X

Frank

Hazel's eyes were intense. Frank had never seen eyes that suddenly turned dark and wary, not even a child of Mars or Minerva. "Friends?" Percy managed to choke out.

Hazel nodded, looking around the sleeping figures in the bus. "They're up front. Ever heard of Stheno? Or Euryale? They're here."

Percy's eyes widened, growing to the size of gigantic saucers. His face paled, and his hands trembled with fear. He grabbed Riptide, like whenever he felt danger was nearby. Frank gazed all around the room, only to find sleeping mortals. "Who are they?"

Percy trembled. "Gorgons," he whispered, hoping the monsters won't hear him. "Met them before I got to camp. Now they're planning revenge on me because I killed their sister."

"Medusa? Frank whispered, making sure his voice was really low. Percy bit his lip and nodded. "A few years back, to be honest," he added.

Hazel was glancing at the direction of two women in a store-clerk outfit. Frank looked at Percy and gave him his best 'they're the ones?' fave. Percy stiffened, and nodded. His face was grim, and Frank could tell whatever happened before was not pretty. Finally, he decided something. "We got to get out."

Hazel rolled her eyes. "Anything else to point out, Captain Obvious? How are we supposed to get pass them? They're sitting in the front seat!"

Percy sighed. "If only we had Annabeth's invisibility cap," he muttered, low enough so only Hazel and Frank could hear. Finally, he took Riptide out of his pocket. "I'll distract them, you guys go escape."

"No!" Hazel hissed at him, her eyes like sharp blades piercing your nerves so you could hardly move. "If you d that, you'll only get into trouble!"

"Then I'll go distract," Frank offered, but it was clear his two friends were going to decline. Frank sighed. "Fine, let's do it the stupid way; we go right pass them and pray to the gods they won't see us."

Hazel rolled her eyes at the plan, but seeing they kept arguing on things, it was better to follow the plan than wait until they wake up and find them on the bus. Frank quickly grabbed his backpack and motioned the others to follow him. Sneaking without getting caught was his specialty.

It was hard to stay still when the bus was still moving. The driver kept driving, despite the sleepy look he had on his face. Hopefully he would stay awake, so these mortals could stay safe for once.

Frank's predictions came true; Stheno and her sister were very much asleep. He held his breath, and mouthed 'let's go' to his companion. Percy's eyes widened, and Frank only had enough time to see what it was, before dodging it.

Euryale had almost his him hard, her hand full of her poisonous gorgon blood. The smile on her face grew into a grin, and she lunged at him. Frank didn't know what the driver saw through his rearview mirror, but he was guessing it wasn't goo, since he stopped with a sudden break.

The driver screamed, causing all the passengers to wake up. "Run outside boy! Hurry before it eats you!" the driver screamed at him. Then all Hades broke loose.

Percy grabbed Hazel's hand, causing her to blush slightly pink. He grabbed Frank's hand as well, before pulling them outside onto the open road. The gorgons leaped out, hissing with delight.

"So you've come back for more, demigod?" Euryale asked, her eyes dancing with delight and mischief. If she weren't a deadly monster, and more of a friendly demigod, then Frank would've guessed she was related to Mercury.

Percy uncapped his pen, and his sword sprung to life. Hazel started shooting arrows, all of them hitting the gorgons. Frank took out his sword from his magic backpack – a pack his dad had given him a long time ago. The pack could carry just about anything, as many items as you like. But the more things you put inside, the heavier and bigger it got.

Hazel quickly backed up to a tree, getting more distance from the gorgons. Useful for bows and arrows, but if you fought with a sword, you had to get in close. Letting his instincts take over him, he slashed at Stheno, giving her a huge cut. If only he was Mars' kid, he could pulverize them before they could even hiss.

Hazel shot her arrow helplessly. She was running out of arrows, and to her disappointment, she forgot to bring a whole other quiver. Frank quickly grabbed his pack and motioned Percy to follow him into the forest.

The gorgons were hot on their heels. Frank could here them hissing, "Die demigods!" from a mile away. Percy kept running his sword clenched in his hand. Frank quickly put his backpack where it belonged (yes, his back), while Hazel struggled to keep her eyes on the road. Something was distracting her.

"Hurry up! They're getting closer!" Percy yelped. Frank knew this had happened before. He tried to remember something Percy had told him a few days after he arrived at camp. Ah, his mind put the pieces together. He was on a wild goose chase for three days before arriving at camp.

Hazel ran frantically. Suddenly, her eyes grew wide, as if she might have seen a ghost. "Wait!" she yelled frantically, turning to the right. "This way!"

Percy started running after her. Frank groaned, but followed her as well. Looking over his two choices, Frank would probably follow Hazel than turn into some gorgon's dinner.

Hazel led them towards a twisting path. They had taken several turns. Frank got to admit, it was pretty smart. It could possibly make the gorgons lose their tracks, and wonder off somewhere else. But then again, they had managed to continuously find Percy for three days straight. New world record, Frank joked in his head.

"Why are we running this fast?" Percy asked. He was obviously tired. Frank could tell his eyes were ready to drop, as if all the energy had been drained from him.

"Don't you see him?" Hazel asked, pointing straight ahead. Frank looked ahead of her. Trees, trees, a glowing light, trees… Wait. A glowing light, in the middle of the forest? Frank squinted his eyes, trying to get a better view.

There it was. In the middle of the glowing light stood a man, bold and strong. He was riding a red sports car, speeding up and slowing down once in a while. He twisted his course; turning left and right, but never made a U-turn. He had a bow hanging over his shoulder. This could only mean one person.

Finally, the car came to a stop. Frank watched as the car changed into an Audi that would fit the four of them inside. Percy took this opportunity as a way to get to the car. He broke into lightning speed. Finally, when he arrived, he opened the door, immediately snoring at the back.

Frank turned around, to see the gorgons running right behind them. The car beeped at them, and Hazel broke into a run as well. Frank followed her example, managing not to trip over himself. Finally, Hazel slid into the passenger's seat, while Frank slid into the seat next to Percy. Just when the gorgons were about to lung at the car, they sped off.

Percy sighed "Thanks Apollo," he said, catching his breath. Before he knew it, he drifted off into a deep sleep.

Apollo chuckled. "Never been the same since Styx. Anyways, hey kiddo," he greeted Hazel, not taking his eyes off the road, or in this case, air.

Hazel stared at her dad blankly. "Wait – you're Apollo? How come you look different?"

Apollo chuckled to himself. "I'm in my Greek form. I was hoping my cousin back there would notice," he said, gesturing to a sleeping Percy.

Frank frowned. "Greek form?"

"I've said too much."

Suddenly, Percy spoke up, even though he was asleep. "You're acting like a father," he muttered, though his eyes were shut tight.

Apollo sighed. "It's true. But you must know I am an illusion, I'm not really Hazel's dad flying you to who-knows-where. I'm – uh – an illusion."

Percy grinned from his sleep. "Fred."

Apollo laughed, but his face suddenly darkened. "This is as far as my illusion can take you," he said, telling them to get off. Frank had to pull Percy out of the car.

Percy rubbed his eyes, yawning. "D.C," he muttered, before grinning mildly. "This is where you showed up as Fred."

Apollo winked. "I better get going before Zeus finds out. He senses somebody disobeying him. Not that I will get in trouble, since I'm his favorite kid–"

"We'd love to hear the amazing things about you dad, but you better get going," Hazel reminded him. Apollo winked at them, before disappearing into thin air. Percy muttered something about Apollo's fatherly side reminded him of Neptune and stuff.

"Well, let's just do the best we can and get to New York," Hazel said, sighing. Her dad was kind to break the rules for her, but couldn't he have taken them a little further?

"Nah, it'll be good from here," Percy said.

The other two just stared at him wide-eyed. "Annabeth," he simply replied. Frank gave him a quizzical look. "Popped in your head?" he asked. Percy nodded, before rolling his eyes.

"I know we're in D.C. Wise Girl," he said. Hazel stiffened when he mention 'Wise Girl', but when she saw Frank looking at her, she immediately loosen up.

"Leave you to know all the routes," Percy grumbled, before frowning. As far as Frank could tell, his friend was having an argument in his mind. OK, he thought. My friends can be freaks if they want to.

"Percy, it would be best if you stopped fighting and actually help us out here," Hazel sighed, her eyes sad. Frank had never seen her like this. She was always Ms. Sunshine, like Apollo had said a long time ago.

"She told us to find a van," he said before frowning. "Can't you just tell me the specific van?" He paused. Annabeth must be saying something to him right now. "Yeah, and I'm supposed to recognize it, how?" Annabeth's turn to talk, leaving the air filled with silence. Percy sighed. "Yeah, yeah. See you at camp." He paused, as if he was saying something in his mind. He turned to Frank and Hazel and told them that they should stay for night.

-TSON-

The night was peaceful, at least as peaceful a demigod's night could get. No dreams, good or bad, whatsoever, and no one woke him up to go pull a prank late at night. Sure, he loved doing those kinds of things, but it was getting… old.

Percy was already up, looking out from the balcony. He had his thinking face on, and you rarely see that. Frank cautiously made his way to him. "Morning," he greeted, staring at the view.

Percy smiled. "Hey." The greeting was comforting, but something told Frank that the smile wasn't about the greeting or the fact that he had shown up.

"Did you notice Hazel acting weird?" he asked in a low voice. Hazel was still snoring in the corner. He didn't like talking about other people, and he didn't like to shoot other people weird questions, but Hazel was like his younger sister. He, Gwen and Hazel had been taking care of each other ever since Gwen and Hazel first arrived.

Percy just shrugged. "I'm clueless when it comes to girls."

Frank laughed and patted his shoulder like, 'yeah, I know how you feel.' He didn't get much luck with girls either. He never understood them. The only girl he liked was Gwen, as terrified as he is to admit it. He started seeing her more than a friend after the war against Krios.

"So, about you and Annabeth…" Frank started, but didn't finish his sentence.

"Best friends," Percy replied coldly, like he wished it wasn't true. Frank raised an eyebrow, noticing how quick he had replied. "You like her, huh?"

Percy's expression was unreadable. Suddenly his eyes widened. "Wake Hazel up," he ordered. "'Cause I see our ticket to New York."