ALEX DOESN'T KNOW HOW LONG THEY RUN FOR. At some point, they slow to a walk. Percy and Annabeth start arguing about something that Alex doesn't care to listen to. She assumes they are going to clash heads a lot.
The brunette takes the time to try and rationalise everything that has happened in the last 2 weeks. Not even 14 days ago, she was walking down the halls of Yancy, laughing at her brother who was talking about how he fought a 'dinosaur-looking' monster. Now they just attempted to blow said 'dinosaur-looking' monster up.
Grover walks beside Alex, Griffin leading the group while Annabeth and Percy trail behind. Every once and a while, Griffin turns around, helping Alex and Annabeth over a fallen tree or just making sure everyone is still following him.
"Hey!" Grover gasps, "My reed pipes still work! If I could just remember a 'find path' song, we could get out of these woods!"
Alex swears she hears Griffin sigh softly.
"Shit."
The pitchy notes halt, the group turning around to see Percy recovering from his clash with a tree. All 4 let out a laugh as Percy rubs his forehead, groaning loudly. For the next 10 minutes, everyone laughs slightly at Percy's expense as he stumbles around, cursing loudly.
By the time the group reaches a road, the teens are fairly exhausted. Griffin, the only one that truly works out, keeps the group at a steady pace. Grover and Annabeth complain constantly while the Jackson's are too in their heads to really contribute to the conversation.
"What the heck does it say?"
Alex looks up at her brother's voice, seeing him point to an old looking tourist trap who is very bad at trapping tourists. It's a large warehouse with a large neon light over the entrance. Alex doesn't even try to read it, the bright light making her squint.
Both Griffin and Annabeth mumble something along the lines of 'no fuckin' idea'. Grover, thankfully, translates for the group, "Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium."
"What's an emporium?" Alex asks.
"Like a department store." Griffin answers, watching Percy who blindly crosses the street.
"Uh... where are you going Perce?" Alex puts her hands on her hips, looking at him in confusion.
"Food."
Annabeth follows him, "The lights are on. Maybe they're open."
"Snack-bar?"
"Snack-bar."
The 2 walk across the street, leaving the eldest 3 standing on the other side of the road.
"Let's not... maybe?" Griffin's voice raises slightly.
When they show no sign of slowing down, they have no choice but to follow them.
"Are you two crazy?" Grover huffs, "This place is weird."
"Yeah. I'm not one to turn down food but this is sketchy." Alex says softly.
"Bla-ha-ha!" Grover laughs. "Looks like my Uncle Ferdinand!"
Griffin scrunches his nose. "Wasn't your Uncle killed by-"
He gets interrupted by Grover who pleads with Percy and Annabeth, "Don't knock. I smell monsters."
"Your nose is clogged up from the Furies," Annabeth tells him. "All I smell is burgers. Aren't you hungry?"
"Yeah. Alex, don't you want a hot dog?" Alex glares at her brother who uses one of her favourite foods against her.
