It's still a little slow but hopefully you'll see it as building up suspense. In this chapter Percy reaches L.A. and Tillia starts to question her reality. Hope you like the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson nor do I own any of the characters except which I make myself (Tillia!)


Chapter 2

Percy dozed in his seat and wasn't awakened until the train rattled to a stop. His head jerked up and he stood to stretch his stiff muscles. He grabbed his stuff and made his way to the exit. He was eager to get off as he had been on it for nearly ten hours. It had taken him all the way from Denver, Colorado to L.A.

Percy jumped off the train and looked around at the bustling busybodies all trying to get somewhere. Percy had been to California twice before. One of those times he had gone to L.A. to pay a visit to the Underworld, Hades rein. That had no been a pleasant memory.

Percy made his way out of the train station. He needed to figure out where he was and how to reach the entrance to the place of death. Ahead of him sat a public library and Percy entered. He grimaced at all the books. His dyslexia alone mad it nearly impossible for him to read a thing. Being ADHD didn't exactly help him sit still either.

To Percy's great relief he spotted an ancient computer and he walked over to it. He spread his fingers over the dusty keyboard and spent five minutes trying to type in the search bar for a local map. He eventually succeeded and observed the picture. The city he was in was called Burbank and it looked like a 20 minute drive to Valencia Boulevard. Unfortunately, Percy had used all of his mortal money for his train ticket, and it looked like he was going to have to walk. Not for the first time, Percy wished he could've just entered the Underworld through an entrance a bit closer to home like he did with Nico last year. But Chiron had insisted that he traveled to L.A. and wouldn't even tell him why. Chiron did that a lot.

Percy sighed and printed out the directions. It looked like this walk was going to take up most of the day. He would probably meet up with a monster along the way. Maybe several. One could be staring at him right now...

Percy turned and saw the Librarian looking at him with stern eyes. She had a very strict face and dark brown hair pulled up in a neat, tight bun. She reminded him of his of his Pre-Algebra teacher, Mrs. Dodds, who turned out to be a monster and a servant of Hades. The thought didn't exactly reassure Percy as the Librarian walked over to him.

Percy put on his best innocent looking face as he folded up his directions and put them in his pocket. He looked up politely when the librarian reached him and waited for her to say something.

"Do you have a library card deary?" she asked in a kind voice that Percy did not expect.

"No ma'am," he replied, "I just wanted to print something out."

"Well its 20 cents to print something out on a library computer if you don't have a library card."

"Oh," Percy said, "Right." He dug around in his pockets and then in his backpack when he failed to find any money. He found two nickels, and six pennies.

"Um," he said awkwardly as he held out the change, "I didn't know I needed 20 cents and I only have 16 cents." He handed the librarian the money and looked at her apologetically.

Instead of a reprimand, she smiles and says, "Well I think I see a nickel on the floor just over there." Bewildered, Percy picked up the nickel and gave it to her. The librarian smiled again and handed him a penny back. He stared at it for a second before pocketing it.

Outside, Percy shook head still amazed. He generally didn't like librarians as reading was one of his worst subjects and all the librarians he had met were cranky and overly strict and protective of their books. Percy had been so sure that that lady was a monster or at least a cranky old hag. Maybe he was getting a little too paranoid.


Something was itching in the back of Tillia's mind. She had been trying to remember something all day and just couldn't put her finger on what was bothering her. Everything seemed fine. Breakfast was delicious and she had enjoyed a nice swim in a virtual pool that she made on an even newer level of games. But as she sat down for dinner, she felt like something was off. She at first thought it was the new kid who came in. She didn't know him but he kept to himself and played on some sort of zombie game all day. He had a funky accent, like he came from around the world. But he wasn't what was bothering Tillia.

Tillia shook her head and ate her dinner. Then it hit her. The boy was so young. He couldn't be more than 12. Was she that young? Tillia thought for what seemed like forever. She couldn't remember. Tillia jumped up and ran to her room and looked in the mirror. The face looking at her startled her. She had forgotten what she looked like. She saw an olive skinned face covered in slightly curly black hair. Her eyes were a soft chocolate brown and she had a rather straight, pointed nose. Judging by her short stature (she was about 5'4") and her young face, Tillia guessed that she was around 13 or 14. how come she couldn't remember how old she was? How come she couldn't remember her face?

A knock on the door startled her. She opened it and saw a maid with a cleaning cart. "I was just going to clean your room but I can come back later if you want," the maid said.

"No that's alright. I was just leaving anyway," Tillia replied. Maybe she'll go out and look around a bit. When was the last time she was outside anyway?

"Well alright. But The clerk wanted me to let you know that a new level of games has been opened," the maid said and held out a new card, "Why don't you give it a go?"

"No thanks. I was just thinking of..."

"Now dearie this is a limited time offer. Only those with senior membership is allowed access to the roof games. And I'm pleased to tell you that as of today you have stayed here long enough to become a senior member!" the maid told Tillia cheerily still holing out the card.

Tillia didn't want to take it though. She wanted to go out. How long had she been in this hotel anyway? But...Tillia looked back at the card. Roof games? maybe she can see outside from the roof. And since the card was a limited time offer she should really take it now. And then she could look out and see if she should explore outside herself. Tillia smiled and took the card. The woman's own smile grew tenfold and she moved into Tillia's room to clean.

Tillia made her way to the roof. She would look out to see if anythings changed while she was staying here and...Tillia reached the roof level and stared amazed at the rows of new games. She forgot all about looking outside, that she couldn't remember her age, she nearly forgot her own name. She was having too much fun.


I know that some of you might be going beserk that Tillia didn't escape the hotel and I know that I would've but I have plans for her later. I hope you liked this chapter. Please leave reviews and tell me if it's going a little slow. Next chapter I promise to have a little more action.