Chapter 12: The Tower
-o-
The ride was quiet, despite the sound of tires on the road and the music coming from the UBER driver's radio. I didn't pay attention to that as I looked out the window at what would be my last day on the streets of Manhattan. The car stopped in front of the apartment building where I lived for half a year and I got out before I took the elevator and got to the door where I inserted my key to open it. Silence greeted me as I walked in.
Everything was almost the same as when I had left a week ago, the only difference being a few dirty dishes in the kitchen and some of my dad's shirts left in the armchair in the living room.
My room was also the same as always; sure, a little messy but it was my mess. My computer was still where it always was, as well as my books and notebooks I had used in class that now lay abandoned in a corner as my time in high school ended and high school began in a few weeks. However, I wouldn't be there by then.
I put those thoughts aside and got down to work, rushing to my desk and opening the drawer to take what would be of great importance to what was in store for me. I then opened my closet and changed my clothes, anticipating that it was probably imbued with the smell of the camp and the demigods I had contact with, and went to the shower, making sure it didn't give off any smell that might tell me. Once I was dressed in jeans, tennis shoes and a black T-shirt, I looked in the mirror one last time and ran into someone who the last time it was reflected was just any guy. I now saw the same guy, but he looked different in some way, now more determined and defiant to anyone who stood in front of him. Maybe it was a permanent change or the furor of the moment, but there was definitely no turning back. Not now that I knew what was at stake.
I was about to close the door to the apartment when I gave it one last look and started to think how empty it was going to be after that night. Would my dad be there when he knew I wouldn't be coming home? Would my mom and sisters go to mourn my loss?
With those thoughts fluttering through my mind, I closed the door and said goodbye to everything.
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This time I used the subway, doing the same old tour to go to Dad's office that I had done those months. The rattling of the wagons made me feel a certain sense of familiarity from when my dad called me to bring him something that had been forgotten on the table in the living room or dining room. The voice announcing the next stop spoke distortedly as always, but I still knew it was time to get going and join the crowd that went up to street level. There was still a long way to go to the company building, so I got going.
I had walked a few blocks when someone suddenly held me by the collar of my shirt and pulled me into an alley. I fell to the cold ground before standing up as fast as I could to face my attacker. I thought Acrisius' wolves had ambushed me, but instead I found 3 figures I didn't expect and didn't want to see that day: Franky, with his huge, plump figure, with his minions, the lanky Eli and the rat-faced midget Murphy.
"My, my, what do we have here?" Franky exclaimed mockingly. "What's up, taco? I already missed seeing you."
"Today is not a good day, Franky."
"Oh don't worry. We'll go off and leave you alone. However, I suddenly crave a hamburger but we don't have any money. Right guys?"
"Yes, hamburgers!" Murphy replied.
"With lots of fries," Eli continued.
"So we were wondering if you could sponsor us."
"I'd say it would be my pleasure, but that would be a lie and I have something important to do."
"I don't think you understand," Franky crossed his arms. "Not a request, but an order."
"I don't think you understand either: get out of my sight."
"Wow, we just stopped seeing each other at school and you forget how to behave. Don't worry. We'll remind you." Then Frankt turned to his companions, "Go."
Eli and Murphy were the first to pounce on me, the lanky one being the first to catch up with a few strides before reaching out an arm to hold me, to which I simply stepped sideways and put my foot to trip him and fall flat on his face on the cold ground. I acted fast and pulled the jacket he was wearing and used it to tie him around his wrists and ankles like a calf. I had barely finished my little rodeo when I turned to Murphy, stunned by his friend's elegant bindings.
"What are you doing standing there?!" Franky barked. "After him!"
Murphy hesitated for a moment until he saw Franky clenching his fists to convince him that I was a better option. I would have liked to help him have a little respect, but that day I was not in the mood, so, when he was barely within my reach, I easily eluded him and grabbed him by his shirt and pants to throw him into the nearest garbage container and slam it shut.
I couldn't help but turn to see Franky with an arrogant smile, his face stunned to see that the Latin boy he had harassed for months had cleaned the floor with his two lackeys. After training with the guys from the camp, that was a walk in the park.
"What?!" Franky exhaled in shock.
"I hope you offer a better challenge than your friends."
With a cry of anger, Franky pounced on me like a behemoth trying to lay waste to his prey, but I easily evaded him. Then he threw a punch so slow and poorly done that an Ares camper would have felt sorry for it.
"Stop... moving!" Franky spluttered, throwing punches without stopping and without precision.
"As you like," I simply said, dodging another blow by turning on my heel and holding Franky's arm tightly. Using the momentum of the boy's massive mass, I used his own weight for a move Annabeth had taught me to defend myself: a judo grip. Seeing him being thrown over my head was like that scene from Free Willy, only instead of falling majestically into the water, Franky fell like a huge sack of potatoes onto the hard, cold, dirty floor of the alley, out of breath and breathing heavily.
I could have left at that moment. Leave in silence like a shinobi, but no. I wanted to put the icing on the cake, so I grabbed an aluminum tube near me and walked until I was standing right next to Franky's head, who was still panting heavily. I spun the tube in my hand and slammed one end into the ground next to his head, filling the alley with the sound of metal and a scream of terror. Franky was looking at me in dread, which I saw better when I knelt next to him.
"You could have annoyed me on any other day, but not today. Remember this moment every time you want to bully someone. Remember that even the smallest person can kick your butt on a bad day. Got it?"
Franky let out a groan that I took as an affirmation.
"Good. Have a good life," I said, approaching his face and touching his nose with my finger. "Boop."
And so, on the last day of my life, I taught my bullies a lesson.
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The building that housed the Thunderbreaker headquarters in New York loomed over everyone who passed us, as if we weren't worthy to be in its presence. The thousands of windows that made up the facade reflected the orange sky that was darkening as night approached, indicating that I should hurry.
As I crossed the huge glass doors, I reached the lobby of the place, where I had met, entered or left for various businesses. On one side was the table of the young receptionist, taking calls and attending to the newcomers to the place and, next to her, was the corridor that gave access to the elevators, with a metal detector and a security guard watching those who entered. I went straight there, hanging around my neck the badge with the word "VISITOR" in big black letters. I had received such identification by having to bring various papers to my dad that he might have forgotten at home.
The guard's hard gaze fixed on me before he gave me a friendly smile, "Hey, Jacobo. What's up?"
"Hey, Mike. The usual," I replied, patting the backpack that hung on my back.
"Tsk tsk tsk," Mike clicked his tongue in disapproval. "And he has you as a messenger. You should ask for an increase in your allowance."
"I'm thinking about it right now," I said passing the metal detector, which sounded with a buzz accompanied by a red light. "Does it bother you if I pass quixkly? My dad said these were important papers."
"Sorry, kid. Rules are rules," the guard replied, motioning for me to step aside and put my things on a table.
I hesitated, as inside the backpack was the leather armor to protect me and a cylinder with arrows inside. I didn't know if a mortal would see that or the Mist would cover a legacy and show something else. However, I was determined to climb the tower, either with discretion or by fighting.
After setting the backpack on the table, Mike carefully went through it, rummaging through the interior. I had printed some sheets with pure ipsum lorem and left it in a clipped binder to make it look like I was carrying important papers, but what was important was what else was inside.
"Oh my..." the guard started to say in amazement. My pulse raced at the assumption that he had already seen the Greek leather armor that I would be wearing to besiege the tower.
"What is it?" I asked, slowly bringing a hand to my left wrist.
Mike then turns the inside of the backpack towards me, "I didn't know you were skating!"
For a moment I didn't know what he was talking about until I blinked and for a moment I seemed to see that the armor had turned into flaming black knee pads, elbow pads and helmets. The cylinder was disguised as a tube of Pringles. The Mist seemed to be telling me 'Don't worry, mate, the legacies are also covered in the demigod package'.
"Oh yeah! I started a few days ago with some friends," I played along.
"Alright, buddy. You know? In my time my grinding was radical."
"Really? Great!" I forced a smile, not knowing if anyone still used the word radical in those days. "So can I come in?"
"Sure buddy. Hey, it was good to see you buddy."
"Same here, Mike," I said what would be my last interaction I would have with that friendly guard.
With that I completed the first line of the prophecy, entering the enemy base on my own word.
The following would be complicated, since from there I would have to go completely unnoticed if I wanted to get to my next stop, so, as soon as I turned the corner, I made sure that there was no one and that there was no camera before taking the Yankees cap from the backpack, a loan from Annabeth. As soon as I put it on, my whole body became transparent like the Predator, which made me click my tongue like the creature in the movie. The only problem was that I would have to be careful not to collide with someone and keep quiet as soon as I fully entered the enemy zone.
Before I could press the button to call the elevator, a chime rang out as the metal doors swung open and a bunch of people got out, leaving it completely empty, to which I quickly went in and pressed the button for a floor especially. A guy wearing glasses was rushing in, so I quickly pushed to close the doors, leaving the guy behind, who swore as he lost his ride.
The music from the elevator, while aiming to be relaxing for the occupants, made me feel a certain anxiety as I prayed that no one would call and show up on another floor. My pulse raced with each rattle of the metal rectangle that rose through the hundreds of floors that made up the building until it finally stopped and the doors slid open.
A great bustle reigned in the large room that was spread out in front of me, full of cubicles with several desks where several people were on their phones or entering information into the computers in front of them. Employees came and went everywhere, carrying piles of papers that should have been of great importance while others just drank coffee before resuming activities.
I moved among those who moved in the corridors between cubicles, hoping that no one would bump into an invisible boy who was walking around. It didn't take me long to get where I wanted.
One man was concentrating on entering some data into the computer on the desk. To one side was a stack of papers and, next to a cup of coffee, was a photo of 3 children: two girls and a boy. The man finished typing and leaned back in his chair with a weary sigh.
"Hey, Alvarez," a man approached, to which I stepped aside. "Are you almost done? The guys and I are going to the new Italian restaurant. Will you join us?"
"Yeah, I'm just finishing with this."
"How is your son?"
"Well, these days he has been in a camp where I deal with the Kawashida project."
"Good, so he is with boys his age and not at home alone."
"Yes, I hope he is having a good time. I know that the divorce and having to move have not been easy for him. He has helped me a lot taking care of the house and bringing me the papers that have been forgotten that I feel that I don't deserve after everything I put him through. "
"None of that was your fault. Your wife and you had different views and the best thing you could do was separate on good terms."
"I made him come with me to New York to get closer to him and give him everything that I didn't have at my age, but no matter how hard I try, I feel like I am distancing myself."
"Why don't you ask for a few days? You've done a good job since you arrived."
"I already did. My ex and my daughters will be arriving in a few weeks and I hope to spend some time together. I already want to celebrate that my Jacobo is going to start high school."
"I'm glad about that. Are you going to encourage him to study engineering like his old man?"
"Honestly, I support what he decides to do. He is a smart boy. Just to tell you that he had a better ability to learn English than I did and his grades in class were very good despite having arrived in the middle of the year."
"Sounds like you're proud of him."
"Of course I am. He is my boy and I know that he will overcome whatever is put in front of him. He is really smart and determined when he puts his mind to it."
"How touching," the Rosenberg guy sighed. "So see you in 20 minutes?"
"Yes, I'll be there."
At that moment I felt tears running down my face. For a long time I felt that I had hindered him and that he had only taken me to New York at the request of my mother, but listening to him talk about me like that made me feel that a part of me was at peace. Feeling that moment of calm, I wiped away the tears from my invisible face and left there, taking one last look at my dad and giving him a smile.
I was returning to the elevator when I saw some figures walking in a lot of hurry compared to the office workers in the place. As if my eyes had already developed a lens to see beyond the Mist, I could suddenly see wolf heads sticking out of the black suit, so I rushed closer to them as they headed for the elevator.
"So today is the night?" one said standing in front of the elevator, waiting for the door to open.
"Yes, we have to make sure everything is in order so that the boss can carry out the plan."
"Ah yes. Meanwhile the girls will be in the throne room, right?"
"Ready to be sacrificed in case Artermisa refuses at the boss's request, yes. In the meantime, we'll be in the security room to make sure no one intrudes. We've had reports of demigods in the vicinity."
"Do they know what will happen?"
"I don't think so. As the loose end was removed and the building is fortified so that no one who is unauthorized can enter, everything will be fine."
"I hope so. We lost a lot at the beach houses."
The elevator door opened and both wolves entered, to which I ventured and slipped inside, sticking to one of the metal walls to avoid coming into contact with the wolves. Once the doors were closed and the elevator was going up, I prayed that the drums of Phil Collins's song "In The Air Tonight" playing in the background would sufficiently hide the pounding of my heart.
The seconds seemed to last for hours before the doors slid open again and the wolves stepped out into a nearly empty hallway of metal walls and doors with names. I let them go far enough so that I could follow them without raising suspicions until they came to a door that said SECURITY, before which one took out a card and ran it through a scanner. The metal door slid aside allowing both of them to enter, which I hurried to before it closed again.
The entire room was filled with screens that looked out onto different parts of the building: lobby, back and employee entrances, hallways, etc. They even had the exterior of the building facing the roofs of the lower buildings, perhaps to make sure no one was watching for an attack.
I looked at one of the screens and felt a bucket of ice water fall on me. On one screen were Artemis's huntresses, locked in cages, staring down at their imprisonment. However, one of them, with piercing black eyes and glossy black hair worn in a single braid and brown skin, seemed to still be looking for a way out of her situation. In another appeared what must be a type of throne room, with a huge gold chair imposing itself on the empty room, except for a sad figure that was kneeling in front of it with chained hands and ankles. Looking at the figure more closely, I could see who it was: Thalia. The usual black T-shirt and dark jeans had been replaced by a white toga-like dress that stood out in the city light coming from outside. I expected to see her struggling to free herself from the chains or something, but instead she was still and staring at the ground. It hurt to see her like this. She had resigned herself to dying.
"How pathetic," a wolf sitting in front of the screen muttered as he ate some potato chips.
"Needless to say," agreed another who was next to him. "Even when she was being handcuffed I expected her to fight but nothing."
"To be the famous huntress of Artemis she leaves a lot to be desired."
"What a disappointment."
With those last words echoing in my mind, I took off my cap and was visible to those present, who turned to look in surprise.
"Hey boy. Are you lost?" one of the wolves asked me, as if I didn't know exactly what they were and what they were doing.
"No, I am exactly where I want to be." I put my backpack aside and put a hand to my left hand where a black digital watch was. I pressed a button until a sword symbol appeared in one corner, then unfastened it as it changed shape to a slim double-edged sword. "From this moment this tower is under attack."