Hazel

We woke up in Boise, Idaho and were out of there in minutes. Now, Chris, Juli, and I are heading across the state to get to Wyoming, and then hopefully on to the house.

Then the train we're on stops suddenly. Juli hops up from her seat and stares out the window.

"There's a big lady out there," She observes. Chris jerks up and takes a half-second look before grabbing her and beckoning to me.

We run down the corridor, making several people yank their heads back in their compartments. When we reach the open area, with tables, the door is opening. We keep right on going.

We don't slow until we've gone through three more doors and then we're out.

"Hera," Chris says as we set off in the dying grass. "Is a complete-"
"She's coming after us," Juli tells him, with her elbow propped on his shoulder. He takes off running.

"Here!" I call to him, gesturing at an old, random shack. We duck inside and I close the door. Probably useless, but it doesn't hurt to try.

It takes exactly three seconds for an impatient hammering to start at the door. The door rattles with each one.

Chris and I back up to the wall. I search desperately for a tunnel.

"Chris," I say urgently. "I think there's a tunn-"
His hand brushes the wall and we're falling.

"Whee!" Juli yells once we've hit a dirt floor. "Let's do that again!"

"Let's not," Chris grumbles, staggering to his feet and brushing his clothes off. "You wanna walk, kid?"
"Sure."
Normally I would've protested, what with Hera on our tail, but I can't hear the insistent hammering anymore.

"Where are we?" I wonder. "I felt a tunnel below us, before, but..."
Chris looks around, and his face goes white.

"The Labyrinth," He whispers. "We're in the Labyrinth."

"Oh!" I breath a sigh of relief. "I can control and move it. Mostly. I think. We'll get home much faster."

I pull him but he's like a statue. "Uh, Chris? Come on."

He shakes his head like a dog. "No. No, thanks. I'd rather take my chances with Hera. Good-bye."

"Chris!" I yell as he starts to walk away. "Chris, stop!"
He stops.

"You aren't going back up there," I tell him firmly. Juli takes his hand and mine.

"Come on, Chris!" She says. "You'll get to see Clare sooner if we go this way. Come on!"

He reluctantly allows us to pull him down the dirty corridor.

*SWITCH POV BECAUSE INSPIRATION IS LACKING HERE

Katie

"No," He says, shaking his head. "Absolutely not."
I sigh. "We'll get there faster."
"I'm not going on a plane!"
Justin peeks from behind Percy's legs. "Please, Percy? We won't get blasted. Promise."
Percy rolls his eyes.

"He's right, you know," I tell him. "Zeus won't blast his grandson."
"How do you know?"
"This is all Hera. You remember that the rest of the gods were astonished when they found out what she'd been doing to us. Well, sort of. This'll get his attention."
"Heck yeah it will."

"He can help."
"Or, you know, we could go to the ocean and ask my dad for help."
"We're in the middle of Arizona. I don't think we can get there quick enough."

He chews his lip and doesn't meet my eyes. Sighing, I put my hand on his shoulder. "Percy. I know you don't want to, but-"

"I know," He sighs. "But we have to."

So we walk to the airport once there, Percy frowns at the destination.

"Okay...okay...but we don't have enough money."
I show him the money I pickpocketed on the way.
"Still not enough."

"That's what the credit card's for."
He looks disappointed in the skills Travis taught me, but we book a flight for the three of us and I sign as best I can to imitate the signature on the card.

"I'm sure they'll catch us using the card, so we'll have to stay under the radar."

"Under the radar," He mutters as the plane prepares for takeoff. "Sure."

Sorry for the shorter length, but inspiration is lacking.

Speaking of lacking and inspiration, I guess I should tell all where I've been for the...um...entire summer?

So here it is: nowhere. I've been right here, with perfect access to the internet, this story, and Fanfiction. No, I've not been killed or broken my fingers or gotten my leg amputated. I could've updated at anytime.

I did try, some days. I'd open the story, stare at it for a while, and then switch to something else. Because, honestly, I wasn't feeling the inspiration. I felt like all the chapters were going to be the same, which is boring to read and write. So then I didn't update, and I figured I'd just ignore it...and let Fanfiction fade into the background of my life (that was a dramatic sentence).

And then I got a P.M. from Georgehorse64, asking me to think about the readers and about updating. So of course I did, because it was a horse named George Pming me (haha, I know you aren't a horse. I was being hilarious). And so I thought about it for about a few seconds and then I opened this story and forced myself to write.

Luckily, it doesn't take much for me to get an idea. And to get excited about the idea. And write a (short) chapter.

So there you go. There's my "excuse" on where I've been.

Now, for this story, it probably won't be as long as Betrayed by Home, because of this giant, random hiatus I took. Also because it isn't my favorite. But I'll try to still update, and try to make it good, not dreary and boring.

Please remember to review, favorite, and follow, and if I disappear again, go ahead and bombard me with P.M.s because it doesn't take much for me to get guilty about abandonment.

ALSO PLEASE REVIEW ON THIS TOTALLY AWESOME SPEECH I JUST WROTE. GO AHEAD, READ IT AGAIN. YOU'LL STILL BE IN AWE OF IT.