νεκρός || Annabeth Chase x Fem!OC

Vol. 3-27: We assault the m*rtal

ANNABETH

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆

"Her name is Rachel," Percy said in the car. "Rachel Elizabeth Dare."

Tempest wrinkled her face. "Why did you say her full government name?"

"I didn't mean it-"

"This fucker 'boutta give us her social security number next," Tempest said, jabbing her thumb at Percy. I didn't respond out of pettiness, but I did find it funny. Naturally, she looked very irritated with me, which was the reaction I wanted.

Percy blushed and turned his head to look out the window. "Sh-shut up."

"Aw, do you have a crush on ol' red?" Tempest snickered.

"No..."

"It's cool to have a crush," Tempest said.

He shifted uncomfortably. "Well- I- Like, what do I do?"

She stared at him in disbelief. "Jackson, you are asking the worst person about that kind of thing. You should go to Silena. She's good with that stuff."

"You've talked to her before?"

"Briefly."

I raised my eyebrows. "Oh really? When?"

It was Tempest's turn to look really uncomfortable. "Couple months ago."

"About what?" I scooted forward, resting my arms on the center console.

"She gave me my haircut," Tempest said bluntly. "I'm shocked you even want to talk to me now."

"This piques my interest. When did you get that haircut? It was... New Year's Eve, if I remember correctly."

Percy tapped his hands on his thighs. "Do you have a candy?"

Tempest lifted up the center console lid with enough aggressiveness to make me yank back, and she produced a handful of butterscotch. Percy whistled appreciatively and took several.

"Butterscotch?" I questioned. "What are you, ninety?"

"Maybe," Tempest said. "You into old ladies?"

I didn't answer.

We found Rachel Elizabeth Dare in front of the Marriott Marquis, and she was completely painted gold. I mean, her face, her hair, her clothes- everything. She looked like she'd been touched by King Midas. I wish she had been, since his statues are basically dead, and they can't move or talk. She was standing like a statue with five other kids all painted metallic- copper, bronze, silver. They were frozen indifferent poses while tourists hustled past or stopped to stare. Some passerby threw money at the tarp on the sidewalk.

The sign at Rachel's feet said, URBAN ART FOR KIDS, DONATIONS APPRECIATED.

The three of us stood there for like five minutes, staring at Rachel, but ifs he noticed us she didn't let on. She didn't move or even blink that I could see. Being ADHD and all, I could not have done that. Standing still that long would've driven me crazy. It was weird to see Rachel in gold, too. She looked like a statue of somebody famous, an actress or something. Only her eyes were normal green.