carousel|| a. chase

―ii| sleeping city and attack plan twenty-three

🎀

MRS O'LEARY WAS THE ONLY ONE HAPPY about the sleeping city.

They found her pigging out at an overturned hot dog stand while the owner was curled up on the sidewalk, sucking his thumb.

Argus was waiting for them with his hundred eyes open. He didn't say anything, but his face made it clear he was freaking out.

Percy told him what they'd learned in Olympus, and how the gods would not be riding to the rescue. Argus rolled his eyes in disgust, which was really weird since it made his whole body swirl.

After a few seconds, Argus looked at Annabeth and drew a circle in the air with his finger.

"Yes," Annabeth agreed. "I think it's time."

"For what?" Percy asked.

Argus rummaged around in the back of his van. He brought out a bronze shield and passed it to Annabeth. It looked pretty normal. Until Annabeth set it on the ground. The reflection on the polished metal changed from from sky and buildings to the Statue of Liberty.

"Whoa," Percy said. "A video shield."

"One of Daedalus's ideas," Annabeth said. "I had Beckendorf make this before-" She glanced at Silena. "Um, anyway, the shield bends sunlight or moonlight from anywhere in the world to create a reflection. You can literally see any target under the sun or the moon, as long as natural light is touching it. Look."

They crowded around as Annabeth concentrated. The image zoomed and spun at first, making Aurelie a bit dizzy from watching.

"Whoa," one of the Stolls said. "Back up. Zoom in right there."

"What?" Annabeth asked nervously. "You see invaders?"

"No, right there— Dylan's Candy Bar." The boy grinned at his brother. "Dude, it's open. And everyone is asleep. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Connor!" Adel scolded. "This is serious. You are not going to loot some stupid candy store in the middle of a war!"

"Sorry, Themis," Connor muttered, but he didn't sound very ashamed.

Adel death-stared him.

Annabeth passed her hand in front of the shield, and another scene popped up: FDR Drive, looking across the river at Lighthouse Park.

"This will let us see what's going on across the city," she said. "Thank you, Argus. Hopefully we'll see you back at camp... someday."

Argus grunted. Then he climbed into his van, and he and the two harpy drivers swerved away, weaving around clusters of idle cars that littered the road.

"We need to find Grover," Percy said. "You think Mrs O'Leary could search him?"

Aurelie shrugged, then whistled for Mrs O'Leary. The hellhound came bounding over.