Max finds me the next morning. He pulls me aside after breakfast. I'm surprised, but I did say that he could talk to me any time.
"I had more nightmares again," he says, a bit nervously.
I can see the dark circles under his eyes and the paleness in his face. When was the last time he slept for real?
"What were they about? If you don't mind me asking," I add.
He takes a deep breath like he's debating whether to tell me. Fianlly he sighs. "The dream is pretty much the same. I'm sleeping, but then a noise wakes me up. I follow the sound all the way to my parents room. At first nothing looks wrong. Then I-"
He stops, and I know what comes next. Still, I wait for him to tell me.
"Then I see my parents. Or what's left of them. I keep telling myself it's just a dream, but when I wake up I know it's not. But-"
He hesitates again. But what? This time I don't know what he'll tell me.
"It's changed. I always see a monster climbing out the window at the end. Last night it was a person. It just feels more like a memory this time. It scares me because I wish it were a dream, I wish it were a monster."
The tone of his voices changes, and I can read his thoughts. I finsh for him. "You know the dream wasn't real, that last night was what really happened when your parents died."
He nods. "A monster I can understand, but how can anyone do something so horrific?"
"I don't know, but I will soon," I reply.
****
That night I end up in dreamland. Noah stands five feet away from me. I can't remember the last time we had a dream talk.
"Where are you?" I ask.
"The airport," he answers. "We're not to far from California, so we decided to risk a plane."
I nod, meanwhile considering whether to tell him about Max. I don't need to because Noah gives me some shockingly helpful information.
"Something weird is going on. Yesterday we were attacked by people. Normal people. They knew who we are and they were looking for Percy. We think they're working for someone, maybe another demigod or monster."
"Huh that's strange," I say. "I met someone here who's parents were killed by a person too. Do you think they're connected?"
Noah shrugs. "Maybe. Hopefully we'll be there by tomorrow. I've got to go. Someone's shaking me awake."
Noah disappears. I smile. He'll be here. Tomorrow. I can finally go home.
****
The next morning I pack my belongings, just in case. Then I go find Max.
"I have some information."
"That quick?"
I shrug. "I have my sources. Apparently some friends of mine also had an encounter with mortals. It seems like people are getting involved in our world."
"Wow. Maybe we can investigate it more. It might take a while-"
I don't let him finish. "I can't," I whisper.
"What?"
"I'm leaving. Possibly today. I'm not from here. I belong in New York. My friends have been on their way here for weeks, and they're nearly here."
"But you said I could always talk to you."
"I know. I didn't know I would be leaving so soon."
He sighs. "Whatever." Then he walks away.
A/N I finally have a plan and now I'm starting to connect everything. Also wanted to let you know, I will be making another book in my Percy Jackson fan fic series! I'm nearly done with this one, but I have no idea when I will begin the third book (I have so many other things to work on). Read, vote, comment (seriously I want feedback-Im writing blindly here). ;)
