Chapter 10: They Find Out the Truth, Sort of, but We Are Left Confused, Absolutely
All rights belong to R. Riordan.
I've been trying to make sense of this story with all the new things I've thought up. That's gonna be a long process it seems. _
In other news, I've trimmed old chapters, tried my best to fix mistakes and types but certainly made quite a few new ones along the way and feel like Tantalus with food when I'm trying to write descriptions. They just hate me, and this feeling is 100% mutual.
The news of a hellhound had spread like a wildfire. Of course, it had. Everyone who'd been at the detention, had spent the whole day convincing everyone else that it had happened; alas, not much had been harnessed from those conversations, for majority preferred to remain skeptical until Percy himself would come out and confirm it.
He was never going to do that.
In fact, Percy had elected to be as unperturbed as he possibly could, as he made his way toward the entrance, Paul hot on his heels.
They hadn't spoken much since that first day of reading. There was so much Percy would like to share, but his anger would sneak its way out every time he considered a talk, that Percy had dropped the whole plan altogether and focused on less… detrimental sides of the ordeal.
There were not many, though. Everyone acted like he was both the most incredible being on the planet and the freakiest freak (he did hear the talks). Teachers pointedly ignored him, which could've been a good thing if it weren't his last year of school and he didn't have too many questions. His friends couldn't put him out of his misery, either, being on the verge themselves. It left… it left nothing, actually, which he didn't hesitate to pinpoint to Paul, who all but patted him reassuringly on the shoulder and went to prepare for the day.
He hated the book. He hated this school. He couldn't wait until he'd graduated and left for New Rome.
"You're looking murderous," Jason pointed out, sitting in front of him.
Percy made a noncommittal sound and crossed his arms.
"I can't wait until we're done with this book," Annabeth sighed, plopping on the seat next to Percy. "How much's left?"
"Too much," Percy spat out, earning a commiserating look from Jason and a feeble smile from Leo.
"I wish we knew what it's all about," Jason lifted his glasses to rub the eyes.
Just like everyone in their group, and even camp, he was sickly pale and exhausted. His fitful sleep hadn't ameliorated; the dreams had simply turned into incoherent mess that he was too tired to sort out. The flashes of color, shimmering monsters, and serious Mars were the last things he'd want to focus on.
"At least, Piper's saddled Reyna with it," Annabeth said in an undertone as the student had begun pouring in, almost everyone waving at them or shouting their greetings. "Why are they so happy?"
"They're always happy," Leo replied, his eyes darting from one new person to another and his expression kept on darkening. "I don't like where it's going."
"Me neither," others echoed.
"We gotta talk to teachers," Annabeth announced. Instantly, all three peered at her incredulously. "To see where it came from and why they haven't done a thing about it."
"They don't care," Percy offered a perfectly reasonable explanation.
Except it wasn't. The teachers seemed to be struggling more than kids. Their Physics teacher, Mr. Morano, stuttered every time he saw them; Mr. Rowel had lost all his composure and barked out his orders in whispers now; their Bio and Chem teachers were definitely in cahoots to report on them to the police or the government; and Mr. Sanchez kept on bugging Percy about a snake woman.
They were totally not fine. Just like this whole school. And this whole situation. And their rapidly deteriorating sanity.
"We could stay behind after class," Jason suggested gingerly, momentarily losing it when Steven punched him softly in the shoulder and offered him a huge smile as he walked past them. "Better today."
Annabeth nodded, watching Steven sternly. "We should."
Paul clapped his hands to get attention of the class. As one, kids shut their mouths and looked at Paul with rapt attention.
"Good morning, everyone. I hope you'll have a great day and a couple of announcements…"
They dragged through perhaps most inconsequential piece of news in the history of this class before Paul was able to pick up the book and curse his life.
It might be a long hour.
WE FIND OUT THE TRUTH, SORT OF
A few people raised their eyebrows at a pretty vague title.
Soo, did they find the thief then?
…a football field packed with a million fans.
The very first lines sent their minds spiraling. Where were they? Why a field? What field? How'd they gotten there? Why'd they skipped something entirely? (Of that everyone was sure.)
"Where are you?" Sarah inquired at last, earning cheering from others for being so persistent.
Sarah herself was more confused though. These skips made the timeline a mess. Suddenly complaints she had heard began to make more sense; if they felt lost from time to time, then what people who had no way of prying the info out of these four thought then. At least, they got explanations. Sometimes. Not even explanations, but some of those were.
They got something.
Her question evoked a few nods of agreement. Percy and Annabeth exchanged a glance (for that Percy left his safe haven in the name of his arms) and frowned. Jason and Leo examined them a few more moments before returning to their previous affairs. They had realized a long time ago that the best and easiest way to learn what was going on was to listen to the book. No exceptions.
Contrarily to the rest, for the kids continued watching the four in futile hope to hear more than the book would offer.
Finally, after a painfully long and awkward pause, Mike cleared his throat. "Did we skip something?"
He received the only answer he expected: Annabeth and Percy shrugged, though this time it did not feel as dismissive; as though they'd recognized the place. It might have not held as much significance to them either.
"Yeah, we did," Annabeth confirmed, quite dejected.
Leo blinked and sent Jason a questioning look to which Jason could do nothing but shrug. Both stared at the two. Reassuring (not).
"Should we—" Mike faltered, casting a glance at an equally lost Lyssa. None of their other friends could be of any help either, so they turned to Mr. Blofis… who appeared just as desponded and a tad bit concerned. "You know what, I don't even care anymore!"
He threw his arms up in resignation and slumped on the seat, expelling a heavy breath. That was getting ridiculous. Here they were obsessing over a weird book that left them with so many questions they might as well start selling them and become rich. Why were they doing it?! What was the point of it? What had been cut off from the book that Annabeth looked like she'd fought a ghost? (Was she even scared of ghosts?)
Mike dropped his head on the desk just in time for Annabeth to startle out of her daze.
Bad news: she looked terrified.
Good news: Percy remained oblivious to her newfound dread, racking his brain for the best response he might offer without divulging anything.
"Uh, we'll learn who stole the bolt soon," he said at last, "like, today." A second later, Percy frowned, trying to recall when Ares' involvement was revealed. He couldn't, so he added 'maybe' under his breath.
The class stared at him, not sure what to make of the whole thing.
Now imagine a field…the crowd.
"Is it only me or it sounds depressing?"
Question was left unanswered which didn't surprise anyone.
…a concert that will never start.
"You know, I'd agree; it does sound pretty depressing," Sarah acquiesced. Her mind tried and failed to picture the scene Percy-in-the-book described, but she failed every single time and couldn't even tell anymore whether any of it was worth it anymore.
(Whoa, where did this one come from?)
…what the Fields of Asphodel looked like.
"Wait, what?!"
Dozens of eyes rested on the four. Well, the pair. Jason had already figured it out and merely waited for a proper explanation of this, undoubtedly, blasphemous occurrence. Leo mirrored his classmates' actions and was ogling his friends. He knew Percy was reckless. He was reckless. But to willingly go there? At twelve?!
Percy jerked up and sat straight. Next, he took his sweet time composing himself, for, frankly, what else was he supposed to do? The damned book didn't want to get destroyed and meddled with, leaving not many options to work with. Percy selected a less obvious way of handling things and began inhibiting the process of reading as much as he could without being accused of sabotaging the class. Heeding the looks of outrage others sent him, he was succeeding.
"Yes, you were saying…" he uttered, looking at everyone and no one.
"You went to the Fields of Asphodel?!"
Percy's face acquired a slightly apprehensive expression. "Well, duh! You knew it already."
"We did not!"
"Um, Cassie," Lora rubbed her neck; Cassandra's head snapped toward her. "We did."
"No, we––"
"We did," Lyssa butted in. It seemed like she was the only person in this school who kept a track of everything that had been read out loud. "They've discussed it when he was at camp."
Cassandra froze. Her eyes widened slightly as she ran through the recent memories. Yeah, they had touched upon something of that sort but—
"You didn't want to go there!" she protested. Several people that were sitting closest to her recoiled, afraid she might snap up at them.
If Cassandra believed it worked, then she clearly did not know any of these people (which she didn't). Annabeth snorted. Loudly. Bitterly. Then, rolling her eyes the whole way, explained that it was Percy so his claims of having self-preservation were invalid. Percy's desire to save everyone had thwarted it a long time ago.
She also ignored Percy's objective huffs, which was so jarring to witness that Cassandra decided not to dwell on it too much.
…grew in clumps here and there.
Several students turned toward the back of the class.
"Is it really that depressing or Percy is just being overdramatic?"
Annabeth and Percy froze for a second. It was hard to tell what they were thinking, for both remained pale and quite deliriously… not fully there and overly tensed, which might have sparked a few questions from others; those, however had been shut down by a somber Jason, whose expression hardened every time someone as much as cast a glance their way.
Just like it did now.
And no one dared to confront him on that point.
The next few minutes went in complete silence as Paul recited Percy's impressions of the direst place in the Ancient Greek world (though, some would argue). It was as sad as Percy imagined it: billions of people wandering around aimlessly. They didn't see; they didn't talk; they wanted nothing. As Percy put it, sad.
Several people felt a string of emotions, because they felt pity for the deceased. It was hard to imagine what life was there like. From what they had caught, the dead just existed. Hollow shells that wandered around the field without purpose in life. They lacked reason. If there were a more depressing place than that, none wanted to learn the name of it.
…Welcome, Newly Deceased!
Several students blinked, suddenly being snapped out of their pensiveness. The pace at which things changed and the contrast of the landscape and the way it was presented got everyone unsettled. If death was this, they would not want it.
Description of the security line made everyone even more creeped out. Cassandra's eye visibly twitched every time she heard words 'ghouls', 'torture' and 'dead'. Frankly, she––or anyone in this classroom––preferred to never know anything about this place. Knowing that this was what awaited you there was a bad motivation. Terrible.
However, it had nothing on the description of the Hell. The one where you got tortured infinitely, chased by demons, had your limbs disjoined, and only bad cover versions of your favorite songs played 24/7. In extreme cases, you could be chased by hellhounds, spanked by Furies, and have an endless shift of moving stones. (Which, again… Percy? A hellhound?! When were they to hear explanations of that?)
Then there was Heaven. Lights, green grass, sun, and music. All love and happiness. The isle of blessing in the sea of blessing.
Elysium.
"It sounds beautiful," Sarah commented. She was the only one, for most kids shared her sentiments and saw no point in adding anything else.
…That's the place for heroes."
Several people perked up at that. The place sounded amazing. Incredible. It was definitely worth it.
"How to get there?" Levi asked despite himself. Immediately, several heads turned toward him. As a response, he shrugged, finding nothing compromising in his desire to lead a better life even after he passed away.
To his surprise, Percy answered in a hollow voice. "You do good things, make sacrifices, lead a good life…"
He himself reminded of a statue, unmoving and hardened; just like Annabeth, who, it seemed hadn't even touched the thing she'd been preoccupied with all those times before.
"Guess there aren't many people there," Lyssa noted after a short deliberation. (A thought of focusing on their state and pondering over possible source of distress left a bitter taste in her mouth.) Confused looks that she received, though, made her snort. "C'mon, how many people are actually willing to save someone? Or make sacrifices? We're selfish creatures, so either of the two options is hard."
No one offered her an answer; everyone appeared too struck to form a proper argument.
Instead, Paul continued reading.
They continued with the walk. The farther they went, the less pleasing it became. Several students even snapped out of their wistful musings, having been slapped by the rough world of the eternal torture. And then they heard Furies.
Of course, Grover attempted to make a little detour to avoid pain and sadness. They would do the same.
"…Like, Elysium, for instance…"
"Coward," Riley muttered under his breath. He would have said it louder but realized no one was on his side anymore. His class was enthralled by stupid Jackson. The worst was that Jackson himself seemed unaware of all the impact he had on them. He clearly ignored the talks.
Annabeth-from-the-book nudged Grover to move. Then something strange happened, and no one felt happy.
"Grover," Annabeth chided. "Stop messing around."
Provided response seemed off-putting. Percy and Annabeth shuddered simultaneously, pain woven into their features.
It was such a sudden change that no one even had time to process if before Jason and Leo leaned closer to them and begun whispering something, too low for others to pick up.
"What's with them?" Lyssa frowned.
These two had been volatile, quite fairly so; but they had never willingly showed so much… pain. Pure, unbridled pain.
She exchanged a look with Jenna, who frowned at her and tipped her chin at an already preparing to speak up Peter. Luckily, his neighbor had caught on faster and cover his mouth with a pretty loud, 'Not now!', which shut up now just him, but also Steven and Levi. Everyone just started at each other in mute discombobulation, not sure where to proceed from there.
"Mr. Blofis?" Mike urged in a booming voice, effectively pushing Paul out of his trance. (What was he even doing?!)
"But I didn't…Help!"
Every single head turned in the direction of the Demigod Safest Heaven, perhaps, still hoping to get explanations; perhaps to check up on them, because this scene had obviously been pretty traumatizing for them. Voted were divided evenly.
Either way, none really got what they wanted, for Annabeth and Percy still were staring at the wall with blank expressions while Jason and Leo watched them with worry. They didn't bother much to disguise their true feelings. It didn't matter much when Percy and Annabeth were obviously hurt, probably reliving the most egregious and horrifying moments of their times down there.
No one—not even Chiron—had attempted to interrogate them on their journey through Tartarus, and right now, seeing them so openly hurt and terrified and probably dead inside, both Jason and Leo vowed to never, ever even hint at those questions. Only if either decided to talk about it themselves, which seemed like a far-fetched possibility.
Ten long seconds later, Jason coughed and practically pleaded Paul to continue while they still had a chance to move through this part without any major breakdowns. If he caught a sight of Gods…
Whoa! He caught himself. Stop right there! Gods. Bad. Not worth it.
Not worth it. The torture was not worth it; the hurt his friends were going through was not worth it. They shouldn't even be here, reading about the most private moments of Percy's.
None of it made sense. It had to be bigger than a whim of his father. They always had a bigger purpose. What had Annabeth said? The Fates were at play, which—
Jason's brain clicked out, making him squeeze his eyes shut. When he opened them, there was no previous thoughts present in his mind, only a feeble ghost of an emerging idea that he hadn't had a chance of catching.
Paul resumed reading just in time for everyone to startle out of their forlorn pondering and focus back on the story.
Having been infected by a gloomy atmosphere and overall depressing tone of this chapter, barely anyone interrupted Paul for the next few minutes. They weren't able to open their mouths; even worse, their vocal cords had given out completely, making their owner unable to speak. That whole thing was so messed up! It had started innocuous enough, though, with Grover getting caught up in something extremely weird courtesy of his presumably animated shoes; Grover couldn't stop it. Easy. Ha! They thought!
Apparently, shoes lived their own, completely unrelated to their owner, life and decided to take a trip around the Underworld. Or they just were looking for the fastest way to Hades. An absolutely sane desire of an inanimate piece of footwear. To spice it up, they sped up and almost gave Grover nausea and fear of shoes.
In short it appeared that. Pretty harmless.
Not so much.
…in the opposite direction.
The lass stared more intensely at that. To their horror, shoes did not stop there and dragged their owner further, moving away from the right direction. They chose a tunnel. When kids heard it, they blinked. Then stared at the book in the way Carrie inflamed things; their eyes never left it. The moment Percy suggested to 'hold onto something', at least nine of them wanted to slap their foreheads and three actually did that. Even they, people who could barely follow this story, realized 'holding onto something' would not work. Not that type of a situation.
In their distress no one noticed how Percy's look grew darker, his features sharpened. It was much more difficult, he thought. To hear it. The closer his past-self got to the stupid chasm, the more intense his anxiety became. Reliving memories was the last thing in his plan for life. Of course, who cared? Not gods that decided it be a good idea to subject him to another of their games and watch the show. Of course, he was their favorite circus monkey, the one that followed their orders and ended up in some dangerous––and entertaining for them––situations. They knew Percy did it not because he wanted to or was afraid of their wrath––he had been long past that––but because they usually manipulated him into taking another quest. And another. And one more after that. They would take his loved ones, his friends, his memories and life… to solve problems they themselves had brought to life.
How annoying could it be? Even this quest. Zeus pinned all the blame on him so, of course, Percy had to go nowhere to retrieve something he had never seen before in his life, simultaneously trying to survive and not offend the rest of the Olympians. And what about the Golden Fleece? If they had been smarter then, no one would have had to search for it because Polyphemus would have never gotten a hold of it in the first place. And he was sooo not going to recall the mess with Atlas, for there was only one person to blame, but Zeus would rather zip him off Earth than admit to being boneheaded. Hera deserved a special place in Fields of Punishment solely for meddling with their lives because she believed her plan was perfect. Flash news, it wasn't. Jason and he had almost murdered each other. Their camps had almost destroyed one another. The only reason it had never happened was Reyna, Hedge, and Nico and their dedication to fixing the mess. Without them, demigods would have ceased to exist. But gods would never accept the blame. They would shift it on each other until they found out that blaming the deceased was much easier. Dead don't talk. They can't fight accusations. A perfect solution in case they somehow regained their sanity and defeated Gaia.
Percy cast a glance at the book. Slowly, his attention got diverted by the expressions on the faces of others. What was going on?
Curious, Percy allowed himself to tune back in.
…flying off into the chasm to join its twin.
Ah, they survived the first ever meeting with Tartarus the Mighty. Percy slid down on his seat. That was the moment when several pairs of eyes rested on his face. He felt the looks, of course, he did. They made him twitch and his skin crawl as though billions of small ants were running around, determined to find the fastest one. Percy flinched, managing to disturb Annabeth along the way. She blinked back into consciousness and slumped on her seat, resting her head on Percy's shoulder. Neither uttered a word.
…as if somebody had filled it with rocks.
"Wow, you really got it tough, didn't ya?"
They received the answer to their question straight from the book when Percy willingly listened to the pit. A collective shudder that went through the students could rival a small earthquake in its intensity.
"Percy, why would you listen to something so dangerous?" Sarah asked. Well, she was basically accusing Percy of a crime but who cares?
Percy blinked. "Um, what?"
"Haven't they told you that you shouldn't listen to dangerous… whatever it is? They're dangerous for a reason! You don't go and listen to them because even I understand it's a trap!"
Sarah heaved a heavy breath and leaned against her chair, looking peaceful.
"Er, what'd she want?" Percy frowned at Jason, who waved him off, looking positively giddy for some reason.
"We have to get out of here," Annabeth said.
"Thanks the heavens you have a sane person in your company!"
So they tried to escape. 'Tried' being the key word, for Percy moved too slow, weighed down by his backpack. (Lyssa was frowning profoundly the whole time, wondering what exactly they had in the bag for it to appear that heavy.) And then there was the voice. The voice that even through the words sent shudders down their spines, so cold and evil it sounded. No one tried to imagine how terrified the trio must have been.
"What was that?"
"Same question, dude, what was that?!" all eyes found the only person, brave enough to interrupt such an intense moment. Seeing all the looks, Steven snorted. Loudly. "As if you don't wonder the same!"
…"One of Hades's pets?"
"If only," Percy and Annabeth breathed out in unison, twitching along the way, zeroing on the spot between Leo and Jason and not looking anywhere at the same time.
"Do we… No?" Cassandra watched them with confusion, for she failed to understand the reasoning behind such a comment. "Alright."
Perhaps, it was just a notion of this thing that made them uneasy. God knows, she felt the same, even if she didn't understand the real extent of the issue.
…I never liked those shoes, anyway."
"By the way, what are those shoes?"
A sort of innocent question restored a bit of enthusiasm in the students and provoked them to seek answers. Percy and Annabeth looked up just in time to see everyone staring at them with hunger. Even Jason and Leo, who definitely looked way too excited.
Percy groaned. Loudly. Next, his head dropped on the desk, forcing Annabeth to move away from him. He never got back up which basically shifted all the attention to Annabeth. She heaved a sigh then, as a means of a bloody revenge, pierced Percy's back with her elbow. When Percy provided nothing but a muffled yelp, she'd given up.
"These are flying shoes from Hermes," she stated nonchalantly.
"Hermes gave you flying shoes?" Jason raised his eyebrows.
"Hermes gave you flying shoes?" Lyssa repeated, looking astonished.
"I've never said Hermes gave us flying shoes!" Annabeth snapped at her, sitting straight up. Percy yelped once again but didn't move.
"But you just did!"
This whole class was an abomination that should not exist!
"I said they're from Hermes," Annabeth all but roared. A faint thought at the back of her mind sobered her up for a moment, though Annabeth refused to give in to the voice of reason and question herself on her feelings and amplified irritation. They'd been through this routine too much by this point. "I never said Hermes himself gave them to us."
Lyssa paused for second before jumping right back into the argument. "Isn't it the same thing?"
"No!"
Percy jolted. So did Jason and Leo, watching her with an ever-growing concern.
Annabeth crossed her arms and glared at both—a futile attempt at releasing some of the brewing anger she didn't know how to handle. Why Tartarus?! Why this exact part of all the ones they could have put in this damned book! Why'd they selected one of the most traumatizing moments of her life?
Because they don't know, a more logical part of her mind supplied.
Like hell they didn't! They'd been eavesdropping since the very beginning, willingly or not; they knew everything. They simply didn't care.
"But––" Lyssa began, eliciting a rage-filled exhale from Annabeth.
"Mr. Blofis, if you please," she asked, trying her best to keep her voice steady.
Paul's voice drowned out exclaims of outrage and disappointment several students expressed.
Their disappointment lasted exactly three sentences because the fourth one could not be dismissed.
"Even Echidna hasn't given you that feeling?" Lyssa repeated incredulously. "When did you meet her?"
"You met Echidna?" Jason asked simultaneously. Percy winced. "You don't have to answer; I see you did. When?"
"I agree with the blond boy; when it happen?"
Percy grimaced. Due to irritation he felt or memories, no one knew. Either was probable. They didn't care. All they needed was Percy to elaborate on quite a terrifying (as Lyssa later assured) statement. Well, Percy did. Kind of. He basically retold the story in three sentences. 'I met her. I was hurt. I had an accident at the Getaway Arch'. ('You remember the name?' 'It's hard to forget when you fall off it'.)
Percy didn't elaborate, prompting several extremely nosey children to seek information somewhere else.
…head toward the palace of Hades.
"Almost?" Levi frowned.
Almost.
"That's… reassuring."
As Paul proceeded with the book, several people realized Percy possessed an infinite amount of drama, intertwined with pessimism and an ability to root fear in you. How exactly he'd not only managed to survive in general but also was allowed to lead a whole quest? They really had no one else, did they?
At least, the palace seemed lovely. As an interesting place as an underground, death-ruled kingdom could be. Those engravings depicting apparent catastrophes? If you don't look at them, you can envision the beauty. The stone, mushrooms, poisonous plants, and jewels-packed garden might capture your attention; though, solely for the fact of it being weird. And those statues…
"What the hell?" rang through the class.
All the eyes on Percy again. He shrugged noncommittally. "Medusa."
Stares intensified, fueled by thorough confusion and perplexity their holders experienced.
"Um, what?" perhaps, it was not the best idea to expose your state…
Who were they kidding?! It needed to be expressed right here, right now in all its glory, for the level of astonishment Percy put them in was not healthy. Not even a bit. That bit that would not threaten their lives had been traversed and stomped on million years ago when they had still been young and naive. But now? Ha! The only way to retain a minuscule piece of sanity was to question everything, to outline the problem and solve it as fast as possible before it might be too late. This moment was one of those especially perfect times when you could do it.
"Me-du-sa," Sarah repeated. "Like the Medusa, the one that petrifies you when you look at her?"
"The one and only," Percy nodded, still exuding as much indifference as he could. Feigned or not, was hard to tell; neither Jason nor Leo succeeded, which left them watching the two attentively to catch the moment Percy might snap. Or Annabeth. Or both.
If they decided to take a vacation after this day, Jason and Leo would fully support them.
"Do we need to—" she froze then shook her head. Nope, she was not going there. Not now, not ever. "Never mind, I don't even want to know how you know her. I'll just go with the belief you know everyone. Yeah, that's great. Continue, Mr. Blofis, sir."
Quite bemused, Paul found the line and began reading.
"The garden of Persephone," Annabeth said. "Keep walking."
"Why?"
They definitely could not keep silent for more than ten seconds (totally Percy's fault). Everyone's heads veered toward Steven who regarded the book with barely concealed confusion.
"That's a good question, actually," Levi noted. "And no, Lyssa, I do not need your input. I'd rather the book explained it."
Lyssa, who already opened her mouth to give him a lecture on the dangers of the Persephone's realm, closed it and huffed.
Thanks the gods for Percy and his inexplicable need to clarify everything that might be difficult to understand to invisible readers. As Levi heard that by taking a bite of pomegranates he had no clue also were there, one would stay there forever. You would not physically be able to leave.
Here Percy's teacher side evaporated, allowing its place to his dramatic one. Really, none––not a single soul in this class or school––would like to hear that skeletons guarded countless of doors. Or that they wore pretty ridiculous for a bunch of bones attires. Or that some carried weapons. In short, everyone's determination to avoid the place grew stronger, basically steeled itself within their minds. Was it too late to turn into a faithless dude and float in the arms of nothingness? For them this prospect appeared much more appealing than seeing walking skeletons or wandering around an enormous field without a purpose.
If they were freaked out before, they got even more dumb folded with Grover's next words.
"I bet Hades doesn't have trouble with door-to-door salesmen."
Even Paul raised an eyebrow and sent a side-glance to Percy, who didn't even flinch at some many stares being aimed at him.
My backpack weighed a ton now.
Lyssa's suspicion returned and slapped her right in the face. Then tapped a couple more times to ensure Lyssa caught it and flew right into her mind. Why was this damned backpack mentioned? A lot. She must admit, she had heard it at least three times in this short passage only and they had not gotten there yet! They had not encountered Hades! And Percy couldn't shut up about a bag. It had to mean something. In this book everything Percy says, holds a great meaning to either a particular period or future. So what's the deal?
I wanted to open it…but this wasn't the time.
"Do it," Mike urged Percy-from-the-book. Just like Lyssa, he took notice of Percy's persistence in returning to it. Not disturbed by exterior perils or weird scenery, Percy focused on himself and realized inaccuracy in his current state.
Real Percy only sent him a perplexed look.
"I suppose we should… knock?"
"Don't tell me you knocked."
He didn't, to their relief. However, realization that Hades had heard him unnerved even the bravest.
So did Percy's description. Apparently, he had dreamed of the palace and had met Ares. However, no one dared to inquire about this one, seeing Percy's dark look. Whatever had gone between the two, they sure as hell did not need to know that. Then there was Hades himself.
"He's Hitler's father?"
Annabeth blinked at sudden noise and turned her attention at the intruders. "Many prominent figures in history were demigods. It's not unheard of."
Jason nodded in assent, still eyeing her with thinly-veiled concern. Annabeth shook her head, forcing him and Leo to turn around.
"How's so?"
Only to turn back to Annabeth in search of support. In response, she tipped her chin toward the class, silently asking him to take it from there, for she was obviously not in in the right state of mind for that.
"We're more prone to expressing, um…" Jason frowned, veering back to the others. A couple dozens of eyes on him now, Jason wrinkled his nose and gave Annabeth a side-glance.
He certainly was on his own.
"We're more, uh," he scratched his nose. Accident prone would fit just fine, but it felt degrading to him. He hadn't deliberately sought out trouble and chaos; those always found him and his friends without their effort. "Uh, audacious. We always take risks and we're more… determined to prove ourselves and durable."
That felt nice. A ghost of a smile on Annabeth's face proved that he'd done a good job.
(How hard it was to speak so openly about himself!)
"So you're more likely to reach heights," Lyssa concluded after a short consideration.
Jason considered her words for less than a second before nodding. "Sort of. We're also our parents' children; we inherit their qualities, their talents," a quick glance at Percy, who huffed half-heartedly at that but didn't offer any other response, "some more than others. The more powerful your parent is, the more likely you'll seek means to establish yourself. Like Hercules; he has such an inflated ego, you know he's Zeus' son."
The thunder rumbled, displeased with the comment. Three demigods glanced out the window. Jason shuddered.
"We inherit a lot, including flaws. The Big Three's kids tend to be more—" he faltered, unable to attach an appropriate definition to the image. What kind of person was he? Or his brothers? Even Percy. They had battled for leadership, after all. "—power-hungry." The word appeared unexpectedly but described them perfectly. Both he and Percy had been pretty power-hungry; Jason more so. Both needed to feel control. Both found themselves more fitting for the position. "Yeah, power-hungry would do."
Lyssa examined him for a few moments and nodded. "Alright… So, it was inevitable? The war?"
Jason pressed his lips together, sending a helpless look Annabeth's way. Thanks the gods she was listening!
"Well… there was the reason why they made that pact," Annabeth said carefully, peering at the ceiling
Lyssa didn't respond. She whirled back to her desk and stared at the whiteboard. There were things to mull over.
"Or perhaps you are simply very foolish."
"What've you done?" Lora groaned, receiving no response.
Percy from the book was more eager to engage in any form of a conversation. Even with Hades. Only one thing was worse than talking to Hades: seeing his underwear. Why would Percy even concentrate on it? Why?! No one––no one––wanted to know there was a miniscule prospect of you being woven into his underwear after your passing.
"Why do you keep thinking of it?" someone grumbled, completely baffled at the new information. Jackson and his weird mind…
"Only two requests?" Hades said. "Arrogant child.
"I'd say 'reckless'," Cassandra corrected. "Percy is the last person I would call 'arrogant'."
"Brave."
"Confident."
"Has no self-preservation," eyes found Jenna who shrugged. What could she say to refute the truthful claim?
No one even bothered to check if Percy heard them. They say the same to his face if it ever came to it, because he did seem like a reckless, brave, and confident person. And patient. Had it been anyone else in their place, they would've burned the book a long time ago.
As if you have not already taken enough.
"What is he on about?" Levi groaned.
Speak, then. It amuses me not to strike you dead yet."
"He's so generous," Sarah said sarcastically.
Percy-from-the-book was extremely nervous. In his distress, he focused too much on the surroundings and his lament about Persephone's absence.
Then there was Annabeth, the second most supportive person on this planet.
Her finger prodded me in the back.
"You want him dead that much?" Sarah's question was left unanswered, for Annabeth still couldn't care less about any of the drama.
Annabeth's silence increased the level of anxiety others carried. Coupled with the incredibly delightful conversation skills all of them possessed, it was a miracle no one had had a heart attack yet. What normal person would go and demand of Hades, the GOD, to return an especially dangerous weapon that might not only turn you to dust but also cause a full-blown war? The class learned the name of one. Thanks the gods, Hades was either too interested in Percy or really needed him to hand whatever he meant back. There was no apparent reason for him to spare Percy.
At least, Percy finally gathered there was something extremely wrong (they were so relieved that missed Percy calling Hades 'uncle').
"What exactly have I done?"
Their exhilaration was beaten by Percy. Again. He just had to describe an imminent earthquake courtesy of Hades and his disability to keep it cool. Apparently, his reasoning justified all the destruction. Or he did not care.
"Do you think I want war, godling?"
"Does he not?" Levi wondered. A quite menacing-sounding thunder shook the sky, indicating that no, he would not want to start a war. Levi raised his hands in defense. "Okay, okay, I got it. Touchy subject. No one wants a war!"
The sky remained silent, effectively calming him down and increasing amusement of some kids.
...how many subdivisions I've had to open?...Traffic problems…Double overtime for the staff…
You got the idea. There was a lot to complain about. Too much to cover, actually. And Percy unconsciously added to them.
"Charon wants a pay raise," I blurted…
Half he class slapped their foreheads. Even Jason shook his head in amazement. He'd done it. Percy had actually aggravated a god. Again. At twelve. How exactly had he survived till this moment?
"You didn't!" Sarah exclaimed.
"He did," Mike stated, equally perplexed by the idiocy Percy exhibited. "Deal with it."
"But it's a god!"
"We know, Sarah. We know."
"A god!" she moaned, rubbing the bridge of her nose.
"It never stopped him."
"So reckless!"
"Guys, I'm still here!" Percy called in indignation. He'd first gotten jostled out of his lamenting by the loud voices but then he heard them. Why was this one pushed onto him when that had been a total accident after a very scarring incident that still haunted him and why was he still thinking of all that?!
Percy expelled a breath and leaned back on the desk. Annabeth's eyes flickered toward him, but she returned to watching the clock, not really worried about him that much anymore. Jason pressed his lips together, fighting an urge to talk back at them, as Leo continued motioned to Paul to continue; Paul didn't even see him, which sucked.
"We know," kids yelled in unison, making Leo twitch and curse under his breath. This stupid school was taking the last of his patience, and they hadn't even been through half of the day.
"So reckless," Sarah added mournfully as if she was already choosing the flower she would put on his grave.
Paul finally snapped out of it and started reading.
Thanks the gods for distraction! Hearing about a millennia old mythical creature's obsession with Italian suits was entertaining. It even lured the class to believe the disaster might be averted. Ha! They thought!
"But you took Zeus's master bolt."
"PERCY!" rang around the classroom.
Their apprehension was understandable for a sole reason of his interlocutor being Hades. A god. An enraged god that might or might not want to murder Percy just for the sake of it.
Hades made sense. A lot. If they didn't know Percy could not be the thief as he held no clue of the bolt even being a thing, they would have believed the god. Without having all the details, everyone still could say gods hated each other and would not miss an opportunity to push the blame on their brother. They could understand Hades' behavior.
Almost.
…and I will have my helm back!"
"Helm?" Cassandra frowned and looked around to see whether she was the only one lost. She wasn't. Even Lyssa appeared quite confused by the statement.
"Where has the helm gotten from?"
To get a proper explanation of a very confounding issue, every single person stared at the demigods. Half of the group, followed them and turned to Percy and Annabeth, once again, proving that they didn't hold as much information as others thought them to.
"Read?" Annabeth suggested feebly.
Her words induced a round of groans.
At least, Annabeth from the book aided them by asking the only question that mattered.
"Lord Hades, your helm of darkness is missing, too?"
He offered the response everyone kind of expected. After all, Hades alluded to it for the whole of their conversation.
No one uttered a word as Hades threw accusations at Percy and his father. Some would shot a cautious side-look toward the window, afraid one of them might get riled up and attempt a murder. Luckily, the sky wad as clear as before, slightly placating students.
However, Hades' speech was the main focus, for he managed to spill some quite interesting questions that made the nosiest ones wonder what exactly it meant. Hades hadn't created any obstacles? He'd allowed them to enter his realm? He'd been expecting them? Then what was…
The thought evaporated before it could form properly. Who cared about such trivial things when Hades turned into a crybaby and began threatening to stop death because Percy did not cooperate? A god! An old man went the 'give me that or else those innocent people would suffer' route out of sheer anger! What the heck was happening?
It was only natural that Percy's fear subsided, fueled by irritation. Everyone would feel as offended as he if they got blamed for things that had never done and got guilt-tripped along the way.
"You're as bad as Zeus," I said.
Thunder echoed in the distance, making several people roll their eyes.
…That's why you sent the Furies after me?"
"Furies?" Mike veered to see Percy.
Percy hadn't gotten up from the desk yet, while Annabeth exuded so much apathy he felt bad even about thinking to disturb her.
"Guess we won't hear this story," Lora concluded, watching them as well.
"When we ever?" Jenna asked absent-mindedly, picking on her nails; she had more sense than to expect them to be open anymore.
"True," Lora nodded, feeling resigned.
Mybe they just had to move through this class and be done with it.
"I had nothing to do with them.
"Oh, he's so generous," Sarah's sarcasm basically emanated from her. It was so thick that anyone could touch it.
…enter my kingdom so easily?"
"Easily?"
"Easily?"
"My sentiments exactly!"
"Return my property!"
Hades was not about to back down. In fact, Percy's, as he definitely believed, feigned obliviousness only fueled to the blazing fire of his paranoia and erased any bit of politeness he might have possessed before (which is doubtful if we remember his history). Hades began demanding Percy to return something he did not carry.
And then he asked Percy to open the damned backpack. At those words Lyssa perked up, glad she would finally be able to hear an explanation for this.
…humming with energy.
"What?!" most of the students, including Jason and Leo, stared at Percy in horror.
Percy raised his head, alarmed at the noise. Everyone stated at him in silent marvel, making him groan. Whatever had happened in that book again, he did not want to know it. His head dropped back, indicating that the hearing had come to an end.
"You were right," Riley sneered almost immediately. "We know who stole the thing. Good job, Jackson!"
His words sank into the void, for Percy offered him no response. Not even a twitch. However, he received needed attention from the other side.
"Oh, ph-lease, Riley, don't be stupid," Lyssa objected. She, for one, would never believe Percy had stolen the bolt—or anything at this. "When would he do it if he learned it had been stolen before he even knew about its existence?"
"But the chunk of the story is missed, how can you know there's nothing in there?"
Valid. But not an argument.
"Anything that happened before this is clearly non-important to the story or it would've been in the book," Lyssa shrugged. "I don't find it weird."
Her words were taken into consideration. The class went quiet and Paul took it as an opportunity to continue.
Of course, the three were beside themselves with confusion. And Hades seemed to have fallen into delirium, deeming himself right. Of course, all the heroes were the same. They would not respect those who deserved that (as though, gods actually were on this list). They would be damn fools.
At least, they listened to other people.
Percy's attempt to reason with him was dismissed. Instead, Hades, thinking it was the right move, revealed that his mother was alive… Paul's tension got so thick and tangible that no one dared to interrupt him. They entertained the same thought: that was despicable. Atrocious. No one––god or not––was allowed to force you to do something through threatening of your loved ones. It never painted you in a good light.
A tiny piece of respects for Hades vanquished by his own statements. In fact, the book Percy took it better than his class. He simply endeavored to escape by showing… pearls?
"What?"
"Are those pearls? Where did you get pearls from?"
A muffled groan was the best answer they had received.
…Or give me the backpack and accept my terms."
"He's so pushy…" Cassandra noted.
"He's livid." Sarah stated. "I'd be too," her head spun toward Percy, who was laying on the desk with no sign of life in sight. Sarah sighed and turned back to Cassandra, who, too, stared at Percy with an unreadable expression on her face. "Sorry but if I found out that a person I suspected to have something I needed, actually had the thing and played stupid… I'd be mad too."
"It doesn't excuse his behavior," Jenna objected from the side.
Sarah and Cassandra peered at her, to which she raised an eyebrow and returned to picking her nails.
"These are gods."
Sarah's quite careless statement didn't sit well with the gods, for she evoked an extremely strong reaction from them. The lightning was immense; it stretched from the farthest of corners right up to the horizon, accompanied by the loudest rumble any of them ever heard.
"Guess you offended them," Mike announced, throwing cautious looks toward the window, wondering just how much they'd heard and whether they were really eavesdropping.
Offended or not, Hades had been pushy-pushy. Impatient. He ordered Percy to make a tough decision without a hint of remorse. And it was difficult to select the person to leave in the Underworld.
To their biggest surprise, everyone seemed eager to play a hero and sacrifice themselves. Everyone.
…I plan to go down fighting."
Silence enveloped them like a blanket. Slowly all the eyes found Annabeth, who was leaning against her sit, blinking slowly; her expression blank, which emphasized just how exhausted she looked. She did not take notice of their looks. Nothing. But she'd certainly earned their respect.
Only to make them roll their eyes when a quite an admirable sacrifice transformed into a bicker that forced Percy to step in—they really didn't know him; Percy would not need someone being annoying to make a life-altering decision and risk his life.
"Stop it, both of you!"
"Oh, not you too!"
Luckily to Mike, Lyssa and basically everyone else, Percy did not try to sacrifice himself (that time would come later). Percy distributed the pearls and turned to his mother. Paul's grip tightened, indicating his tension.
The smug look on Hades's face faded.
"Oh, wow, he sooo not expected you to do this!"
All Leo received in response was a round of astounded looks. Well, he did seem too quiet. But in Leo's defense, he couldn't wait for this class to end as soon as possible and was too busy peeking at the clock and catching every single movement from Percy and Annabeth's desk. (Same as Jason, really.)
…Remember about Charon's pay raise."
"PERCY!"
"Dude, you wanna be dead sooo much!"
To their horror, book-Percy did defy Hades. Then tried to escape. With difficulty. As Paul stumbled through words, filled with worry, everyone tensed even more. They could feel blood rushing through their veins and their pounding hearts. Pulsation in their temples, tightened grips, shortage of breath; all of that remained up until Percy and Co. crashed into water.
A collective inhale accompanied their trip to the ocean, darkness, and general disorientation.
Then they saw the light. And sharks. A sharp inhale almost ripped some throats. Stress prevailed in the classroom… and they were away from the Underworld.
Then Percy saved the day.
I said, "Beat it."
Hearing such a comment toward a shark was a relief. Some even found it entertaining. Unlike Percy-from-the-book who seemed more pissed than ever. Even that poor shark realized that.
…June 21, the day of the summer solstice.
"Wait, what?" Levi stared at Percy. "Didn't you have like a week?"
To their utter shock, Annabeth regained consciousness and keveled Levi with a look.
"We made a detour," she said hoarsely.
Stares intensified.
"Alright…"
…army of the dead after me right now.
"Wow, you hurt-hurt him."
But Percy-from-the-book did not care. He had other problems like returning the bolt in time. Or…
…with the god who'd tricked me.
"Who?" Steven wondered immediately. Did he hear it right and there was the god who'd tricked Percy. A god! A real god!
"This we'll find out tomorrow," Sarah said, instantly dampening his mood.
"Damn, why is this book so stupid?"
Four people at the back of the class were in complete agreement with him. Although, Steven would never know that.
Leo could not rid of a thought that the world had gone to hell. He'd seen weird. He'd sailed on a flying warship through Europe to Athens and fought literal earth, but that felt like your normal Tuesday compared to the chaos the school had descended into.
Gods? Weird but cool.
Percy taking it in stride? Probably normal for him, but they could never be certain.
The school being fine with the book? That was the biggest mystery of all times.
Why were they fine with the book?!
That was the question that nagged at Leo's mind ever since he'd caught a glimpse of a dejected Annabeth over the MI. What it was, she refused to tell. Jason knew even less than he, and none dared to ask Percy. Annabeth hadn't asked him either. She looked exhausted, so Leo didn't have a heart to disturb her more.
The camp was in shambles too. Which was saying a lot. They'd just come off a life-changing war, and everyone for once, naively, believed they might get a break before another world disaster would fall on their heads. With the way they headed, it didn't feel that far-fetched anymore. After all, Leo had seen dryads weep in the forest after another failed attempt at a camp activity. (Damn you, Harley!)
So, dryads wept now, which stunned Chiron into silence for good two days. (They'd never showed their distress in public.) Grover had mentioned some stirring somewhere in Arizona, but no one felt any urge to go and check it just yet—the school topic had prevailed over the rest. Will had been caught glaring heatedly at Nico, which creeped everyone so much that they refused to ever mention it to anyone. (And unanimously voted for leaving the two to their own means… Whatever they were up to these days.) The camp was still practically in ruins even with Romans on their team—you couldn't possibly build a single thing without an architect's approval, and Annabeth seemed too busy to spare their blueprints a glance. (They'd started the building; he knew they had. Harley couldn't shut up about The New Cool Stuff they'd cooked up for Hermes' cabin that had gotten picked up by… whoever had taken Annabeth's place. No one cared anymore.)
They'd been restoring life as they knew it… before gods had screwed it up.
That's a wonder Percy hadn't blown up yet. Annabeth believed they had a month at most before he devised the most devilish plan ever and brought hell. Leo knew he'd be on board. And Jason. And, gods forbid, Piper would ever be left out; she'd been rehearsing her Super Important Lecture™ in front of the mirror all the times he'd seen her.
Fun times.
Just as fun as being hunted by monsters.
Speaking of.
A hellhound?
There had been a hellhound at school when Percy had a detention?! And no one ever talked about it?!
The idea of ignoring a hellhound seemed wild to Leo, but Percy stared in space too much for it to be normal and Annabeth looked ashen and sick—not the best people to ask. Jason would shrug at his occasional inquiry, mystified at all the talks around them.
But… a hellhound?!
A monster so close to them that no one cared?! The first monster since they'd started the book!
Wait…
Leo looked up from his lunch.
As always, the place was bubbling with excitement. Clamoring intermixed with voices and laughter, turning into hubbub. Leo's overstimulated brain had clicked out a few times just this one lunch. He didn't know how much he could last before making a run for it and escaping to Ogygia. He missed the sun, the calming crashing of waves, and birds chirping.
He missed the quiet.
But Calypso would never agree to move back to that 'gods-forsaken confinement' and Leo wasn't about to test his luck and ask her. He'd rather face a pissed off gorgon.
Oh, gorgons.
"Uh, guys, did you notice," he faltered, watching each and every one of them intently—almost glaring—until they'd had their full attention on him. Annabeth watched him blearily, Percy sat with a blank expression, and Jason, having dived into the safest activity he knew of, didn't react to him. Leo's nervousness had shot high up; he had barely noticed that he'd been whirling a fork in his hands. "Did you notice they've been no monsters recently?"
Jason's head snapped toward him. Even Percy and Annabeth regained some kind cognizance. Leo dropped the fork and leaned on the seat, waiting for their reactions.
Those weren't long in coming.
"It's not—" Jason began with a frown and closed his mouth. He dropped his gaze on the papers then peered at Percy, who remained indifferent to the conversation, and Annabeth, who grimaced slightly. "I mean... No, right?"
Leo leaned forward, clasping his hands together at a sudden spike of anxiety. It was a jarring image, seeing Jason so unsure of his words. To see Jason unsure of anything.
"No, no; Leo's right," Annabeth spoke up, slumping on her seat, permeated by concern. Whatever that troubled her, she put it aside for now. "Four demigods in one place; it screams 'come and get me'. Why haven't there been any attacks?"
Of course, none wanted to be attacked mid-quiz, but her bafflement about that having not happened yet was the exact thought everyone had.
"Gods," Percy... asked? Whispered? Whined? Growled? Who ever knows with him anymore.
Annabeth cast a glance his way. "Percy—"
"It's all them, you know it!"
Whoops, totally growled.
Percy took in a shaky breath and hit his fist on the table. The thudding reverberated in the air. A lot. Leo glanced down, surprised to see his plate shaking.
Annabeth followed suit, frowning at seeing the table tremble beneath her. It didn't take much time to put two and two together, and before long she was leaning toward Percy with her hand placed firmly on his shoulder.
Until Percy pushed her away, of course, which might have shocked everyone had it been any other time.
"Don't you see?!" he all but bellowed.
Oh, thanks Olympus for the lunch break! It was so noisy in here that Percy's words had sunk into the void of other voices, screaming, and clattering.
Momentary silence enveloped them all until someone yelled in the background, pushing them out of their stupefaction.
"Percy," Jason pushed his glasses up his nose, frowning prominently and exuding 'I'm the leader, listen to me' aura, "if they knew how to keep up disguise—"
"They would've done nothing!" Percy threw his hands up, barely avoiding Annabeth's head. Annabeth recoiled, obviously startled by his behavior. She stared at Leo in mute shock, to which Leo shrugged. They must have the talk eventually; but it did not seem like the time would ever be right for it. Not with Percy fighting every step of the way. "Jason, think of it. They. Don't. Care. Whatever is happening here, it doesn't matter to them. We still don't matter to them. I bet they found a way to cover our scent so we can read this stupid book in peace... DIDN'T YOU?! I KNOW YOU DID!"
Clattering and chatter stopped, as everyone peered at Percy. He was glaring at the ceiling and trembling feebly. None of the four did anything to calm him down, however. They shared a dark look and collectively decided to sit back and watch. Gods knew what they were getting into when they'd opened this can of worms with this book. They should've known by now who Percy was. They should've done the right thing and just ask him; if they weren't doing it just for the kicks, Percy would've understood.
Not now. He couldn't care less. He was mad angry and paranoid. He was slowly losing his composure over the book that he'd never wanted to exist, and gods still did not care much unless he insulted them loud and proud. He'd gone so far beyond what any of them expected of him (except Annabeth. Probably. Who knows? Annabeth would be right beside him holding Zeus while Percy shoved the book up his ass.); something had been brewing in his mind too long now.
He was bound to blow up.
Gods would learn to care for their kids eventually. One way or another.
Percy would make them.
This book must be the worst invention in this world.
"I swear," Florence repeated for the fifteenth time. "I swear there was a huge dog."
"Flo," Levi all but whispered mournfully, "we know. We believe you."
"It attacked Jackson!?"
"Noah said it'd licked him," Lora objected.
Noah raised his arms in defense as though asking them to not involve him in this mess.
Lora's sentiment exactly. The more they delved into the Percy Jackson issue, the more she felt like she was losing both her sanity and brain cells.
The chaos the school had dissolved into, was affecting everyone. No exceptions. Even when they pretended there was nothing (teachers) and when they openly had a bottle of bourbon placed on the table (Mr. Rowel), no one batted an eyelid anymore.
"Who cares?" Levi asked. "Why the hell was there a hellhound? Are we sure it's that?"
Everyone stared at him like he was a big idiot, to which Levi rolled his eyes. Whatever.
"I've searched Google up right, left, and center," Florence said gingerly, her eye twitched at their attention. "It's a hellhound. They usually stay in the Underworld, though"
"A what?"
Florence leveled Levi with the look, making both him and Noah who stood beside him shudder. "Hades' realm… Have you read the source material?"
The question hang in the air, turning them all more uncomfortable with each passing second, which meant… nope, he'd never picked up a damn book in his life. Florence threw he hands up in resignation and shared a look with mournful Lora.
Levi sucked in a deep breath, breaking the silence. "To make it clear, we had a mythological monster from a mythological dead land jump on Jackson and lick him?!"
Noah nodded enthusiastically, happy someone was agreeing with him.
"And we all would just collectively drop it?" Levi asked in a strained voice.
This time Florence and Lora joined Noah, who wore the biggest grin on his face, exposing a row of colorful braces (that he found way too damn cool).
"Levi, have you seen them today?" Florence asked tentatively. "Percy's pissed."
Everyone looked in the direction of the gym where Percy had made a scene earlier today and gotten kicked out of the class altogether. What exactly had happened was a mystery. They knew one thing: Percy had yelled at Mr. Rowel and threatened(?) him when he'd heard of another detention—whatever that one was about; their voices had been muffled and both stormed out of the coach's office fuming and glaring at everyone, so kids assumed the worst. It was not a secret that Mr. Rowel detested the book and refused to pick it up, even when kids begged him to do it for good three days. It would not surprise anyone if he'd confronted Percy as well.
"Plus, if anyone ever dares to pry this story outta him, it's Lyssa—and I'd never go to Lyssa for anything," Florence pushed a strand of brown hair off her face and sighed.
Silence descended on them once again until Noah hiccupped. "Yeah, not gonna happen."
"Terrible idea."
"I'd rather jump in a volcano."
"Yeah, I'm right behind you."
They started walking toward the exit, a motley crew that they were. A hyper-social menace that Noah was should have never ended up on the same team as an overly strict and demanding Florence, but they had and they loved every second of it. How and when they'd added Levi who was closer to Noah then Florence, was still a mystery to them all, but he'd brought a quite inquisitive Lora to the band, balancing them all out. They were so different, yet there was one thing that united them: avoidance of Lyssa. A vow they'd made in the first year of high school had landed them in a lot of trouble but spared from a far more detrimental fate.
And none were ready to lose that.