Annabeth and Mirabelle stood alone in front of the great building. Flight attendants, passengers and people in uniforms rushed in and out, hurrying too and fro. Annabeth and Mirabelle tried to stay out of their way, but it was hard when they seemed to be right in the thick of things. The girls moved inside and stood against the wall by the bathrooms. The airport was pretty much a long, wide room, with lots of stores and restaurants down the way. At one end there were long lines of luggage laden tourists, buying tickets. In the middle of the chaos, there was a circular golden railing, sitting in the middle was a large clock. Which seemed very useful.
"O.k, here's the deal." Annabeth handed Mirabelle one of her 100$ bills. "Go to that McDonalds and buy us some snack wraps. We can eat them on the way, were going to have to ride third class. Hopefully they won't notice that were unaccompanied."
Mirabelle and Annabeth were both wearing loose sweatshirts and leggings, Annabeth's hair was up in a ponytail, some rebel strands of blond hung high on her face. Mirabelle had decided to leave her hair down, it stopped just above her elbows.
"Are you sure? Maybe we should go together?" Mirabelle offered. Annabeth just smiled at her sister.
"You'll be fine." Then Annabeth walked off to the ticket lines. She received plenty of odd and strange looks from people, she cast the same ones right back at them.
Slowly Mirabelle left her position on the wall and shuffled to the nearest McDonalds. There were already two or three people in front of her, so she let her mind wander...
There were a lot of people in the airport, it was 4:00 in the afternoon and it seemed that more people were getting off the planes, than on. Mirabelle wondered if there even was a plane going to Indiana today. She hoped so. Otherwise she wouldn't be looking forward to the night alone in the airport. She looked miserably at the rows of blue plastic benches. Then she spotted a cluster of couches and loungers, which were occupied by a group of men in black carrying brief cases and wearing sunglasses, they were holding out sheets of paper to passers by. Mirabelle caught a glimpse of one of their posters and her eyes widened in shock. On it was the picture of Mirabelle and Annabeth. Mirabelle's stomach made an unexpected flip and she clutched it fearfully. She stole another look at the men, one of them was making their way over to the line of McDonald's customers. Mirabelle looked ahead of her then behind her. The woman in front of her was holding a baby on her hip and seemed to rather anxious about something. In a quick moment Mirabelle moved up the row and grabbed onto the woman's hand. Slightly alarmed she peered down at Mirabelle but didn't shake her off. With her other hand. Mirabelle reached up and held onto the baby's small hand. She smiled at the baby and the baby smiled back. The woman smiled kindly and re-adjusted her hold on the baby and asked Mirabelle.
"Who are you?"
Mirabelle was about to answer, but was cut off by a gruff voice. "Have you seen these girls?" The man was right behind Mirabelle, she didn't turn around, instead she held onto the baby-laden woman's hand with both of her own, and leaned onto her. Do normal daughters hold their mothers protectively like this? Mirabelle hoped she looked ordinary, or else she might seem like some love-deprived child who was overly attached to things. Of course, that what Mirabelle was, a love-deprived child. Mirabelle prayed to the gods that this stranger wouldn't turn her in.
Somehow Mirabelle could sense what they were doing... The woman examined the picture then looked down at Mirabelle.
"No, sorry I've never seen these two before."
"Are you sure?" He persisted. "These girls were kidnapped from their house in San Francisco. And then were spotted at the airplane museum. It is very important we find these girls."
Mirabelle squeezed the mother's hand.
"I'm sorry, I've never seen them. But I will inform you if I do."
The man nodded and walked away. Mirabelle let go of the lady's hand and backed up a step.
"Well, aren't you a little stowaway." She said jokingly.
Then Mirabelle spoke. "Sorry, I just... Cant get caught."
"Why are you hiding?" She asked.
Mirabelle paused. "Its a long story."
Then, a man walked up to the small group holding two cups of Tim Hortons coffee. He stopped abruptly and looked down at Mirabelle questioningly. "Wait, Evelyn, I thought we decided not to adopt."
'Evelyn' laughed and said lightly. "We are not adopting her." The man visibly relaxed. Evelyn continued. "She is...?"
"I'm Mirabelle." Mirabelle filled in.
"Oh..." The man said slowly. "How are you, Mirabelle?"
"Im fine, now." Mirabelle said politely.
Evelyn nodded, still not looking convinced. Mirabelle just wanted to sink into the white tiled floor and melt out of this awkwardness. Slowly Mirabelle looked down to her knees and backed away from the couple, and resumed her place in the line. Evelyn and her man friend had a furious but silent conversation. They both stole looks at Mirabelle, like she wouldn't notice, Mirabelle eavesdropped.
"Evelyn! We don't even know she is!" The man whispered imploringly. Evelyn shook her head, her brown curls swung around her face loosely.
"We know she is a young girl, and she needs help!"
"How can we help her?"
"I dont know... Lets accompany her on her flight."
"And where might she be going? We cant deviate from our plan."
"I love it when you use big words." Evelyn leaned in and kissed her husband on the cheek. The couple wrapped their arms around each other so they faced the McDonalds. Oh well. After another few minutes. The couple ordered and left. Mirabelle walked up to the till.
The cashier looked down skeptically at Mirabelle. "What can I get you?" She asked slowly.
Mirabelle crossed her arms on the counter and examined the menu above. "I'll have... Four snack wraps, crispy chicken, with ranch. And... Two boy toys. Oh, and two Cola Cola's." The man rung up Mirabelle's order, but paused and smirked at Mirabelle when he put down the toys.
"That will be seven dollars and fifty cents." He said bossily. Mirabelle frowned and handed him the hundred dollar bill. Mirabelle watched with glee as his amused look turned into resentment and shock. The man held the bill up to the light. It passed the test. Then he did something that Mirabelle despised. He handed Mirabelle a fifty back.
"Here's your change."
"This isn't the right amount."
"Your six."
"I'm seven." Mirabelle said angrily. "Anyone with eyes could see that this isn't the right amount!"
Grudgingly, he handed her the proper amount of change.
Mirabelle moved along the line and waited quietly.
"Here!" The cashier man said. He practically threw the food at Mirabelle. She took the brown bag and stuck her tongue out at him.
...
Annabeth was waiting for Mirabelle in the blue chairs and patted the seat beside her.
"I got the tickets!" She said brightly.
"How did you get them?" Mirabelle asked. She was almost sure that they wouldn't let her buy them because she is only seven.
Annabeth smiled mischievously. "Athena always has a plan." Was all she said.
Mirabelle smiled thankfully. "Does she have a plan to get onto the plane?"
Annabeth looked over to the gates where flight attendants were admitting people onto the plan. Annabeth looked stumped.
Then Mirabelle said. "Don't worry, I have a plan."
...
As the girls approached the ticket taker, Annabeth Looked around rather nervously, but Mirabelle went straight in. There was no big line up for the Indiana flight, so Mirabelle walked right in and slipped a fifty into the takers hand. The woman looked a little surprised, but then she winked at the girls. Mirabelle handed her the tickets and walked calmly through the archway leading onto the plane. The woman didn't look twice at her. Mirabelle followed her example. Walking down the tunnel Annabeth and Mirabelle high five'd.
"You know." Mirabelle started, giving Annabeth the look. "That wasn't actually a plan. Just luck." Annabeth shrugged.
When the girls emerged onto the plane, they were greeted with questioning stares and awkward glances. A young girl at the front whispered urgently to the elderly woman beside her. A few men in the middle raised their eyebrows at the girls, who found their seats at the back and slouched down so they wouldn't have to endure the stares Annabeth, who was sitting in the window seat, opened the sliding panel and looked outside.
"Here they come!" She said. Mirabelle leaned over her sister. Outside on the pavement were several men in suits, a few of them made their way onto the plane.
"Oh god!" Mirabelle said. "What do we do?"
"Put these on! Maybe they can help us." Annabeth rummaged around in her bag. And pulled out the yankees caps Athena gave them. "Maybe they will teleport us somewhere!"
Mirabelle pulled out her own hat from her bag. "Then maybe they will give us the power to read minds and feed us nachos." Mirabelle said sarcastically. Mirabelle pulled her knees up and placed her feet on the edge of the seat. Annabeth copied her, then shot the look at Mirabelle. Mirabelle liked to joke that her stare could send grown men running for the trees. Only Mirabelle didn't get to see the finale of her look when she placed the blue yankees cap on and disappeared. Mirabelle's jaw dangled. "Where'd you go?" She whispered frantically, as the men were now walking down the isle and checking all the seats.
"Put on your hat!" Came an urgent voice. Without argument Mirabelle tucked the cap over her hair. She felt a hand clamp over her mouth but saw there was nothing there. She looked down but saw nothing but the red seats beneath her.
"Wha-?" She gasped.
Mirabelle reached out and clamped her own hand on Annabeth's mouth. The two held their breath with anticipation, slowly Annabeth dropped her hand and clasped their backpacks. If were invisible, she thought hopefully, then whatever we touch or connect with should become invisible too. The backpacks disappeared from view.
With bated breath the girls saw a man with greasy shoulder length hair lean into their seats and examined it, he furrowed his eyebrows and checked under their feet.
He straightened and turned to the front.
"Nothing in this isle," he called.
The men filed off the plane. Annabeth watched them leave and march across the pavement through the window. She removed her hand from Mirabelle's mouth and Mirabelle did the same.
"All clear." Annabeth breathed. The girls looked thoughtfully at the blue yankees caps, then looked up to each other, small smiles creeping on their faces. Or in Mirabelle's case, a mischievous grin.
...
"Might I get you girls some drinks?" The flight attendant asked. Mirabelle glanced up from Harry Potter and the sorcerers stone. Harry, Ron and Hermione were just about to get ratted out by Snape, and she had been interrupted. Annabeth had fallen asleep, her Big Book of Buildings rested on her chest, it heaved up and down with her breaths. A long thread of slobber occupied her lip and dangled off her chin.
"We'll have two glasses of orange juice." Mirabelle said.
The flight attendant nodded and walked off. Mirabelle shook Annabeth awake. Annabeth shifted in her seat and opened one eye.
"You drool when you sleep." Mirabelle said, smiling.
Annabeth grinned and sat up, she stretched her arms over her head then felt her chin. She swiped the spit away and wiped it on her sweatshirt, she made a face. "What time is it?" She asked.
Mirabelle leaned out of her seat to look at the clock above the pilots cockpit. "Its about 7:00." She reported.
"And how long is the flight supposed to be?"
"Three hours and forty six minutes."
"Here are your drinks." The flight attendant appeared in the isle holding their glasses of orange juice.
"Thanks." The girls said in unison.
"No problem. Anything for the daughters of Athena." The woman handed them the OJ and smiled cruelly, she flicked her forked tongue through her red lips. Horror and realization shocked the girls, quickly as possible without breaking eye contact with the woman, Annabeth collected their things and stuffed them in their bags. Mirabelle could feel the smooth handle of the hammer in her hand, and she had the feeling that Annabeth was armed behind her.
"We've been exssssspecting you." She hissed. The woman backed a step to give her room to transform. In a huge blur of morphing and cracking sounds, she curled over her middle and straightened up as something not human. Mirabelle stared in horror as Annabeth tried to get her sister to move.
The womans legs were huge snake trunks and her abdomen was occupied by gleaming armour. Her eyes gleamed a brilliant crimson, huge sabre-like fangs protruded from her gums. She opened her arms like she was greeting them for a hug.
"How about a little dinner before we land?" She hissed.
"Only if your paying." Annabeth stated, then she threw her glass at the snake thing, orange juice and shards of glass pierced her eyes. The thing screeched and clutched her eyes.
"No! My sight!" She cried. "No matter, I can still smell you!" Annabeth and Mirabelle split, slipping by her on either sides. She swiped at them but missed, her black claws grazed Mirabelle's arm. Mkrabelle grasped it in pain.
"What... are you doing?" One man called from his seat.
The snake woman turned to him and hissed. "None of your beeessswaxxx." The snake thing pointed its spear at the passenger who spoke.
Annabeth and Mirabelle scurried across laptops and trays of food away, many complaints and yelps exploded from the passengers. Annabeth and Mirabelle met in the isle on the other side of the row of sears in the middle of the plane. The girls held their feeble weapons in front of them protectively. "Reatha!" The snake woman bellowed. "Get those demi-gods!"
A loud bang brought the girls attention to the kitchen doors, which swung open, and in the doorway towered another snake woman. Reatha.
It screeched and slithered their way. "Of course, Purny, sister dear." Reatha hissed.
The girls back up to the other end. Reatha held her sword threateningly. Passengers and workers finally realized that they were in danger and proceeded to run around screaming unhelpfully.
"What are you?" Annabeth demanded, on her face, she looked brave and daring. But you would really have to know Annabeth to know that she was completely bewildered by this snake woman and was totally at loss. Her eyes widened as the snake woman slithered forward.
"We are the Scythian Dracaena. Aren't daughters of Athena supposed to be clever?
My, my, Athena will be displeased." She teased.
"What are you doing here?" Mirabelle piped up. Her voice came out higher and squeakier than it had been in her head.
"We've been looking for you, Daughters of Athena. The two of you, have such a powerful scent. Now, enough talk, lets eat!" Reatha burst forward, reaching out to the twins.
Then in a quick mili-second decision. Mirabelle shoved in front of Annabeth and hurled her hammer at the snake woman. Totally surprised, and badly judging Mirabelle's strength, she did not bother to defend herself. The hammer sailed into her forehead, the snake woman screamed and her entire form burst in a shower of golden dust. Her scream still rang clearly through the chaos of passengers. It was broken quickly by her sisters yell. 'Purny' climbed over a few cowering mortals and turned to the daughters of Athena. Now being blind her eyes had turned a milky glaze over the red, and her tongue was hanging out of her mouth, smelling around.
"No! My sister!" She yelled. Annabeth and Mirabelle clasped each others hands together as the Scythian Dracaena charged them. The girls ducted at the last second. The snake woman tripped over their hunched bodies and was forced into the side of the plane.
The panels broke, the planes side completely vanished into the gaping hole in the aircraft. Wind swept everything in the plane, out of the plane. Luggage bags and garbage were sucked into the force and out to the open air. Annabeth and Mirabelle clung to the seats nearest. The vortex was too much and the twins were swept out of the plane and were suddenly free falling through the atmosphere.