𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗗 ⋆━━⋆ percy jackson

𝐢𝐱. a hobo threatens cassie

THEY WERE crossing the Potomac when we spotted the helicopter.

It was a sleek, black military model just like the one they'd seen at Westover Hall. And it was coming straight toward them.

"Let's ditch the van," Cassie said. "It'll be more difficult to follow us."

Zoe swerved into the fast lane. The helicopter was gaining speed.

The helicopter kept coming, making a lot better time than they were through D.C. traffic.

Thalia closed her eyes and prayed hard. "Hey, Dad. A lightning bolt would be nice about now. Please?"

But the sky stayed gray and snowy. No sign of a helpful thunderstorm.

"There!" Bianca said. "That parking lot!"

"We'll be trapped," Zoe said.

"Trust me," Bianca said.

Zoë shot across two lanes of traffic and into a mall parking lot on the south bank of the river.

They left the van and followed Bianca down some steps. "Subway entrance," Bianca said. "Let's go south. Alexandria."

"Anything," Thalia agreed.

They bought tickets and got through the turnstiles, looking behind them for any signs of pursuit.

A few minutes later they were safely aboard a southbound train, riding away from D.C.

As their train came above ground, they could see the helicopter circling the parking lot, but it didn't come after them.

Grover let out a sigh. "Nice job, Bianca, thinking of the subway."

Bianca looked pleased. "Yeah, well. I saw that station when Nico and I came through last summer. I remember being really surprised to see it, because it wasn't here when we used to live in D.C."

Cassie frowned. "That place was old as Hades."

"I guess," Bianca said. "But trust me, when we lived here as little kids, there was no subway."

Cassie remembered Nico, she wondered how he was doing at camp. Was he okay?

Thalia sat forward. "Wait a minute. No subway at all?" Bianca nodded.

Now, Cassie knew nothing about D.C., but she didn't see how their whole subway system could be less than twelve years old.

"Bianca," Zoë said. "How long ago..." Her voice faltered. The sound of the helicopter was getting louder again.

"We need to change trains," Percy said. "Next station."

Over the next half hour, all they thought about was getting away safely. They changed trains twice.

Cassie had no idea where they were going, but after a while they lost the helicopter.

Unfortunately, when they finally got off the train they found themselves at the end of the line, in an industrial area with nothing but warehouses and railway tracks. And snow. Lots of snow. It seemed much colder there.

Cassie began shivering, her long sleeved top wasn't doing much against the cold.

Percy saw and handed her the lion's coat. "Take it."

Cassie refused. "It's fine-"

He handed her the coat. "I have a hoodie, you don't."

Cassie ended up taking the coat.

They wandered through the railway yard, thinking there might be another passenger train somewhere, but there were just rows and rows of freight cars, most of which were covered in snow, like they hadn't moved in years.