❦𝓕𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓒𝓻𝓲𝓶𝓮❦ - 𝓟𝓮𝓻𝓬𝔂 𝓙𝓪𝓬𝓴𝓼𝓸𝓷

𝒳𝐼𝐼. 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒢𝒶𝓉𝑒𝓌𝒶𝓎 𝒜𝓇𝒸𝒽

𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓎 spent two days on the Amtrak train, heading west through hills, over rivers, past amber waves of grain. They weren't attacked once, but none of them really relaxed. Percy was trying to keep a low profile because his face was plastered all over the front page of several East-Coast newspapers. The Trenton Register-News Showed a photo taken by a tourist as the quartet had gotten off the greyhound bus. Percy had a wild look in his eyes and his sword was a metallic blur in his hands. It might have been a baseball bat or lacrosse stick.

The picture's caption read:

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson, wanted for questioning in the Long Island disappearance of his mother 2 weeks ago, is shown here fleeing from the bus where he accosted several elderly female passengers. The bus exploded on an East New Jersey roadside shortly after Jackson fled the scene. Based on eyewitness accounts, police believe the boy may be traveling with three teenage accomplices. His stepfather, Gabe Ugliano offered a cash reward for information leading to his capture.

"Don't worry. Mortal police could never find us." Annabeth told Percy, but she didn't sound very confidante about it.

The rest of the day, Zoe spent thinking up inventions to make with her dad, watching Percy pace the length of the train, looking out the windows, or talking to Annabeth.

The reward money for returning Gladiola the poodle had only been enough to purchase tickets as far as Denver. They couldn't get spots in the sleeper car, so they dozed in their seats. Zoe's neck got stiff after the first nap.

Grover kept snoring and bleating and waking Zoe and Percy up. Annabeth seemed to sleep right through it. Once, Grover shuffled around, kicking Annabeth and waking her up. His fake foot fell off and Percy, Zoe, and Annabeth had to stick it back on before any of the other passengers noticed.

"So," Zoe started once they had gotten Grover's sneaker readjusted. "Who wants your help?"

"What do you mean?"

"When you were asleep just now," Annabeth interjected, "you mumbled 'I won't help you.' Who were you dreaming about?"

Percy hesitated before he told them about his dream. About the evil voice in the pit.

Both girls were quiet for a long time. "This doesn't sound like Hades. He always appears on a black throne, and he never laughs." Annabeth was thinking hard.

"Well, we don't know if he never laughs. Maybe he just had a dark sense of humor." Zoe winked with a grin, glancing between Percy and Annabeth as they gave her unimpressed looks.

"Oh c'mon! Lighten up a little, no need to be so doom and gloom."

Annabeth rolled her eyes as Percy continued retelling his dream. "He offered my mother in a trade. Who else could do that?"

"I guess... if he meant, 'Help me rise from the Underworld.'" Annabeth suggested. "If he wants war with the Olympians. But why ask you to bring him the master bolt if he already has it?"

Percy shook his head, looking dejected.

Grover snorted in his sleep, muttering something about vegetables, and turned his head. Annabeth readjusted his cap so it covered his horns.

"Percy, you can't barter with Hades. You know that, right? He's deceitful, heartless, and greedy. I don't care if his Kindly Ones weren't as aggressive this time-"

"This time?" Percy cut Annabeth off. "You mean you've run into them before?"

Annabeth and Zoe shared a look, and then both glanced at Grover. Annabeth's hand went to her necklace, rolling the white glazed bead with an image of a pine tree on it between her fingers. Zoe picked at the hem of her shirt, glancing out the window.