Lovely

Percy Jackson

Percy's eyes widened at the mention of his name. "Bob?"

Weirdo (Percy decided that he would call the girl that) laughed without humor. "This'll be fun."

"FUN?! THIS WILL NOT BE FUN—"

Weirdo rolled her eyes and walked forward. "We need one more . . . person to help you go back to the mortal world—"

"We. You don't deserve to be—"

"BUT I DO!" she snapped. "You wouldn't know a thing! You never saw me, did you? You don't know what I've done. I don't even know why you're trusting me—"

"It's because I sense that you're good."

"Well, then your senses suck."

The rest of the walk was silent. Only their footsteps could be heard.

Weirdo broke the silence by saying, "This should be far enough."

"What do you—"

"Okay, I know this sounds silly, but scream, 'HELP!'"

"What?! That's ridiculous!"

"Just trust me, okay?"

"Oh, so now you want me to trust you."

"Come on, do it."

Percy glanced at Weirdo one more time before yelling, "HELP!" on the top of his lungs.

Silence.

"What now?"

"Now," Weirdo said, "we wait."

"That's cheesy."

"Well said."

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Percy could hear loud footsteps seconds later. It shook the ground. That scared Percy enough. But when a giant figure jumped in front of him, he jumped.

"Friend!"

Percy looked up. Bob was quite tall. "Call me Percy, okay?"

"Percy! Do you need help?"

Percy glanced at Weirdo. "Yeah, we do."

"We?"

Percy gestured to Weirdo.

"Hi, Bob! Long time no see!"

Bob grumbled something about bullies and manners.

"Did you bully him or something?" Percy whispered.

"No, Luke did. Well, when Kronos took over. He said he was the worst brother ever. Something like that."

"Luke?"

"Kronos."

"Oh."

"What help?" Bob wondered.

"Uh, ask her."

Weirdo gestured for Bob to lean down and whispered something in his ears.

"Ah. I see."

"Mhm," Weird girl hummed.

"Hey, Weirdo?"

The female glanced at Percy. "You talking to me?"

"Yeah, where are we going?"

"To close the Doors of Death. Where else?"

"What are we gonna do about Luke?" Percy asked.

Weirdo glanced at Bob, who was staring at something in the distance. "I'm gonna stay with him. He can't be by himself."