𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 | "you're the worst of my crimes. you fell hard, I thought 'good riddance.'"
In which June Grace no longer wants
to be the second choice.
OR
In whic...
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015: It Was a Big Bathtub [JUNE]
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THEY STOOD IN the shadows of Valencia Boulevard, looking up at gold letters etched in black marble: DOA RECORDING STUDIOS.
Underneath, stenciled on the glass doors: NO SOLICITORS. NO LOITERING. NO LIVING.
It was almost midnight, but the lobby was brightly lit and full of people. Behind the security desk sat a tough-looking guard with sunglasses and an earpiece.
"Okay. You remember the plan." Percy said.
"The plan," Grover gulped.
"Yeah. I love the plan." June said.
Annabeth said, "What happens if the plan doesn't work?"
"Don't think negative." Aurora chided.
"Right," she said. "We're entering the Land of the Dead, and I shouldn't think negative."
Annabeth put her hand on Percy's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Percy. You're right, we'll make it. It'll be fine."
"We've made it this far," June added. "We can do this."
She judged Grover's arm. "Oh, right!" he chimed in. "We got this far. We'll find the master bolt and save your mom. No problem."
They took a deep breath and walked inside the DOA lobby.
Muzak played softly on hidden speakers. The carpet and walls were steel gray. Pencil cactuses grew in the corners like skeleton hands. The furniture was black leather, and every seat was taken. There were people sitting on couches, people standing up, people staring out the windows or waiting for the elevator. Nobody moved, or talked, or did much of anything.
The security guard's desk was a raised podium, so they had to look up at him.
He was tall and elegant, with chocolate-colored skin and bleached-blond hair shaved military style. He wore tortoiseshell shades and a silk Italian suit that matched his hair. A black rose was pinned to his lapel under a silver name tag.
Percy read the name tag wrong. He looked up at Charon in bewilderment. "Your name is Chiron?"
He leaned across the desk, with a cold smile.
"What a precious young lad." he said. "Tell me, mate, do I look like a centaur?"
