Ella Jackson- Apollos legacy

5

New York is better than New Jersey.

I'm still surprised that Percy could have enough power at camp to say that I have to go with them.
Maybe it's simply he's the only Poseidon kid, or that they're actually scared Percy stole the bolt.
Both seem like odd ideas since right now on the bus, him and Grover are playing any game you can with your hands while playing "eye spy" . Once either one of them wins and makes a sound loud enough to wake someone up, it makes Annabeth make a face that looks so disgusted she could puke.
That's the only thing keeping me sane while on this bus.
Although they all make me laugh, I can't stop worrying. It's like any monster at any minute could come and attack us, and I know Percy and Annabeth would win in 5 minutes from the attack, I still worry if I was a good pick for the quest.

Let alone any quest.

Gabe's words fill my head as I try and sleep for the first time.
"Ella! Can't you do anything right??"
"Hey! That was expensive and you absolutely ruined it!  You ruin everything in this apartment!"
"Stop talking!"
"Stop doing that!"
"Stop being stupid!"
"You make anything you say an annoying constant voice in my head!"
"Stop!"
"Stop it, Ella! God damn it!"
"No one wants to hear you right now!"

I wake up and look at Percy. He said way worse things to him. Percy thinks I don't hear it if I'm in the other room ,but I do.  He calls Percy a spoiled brat, useless, bad words sometimes too.
Percy always sticks up for me. He takes all the bad things Gabe says and makes it towards himself instead, while making sarcastic jokes towards him after. This usually ends badly with Percy almost an inch off the ground by Gabe pulling any clothing of his up to the ceiling.

I only saved Percy once from Gabe.
I got a beer bottle and threw it on his back. It broke everywhere, leaving little pieces of glass on the floor, but beer juice all over his new sweater that already smelled.
He turned so fast after dropping Percy.
There was no words from anyone in that moment.
Percy looked like he was going to run in front of Gabe to protect me in slow motion but it was too late.
Gabe hit my face.
That's when my mom walks in, drops everything she was holding and takes me and Percy by the shoulders and hugs us close. I don't remember any words being said but I know they were loud strong words. Percy took me back to our room and we laid together in his twin size bed while he makes jokes to try and make me laugh.

After that memory, that's why I'm scared I shouldn't be on this quest.

Percy looks at me and then the bus stops.
Finally.
It felt like 100 hours of constant bad memories and worries.
It's a gas station.
Annabeth quickly stands up and says we will stay on the bus while she gets snacks. Percy wanted to fight her but Grover started singing a horrible song. It even said "oh golly" like we were all 5 years old in kindergarten learning to be kind to each other.
After we all stretched and tapped the windows 50 times, Annabeth came running back!
"She's here! They're here!"
I had no idea what was happening. Annabeth put on her hat that made her disappear. Percy got out his pen/sword— I tried to tell people I saw that when I saw Percy with the flying scary teacher...

Then a woman came out of nowhere, and tried to hurt all of us, especially Percy.
Percy was being like he was in a movie.
Grover looked like he was going to pee his pants.
All I heard from Grover's mouth was "Furie!" And "ahhhh" or sometimes, "Percy! Watch out!"
I couldn't stay under the seat anymore watching all this happen. I came out from the seat and yelled
"Furie Lady! Over here!!" In a sing song voice.
She turned to me and man was her face weird. But before I could judge for too long, Annabeth came and got her from behind while Percy got her with the sword and out of the bus.
We ran out of that stupid bus so quick. We kept walking until we smelled food. Well, when Grover smelled food.
We came to a house with tons of statues outside all in odd poses. It was like a garden of statues. They were everywhere!
Then we saw the sign, "Aunty Em's Emporium"
It was a cool name.
While we looked around, we missed the sky. That Furie lady came back and almost swooped in and took Percy. In a matter of seconds, she stopped in her tracks. We all had our hands on our heads and slowly started going back to our original stances. A beautiful woman with a hat and a veil stood behind us. She must of scared the Furies. But i don't know how since she was beautiful. Her dress looked just like her hat, delicate and silky white. But instead of seeing her eyes, was sunglasses.
I smiled and waved at her.
She smiled and waved back.
"Are you children hungry?"
It's like she was an angel!
"Yes please!" Me, Grover and Percy said all at the same time.
We walked into the house, Annabeth at the end of the line with her arms in a cross.
We sat down to eat and watched all of the food on a long table.
"Don't eat it!" Annabeth said before I could even reach for the spoon to the pudding.
"She probably poisoned it." She said while looking straight at the woman.
The woman smiled.

Her name was Medusa. And that she was a survivor. Also that Annabeth's mother, Athena turned her into a monster. All because she loved Athena's brother. I knew her story, but the way she said it and the way she portrayed herself, didn't seem like the story at all. Annabeth sided with her mother. I wish I could side with my father if I needed to. But I wouldn't even know if his side of the story was as accurate as everyone said.
While everything seemed all good, Medusa changed. She took off her sunglasses.
And if we didn't know what Medusa was known for, we would have been like all those other statues outside. We ran away and hid behind boxes.
My heart was racing. Why would she change so quickly? She seemed almost nice?!
Then it was like Percy and Annabeth knew what to do since Percy quietly got out his pen sword to follow Medusas movements.
He looks at me now.
I shake my head no.
I know he wants me to distract again.
Then I thought of something else. I fumbled behind me and found a stone cup, unfortunately with a cracked hand hanging onto it still.
I looked at Percy and tried to show him my idea. He smiled and I knew I did good.
I rolled the cup and hand parallel to Percy.
Medusa turned her head quickly and scarcely quiet. She smiled and her hair, her snakes, came out too.
As she came closer, Annabeth tripped her and put on her hat from her mother to help Percy. Percy used his sword and cut off her head. Then, Grover got a box. Her snake ,pretty head was in the box.
I felt sick. But also wanted to laugh so loud.
As Percy and Annabeth were talking about what to do with it, Percy had the idea to ship the head to Olympus. To the Gods.
Everyone but Annabeth thought it was funny. Because Percy is a good protector, he signed his name. And then it was done.
Maybe Hermes will pick it up and bring it to the gods?

Percy hugged me for a long time.
We laughed and went back and forth swaying for it to seem like a victory hug.

This was why I was on the quest.

To distract but to make it better overall. But most importantly, to be here for my brother.
Gabe was wrong. Percy needs me. And so does our mom. And we were one step closer to getting her back.