Gwen's POV

I really couldn't believe I was staring at the patched, grey dusty floor of one of Chris's airplanes. I also couldn't believe I was risking my life to be one of Chris's "Crash Dummies" with Dawn, Al, Heather and Duncan. And, like always, they were no help. Al and Heather were chatting about something, Dawn was meditating and Duncan was carving something in the wood of the bench we were sitting on. Gosh, Chris hated me. I wanted to kick the floor but, who knows how many safety laws this plane breaks.

I pulled out my House of Hades book and started reading. Suddenly the plane did a nose dive towards Long island." What the heck!" Heather screamed. Then Chef pulled the door open. "Hello, friends." Chef said eerily.

"Dude, Chef stop acting creepy." Duncan said not looking up from his carving. I was momentarily surprised; this was the first thing he said all day.

"Umm, Chef, if you're not flying the plane, who is?" I asked nervous, whiter than usual. I closed my book, holding it against my chest.

"Nobody is." Chef said walking to the exit with a parachute.

"Chef you're going to kill us!"Dawn cried.

Chef grinned and said "That's the plan!" Then he jumped of the plane.

"Not to worry anyone, but were nearly out of gas." Al said running out of the cock pit.

"There are no more parachutes!" Heather yelled, closing the supply closet door.

The thought of we were all going to die crossed my mind.

"Everyone stay calm. We need to jump." Duncan said getting up from the bench.

"What! Are you insane?" Al yelled.

"It's suicidal!" Dawn shrieked gripping the wall like there was no tomorrow, which was a possibility.

"No he's right; the plane is close enough to the ground that a jump to Long island won't kill us." I said trying to keep my nervousness out of my voice.

"All right, but I'm not going first. "Heather responded shaking. Dawn and Al shook their heads in agreement.

"Fine sissies, I'll jump first. "Said Duncan, unimpressed and rolling his eyes.

Duncan's POV

I looked down from the edge. I felt everyone look at me, waiting for me to either jump or back away. But I said I'd do it so I had to now.

No backing out. Taking a silent breath I jumped.

The fall was faster than I expected, lasted less than five minutes. I felt my feet slam into the earth of Long Island. Dawn crashed down as well, landing on her back. She still had her eyes closed and her hands on the top her head. "Is it over? Am I dead? "She whispered.

"No. You died and now you're a ghost. Of course you lived" I said sarcastically glaring at her.

She got up and stared at me. "There's no need to act tough and like a punk like your father to help your mother. She loves you for who you are" "What?" I knew what but still, how she did that had never told anyone about that. Because it wasn't true.

"AAAAHHH!" l new that scream. Gwen?

Then I saw Gwen hurtling towards a giant pine tree. "Gwen!" I called, "Tree!"She slammed into every branch of the tree, and hit the ground with a thud. Dawn and I quickly ran over to Gwen. Dawn helped her up, while I searched the sky for Heather and Alejandro.

"Are you okay? "Dawn asked concerned for my-Gwen.

She nodded "My book broke my fall." That's when I noticed Gwen was clutching her book. Typical Gwen I thought.

I pointed to a streak in the sky. "Look! Our plane crashed!" I said a little worried for our fellow victims of Chris.

Dawn glanced past me. "Heather! Al!" she called. I turned, expecting bent and broken bodies of two teens, to find Heather and Al had crashed in a tree nearby.

"We thought you died!" Gwen called too, smiling. Huh, I thought, I guess surviving a plane crash together brings people closer.

Heather jumped out of the tree. She ran forward. "Chris and Chef are evil." she grumbled, brushing green leaves off her.

I smirked and said. "You just noticed that?" In response she stuck her tongue out at me.

Suddenly bushes rustled and we all turned, {Save Al, who was still tangled in a tree.} expecting either Chris or Chef. But instead, a pretty blonde with grey eyes appeared who was about our age. Unfortunately for us, she had a dagger in her hand. I was about to grab my own when Gwen who was standing beside me ,grabbed my hand and pulled it away .I looked towards her and she mouthed "Do not provoke her." She released my hand and if not for the situation, he may have blushed a little bit.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" she asked sternly, when none of us replied she added, "If you don't answer soon, things won't be pretty."