. The general's in the museum."

Zoë paled. "No! That is impossible!"

"Zoë, I saw him." Katniss told her. "He made spartusi-"

"What?" Thalia demanded. "How many?"

"Twelve," Percy said. "And that's not all. That guy, the General, he said he was sending something, a 'playmate,' to distract you over here. A monster."

Cassiopeia, Thalia and Grover exchanged looks.

"We were following Artemis's trail," Grover said. "I was pretty sure it led here. Some powerful monster scent... She must've stopped here looking for the mystery monster. But we haven't found anything yet."