Sunburn- phoebus apollo

-xiii. Percy gets thrown off to his death

THEY TOOK THE AMTRAK TRAIN WEST- through the hills, over rivers, past amber waves of grain.

Rhea didn't relax once. She felt as if they were traveling around in a display case, being watched from above and maybe from below, that something was waiting for the right opportunity.

Rhea and Percy tried to keep a low profile because their names and picture were splattered over the front pages of several East Coast newspapers. The Trenton Register-News showed a photo taken by a tourist as Percy got off the Greyhound bus. He had a wild look in his eyes. His sword was a metallic blur in his hands. It might've been a baseball bat or a lacrosse stick.

At first Rhea was confused on why she wasn't in the picture as well, but Apollo had cheerfully reminded her that she had been invisible.

The picture caption read:

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson and his little sister, Rhea Jackson, wanted for questioning in the Long Island disappearance of his mother two 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 two teenage accomplices. His little sister was nowhere in sight. His stepfather, Gabe Ugliano, has offered a cash reward for information leading to his capture.

"Don't worry," Annabeth told them as Rhea frowned deeply at the newspaper. "Mortal police could never find us." But she didn't sound sure.

"I am not his little sister!" Rhea said.

"Yes you are," Percy smirked, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "Little sister."

"We're twins!" Rhea snapped.

"Still older." Percy sang, clearly enjoying this.

"Only by two minutes." Rhea glared.

Annabeth interrupted them before this could get into a bigger argument on who's older.

*******

Their reward money for returning Gladiola the poodle had only been enough to purchase tickets as far as Denver. They couldn't get berths in the sleeper car, so they doze in their seats.

Rhea's neck got stiff but she managed to fall asleep and getting another visit from Apollo who complained the whole time on how Percy was an annoying asshat.

She had patted him sympathetically on the shoulder in return, laughing at his pout. He then had shrugged off his sparkly gold hoodie off of him and forced her into it, telling her to keep warm. It was so oversized that it dangled just a few inches above her kneecaps.

She didn't have time to protest because she woke up. When she blinked, the sun was already beginning to set.

Percy and Grover were passed out, and only Annabeth was awake, staring out of the window, worrying her camp necklace between her fingers.

"Where are we?" Rhea asked, her voice raspy from sleep. She raised an eyebrow when Annabeth's cheeks colored at that.

She rubbed her eyes, trying to wake her up some more, but then realized that she was actually wearing the oversized gold hoodie that Apollo had forced on her.

"We passed the sign for Illinois a few hours ago," Annabeth answered, before frowning as she took note of the new clothes. "When did you change?"

Rhea grimaced. "Didn't. Apollo appeared in my dream and forced it on me."

"You share dreams with him?" Annabeth asked, her gray eyes sparkling in curiosity.

"Er, well..." Rhea shifted in her seat, tugging on the golden strings of Apollo's hoodie. "He likes to visit me when I'm sleeping. It started off at Yancy when I couldn't get enough sleep because of the thunderstorms. Then it just became a habit for him, I guess."