What Happened After Happily Ever After

#8 - Charon's

Chapter 8 - Charon's
published: Wednesday, 20 January 2021

For lack of a better outlet, Annabeth slammed a palm against the steering wheel, almost hyperventilating now. "How could you not tell me?" she nearly shrieked.

Percy opened his mouth to answer her when a harsh sound interrupted.

It was a loud, piercing bang, and Annabeth knew what it was now; a gunshot. Not a car backfire, but an actual gunshot — aimed at her. Aimed at Percy, to be more specific, but she was a target by default.

Instinctively, both of them ducked, but the bullet clattered aimlessly into their backseat, leaving a hole in their rearview window.

"Oh God, oh God, oh God," Annabeth rushed as she pressed on the accelerator even more, even though she'd basically been flooring it earlier. They were on the main road now, slowly edging their way out of Long Island and out of the safe, quiet suburbs. Any cars nearby were sparse and zipped past in blurred colours as they surpassed them effortlessly. "Are we losing them?"

Percy wound down his window and stuck his head out. "No," came his shout.

Another gunshot rang out. Percy flung himself back into the car just in time as the bullet whistled past their car.

"Jesus," Annabeth gasped. "Okay, okay, okay. We need to do something, Percy. We're sitting ducks until we lose them."

Annabeth hit herself in the temple twice to try and jar her brain into focus. It seemed to work; Percy gave her a look as if he could see the cogs in her mind start to turn.

"You're right," Percy said, panting. "Okay, okay, what do we do?"

"Shouldn't you be the one with the plan?" Annabeth demanded. "You're the one with experience."

"Between us," Percy paused. "Do you really think that I should be coming up with plans?"

"Good point."

Annabeth glanced at her rearview window. She could see the headlights on the attackers' car flashing at them. "Shoot back," she said. "Now. Now, Percy."

Percy gulped, but he obliged, grabbing the gun and clicking off the safety. Annabeth saw his hands tremble before he leaned out the window and fired off two shots at the car.

Annabeth saw one of the headlights dim before she realised Percy had actually hit something. He pulled the trigger thrice more, all three bullets aimlessly ricocheting off the hood of the car.

"For a drug dealer, you're terrible at this," Annabeth growled.

"I was usually the getaway driver," Percy protested. "Zoë would shoot..." He faltered, and Annabeth felt a pang of sympathy. But they didn't have time for that now.

"Switch with me," she said.

"What?"

"Switch with me," she repeated impatiently. "Give me the gun."

Percy released a sound of disbelief, but he slapped the gun into her right hand. He leaned forward, taking the wheel as Annabeth climbed onto his lap, which she knew elicited a blush from him. Percy slid off the passenger's seat into the driver's seat behind her.

Annabeth looked down at the gun in her hands and pulled a face. But she spied the attackers in the side mirror, and she gave it a few moments before she leaned out of the car, almost sitting on the window sill.

"Annabeth!" Percy yelled is astonishment. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Keep driving!" she shouted. "Swerve, please, or I'll be dead in a few minutes."