The bus groaned to a stop in front of the three, wheels rumbling on wet asphalt. Drops of rain thudded on the metal cover, doors slowly coming open with a screech.
The squeezed their way through the tightly packed rows of seats, finally finding an empty group in the back. Percy was shoved against the window as more passengers came in, his satyr friend watching the entrance with anxious eyes.
He only paid attention when said satyr kicked his leg from the other side of the seat, nodding his head towards the front. Percy glanced over, sight being met by an elderly woman in a crumpled velvet dress.
He shot a confused look at Grover, but the goat wasn't paying attention. Turning back to the front, he finally saw it; under the loads of make-up and wrinkles, Mrs Dodds' black eyes were still the same.
She was followed by two other women, all the same features and too-sweet smiles. They took seats at the front as the bus started moving, crossing their legs across the walkway to form a giant 'X'.
"She didn't stay dead long," Percy murmured, the glass of the window cold against his arm. "I thought Annabeth said they could be dispelled for a lifetime."
"If your lucky," Luke said, and his voice seemed too loud for the situation. "Which you're not, apparently."
"All three of them!" Grover whimpered, and he was faintly reminded of a tale of three bird-like creatures, all blood-shot eyes and leather bat wings. "Di immortales!"
"Uh," he said, tapping his fingers against his thigh. "Maybe we can get out through the windows?"
"The windows don't open," Luke answered, trying to keep an upbeat tone.
"Okay, uh, maybe there's a back exit?" A quick glance to the back proved that there wasn't, but it wouldn't have mattered much. They were already on Ninth Avenue, headed for the Lincoln Tunnel.
"They won't attack us with witnesses around," Percy reassured. "Right?"
Luke shrugged. "The Mist will probably hide the kill," he informed them, Grover giving a nervous whine at that.
"Okay," he said, finding it harder to take it all in stride. "How about an emergency exit on the roof?"
They hit the Lincoln Tunnel, then, the bus going dark. There was only the occasional running light down the aisle, vehicle eerily silent without the bombardment of rain.
He saw Mrs Dodds stand, voice flat and rehearsed. "I need to use the bathroom."
"So do I," said the second sister.
"So do I," said the third sister.
The other two stood with their sibling, walking slowly down aisle. His heart started pounding against his chest, mind racing.
"What do we do?" He hissed to the others, keeping his sight on his pre-Algebra teacher.
"It is dark," Luke reasoned. "Maybe they won't be able to see us." Percy frowned, because he liked Luke and all, but it really wasn't going to be that easy.
Grover spoke, tone panicked and harsh. "Percy, climb under the seats."
"What?"
"There's enough room for you to squeeze in," he urged, the passing light making his features pronounced.
He really didn't see that happening. "Grover, it's not going to help much-"
"Your smell is overpowering," he said, the triplets getting closer. "There's a chance she might not notice us. Just get under the seat, and when they pass, start crawling your way up front."
Percy was pretty doubtful, but he consented, handing Luke his pack and getting on all fours. His stomach met the dirty bus floor as he scooted under, the bottom of the torn seats pressing down his back in the tight squeeze. It was extremely claustrophobic in the least, and he hated it.
He tucked his arms by his sides, waiting for the ladies to pass. Percy could hear the footsteps as they stopped near their seat, only allowing himself to breathe again when they passed.
Slowly but surely, he made his way out from under the seat, trying not to imagine what he looked like to his friends. Percy squeezed through the seat ahead, where the only occupant was fortunately asleep, hiding under the bench two spots ahead of his friends.
He stared at the pair of legs in front of him, blocking his path, and frowned. Slowly and painfully maneuvering a hand to the person's jeans, he tugged hard at the fabric.
The person jumped up, giving him the opportunity to roll past. Just when he thought he was safe there was a tug on his head, sharp-nailed fingers pulling on his hair.
Percy gasped as screeches filled the air, mixed in with Grover's angry bleating. He didn't have much time to focus on the sound, whole body being dragged from the seat by his head.
He struggled against the hand, talons digging into his scalp as the mortals cowered and yelled for help. He managed to pull his head away, trying to ignore the blistering waves of pain at the action.
Crawling out of the space, he ran across the walkway, the Fury behind him screaming blood murder. On an impulse he made it to the driver, taking a hold of the wheel in his shock and jerking the whole bus to the left.
The driver wrestled for the wheel, Percy swiftly dodging any attempts and throwing the monsters (and mortals) all around the aisle. The bus slammed against the side of the tunnel, grinding metal, throwing sparks a mile behind the group.
They finally careened out of Lincoln tunnel and back into the rainstorm, cars quickly dodging the vehicle and the sound of blaring horns taking up the scene. In the chaos the driver found an exit, shooting down dozens of traffic lights and barreling down one of the empty rural streets. Seeing as they started to head towards the river, Percy hit the emergency break, bus wailing as it was forced to slow down.
It spun into a full circle, crashing into the large pine trees on the side of the road. The emergency lights came on and the doors were flung open, the driver the first one out as the passengers quickly followed. Percy hid in the driver's seat, letting them pass as his mind still tried to process all that had just happened.
The Furies regained their balance soon enough, lashing their whips at Grover as he chucked tin cans back at them. He scanned the bus, searching, but Luke was nowhere to be found.
Two of the sisters hopped on the seats on either side of Mrs Dodds, snarling at him with fanged teeth. They started to crawl towards him, ignoring his friends, skin leathery and rough.
"Perseus Jackson," the hag in the middle spoke, voice deep and angry. "You have offended the gods. You shall die."
He reached into his back pocket, watching as Luke started to back away from the triplets and Grover aimed one of his tin cans. They both watched him, cautiously, waiting for his move.
"I liked you better as a math teacher," he admitted, smirking. They snarled at him, about to pounce forward, but froze when he pulled out the pen.
Anaklusmos sprang to life in his hands, the bronze blade glimmering in the slight darkness. They hesitated, eyes narrowing simultaneously at the double-edged sword.
She finally spoke again, angrier than before. "Submit now," she growled. "And you will not suffer eternal torment."
"Nice try," he said, smirking, his sword swinging in a perfect arc towards her chest.
Their feet stomped across the slick mud, the glow of New York City lighting up the horizon behind them. The Hudson was strong in the air, smelling foul, as they made their way along the New Jersey riverbank.
His arms were wrapped around the other two's shoulders, body still sore from being yanked underneath the bus seats and leg bandaged from where Luke had accidentally hit it. He could still feel the cut of cool metal against his skin, and let out an involuntary wince from his position.
Luke looked over at him, putting on a frown. "Gods, Perce, I'm sorry," he apologized for the dozenth time that day, pulling up the biggest puppy-dog eyes he had ever seen.
"It's fine," he grunted out, Grover shifting underneath his weight. "Everyone make mistakes, right?" Luke nodded, still seeming pretty downcast, but he didn't feel like continuing the subject.
The thunderstorm eventually let up, the night getting thicker with darkness until he could only see the stars above and the glint of Luke's blonde hair. They continued on in silence for a mile or so, tripping and cursing and generally feeling miserable.
He finally spotted the harsh glow of neon, the scent of greasy restaurant food wafting into the air. They pressed on until a deserted two-lane road came into sight, tress starting to clear.
On the other side of the street was a closed-down gas station and the only open business, the source of the neon and amazing smell. It didn't appear to be a fast-food place, but instead a strange antique roadside stop. He squinted at the glowing red cursive print, trying to make out the words.
"What the heck does that say?" He finally asked, giving in. Percy's leg throbbed underneath him, making him wish that their bags hadn't exploded like the rest of the bus.
"Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium," Grover answered, adjusting his arm once more. Percy let him, glancing at the stone garden gnomes flanking the entrance.
He urged them forward and they consented, following the smell of food. Grover finally tugged back suddenly, scowling.
"Guys," he warned, but Percy didn't pay him much heed.
"The lights are on inside," Luke noticed, voice sounding coaxing. "Maybe it's open."
"Snack bar?" Percy asked, wistful.
"Snack bar," Luke agreed, smiling in that way that the children of Hermes always do.
"Are you two crazy?" Grover asked, incredulous. "This place is weird." They ignored him, moving forward, and the satyr had no choice but to follow.
They stopped in front of the door, Grover bleating nervously at the stone satyr playing reed pipes near the entrance. His hoofs clacked nervously against the cement, whimpering.
"Don't knock," he pleaded, sounding panicked. "I smell monsters."
"Your nose is clogged up from the Furies," Luke reassured. "All we smell are delicious burgers. Aren't you hungry?"
Percy's stomach rumbled in agreement, but Grover looked appalled. "I'm a vegetarian!"
"You eat enchiladas and aluminum cans," Percy reminded him, unhelpful.
"Those are vegetables," Grover whined, tugging at his arm. "Come on. Let's leave. These statues are staring at me."
Before he could give a reply the door creaked open, a tall Middle Eastern woman standing in the entrance. She wore a long black gown that covered all but her hands, coffee colored and perfectly manicured. A pair of eyes glinted behind the veil that covered her face, voice sounding sweet as she spoke.
"Children," she cooed, concerned. "It is too late to be out all alone. Where are your parents?"
After a second of tense silence, Percy blurted out an answer. "We're orphans," he said, and for him it wasn't too much of a lie.
"Orphans?" She gasped, the word sounding alien in her mouth. "But, my dears! Surely not?"
"We got separated from our caravan," he hurried on. "Our circus caravan. The ring master told us to meet him at the gas station if we got lost, but he may have forgotten, or maybe he met a different gas station. Anyway, we're lost." His stomach rumbled again, louder. "Is that food I smell?"
It was probably the worst lie he could have come up with but she bought it, opening the door a bit wider. She ushered them in, giving little time for introductions, and the door closed behind their backs as they headed into darkness.