ENTRAPPED ₂

18

PIPER CAUGHT A CAB WITH THE REMAINDER OF HER MONEY, AND SOON, THE FOUR OF THEM WERE PILED INTO THE BACK, SPEEDING UP TO MOUNT DIABLO. Gleeson sat in the shotgun seat, entertaining their driver with tales of beating faces in. Ethan was content to let him ramble, as long as his shoes didn't come off.

The cab struggled up the mountain, lurching and grinding as it climbed. About halfway up, there was a closed ranger's station with a chain blocking the road.

"Far as I can go," the cabbie said. "You sure about this? Gonna be a long walk back, and my car's acting funny. I can't wait for you."

"We're sure," Leo said. He hopped out of the car. Jason followed him. Piper pressed a wad of cash into the driver's hand, then gave Ethan a meaningful look. He followed her out.

The wheels of the cab were sinking into the road like it was made of quicksand. Not fast enough to actually do any damage, but enough to hinder them.

Well, Ethan could play that game, too. The dirt was starting to pull his boots in. He yearned for Madeleine's winged shoes. They would have no problems.

Of course, the one time they had to fly on this fucking quest, and they couldn't. Ethan wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.

"Keep the change," Leo was telling the driver. "And get out of here. Quick."

The man didn't argue. Maybe it was Gleeson, or maybe it was just the bad vibe of the mountain; but soon the only thing that remained of him was his dust trail.

It was a nice view. The inland valley around Mount Diablo was a patchwork of towns, grids of tree-lined streets and nice middle-class suburbs, shops, and schools. Ethan wondered if he could see Madeleine's place from here. It made his throat hurt. He would never be able to step foot in that building if she wasn't in it.

"That's Concord," Jason said, pointing to the north. "Walnut Creek below us. To the south, Danville, past those hills. And that way..."

He pointed west, where a ridge of golden hills held back a layer of fog. "That's the Berkeley Hills. The East Bay. Past that, San Francisco."

Jason gave Ethan a meaningful look, and the hairs on the back of Ethan's neck stood up.

"Jason?" Piper touched his arm. "You remember something? You've been here?"

Jason squinted at the horizon. "Yes... no." He gave her an anguished look. "It just seems important."

"That's Titan land." Gleeson nodded toward the west. "Bad place, Jason. Trust me, this is as close to 'Frisco as we want to get."

But Jason stared at the foggy basin with such longing, Ethan felt uneasy. He glanced at Leo, who was looking at Jason like he had never met him.

Secrets, secrets, secrets.

"Hey, guys," Leo said. He nodded toward the ground, where their shoes were all starting to sink into the dirt. "Let's keep moving."

"Gaea is stronger here," Hedge grumbled. He popped his hooves free from his shoes, then handed the shoes to Leo. "Keep those for me, Valdez. They're nice."

Leo snorted. "Yes, sir, Coach. Would you like them polished?"

"That's varsity thinking, Valdez." Hedge nodded approvingly. "But first, we'd better hike up this mountain while we still can."

"How do we know where the giant is?" Piper asked.

Jason pointed toward the peak. Drifting across the summit was a plume of smoke. Ethan smelled the raspy scent of fire. Something was burning.