When Worlds Collide

Chapter Eight

“Will you just shut up already?” Gale asked, turning around to look at Clarisse who was bragging to the others in the back of the truck.

“No.” Clarisse said. Gale huffed and looked back at the road, trying to block out her annoying voice. Annabeth and Percy were already over yelling at her, so it was much quieter than a few minutes ago.

“If somebody else starts an argument then I will put you to sleep!” Brom snapped.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Clarisse asked.

“SLYTHA!” Brom roared Clarisse slumping in her seat.

“Don’t even ask.” Annabeth replied, but realized she was too late. She sighed. Percy looked at her questioningly, but she just shook her head.

“Long story.” She told him.

“Thanks.” Gale said back to Brom.

“No problem, you were all hoping I would anyway” Brom said.

“If only you were always this useful.” Gale said under his breath, and Katniss laughed quietly at his joke. The others looked at them. “Just an old Seam joke.” Gale said.

“Yeah right, I heard that. Dragon riders have acute hearing.” Brom said.

“Where are we going now?” Katniss asked changing the subject.

“I’m just waiting for someone to point out the road.” Gale replied.

“We need to figure out who and how the people had tamed griffons.” Annabeth told them.

“I know where they came from.” Brom spoke up.

“Well, could’ve said that earlier.” Clarisse muttered in her sleep, as if she knew what they were saying.

“Alright then, you drive.”  Gale said, stopping the car and changing places with the old man, who assured them he knew how to drive.

“How hard could it be?”He asked to no one in particular, and he put the truck in reverse, slamming on the pedal and ramming them into a tree.

“You’re sure you can drive!?” Gale shouted.

“No, not really.” Brom said.

“You know you have it in reverse, right? Push the stick to the ‘D’, then press your foot on the long pedal on the floor.” Gale said, trying to stay calm, but he couldn’t help but whimper, because the bumper was bent in at a drastic angle.

“Thanks.” Brom replied.

“I wish we could just swim.” Percy muttered. Annabeth rolled her eyes.

“What do you mean?” Asked Brom.

“Gods, forgot that you could hear me. It was nothing.” Percy said. The old man pushed the stick shift to the ‘D’, and a sharp grinding sound issued from it. Gale cringed, hoping the man didn’t completely ruin his truck.

“That’s a strange sound.” Brom said at the noise.

“You have to push the brakes to change gears.” Gale said fighting his temper to stay calm.

“Thanks, again.” Brom said.

“No problem.” Gale said through clenched teeth. Then Brom turned the truck left and started driving, stopping and going, making the group rock back and forth in the seats. Gale was almost launched into the windshield because he was leaning over the seat, helping Brom. Clarisse even woke up to all of the movement.

 

When they had reached their destination, half the party scrambled out of the car and clung to the ground, heaving in deep breaths. Gale slowly walked around the vehicle, taking in the damage. There was a bent fender, the windshield cracked, the gas pedal was broken, oil was coming out like a waterfall from the bottom, the catalytic converter was screeching, and the back bumper needed some hammer work done. Gale put his head in his hands, he was never letting the old man behind the wheel of anything again.