Chapter 13
"Well... uh... Jake and Emma and I were on vacation in New York with my uncle Rob. We were driving back to our houses and the roads were really slippery. Uncle Rob turned the corner too fast and… then we fell into the water." Justin's voice cracked as he broke off.
I choked back a fake sob.
"It's alright. We'll start a search for your Uncle Rob. How did you survive with such minor injuries?" the dude asked us. "A fall like that should have killed you all."
"I… I don't know." Adam shook his head.
"But can you get us back to Florida? I just want to go home!" I said.
"We'll get you back as soon as you are all cleaned up." He replied. "Did your uncle have his driver's license?"
"Of course! He was 37!" Justin replied.
"Just making sure, son. I'll phone your parents to tell them you're okay. And what's your name, son?" he had written down mine and Adam's fake names in a spiralled notebook.
"My name is Dave. But don't bother telling our parents. They… they all have full time jobs and they are busy all day. Plus… they know when we're coming back. We can tell them ourselves." Justin lied convincingly.
"Are you sure about that? I'm sure they'd want to hear about this."
"We're positive," I insisted.
"If you say so."
How could we get so lucky?
The first aid lady finished patching up Adam and then went to the back.
"Put on your seat belts, okay kids?" she told us.
"I'm not a kid." Justin muttered.
"Good acting!" I whispered to the guys.
"You, too. You can cry pretty well." Adam grinned when the uniform dude went to the front of the helicopter. "I guess we'll be in Florida sooner than we thought."
"Are you kids okay here?" a police officer asked as he pulled up at a subway station.
"Yeah we'll be okay. Our houses aren't too far from here." Adam answered.
"Alright. Be careful." He said, letting us out.
"We will. Thank you!" I said. I closed the door and the police car pulled out of his parking spot and down the crowded road.
Big, tall buildings and fake palm trees lined the streets. There was a beach a few blocks down and seagulls shrieked like crazy, carrying food in their beaks.
"Okay. So… how are we going to find Theseus's lair?" I asked.
"Yeah… not quite sure about that." Adam replied.
"Can we get some new clothes?" Justin asked. "These ones smell like salt water."
"Yeah, I guess a little shopping couldn't hurt." I shrugged.
We took the cross walk and went into an expensive looking store.
"Get that one, Riley. It's hot!" Adam grinned, pointing at a strapless belly shirt on a mannequin.
"You wish I would." I replied, turning red.
"I know. I was kidding." He punched my arm jokingly.
I looked around and chose a fitted pink t-shirt (I now knew that Adam liked pink on me), a pair of dark skinny jeans and a pair of sneakers to match my shirt.
Adam bought a pair of black skinny jeans, black and white skate shoes and a black t-shirt that said 'the ladies love this guy'
Justin wore a pair of baggy jeans with a dark green t-shirt and a pair of black skate shoes.
We paid for our stuff, changed into it, ripped the tags off, and headed outside.
"Hot shirt," Adam remarked.
"Thanks. I like yours." I replied.
"It's true isn't it?" he said modestly.
"You wish it was." Justin and I said at the same time.
Adam rolled his eyes even though I could tell he knew we were joking.
"Let's get something to eat." Justin said, nodding at a small restaurant called 'Mr. T's Steakhouse and Grill'.
"Sure." Adam and I replied.
We opened the door.
It was completely empty except for one person standing at the cash register.
He was tall and muscular with wavy brown hair, blue eyes, tanned skin, a goatee, and some stubble. Not your typical cashier.
"Ah, Riley, Adam and Justin. I have been waiting your arrival." He said, flashing a blindingly white grin.
For a second I almost thought he was Apollo.
"Um… that's great. We ah… just took a wrong turn. This isn't… um… we have to go." Justin, for the first time at a loss for words, turned on his heel and attempted to go out the door. The only problem was that there wasn't a door anymore.
"Foolish demi-gods." The guy at the till chuckled. "They are always stupid enough to fall into my traps."
"Theseus." Adam glared at him.
"The one and only," the till guy grinned again. So that was what Theseus looked like. "If you would kindly follow me downstairs I will add you to my collection of prisoners."
"You only have one other prisoner." I said.
"So?" he snapped. "If you come downstairs I'll have four."
"We'll have to fight you first." Justin said boldly.
"You and what army?" Theseus sneered. "All I see are three weak and foolish demi gods."
"We're stronger than you think." I said. Wow, that must have sounded really stupid. I needed to get used to this whole capturing thing. Both Adam and Justin looked at me with identical looks on their face clearly saying: 'try not to embarrass us, okay?'
Adam drew his sword, Slayer, from his belt disguised as a cell phone that turned into a sword when flipped open.
I uncapped Riptide. It grew to full length, Celestial bronze and all.
Justin took a keychain out of his pocket and drew the tiny little fake club, which grew into full size. It didn't look very friendly with all its spikes and metal-y stuff.
"Oh no! Are you going to fight me? Good luck with that." He chortled.
"We'll make you a deal, Theseus." Justin said.
Adam seemed to clue in, giving Theseus an evil, threatening look that sent shivers up my spine. With his black hair covering one eye and all his black clothing, he could scare the pants off any enemy. "We are going to fight you," he told Theseus. "If you win, you can take us as prisoners without hesitation. If we win, we get Electra and you have to promise not to ever kidnap any gods or goddesses or anyone ever again."
Theseus laughed. "Every time you heroes come and try to rescue the poor prisoners you make me these stupid deals. And every time, I… well, never mind. Deal."
"Good." Adam sprung foreword immediately and hacked down over Theseus's head.
Theseus quickly moved out of the way and grabbed a very sharp knife off the counter . It grew into a huge spear.