Who's who at camp, the quest begins, and aw fuck
I wake up in my bed ( thanks Luke!) to bright sunshine. I get out of bed, and do my hair. Sleeping under Thalia's tree made it really dirty, and every time I do, there's always pine needles everywhere. Pulling them out is kinda hard, with my straight hair. It blends in too well. Done. I spin around, dancing and stretching. See, my dad let me do ballet, and it's really cool. I used to think it would be boring, and way too girly, but I actually like it. Not only is it fun, it also helps with my fighting. Speaking of, where are my axes? Oh, right. Neat and tidy, just like always.
I pirouette around the cabin, cleaning up. Ok, so, kinda effed up time. When I was 12, just 5 months after my dad got me, I had a huge seizure. Couldn't walk. Couldn't talk. Dad put me in physical therapy, but I just couldn't. One day, he got kinda fed up, panicking. He put a ballet movie on TV, and told me to copy it. I guess that was the thing that helped. But also Apollo.
See, being the only daughter of Artemis, her twin Apollo gave me gifts. I can control people if I'm singing, it works best if I sing their favorite genre. Annabeth fights best when I sing pop. I can also heal people, but only with my spit. It's really weird. There's another thing, but I don't remember. Mother just says it's really important that I can do it.
I go to the bathroom, brushing my teeth. I make my bed, and leave the cabin.
I bump into Clarisse, literally, and go on my way. I kick my pink Converse as I make my way to the Pegasus stable. I hug Selena as I enter, going to my Pegasus, Birdy. She's brown and white, with pure white wings. I feed her an apple, and some sugar cubes, as I stroke her mane.
E:Hey, girl, you sleep good? Yeah?
S:Well, it's noon. You missed breakfast, y'know. But here-
She hands me some leftover food. Toast, cold bacon, and ohhhh coffee. Gods, I love her.
E:Thanks, Lena. You're the best.
She smiles in response, going back to brushing the pegasi.
I go to weapons practice, taught by Clarisse. And...she's already pummeling someone. The new kid, Percy. She drops him when she sees me, breaking out her best " Hey, it's Eun-ji, my favorite person" smile. She runs to me, arms out for a hug. I raise mine to accept....and she has a sword at my throat. She puts her foot on my chest, pinning me.
C: Why weren't you at practice, huh? Wanna get killed by monsters?
E: Clarisse, really? I'm a better fighter than everyone, why do I need to train?
To add to my point, I sweep her other leg out, kicking her as she goes down. I put all 4 axes together, making a halberd. My foot on her chest, my axe in her face, I pin her. She kicks up, into the back of my knees, and I go down. She's on me in a second, sword across my throat.
E: P-p-please, Clarisse, don't.
She stands up, apologizing, and I jump at her.
See, I do have axes, but I prefer fighting like an animal. Right now, wolf. I'm on her back, scratching and biting, and scrambling around. She can't get me, she's thrashing all around, but I'm always moving. I jump off, making her fall. She looks impressed, kinda, and nods at me. As she walks off, I cackle.
Yeah, she definitely likes me. Anyone else beat her, they'd be cut up.
I look at my watch. 1 pm. Monster fight training. I grab my halberd, dismantling it down to my axes. I walk to the training area, and aim at the dummies.
THUNK. First shot, torso. Not good enough. THUNK. Second shot, shoulder. Kinda better. CLANG. Third shot, stray shield. Shit. Shitshitshitshit. Gotta be better. THUD. Fourth shot, dummy head explodes. I'm covered in straw, and sweating like a buffalo. Gods damnit. The perfect time for Annabeth to come see me.
And she does, little mind reader. She has a proposal.
A:Percy got a quest. I wanna go.
E:Well, did Percy say you could? It's not my decision. I know you wanna be strong, sweetheart, but you're not ready.
A:You're not my mother.
E:Yeah, cause I love you. As your guardian, I have the say, and I say no.
A:That's not fair, you never let me do anything. You always say no. I hate you!
She turns to run, but I reach her first.
E:If I never let you do anything, why did I take you to build a bear? Or make Dad adopt you? Never let you do anything? Really? A quest you could die on? That's what you want?
We're both crying now. I bring her into my arms, sweat and all.
E:I can't lose you, too, baby. Ok? If you're going, I'm going.
A:But Grover is already going. That's 3. You know the rules.
E:Then I'll be the driver. But I'm still going, I'm gonna keep you safe.
She agrees, and we depart to pack. In the Artemis cabin, I take a quick shower, getting the straw out of my hair is hard. I back the bare essentials. Toothbrush. Toothpaste. Chopsticks and other cutlery. Clothes. Extra shoes. Journal. Drachmas. Money from Dad.
I take the bag outside, grabbing my truck keys. As I make my way to the hill, Annabeth, Percy and Grover are already waiting.
E: There's only 3 seats, so fight for them, I guess.
P:What if I drive?
One glare from me is enough.
E: 멍청한 꼬마! You can't drive, you're, like, 7.
I put our bags in the bed of the truck, and get in the driver's seat. They decide who sits where. Percy and Grover smooshed against the door, and Annabeth in the middle.
We start driving, heading to New Jersey.
I put the radio on, ohh punk rock. Green Day. American idiot. Thal- She's not here, right.
Annabeth sees my face, and changes it to pop. Pon de Replay. Cool.
We stop at a gas station, filling the truck. Annabeth goes in, getting a lot of food.
We drive again, passing a fountain drink between us. Hour and a half later, in New Jersey.
I pull over, parking the truck. I go to the bed, and set up a makeshift bed. It's 10pm. I settle them down to sleep, and I keep driving. I turn off the music, can't concentrate. Annabeth opens the back sliding window, sticking her head in with me.
A:Why do I have to sleep back here, they snore.
I pat the seat next to me, and she climbs through. She lays across the seat, her head on my lap. She flips the music back on. Punk rock. "Helps me sleep". She starts snoring, and I pet her hair. Listening to this, it reminds me of Thalia.
T:Faster! Fastfastfast! He's right behind us!
E:I'm driving as fast as I can, Thals! This truck is old, the pedals hardly work!
Stomping the gas pedal.
T: Woohoo! This is amazing!
I'm halfway out the window, howling like a wolf.
E:Woooooooooooooo!!!!
I jolt out of the memory. Fucking potholes. Annabeth shifts, her hand falling off the seat. Grover whimpers in the back, probably a nightmare. Percy is...oddly quiet. I look in the mirror, nah, he's just sleeping.
Poor kid. Artemis isn't close, but I know I'd be devastated if she disappeared. Kids need their mothers. Thinking of Mother.
E:Ma, I know you're not supposed to help us directly, but, just small hints? Please? Like, make leaves blow in the right direction.
Nothing. Figures. Ok, then where? Quick look at Annabeth's map, i'd say, St Louis Arch? Glance at clock, ok. Just 6 hours.
They've only been sleeping for...4 hours. They're just kids.
I yawn. No! No sleeping! Stay awake! Is that, ohh it is!
I pull over. Park. Get out. Enter the building.
?:Welcome to McDonald's, what can I get for you?
20 minutes later, I'm back on the road, coffee in hand. Grover pokes his head in, and I give him 2 hashbrowns, an egg biscuit, and a coffee. Annabeth wakes next. 2 hashbrowns, a sausage biscuit, and a coffee. Grover passes Percy his. We drive on, eating.
I brake suddenly. Annabeth says we missed the turn, and I do a VERY illegal U-turn. She shrieks as we spin.
E:Are you really doubting my driving? Baby, I got us everywhere safely when you were 7!
I cackle, shrieking as I drive down the road. 100 miles out. It's weird, this long driving, and no monsters. As if on cue, a hellhound bounds from the woods. A silver arrow pierces it's neck, turning it to gold dust. Huh. Thanks Mom. Annabeth gives a weird look, noticing the monster.
Through the rearview mirror I see Phoebe, one of Mom's hunters. I've known her since I was young. Even if Mom couldn't keep me, she was always looking out for me. When I was 1, she sent Zoe to get me from my foster mother. That woman tried to drown me, I was under for almost a minute when her husband stopped her. We were camping, and when I didn't want to bathe, she took her own clothes off and bathed with me. Mom always had to send me back, always to another home, but she would be with me. Sometimes, I remember looking out the window and seeing her. Sometimes as a deer, but mostly herself. I knew I was safe if she was near.
I've always been close with the hunters. Phoebe. Zoe. Naomi. And Mom. Always Mom. Some hunters didn't make it, and she cried a lot. I would always be with her, trying to cheer her up.
E:Look, mama, I zo it! I cyimb a twee!
She would laugh and laugh, watching me swing like a monkey. I loved that. Her laugh was beautiful, like bells, all booming and heavy. She would laugh really deep when I held her bow, it being 7 feet long, I couldn't actually hold it, just the handle. The rest just rested on the ground.
E:Mama, I soot, like you? Pease?
She would swoop me up into her arms, kissing all over my face, chortling.
I loved that. I loved when we wrestled, growling like wolves. I won only once, when I was 5. I pounced onto her from a tree, screeching like a bird. I bit and scratched and kicked, just like she taught me! When I won, she took me into town, for an ice cream. She smiled like she was so proud. That night, she told me stories about her and Uncle Apollo. She cradled me, my face in her shoulder, all that night. When I woke up, I was still in her arms. Usually she would drop me at the foster agency, before I woke up. She bopped my nose, smiling down at me. I-
A: We're here. The Gateway Arch.
E:So, why the arch?
A:So we can see the architecture. It was made as a gift to my mom, so it's safe for all children of Athena.
E:Ah, I see. Well, come on. Lez get goin'.
Everyone gets out, stretching our legs. I yawn, holding my hand to my mouth. I give them money for souvenirs, and off they go. I go to a vending machine and get.... oh hey, a root beer. My favorite. Oh, no. Shit. Fuckshitfuckdamn. I get to a phone booth, and dial my Dad's number.
?:Tony Stark's office, Pepper speaking.
E:Ms. Pepper. Is my dad there? It's important.
P: I'll put you through.
D:Hey, what's up, kid? You good?
E:Dad, I forgot my inhaler. I'm in Missouri, and Annabeth is somewhere around here, but I forgot to pack it, and I can't breathe, pl-
D:Okay, kid, calm down. Alright, you said Annabeth is there? Call her, and sit somewhere quiet. I'll be there as soon as I can, ok?
E:Ok, Dad.
I whistle, and Annabeth runs over. I've trained her to run to the whistle, and here she is sprinting. The boys aren't far behind, panting to keep up. I hold the phone out for Annabeth, and she talks.
A: Uh-huh, yeah dad, ok, yeah I'm safe, yeah we're staying put.
She hangs up, and walks to me. She puts her hands on my shoulders, steadying me.
A:Just breathe, sis. He'll be here soon.
Not even 20 minutes later, he's landing near us, deactivating his Iron Man suit. He runs over, shoving the inhaler in my mouth. I puff twice, feeling a little better.
D: Why didn't you pack it? Were you in a hurry? Geez, kid, I can't lose you to your lungs. Y'gotta know better.
A:No, it's my fault. I didn't give her a long enough heads-up. Sorry, Jiji.
E: It's fine, Beth, it, it just slipped my mind.
Dad pulls us both into a hug.
D:You good, Ji? I really don't wanna have one less daughter. Please, please remember that inhaler.
E:Yeah, Papa. I'm ok, now. I-I just freaked out. Th-that doesn't help, I know.
He turns to the boys, pointing accusatory.
D:And you two? Take care of my girls, or I'll find you.
They nod, in awe, their mouths wide open. He leaves again.
They stand around me, unsure if they should leave.
E:Go, have fun. I-Im okay now.
They walk off, back to exploring. I sit against the truck, thinking.
What if, what if.
E:어떻게 해야 하지? Gods, I wish I could just-
An explosion interrupts me. Oh, shit, not Annabeth. Please. Ple- wait, she's smarter than this. Please, not Percy or Grover. Ple- of course it's Percy. Damn boy, destroying national monuments and shit. He lands in the water, how far is that? Holy shit!!!
I jump in after him, not caring about anything else. I pull him out by his armpits, dragging him onto the ground. He's not hurt? Wtf? He fell so far?
A naiad beckons me to the water, and gives me 3 pearls. She points to Percy, then to the pearls. I nod.
He wakes up and I give him the pearls.
E: They're Poseidon's pearls. They'll teleport you wherever you want, but only once.
P:So, they'll take me to my mom?
I say no, well, maybe. But only to her. Not away with her. He nods, maybe not understanding.
P:So where is she?
E:The underworld. The closest entrance is in LA. Let's get drivin', hon.
We get back to the truck, Annabeth and Grover already waiting. They saw the explosion, worried. We pile in, me still driving. Like hell, these kids are driving my truck.
I speed along, not stopping. Grover turns on the radio. Kelly Clarkson. Ugh. I turn it off, preferring silence. He insists, so I stuff him in the back. He protests, playing his reed pipes. Annabeth takes my Walkman, Percy takes the window. I drive on.
It's nighttime. 11pm. I've been driving for over 12 hours straight. I pull over, letting the kids out. We all stretch, jogging around.
The boys sleep in the back. Annabeth drives, I sit in passenger seat. She's pretty good at driving. I taught her when she was 9. I lay across the seat, and SLEEEEEP.
My dream is awful. Zeus:YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO HELP HIM!!! THE BOY MUST FIGHT ON HIS OWN!!!
His voice is booming, louder even, than his thunder. I flinch, but stand my ground.
E: Grandfather, he is but a child. I nee-
Z: ENOUGH BACK TALK!!!! YOU WILL OBEY!!! YOU WERE BROUGHT TO LIFE TO SIMPLY EXIST, NOT TO CHANGE THE OUTCOME!!!
He calms down slightly, his voice quieter.
Z:If I catch wind of more of your interference, I will kill you.
E:If you kill me, you'll start a war with the other Gods. Is it worth that?
He glowers at me, knowing I'm right.
Z:I'll be watching you, granddaughter. Let's not mistake, I GRANTED YOU LIFE! Try to help again, you won't live long enough to regret it.
My dream shifts. I'm with Thalia, back to back, fighting. Her with her electric spear, me with my axes. We're fighting something big, hidden in a cloud of dust. There's howls and screams coming from it.
T:I don't think we can beat this. If we don't make it out-
E:Yeah, I love you too! Now don't be givin' up. We gots this.
T:What? No, I was gonna say that you're very brave.
E:Yeah, I was gonna say that, too.
My face red with embarrassment, I leap away, slashing at the monster horde. Thalia does the same, roaring like thunder. She stabs her spear into the ground, a shockwave stunning all the monsters. She stabs them, finishing them off. I stare at her, lovestruck. Her face covered in monster dust, her black hair turned gold in it. Her hand, wiping sweat from her beautiful blue eyes. Her shirt, sticky with sweat, shoulders heaving, ohhhh, I'm so gay. Her eyes lock on mine. She's screaming, her mouth wide, eyes crying. What? I- SHLUCK. I gasp, look down. I'm stabbed. I fall, reaching for Thalia. She ROARS, and swings my axes. She's- she's -shes gone. Again. All because of me. I-
A:SHIT!!!!..
I jolt up, Annabeth is- SHITFUCK!! I jerk the steering wheel, away from the tree. Annabeth is crying, she fell asleep. Godsdamnit. We switch places, she cries, too scared to sleep. The boys pop up, freaked out. I wave them back.
I drive for hours, too frazzled to sleep. We stop for food occasionally, but I'm not letting ANYONE else drive, holy fuck.
Annabeth crawls to the back, not coming back up. She's sobbing, too much to breathe.
I pass a Vegas sign. Good. Maybe a hotel.
Yeah, Lotus Hotel and casino. Finally, a bed. I pull in, giving the valet the keys. We enter, and are immediately ambushed.
?:Welcome to the Lotus Hotel, try a lotus flower. They're our specialty.
We're given Lotus cards, and set loose. I share a room with Annabeth, Percy and Grover sharing another. We all immediately pass out.
When I wake up, Annabeth is gone. She left a note. Gown explores. Right, dyslexia.
I walk down to the game room, maybe they're down here. I look for anyone I recognize, but see someone I should have known was here. Holy shit, Nico is sooo cute. He's just a baby. He's alone.
E:Hey, kid, you seen a blonde girl? Or a boy with black hair? Or one with brown hair?
N:No, and I can't find my sister, Bianca.
I kneel to his level, taking his shoulder. If I'm going to change things, I could start with him.
E: C'mon, I saw her over here. I know where she is.
I lead him to my room, and he seems to realize I'm not helping him. He starts to run, but I catch him. I knock him out, tying him up in the bathroom. Shit, this will look really baaad. Oh, I'm definitely going to jail. No time for that. Others first.
I find Annabeth playing a city building game. I snatch her, but she stays quiet. I taught her to not scream when I pick her up.
I take her hand, trying to find the others.
?:Nico? Where are you?
I snatch her, too. What do I tell the other Gods? Uh, something. I'll think of something.
I put her and Annabeth in the room, heading back down. Grover is playing a reverse hunting game, yelling at the humans. I snatch him. All that's left is Percy. And this little shit is just wandering around, like there's not a timeframe to follow. I haul him over my shoulder, kicking and screaming.
I collect the others from my room.
E: C'mon we're leaving. Lez go, now. NOW!
They follow, obedient as baby ducks. Fucking Everyone tries to stop us, but finally we're in the truck. Nico and Bianca are in the back, thinking they've been kidnapped. Well, yeah, I guess I did.
Where to now?