𝐎, 𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄! ; Percy Jackson

𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐞

IX;

( when doves fly )

*Cindy Kimberly as Amara Abdélé

                   WE WERE CROSSING THE POTOMAC WHEN THEY SPOTTED IT. It was a sleek, black military model And it was coming straight toward us, I had yet to notice this, though. Still in my own head.

             "They know the van," Percy said, the veins popping out his hands as he clutched them tightly. "We have to ditch it."

              Zoe swerved into the fast lane, causing me to tumble directly into Percy's side, I don't think Zoe cared. The helicopter was gaining fast and her eyes were dead set.

                "Maybe the military will shoot it down," Grover said hopefully.

                 "The military probably thinks it's one of theirs," Percy said, trying to hide his reddened face with the Nemean Lions fur warily as I was practically in his lap only a moment ago. "How can the General use mortals, anyway?"

              "Mercenaries," Zoe said bitterly. "It is distasteful, but many mortals will fight for any cause as long as they are paid."

               "But don't these mortals see who they're working for?" I piped up. Momentarily indisposed. "Don't they notice all the monsters around them?"

               Zoe shook her head. "I do not know how much they see through the Mist. I doubt it would matter to them if they knew the truth. Sometimes mortals can be more horrible than monsters."

             It went silent. All you could hear was the helicopter blades.

            Thalia closed her eyes and prayed hard. "Hey, Dad. A lightning bolt would be nice about now. Please?"

             But the sky stayed gray and snowy. No sign of a helpful thunderstorm.

            "There!" Bianca said. "That parking lot!"

            "We'll be trapped," Zoe said.

             "Trust me," Bianca said.

              Zoe shot across two lanes of traffic and into a mall parking lot on the south bank of the river. We left the van and followed Bianca down some steps.

           "Subway entrance," Bianca said. "Let's go south. Alexandria."

          "Anything," Thalia agreed.

              We bought tickets and got through the turnstiles, looking behind us for any signs of pursuit. A few minutes later we were safely aboard a southbound train, riding away from D.C. As our train came above ground, we could see the helicopter circling the parking lot, but it didn't come after us.