Equilibrium

Chapter 11: Jackie's POV

Yay! Time to skip off to our inescapable doom! With a last glance at Camp Halfblood, I say a quick goodbye to Chiron, grab Luka by the arm, and drag him over Halfblood Hill.

"Hurry up you're so sloooooooowwwww," I groan, trying to make him go faster down the hill.

"Any particular reason why you want to walk quickly into our impending deaths?" He frowns down at me. Honestly, what a dumbass. Obviously I'm about ready to get the hell out of this place. I've been stuck here for SIX YEARS. I just roll my eyes at him and kick his shins so he walks a little faster.

"Dude I'm not a horse you don't need to kick me."

"Hm what? I don't see any difference."

"Well then I guess there's no difference between a dwarf and you, but we don't talk about that."

I shoved that motherfucker down the hill.

"Bye bye! I think I'll be fine doing this quest on my own!" I stick my tongue out at him and head off towards the road, laughing to myself as I replay his expression of surprise over again in my head. Sayonara sucker!

WHAM

Something slams me from behind and knocks me to the ground. I get the wind knocked out of me, and for a second, I can't breathe. I roll over, gasping for breath, and find myself nose to nose with Luka. Again? You've got to be joking right now.

"Jerk!" I say, and make a move to get off the ground, but Luka grams my wrists and pins them against the grass. "What the heck dude?"

"Pinned ya," he grins at me cheekily and doesn't loosen his grip in the slightest.

"Yes, and?" I huff, giving him a bored look. I pray to the gods that he can't feel my pulse right now. We're too close, and I can feel my face starting to heat up. To my relief, he just snorts and heaves himself off me, then offers me a hand to help me up. I don't take it. Is it because of my pride? Yes. But it's also because I don't need to be a blushing mess like earlier. I haul myself to my feet, remind myself that he just tackled me, and give him a withering glare.

"I'll get you next time."

"Sure thing, short stuff."

"Hey!" I elbow him in the ribs and that seems to do the trick. He shuts up and begins to follow me as I walk towards the road.

"Sooooo... where are we headed?"

"To the nearest body of water so I can shove you in it again!" I retort, pointedly avoiding eye contact.

"Ugh, come on Jackie. As much as I know you don't want to work with me, we're kind of stuck together. So let's just try to get through this quest without dying, okay?"

"Yeah fine whatever," I huff, "Chiron said we should go talk to Percy. Percy Jackson. He has Anaklusmos, one of the relics, and Chiron wanted us to make sure it was safe with him and tell him that we might need him to bring it to camp sometime soon. Once we find all the relics."

"Ok fair enough," Luka nods, "Where are we supposed to find him?"

"Well Chiron said he and Annabeth were hanging out at Mrs. Jackson's place a couple days ago, so I guess that's our best shot. It's in Manhattan."

"Oh ok that makes sense... well, how are we gonna get all the way into the city? It's kind of far away." He gives me a doubtful glance like he thinks it's impossible.

I sigh. Does this kid seriously think I didn't plan this through? I've had years to think over possible quest scenarios. I bite back a snide remark and just roll my eyes. Then I look up to the sky and let out a loud whistle. A loud flapping noise starts in the distance and a dark figure comes barreling towards us from the sky.

"AHH!" Luka shouts, flinging himself to the ground as a massive hawk swoops over him and lands beside me, giving me an affectionate little nuzzle on the shoulder.

"Aww hi Harper!" I give the bird's massive head a little pat and then grin down at Luka, who's still on the ground.

"I- how- what?!" He stutters, standing up and backing away from my bird and I. "Since when do you have a massive hawk named Harper? How is it even possible for it to be that big?"

I shrug. "A couple years ago my dad gave him to me as a gift and he kinda just kept growing. He's magic, I guess. Hawks are one of Hermes's sacred animals. I dunno... gods give peculiar gifts. But he's super friendly!" Harper nudges me with his tucked wing as if he's agreeing with me. "Hey bro, think you could give us a ride to Manhattan?" I ask, looking into the bird's golden eyes. He bobs his head and bends towards the ground, spreading his massive wings. "Thanks!" I grin and slide onto his back, then gesture for Luka to follow.

"You? Want me? To get on the bird???" He asks, eyeing Harper suspiciously. I make a little sound of annoyance and I'm pretty sure Harper is rolling his eyes.

"Just hurry up and get on. We don't have all day." Tentatively, Luka slides onto the bird behind me and wraps an arm around my waist loosely. "You'd better hold on tighter."

"What, why?" He asks, and I almost laugh.

"Oh, you'll see."

Then Harper flaps his enormous wings and we're off, soaring through the sky at a tremendous speed.

"Oh," Is all Luka says as he grabs my waist with both arms in an iron grip.

"Don't fall!" I look over my shoulder and smirk at his horrified expression, then turn to enjoy the view as we zip over the beautiful terrain of Long Island Sound.

I'm finally free. There's no going back now.