Camp Half-Blood (A Percy Jackson Fanfic)

Chapter 18: Stop of Doom

Where even is Hell?

"Uh, everywhere?" Percy replied, "It's underground, but there are a few entrances. The closest one is guess where..." I frowned. "New York."

Oh goody. "We can't go back though."

Percy just sighed. "No, we have to find a new one."

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Apparently finding doors to the underworld isn't always a walk in the park. (That's just the one in New York.) So Grover had this great idea of finding the nearest mom-and-pop diner and asking college people where the nearest botanical garden was.

Because doors to the underworld are in "places of natural beauty". And that means gardens. So here we were at someplace called South er-something- Diner. In somewhere USA.

"Uh, guys? Where even are we?"

Luke checked a map again. "Town called York. We're in Pennsylvania."

Grove jumped up onto Percy's shoulders. "York, like the candy?"

Percy laughed and shoved Grover off. "Yah like the candy. Because everything is always about food."

"So from New York to regular York in one day. Classy." I said as we walked through the door. The inside smelled like dough and chicken. All of our stomachs collectively growled. The noise was enough to turn the few heads in the restaurant, including the host.

"Hi! Welcome to South York Diner, how many are we expecting?" He said, glancing around us. Was he looking for parents? Or did he think we were just local college kids out to lunch?

"Uh."

"Just us four. Thanks." The host nodded, grabbing four menus from behind a small podium by the door.

"Ok, come with me." I glanced at Luke and proceeded following the host, reading the back of his shirt with the diner's logo on it. A tree with the words "South York Diner" wrapped around it like Christmas garland.

When we got to the booth at the far end of the restaurant I sat on the side facing the remainder of the restaurant. Luke sat next to me, Percy and Grover sliding into the bench across from us.

The host dropped off menus and left us with a "Waters?" And barely looked for our nods.

I leaned across the table. "Who could we ask about a garden? This town is a mess, and there's no one here." Percy and Grover glanced around the diner and nodded in defeat.

"We'll just have to ask around." Luke said. "Maybe find some people our age? There's a college here right?"

I nodded, remembering seeing someone wearing the shirt on the way in. "There's a boy in the diner who goes there. I saw his shirt."

Grover butt in. "Yah, but just because he's got the shirt doesn't mean he goes there."

Have a little faith, will you?

I smiled brightly, "So, what are you guys in the mood for? I'm starving." I stated, opening the menu and flipping to the lunch section. Great, fried food galore.

"Ooh! Burgers!" Percy nearly shouted from across from me. Grover made a crinkly face. Ah, I got it, animal product.

"Maybe we should get vegetarian food, it'll probably come out faster. And be healthier. And cheaper." Grover perked up. Percy just groaned and glared at me. I pointed my head over at Grover.

He's a satyr you idiot, how many times have you eaten meat around him and he's not been unhappy?

Oh. Probably never. "Yah, sounds good. They've got a vegetarian Asian salad thing that sounds awesome." He closed the menu and picked up a mini flyer at the edge of the table, flicking absentmindedly through it.