Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
ARGUS DROVE US OUT OF THE COUNTRYSIDE and into western Long Island. It felt weird to see the outside world again, Annabeth and me were sitting beside eachother sharing a couple of words every once in a while, while Grover and Percy sat across from us. I was so dumbfounded by the real world. I found myself staring at every bright sign, tall buildings, car, every billboard stores, and families .
"So far so good," Percy said. "Ten miles and not a single monster."
I could see Annabeth's anger building up . "It's bad luck to talk that way, seaweed brain."
"Remind me again —why do you hate me so much?"
"I could name a few reasons" I butted in
"I don't hate you."
"Could've fooled me."
She folded her cap of invisibility. "Look...we're just not supposed to get along, okay? Our parents are rivals."
"Why?"
She sighed. "How many reasons do you want? One time my mom caught Poseidon with his girlfriend in Athena's temple, which is hugely disrespectful. Another time, Athena and Poseidon competed to be the patron god for the city of Athens. Your dad created some stupid saltwater spring for his gift. My mom created the olive tree. The people saw that her gift was better, so they named the city after her."
"They must really like olives."
"Oh, forget it."
"Now, if she'd invented pizza— that I could understand."
"She said forget it Prissy" I said
Traffic slowed us down in Queens. By the time we got into Manhattan it was sunset and starting to rain.
Argus dropped us at the Greyhound Station on the Upper East Side. Taped to a mailbox was a soggy flyer with Percy picture on it: HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BOY?
I ripped it down before anyone else could notice.
Argus unloaded our bags, made sure we got our bus tickets, then drove away, the eye on the back of his hand opening to watch us as he pulled out of the parking lot.
I was still in disbelief about everything that had unfolded. My eyes wandered, taking in the surroundings as if in a trance.
The rain persisted, a steady downpour.
I found myself strangely captivated by the rain. The cold sensation as each drop hit my face, running down my body, was oddly mesmerizing. It had been so long since I last felt rain, not since my arrival at Camp Half-Blood. It was like a refreshing, icy shower.
In a moment of distraction from the others, I impulsively leaped into a puddle. Water splashed around, and a giggle escaped me. It brought back memories of carefree days, jumping in puddles with my mom on our way home from school.
