16| Annabeth Does Obedience School
We stood in the shadows of Valencia Boulevard, looking up at gold letters etched in black marble: DOA Recording Studios. Underneath, stencilled on the glass doors: No Solicitors, No Loitering, No Living.
It is almost midnight, but the lobby is brightly lit and full of dead people.
Percy: 'Okay, you remember the plan.
Grover: 'The plan. Yeah, I love the plan.'
Annabeth: 'What happens if the plan doesn't work?'
Y/N: 'Don't think negative.'
Annabeth: 'Thank you, Y/N.'
Percy: 'What the...'
We walked inside the DOA lobby. Muzak played softly on the hidden speakers, the security guard's desk is a raised podium, so we have to look up to him.
Percy: 'Your name is Chiron?'
Security Guard: 'What a precious young lad. Tell me, mate, do I look like a centaur?'
Percy: 'N-no.'
Security Guard: 'Sir.'
Percy: 'Sir.'
Security Guard: 'Can you read this, mate? It says C-H-A-R-O-N. Say it with me: CARE-ON.'
Percy: 'Charon.'
Charon: 'Amazing! Now, Mr Charon.'
Percy: 'Mr Charon.'
Charon: 'Well done. I hate being confused with that old horse-man. And now, how may I help you little dead ones?'
Annabeth: 'We want to go to the Underworld.'
Charon: *twitch* 'Well, that's refreshing.'
Annabeth: 'It is?'
Charon: 'Straightforward and honest. No screaming. No "There must be a mistake, Mr Charon". How did you die, then?'
Grover: 'Oh, um... drowned... in the bathtub.'
Charon: 'All three of you?'
We nodded.
Charon: 'Big bathtub. I don't suppose you have coins for passage. Normally, with adults, you see, I could charge your American Express, or add the ferry price to your last cable bill. But children... alas, you never die prepared. Suppose you'll have to take a seat for a few centuries.'
Percy: 'Oh, but we have coins.
He set four golden drachmas on the counter.
Charon: 'Well, now... Real drachmas. Real golden drachmas. I haven't seen these in...'
His fingers hovered greedily over the coins. Then Charon looked at Percy.
Charon: 'Here now, you couldn't read my name correctly. Are you dyslexic, lad?'
Percy: 'No, I'm dead.'
Charon: *sniffs* 'You're not dead. I should've known. You're a godling.'
Percy: 'We have to get to the Underworld.'
I look around blocking all sound around me, having the ability to control the wind is amazing, all I see are mouths moving.
Zeus: 'Son.'
Y/N: 'Yes, father.'
Zeus: 'Does this Percy have my bolt?'
Y/N: 'No father, I can't sense it... but.'
Zeus: 'But what, my son?'
Y/N: 'When Lord Ares, gave us the backpack I could sort of sense your bolt.'
Zeus: 'Hmm... I see. Well, I am going to say sorry to... Poseidon. You are doing well, my son. When you find it, come to Olympus with it, along with Percy Jackson.'
Y/N: 'As you wish, father.'
Zeus: 'Goodbye, my son, and see you soon.'
Y/N: 'Bye, father.'
Then the connection through the wind disappeared, I still see Percy and Charon talking, and then I then let sound come back to me. He scooped up our money.
Charon: 'Come along.'
We pushed through the crowd of waiting spirits, who started grabbing our cloths like the wind, I clench my silver pen, oh, did you know I can morph my bolt into anything small, like a phone, card and a Laptop. Charon escorted us into the elevator, which was already crowded with souls of the dead, each one holding a green boarding pass. Charon grabbed two spirits who are trying to get on with us and pushed them back into the lobby.
Charon: 'Right. Now, no one get any ideas while I'm gone.'
It took a while but we made it, we're in the Underworld. After a while we were walking with the spirits we found the Cerberus. Percy being an idiot threw a stick, and now we gonna die is ten seconds because of him. Then Annabeth grabs a red rubber ball from her bag.
Annabeth: 'See the ball? You want the ball, Cerberus? Sit!'
Cerberus looked as stunned as we are. All three of his heads cocked sideways, six nostrils dilated.
Annabeth: 'Sit!'
The Cerberus listened and she threw the ball the middle head caught it and the other two heads snapped at the middle one, wanting the new toy. I grab all three of my friends and run through the EZ DEATH line in less than a split second. The Cerberus whimpered for his new friend and Annabeth promised a new ball. And Percy's plans suck and bite. We hid as ghouls pass us. The Cerberus is sitting the wrong way.
Y/N: 'Well, that was interesting.'
Grover: 'You can say that again.'
Annabeth, Y/N and Percy: 'Well, that was interesting.'
Grover: 'Not literally!'
