I hope you like the chapter it was a hard one. Im not good at writing action much better at angst or fluff. If there is anything that is wrong weather it be spelling or a fact I messed up on please let me know so I can fix it. Till next time

Chapter 12

Statues eyes follow me

We ended up in front of an old school diner. I wasn't entirely able to read the neon sign and neither was Luke though so I didn't feel too bad. Grover read us the sign saying the sign said Aunty Em Garden Emporium.

There were statues of people and creatures littered on the front lawn. The smell of burgers wafted towards us and my stomach growled unceremoniously breaking the silence between us.

"You can say that again," Luke told me.

Luke and I started to wander towards the door. Grover whimpered as we started walking toward the door.

"Guys I don't think we should do this. It smells like monster. Guys please" He tried to pull at our arms.

"Your nose is probably just clogged from the furies. It's going to be fine." Luke told him looking over his shoulder pushing onwards towards the building.

All of a sudden a woman stepped out from the front entrance. She walked gracefully standing tall commanding attention and I wanted to give it to her. She looked old although I couldn't really see her face as most of it was covered as was her hair, looking like some sort of hijab. Also along with the hijab she had a veil shielding her eyes from us. Her hands were worn but well manicured making it obvious she put pride in her appearance. I automatically trusted her even though nothing in her appearance screamed trustworthy.

"Children are you ok? What are you guys doing out here all alone?"

Grover and Luke started to get fidgety looking down sort of guilty not being able to think up a lie. So to save us all from embarrassment I made something up on the spot.

"The circus ma'am," I wasn't going to lose my manners because I was hungry, "we are orphans and got separated from them. We were supposed to meet them here but it seems like they left. Have you seen a circus traveling through here?"

"Oh darlings, Orphans so sad. No one to turn to all alone. Come inside I can give you something to eat."

We all lethargically nodded in response and followed her inside. There was life like statues of almost anything lining the walls. From a couple holding hands to a child with a flower basket. They were all very detailed and looked like pictures. Although, there was something wrong with their faces. They all had looks of horror etched onto them. I couldn't understand how with everything else on the statues looked perfect the faces were messed up. With such amazing craftsmanship, you would think the faces would be perfect also.

The woman noticed me studying the statues.

"I make them myself. Can never get the faces right, though. They are always so hard." She told us moving behind the counter starting to make some sort of food that smelled absolutely heavenly.

"We don't have any money," Grover told her his voice trembling.

"It's okay dears. On the house. After all, you guys are lost with no one."

She never did take off her hijab all throughout cooking just rolled up her sleeves to her elbows showing more of her leathery skin.

"Did you hear that?" Grover said nervously. "It sounds like hissing."

"Probably just the fryer or something. Shut up Grover." Luke told him.

"But Luke, Perce come on I can smell monster." He begged fidgeting. His knee bouncing up and down accompanied with him wringing his fingers.

The lady appeared next to the table with plates of burgers and fries.

"Thank you, Ms-"

"Em," She interrupted.

"Thank you, Ms. Em." I wasn't about to not thank the woman who was giving us a free meal.

She stared at us eating with her hands folded on top of the table. She didn't even flinch at Grover munching on the wrapping and not the fries. She turned her attention towards me and I could see her start to form a smile.

"Such pretty eyes darling. I haven't seen eyes like that in a millennium." She cooed.

I didn't even notice her slip up as I was to lost in my burger that I was devouring. I wasn't even sure I was breathing. Grover did notice her slip up though and whimpered quietly in his seat. His eyes flitting around nervously at the statues scattered around the room.

"Oh, dearies could I please get a picture of you all. It's not very often I get visitors out in these parts since they built the highway. And you children are just so precious." She told us in a soft voice. It was alluring in it own way.

I nodded in response almost right away standing up. Luke numbly followed me whereas Grover jumped up slamming into the table to chase after us.

"Its running late guys we should catch up to the others right." Grover chuckled nervously

"It's just one picture." She cooed

I nodded along repeating her words in a far off voice. When we all got outside she directed us to sit on the bench that was in front of the building facing it so that the light was illuminating our faces. Luke and Grover on both sides of me.

"Now scoot closer together don't be shy." She said pointing her finger at Luke who was at the very edge of the bench.

"Its a bit dark isn't it?" Luke asked Em a little more attuned to the outside world than he was earlier.

"No no it's perfect lighting. Now make sure you all smile." She directed.

That's when I noticed she didn't have a camera on her. I couldn't really focus on that fact though because for some reason my brain was all kinds of foggy.

"Where's your camera?" Luke asked her

She didn't respond but she started to unwrap her hijab. Grover got more nervous next to me and right before she removed the veil covering her eyes Grover shouted "Medusa!"

That's when time seemed to slow down and everything happened at once. Luke shoved me to the ground shielding me with his body as Grover jumped the other way. Grover shouted 'Mai' and flew through the air. He some how found a club and hit Medusa in the face and her stumbled backward screeching.

As that was going on Luke moved off of me and told me to keep my eyes closed no matter what. We both instinctively moved in opposite directions. Luke going left and me right. I squeezed my eyes shut and crawled across the ground.

"Oh, Percy" She cooed "You have such beautiful eyes. They are like your fathers. So green full of life, whole worlds swirling inside them. Why don't you just look up at me. Just a peek You don't ever have to be hurt ever again. You could stay with my forever, Percy. To never have to deal with Gabe again. Dont you want that to be with me forever?"

I tensed up. I didn't know how she knew about Gabe and that terrified me. How did she find out? The urge to look at her suddenly grew with her words even though I was getting angry with her knowing about Gabe. I could barely swallow it down at this point.

All of a sudden a thump resounded and then a crash. I could vaguely make out Grover's groan to my left.

"I think I missed." He moaned out.

"You insufferable IDIOT!" Medusa growled, sounding more like a monster, at Grover then her voice changed back "Percy dear come on just one look."

I stood up my back facing Medusa my eyes still screwed shut.

"Percy! Don't!" Luke yelled at me from across the green.

I peeked my eyes open but didn't turn around, In front of me was a reflective orb where I could see Medusa starting towards me. She was absolutely ugly. I could see the snakes writhing about in place of hair and her eyes a pale gold. I slipped my hand into my pocket and a grabbed onto Riptide in my pocket.

"Percy" Medusa sang her voice was not matching her looks. "Come on just turn around it will be me and you forever. No more hardships or suffering. Come on dear just give in."

Medusa kept getting closer to me until she was about three feet away. As quick as I could I closed my eyes, uncapped my sword, and swung riptide towards her head. I heard a thunk and then felt something oozing onto my leg. I didn't dare look down but opened my eyes to try and find where Grover and Luke were.

"Ok, guys I got her you can open your eyes except I'm pretty sure her head is by my feet so there's that." I spoke to them.

Slowly Grover removed himself from a bear statue he was collapsed in and Luke got up off the ground by the bench and made his way towards me. He shrugged off his sweatshirt and bent down without looking at Medusa wrapping the sweatshirt around her head.

We all headed inside the building. Luke plopped the head onto the table we just ate at as I headed to the backroom of the store. I opened up the register where there was about $60 in cash and a small bag of gold coins. Searching around and found a box and a piece of paper. Walking back out to the table I grabbed the head and shoved it into the box. Taping it shut I put the piece of paper and wrote:

To: Zeus

Mt Olympus

Love,

Percy Jackson xx

"Zeus is going to kill you." Luke stated

"I don't care." I said tonelessly

I put a couple gold coins or drachmas as Luke told me into a bag and with a popping noise the box disappeared.

We left the restaurant after that not really wanting to stay any longer. We walked through the woods a little longer. It was now completely dark so we weren't really walking more like stumbling aimlessly. Eventually, we stumbled upon a campsite where we decided to set up camp.

We didn't light a fire as we had enough monsters we dealt with. Luke passed out once his head hit the ground. I told Grover to get some sleep and I stared at the stars.

"It's sad." Grover all of a sudden piped up.

"What is?" I asked

"Nature. It's all polluted. Look at this campsite it's dirty." He gestured to the ground we were laying on. I could see what he meant. There were wrappers littering the ground and the place stunk of garbage.

"Go to sleep Grover, you need it okay."

I didn't get a response just the soft snores from him a few minutes later. I then let my mind wander. I didn't want to but my thoughts soon drifted to my mom. What was I going to do? I couldn't go back to Gabe. He wouldn't even want me and if he did he would just use me as a punching bag. I don't know if I could take it if I wasn't protecting someone like my mom. I didn't want to endure it if my mom wasn't there. My mom was gone forever, no way of getting her back. Well, there was one way but even I wasn't sure it would really work. I knew I would try everything in my power to get her back but what if I couldn't? What would I do?

With that final thought, I fell into a fitful sleep.