Group 2: Eastern State Penitentiary Philadelphia, PA
Brief (by Annabeth Chase): Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP) was built in 1829 and used as a prison until 1871. Today it is home to frequent tour groups and Information sessions.
Ghost Stories: The Locksmith A locksmith was doing repairs on an old gate when it suddenly thrust forward and pinned him to the ground. Noises: Guests and caretakers report unexplained weeping and insane laughter. Faces: People have reported seeing faces on the walls and in mirrors, often a middle-aged man with a crazed smile.
000
"Wait isn't Philadelphia supposed to be the city of brotherly love?" Will asked.
"Apparently not." Summer laughed.
"Good thing I got my Drivers License this year!" The Travis Stoll smiled mischievously.
"OK! That settles it. I'm driving!" Clarisse snatched the key out of his hands.
"What! You do not no how to drive, do you?"
"I'll figure it out." Clarisse said as she walked towards the Big House. The rest of the group glanced nervously at each other. "Should we trust her?" Kylie, the youngest asked.
"Don't worry. An Ares kid can handle themselves in any situation!" DJ grabbed Kylie's hand to lead her towards Clarisse, and then quickly pulled away during a shade of deep scarlet. "Uh… I mean, this way!" he nervously pointed to where Clarisse had disappeared.
The group stood in front of a black SUV. "This is definitely not mine." Travis gaped at the luxurious vehicle. "Its Are's." Clarisse and DJ said simultaneously.
"He lends it to us sometimes for quests and pizza runs." Clarisse finished
"Not fair!" Summer exclaimed.
"Oh I mean pepperoni pizza, with dead things on it." Clarisse snickered
"Well, technically Plants are dead too." Will contemplated. Summer just glared at Clarisse. "Okay time to go!" Conner Stoll hopped in the car.
000
"They pulled up to a castle-like building. "I would hate to live here!" Kylie shuddered "Its gross!" The older kids laughed. Will walked up to an information booth manned by a redhead about his age, he flipped his hair and smiled "Hey." He nodded. The girl in the booth almost melted "Hi!" she giggled, Summer rolled her eyes, though secretly jealous. "So what do you think? Could you get me and my uh, siblings a free tour?" the girl glanced at the odd group of children.
"Those are your siblings?" She raised her eyebrow suspiciously
"We were all adopted. So free tour what do you say?"
"Oh I'm sorry. We can't do that, but if you want to swing by after my shift I will see what I can do for you." She smiled coyly at Will.
"Sorry, I can't do that." Will turned and waved good-bye to the very confused girl. "Will Solace! If I didn't no any better I would say you were a son of Aphrodite!" Clarisse punched his arm.
"Just don't tell anyone at camp." He whispered. The Stoll brothers smiled at each other. Then Conner spoke "While Will was busy flirting it up back there, I managed to 'barrow' this from a passing tour guide." He held up a set of keys. "What! How did you? I swear you were here the whole time!" Summer shook her head confused. Travis high-fived Conner. Kylie looked puzzled "Wait, they let you take them?"
"Sure." The twins said grinning. Once again Clarisse took a set of keys from their hands and hit their heads. "Lets go!" She commanded. The rest followed, The Stoll brothers rubbing their heads and muttering.
They slowly ducked behind the fenced off area and unsheathed their weapons. "Why would they keep this place around? I would turn it into a garden." Summer thought aloud and was quickly shushed by the others. "Sorry." She whispered. Before long Clarice stopped them. "Do you guys hear that?" They paused in the silence when out of the blue a loud hissing noise echoed the empty cellblock. "It sounds like a gas leak." Summer whispered. "Do you hear that?" A voice came from the darkness. "Itssss nothing." A second voice answered. "Everybody against the wall." Will instructed. Two women appeared, when they came into a small shaft of light peaking through a hole in the roof, the demigods saw their legs, or tails I should say. The bottom half them two monsters were snake tails. "Lamia." Kylie breathed "I sssswear I heard sssssomething!" The first Lamia exclaimed and slithered towards Kylie who gasped as the tail brushed her leg. The lamia grabbed Kylie by the ankle and dragged her into the light "Look what wessss got here!" The creature screeched. "Sssstray to far from your tour?" The other cackled. "You look sssssso yummy." They licked their lips. "Let me go!" Kylie yelled. "Sssshusssh child!" The lamia squeezed Kylie "Ow!" She scrambled for her backpack laying several feet in front of her. DJ broke free of Clarisse tight grip and hurtled himself at the monster "Don't touch her!" He cried as he ran the lamia through with his blade. It immediately crumbled to dust. The other made a terrible hissing screaming niose "You killed her!" It began advancing on DJ "Lucky for you I have room for two children to day!" It slithered towards him. "Fat chance! No one kills my little brother!" Clarisse stepped into the light surrounded by the other demigods. "I knew I smelled something demigoddy, I never liked your parent."
"How do you know my dad?"
"I hate them all!" It charged the group in several swift maneuvers the group had reduced it to dust as well.
After searching the rest of the prison, somewhat more cautiously, They could find no sight of Jason. "Well he's clearly not here." Travis said after three hours of cell inspection.
"No, He isn't." Summer sighed
"Okay. Does anyone have a gold drachma? I need to Iris message Annabeth." Will asked.
"Here." Conner tossed him a few
"Thanks!" He walked off to find the nearest water fountain to make his call.
000
Sorry this one took so long to get up! I can procrastinate like nobody's business! I hope you liked it, and feel free to comment. I have to warn you there probably won't be an update next week because midterms are finally here Yay! (If you couldn't tell that sarcasm is actually tangible.) Thanks for reading,
Saddler