𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋!¹ p. jackson

𝐢𝐯. 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 ( 𝐚 + 𝐩 )

CHAPTER FOUR
❝lost in the words that we scream!❞

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚

PERCY'S EYES snapped to the exit at Annabeth's firm words. A hunched old lady had just boarded the bus, her crumpled velvet dress trailing behind her, lace-gloved hands clutching a battered handbag. Her shapeless orange-knit hat sat low, hiding most of her face, but Percy could still see her glittering black eyes beneath the shadow.

He recognized her instantly.

"Mrs. Dodds," he whispered, his throat dry.

Arianna's nose scrunched up in disgust. "Ew. What the fuck is she wearing?"

Grover shook his head at Arianna's casualness, muttering something about picking a better time. Percy's pulse spiked as his gaze shifted to the two women trailing behind Mrs. Dodds. They were identical copies of her—same leathery expressions, same malevolent presence—only their hats were purple and green.

Triplet demon grandmothers.

The three furies shuffled to the front row, seating themselves with eerie coordination. The two on the aisle casually crossed their legs over the walkway, creating a simple 'X'. Their message was clear: no one was leaving this bus.

As the bus pulled away from the station, Percy leaned closer to the other three, his voice trembling as he muttered, "She didn't stay dead long."

Annabeth shot him a sharp glare. "I said they could be dispelled for a lifetime if you're lucky," She paused. "Which you clearly aren't."

"All three of them," Grover whimpered. "Di immortales!"

"Tripled the ugly," Arianna muttered under her breath, earning another fed-up look from Grover.

"We need a plan," Annabeth said, her voice tight with focus. "They're the Furies—servants of Hades. They won't attack us with witnesses around...I think."

"They might," Percy countered, eyeing the mortals on the bus. "They don't exactly seem big on rules."

Arianna glanced around, her fingers twitching. "These windows don't open, and there's no back exit. What about the roof?"

"Forget it," Annabeth replied. "They'll pick us off like bats in a cave. We're trapped."

The bus hit the Lincoln Tunnel, plunging them into darkness. The hum of the engine was the only sound, adding to their helplessness.
Mrs. Dodds stood abruptly. Her voice rang out like a crack of thunder, deceptively polite. "Excuse me. I need to use the restroom."

The second fury rose. "So do I."

The third followed, repeating: "So do I."

Arianna blinked, her lip curling. "Ew. Together?"

As the trio began their descent down the aisle, Annabeth's eyes lit up. "Percy," she hissed, shoving her Yankees cap into his hands. "Take this. Go invisible. Slip past them. Get to the front."

Percy's heart pounded. "And leave you guys here?"

"They're after you," Annabeth snapped. "We'll handle them."

Arianna shoved him lightly, noticing his hesitation, her voice sharpened. "Move it. Now."

With trembling hands, Percy slid the cap onto his head and vanished. He began creeping toward the front, barely daring to breathe as the furies closed the gap toward his friends.

But Mrs. Dodds paused, sniffing the air. Her leathery lips curled into a grin. "You can't hide forever," she cooed, her voice syrupy and malicious.

The other two abandoned their disguises. Their human forms melted away, replaced by leathery wings, gargoyle claws, and the same ugly, shriveled faces. Their eyes gleamed red, and their whips hissed.