I opened my eyes, which had been tightly closed. It seemed as if we had been down for hours, but I knew that we would have been dead by now if that were true. As my eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness, I took in the face of Brie. She was below me, as I had shielded her with my body. Her eyes were just beginning to open, and I was relieved to see that the only wounds she had were minor scratches and bumps.

I had never been this close to Brie in my life, but I didn't have time to process it. I jumped up, causing some pieces of a world landmark to tumble to the ground. I reached for my knife, cursing myself for not bringing my sword. Come on! The one time I don't have-

My thoughts were cut off by a load shriek, and I quickly whipped out my knife. I knew that it would be no match for the monster, but it was the only thing I had with me that was celestial bronze.

All was silent for a moment as I braced myself for attack. The air around the building seemed charged with static. From far off in the east I saw a faint shadow dive downward.

"Brie," I said, still facing the place where I had seen the silhouette last. "I want you to run."

Though I couldn't see her I knew that she had stood up because of the sound of falling rubble. I could hear the fear in her voice as she spoke.

"Well, you're coming too, right? We have to call the police, tell someone. A bomb just went off on the side of the Empire State building!"

I wasn't sure if Brie could see through the Mist or not. But I didn't want to find out now.

"Go, Brie. I'll explain everything later. You have to go now!"

I heard her footsteps, but nearly yelled when I found her next to me instead of by the door into the building. She flinched at the sight of my knife, but didn't ask questions.

"Come on Nico. You can't stay here! It's not safe!"

My eyes scanned the horizon, trying to pinpoint the creature. I felt fear for Brie begin to bubble up inside of me as she waited for my answer.

"Brie," I began, trying not to let my frustration out. "This is life or death. You have to leave this building!"

I felt her stand rigid next to me and I wondered if she had seen a glimpse of the creature. Chancing my life, I took a peek towards Brie. Her posture suggested anger, but in her eyes I could see fear glaze over. She took my arm, causing me to look at her fully.

"Dammit, Nico. We both have to leave," she yelled. I had never heard Brie curse before, and I knew she meant business. But I couldn't just leave the thing to terrorize the city.

I cursed under my breath, and then grabbed her hand. I ran as fast as I could towards the door, pulling it open. I nearly pushed Brie inside, and I followed. I knew that it was a bad idea, but I couldn't get her to listen to reason.

I passed the elevator and headed towards the stairs. If Zeus found out that I hadn't stopped a monster from destroying the Empire State building, he could just as well sent the elevator down the shaft at 1000 miles per hour and squish us at the bottom like bugs.

Brie didn't ask questions as we stumbled down the steps. I knew it would take a while to get the bottom, but I hoped that if we were constantly moving the monster would have a hard time pinpointing us. Boy, was I wrong.

Things started going downhill, literally, when were just reached the 80th floor. As Brie and I passed a huge window, something shot through it, sending glass everywhere. The window crasher slammed into me, and I felt myself fall down a flight of steps.

As I looked up the steps I saw Brie, lying on her back, trying to inch away from a monster. It had an ugly serpent as its bottom half, and its upper body was that of a woman. She wore a blood red tank top that read "Got People?" and she had huge wings that looked almost like those of the harpies.

"Lamia," I shouted, best as I could. I had heard stories about this monster. She had once been a beautiful woman, but had been punished after she went out with Zeus behind Hera's back. She was cursed with a serpent body and her kids were taken away. She then developed a taste for humans and half bloods, which was almost considered cannibalism considering she was half person.

The monster turned her head slightly, fixing her bright red eyes on me. I nearly flinched at the fieriness in them, but I stood my ground. I pulled out my knife carefully, trying not to alert her.

"Preyed on any puny, helpless humans lately?" I asked, trying to stand up. My left leg nearly collapsed under my weight as I pulled myself up into a standing position.

"Half blood," Lamia hissed, her serpent body slithering. "It was you I smelled, huh?"

I shifted my weight, my knife almost out of its sheath.

"Yea, that would be me. I'm surprised you smelled me, though, over your own stench."

Lamia sneered, showing her long pointed, inhuman fangs. Her wings stood erect now, and she held out her hand towards me. Her long fingernails looked incredibly painful, and I tried not to imagine them digging into my skin. I wished that I were on the ground, so I could just summon up some of my undead buddies to handle her. But unfortunately, I was hundreds of feet off the ground.

Lamia seemed to be debating over whether to chow down on Brie or me first. She inhaled deeply, and her nose twitched a bit. Then to my horror she looked down at Brie.

"You're not a half-y," she cooed, almost happily. She reached down and grabbed Brie. Quick as Zeus lightning bolt, I threw my dagger at her. It pierced her hand, causing her release her dinner. As she gripped her wounded limb, I rushed forward, grabbing Brie up in my arms. Then, summoning up all my strength, I leaped through the window into the shadow of the building.

I had always thought shadow traveling was the coolest thing in the world. That is, when I wasn't already exhausted. Traveling through shadow almost completely drains me when I'm fully charged. I had just dodged a speeding monster, run down almost thousands of steps, been pushed down a stairwell, confronted a man-eating fiend, saved Brie from becoming a main course and jumped out of a window in less than an hour. Add shadow traveling to that list and your pushing it.

I had no idea where I would land after our travels were done. The last thing I thought was "Crap, I just jumped out of a window." I didn't know if that place existed. Turns out it does.

Crap, I Just Jumped Out of a Window is a bungee jump place somewhere in Nevada. Brie and I landed in the dusty desert, just a few yards from the front door. I really don't remember much, except that it was nighttime and I collapsed as soon as my feet touched solid ground. The last thing I remember was looking up into the starry sky, and seeing the faint outline of Brie's face. Then everything went black.

I woke up sore all over.