ALEX WAKES UP TO THE DOOR OF THE HOTEL ROOM SLAMMING OPEN. She sits up in confusion, looking around the room in a hazy fashion. She feels like she's been sleeping forever. Griffin looks around the room in a daze, making Alex believe he fell asleep too. Percy stands at the door of the room, seemingly out of breath.
Griffin runs a hand down his face, "What the fuck was that for?"
"Yeah." Alex grumbles, "And did you run up all 40 flights of stairs?"
Percy puts his hands on his knees, "Yeah."
"Why?"
"We have to leave." He responds, walking over to the pair. He pulls the blanket off Alex. "This place is a trap. There are people here from 1977. Kids who check in, never age, and never leave. They get brainwashed into staying by all the games and the hotel rooms and free stuff."
That gets Alex and Griffin's attention. They stand up, putting on their shoes. They follow Percy out of the room, Alex saying, "We are taking the elevator. I'm not walking down 40 flights of stairs."
Both boys nod in agreement. When the doors open to the lobby, Alex turns to the boys, "I'll find Annabeth, you guys find Grover?"
Percy nods, "Meet at the front doors."
Alex walks away, looking at the titles of the different games, trying to guess where Annabeth might be. Within 2 minutes, Alex sees a game called Build your own city! In the distance. That was easy. She thinks.
She walks over to see Annabeth completely transfixed in the game. She shakes the girl's shoulders. "Annabeth."
"What?" She mumbles, not looking away from the game.
"We have to go."
"No."
Alex takes a deep breath, trying to figure out the best way to remind Annabeth of what's at stake. She still doesn't even know exactly what's going on herself, how is she supposed to knock Annabeth out of this. She thinks about one of the most important things for Annabeth.
"The quest, Annabeth." She says in a rushed tone, pulling her away from the game.
Annabeth scoffs in annoyance. "What are you doing?"
"Our parents, Anna. Athena, Poseidon, Apollo. They need us to do this."
Alex watched as her eyes clear. "Oh my gods. Where are the boys?"
"Getting Grover. We have to meet them by the front door."
Annabeth and Alex rush through the casino, towards the front door. "What have you and Griffin been doing?"
"Sleeping." Alex responds.
"How long do you think we've been here?"
"A few hours? I don't know."
Alex sees the boys trying to walk away from a bellhop who attempts to hand them cards. The group push out the doors, into the blistering heat. The sun isn't shining anymore and lightning flashes out in the desert.
"What was that?" Annabeth asks.
Griffin walks forward, hailing a cab in one attempt. Alex would be impressed but she doesn't have time because Percy pulls her towards a newspaper stand, away from Annabeth and Grover who just look around in confusion.
"It's June 20th." Percy says, "We've been in there for 5 days. How many days until the summer solstice?"
"1." Alex says simply. "We have 1 day."
"Guys!" Griffin yells, waving the group over. They all climb into the van, Percy, Grover and Annabeth in the back, Alex and Griffin in the middle row.
The cab driver turns around to look at them as Griffin speaks, "LA, please."
