Gone Girl.¹

𝟬𝟮𝟯. monsters and bumper cars

gone girl.
━━━ chapter twenty three

❀

Mrs. O'Leary was the only one happy about the sleeping city. They found her pigging out at an overturned hot dog stand while the owner was curled up on thesidewalk, sucking his thumb. Argus was waiting for them with his hundred eyes wide open. He didn't say anything, not like he ever does, because he supposedly has an eyeball on his tongue. But his face made it clear he was freaking out. Percy told him what they'd learned in Olympus, and how the gods would not be riding to the rescue. Argus rolled his eyes in disgust, which looked pretty psychedelic since it made his whole body swirl.

"You'd better get back to camp," he told him. "Guard it as best you can." He pointed at Percy and raised his eyebrow quizzically.

"I'm staying," he said.

Argus nodded, like this answer satisfied him. He looked at Annabeth and drew a circle in the air withhis finger. "Yes," Annabeth agreed. "I think it's time."

"For what?" Amaryllis asked.

Argus rummaged around in the back of his van. He brought out a bronze shield and passed it to Annabeth. It looked pretty much standard issue - the same kind of round shield they always used in capture-the-flag. But when Annabeth set it on the ground, the reflection on the polished metal changed from sky and buildings to the Statue of Liberty — which wasn't anywhere close to us.

"Whoa," Amaryllis said. "A video shield?"

"One of Daedalus's ideas," Annabeth said. "I had Beckendorf make this before-" She glanced at Silena. "Um, anyway, the shield bends sunlight or moonlight from anywhere in the world to create a reflection. You can literally see any target under the sun or moon, as long as natural light is touching it. Look."

The demigods crowded around as Annabeth concentrated. The image zoomed and spun at first, so Amaryllis got motion sickness just watching it. They were in the Central Park Zoo, then zooming down East 60th, past Bloomingdale's, then turning on Third Avenue.

"Whoa," Connor Stoll said. "Back up. Zoom in right there."

"What?" Annabeth said nervously. "You see invaders?"

"No, right there — Dylan's Candy Bar." Connor grinned at his brother. "Dude, it's open. And everyone is asleep. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Noelle Yung, one of the demigods that were on their side despite being children of minor gods, smacked him across the head. "You are not looting a freaking candy store in the middle of a war. That is a new low, even for you two."

"Sorry," Connor muttered, but he didn't sound very ashamed.

Annabeth passed her hand in front of the shield, and another scene popped up: FDR Drive, looking across the river at Lighthouse Park. "This will let us see what's going on across the city," she said. "Thank you, Argus. Hopefully we'll see you back at camp... someday."

Argus grunted. He gave them a look that clearly meant Good luck; you'll need it, then climbed into his van. He and the two harpy drivers swerved away, weaving around clusters of idle cars that littered theroad. Percy called Mrs. O'Leary and sent her to find Grover, as they were definitely going to need all the help they could get and the hellhound raced off north.