Aiming for slightly longer chapters. Hope you like it!

The policeman stroked his moustache and put away his notepad. "We have the license plate down. I'll inform the local police department." Like that will solve anything.

"In the meantime, you can always visit a national park," he offered.

The officer got into his patrol vehicle and vroomed off.

Jim raked his hands through his hair. "I spent years earning for that car. And just like that, it's gone." He shook his head and started pacing the gas station for the tenth time.

Lucas glared at me. "We had everything in the car--everything. Our money, our weapons, and our food. 'I'll stay by the car'," he mimicked. "Nice going."

Helen put a hand on my shoulder.

I sighed. For once, Lucas had a point.

This was all my fault. We lost our possesions on the first day, all thanks to me.

I tried walking up to Jim but he veered into the grocery shop. He rarely ever gets angry, but right now, steam could have been coming out of his ears.

I would have turned back around but I noticed two things of interest: the old man who had asked for help with the tire had disappeared. I never saw him leave. There was also a Harley Davidson stranded in the right side of the gas station. Not just any Harley Davidson. The Harley Davidson that was tailing us the whole time.

I ran back to our group.

Before I could say anything, Jim was back and he said, "I'm going after the car. I've spent too much on it to lose it to some scumbag."

The air left my lungs.

"Jim," Helen said. "We have a quest. We have to rescue the campers."

"You have a quest. I'm going after the car," he replied dryly.

"Jim, you can't just throw away the quest because we got mugged. This is--"

He cut me off. "You of all people shouldn't be talking. It was your job to stay by the car but you couldn't even do that. Each time you get in my car, something bad happens."

I felt something crash within me.

"I'm going with him," Lucas declared. "My weapons are in that trunk."

Jessie shook her head. "Are you two crazy?! How do you expect to ever see that car ever again? Don't you two care about our friends and family?" She was more disconcerted than I had ever seen her. I always imagined her to be indifferent. Maybe she came off as apathetic because she was separated from the people she cared about.

Lucas sneered and raised the collar of his jacket to serve as a windbreaker. "Toodles."

"And you," she snapped, "I am sick of your ego. Everything is about you. My footbal game, my weapons, my ego. I have had it with you! We're finished!"

Lucas appeared slightly distraught for a moment but then his eyes turned to ice. "I didn't need you anyway."

That's how two of our teammates walked away from us.

Jessie sobbed as she brought her knees to her chest. Helen sat and soothed her, wiping her cheeks and caressing her hair, offering reassurance.

I stood stiffly. This was all my fault. I should have noticed that biker was following us. I should have stayed by the car. This never would have happened. Now, there were only three of us.

I thought about the Oracle's words: betrayed at the sound of the ring. Was this what she was talking about? But what ring? My thoughts drifted.

'Pathetic,' Lucas had said. 'No threat to anyone.' Except Jim's Jaguar, I thought bitterly.

What a lousy guy, leaving us for a stupid car.

Focus, a voice said in my head.

I sighed and approached Helen and Jessie.

Jessie was calm now, breathing heavily, but calm.

We figured out what we had left. Jessie had a spare dagger, Helen had a few spring rolls wrapped in her pocket and I had my money as well as our Ambrosia. We didn't have nearly enough money for all of us to stay at a hotel but we did have enough for a train ride to the west. It wouldn't cover a ride all the way but it was something.

We ended up spending the first night in a park, taking shifts to watch for monsters.

Jessie knocked out within minutes. Helen offered to take the first shift but I explained we had to talk. I went over my dream about the boy and then I discussed the biker that was tailing us.

Her expression was grave. "Dreams are important to demigods. They often reveal future events and allow us to gain insight on things that would normally be out of our reach."

"Those kids, they must have been campers, right?" I determined.

She nodded.

"He's not alone," I repeated aloud. "Who could it have been?"

"I don't know," Helen admitted, "but it would just waste our time and energy trying to figure that out now."

A breeze picked up and Helen shivered. She had left her coat in the car.

I offered my jacket.

She accepted it with a warm smile.

"That biker," I began, "I should have known."

"Don't even start," Helen warned. "Nobody could have known. Don't beat yourself up over it. Let it go."

I looked at her in awe.

"I'm sorry about your stuff," I said, rubbing my head.

She sighed. "Those knitting needles were a gift from my grandmother."

That made me feel worse.

"But hey, at least we have each other," Helen added, managing a smile.

My heart warmed. It reminded me of Camp Half-Blood. The children running with their bow and arrows, kids laughing at the amphitheater, the swords clattering, the boys playing football, the aroma of roasted food and sweet pasteries. I missed the place though I had barely grown to know it.

"I think it's amazing that some of the demigods end up marrying each other," I said.

Helen nodded and clasped her hands in front of her. "I think it's really sweet."

A cloud covered the pale moon and everything darkened.

"You should get to bed now," Helen said. "We'll have to get going early."

I nodded. "You better show me some more of your embroidery once we get back."

We will succeed. We have to. I turned over and fell asleep.

I woke up to a gentle push on my shoulder. "Wake up, Jeremiah, it's your turn."

The sky had begun to light up. Helen must have taken a longer shift intentionally.

"When do we leave?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.

"We'll try seven or eight," she replied.

I nodded and told her to get to bed. She still had my jacket on as she slept, her head resting on her palm.

While gazing into the distance, I got a strange feeling that there were eyes watching me from afar. The hairs on the back of my neck stood erect and I felt a chill run down my spine.

The more I waited, the heavier my eyelids became. Yet, nothing happened. I could hear nothing but my own rhythmic breathing.

I was more disoriented than I anticipated. I knew it was because I hardly slept the night before.

Suddenly, a snarl came from the bushes. My eyes shot open. I stood up and grabbed a stick from nearby.

I jumped as something scurried out. Just a field mouse.

Then, a strange flapping sound came from another direction. A bird?

My senses weren't at their best. I could just be over-analyzing the situation. But then again, I could be wrong. I swallowed as I thought about our weapons, or lack thereof.

I stood up and approached Jessie's purse. I unzipped it and removed the dagger as she lay sound asleep, without the slightest notion of what was going on around her.

Before I could turn, something swooped above me. Sharp claws dug into my skin and before I knew it, my legs weren't on the ground. They were rising higher in the air and my sides began to bleed. I thrashed in desperation, dagger flailing, and came loose. I heard a loud ripping sound before I collapsed onto the ground. There goes my Naruto shirt.

I turned and spotted a shape with wings, turning in the air.

"Helen! Jessie! Wake up!" I yelled in desperation.

I heard another flap and I spun my head to see claws.

Somehow, I ducked, but not without sustaining a scratch on my forehead.

The first winged creature was back and out of the shadows: it had the face of a woman and the long feathery wings of a vulture on its human-like arms. A harpy. I remembered something l learned in school.

Helen was up, behind them and Jessie was sitting as if she didn't recognize where she was.

Harpy number one and two both flew towards me, claws outstretched.

I dove for the ground and felt a rush of air above me. I looked up and saw them turn around. Something flew and whacked Harpy number one in the face, resulting in an ear-piercing shriek.

"Let's get out of here!" Helen yelled, motioning hastily towards the woods.

Harpy number two swooped down towards Jessie, only to be smashed by her purse.

I ran behind them but Harpy number one must have figured out where we were going and muttered something to Harpy number two before coming after me.

Helen was in the safety of a thick forest and Jessie trailed behind her.

My side ached from where the talons had sunk in and I couldn't run as fast as they were.

Helen turned and skid on her feet for a moment, picked up a rock and chucked it above my head. I heard a thwack and another cry.

"Jeremiah, it's coming!"

I spun my head and my arm to slice a Harpy's wings.

The Harpy doubled back and returned, furious.

I stumbled and almost tripped as I approached the first tree. I lost my footing and tumbling into the woods.

A clawing sound and an angry roar came from behind me.

With my face buried in dirt, I could still hear the frustrated flapping of wings and the cries of the Harpies.

Helen fell into a slump and Jessie plucked feathers from her purse.

I groaned and Helen shot up. "Jeremiah!"

Pretty soon, she was kneeling beside me, feeding me ambrosia. By the time she was done, the Harpies had given up yelling at us.

Helen looked at me with weary eyes. I returned her gaze.

"You look beat," I said, with a chuckle.

"Speak for yourself," Helen smirked, her expression quickly fading at a newfound realization. She must have been thinking about our sleep schedule or about our schedule in general.

I felt an odd lightheadedness and couldn't stand up. She had hardly slept at all. We were both beat.

"We should just rest here. You guys are falling apart." Jessie spoke what was on our minds.

Helen and I looked at each other. There were seven days left. Time was precious. But so was our health.

"Thanks Jessie," Helen said as she found a bare place to rest.

I fell asleep on the grass I had tumbled onto.

The bright rays of the sun forced my eyes open. Helen was still sleeping and Jessie was picking her nails, carefully removing non-existent dust.

The sky was cloudless and peaceful, the sunlight hindered only by the foliage. A crow cawed in the distance.

Jessie handed me a spring roll. My stomach whined immediately. We both knew a small breakfast like this was no demigod's meal. I was trying to put on bulk, not lose it.

Then, I remembered it was all we had. I devoured the spring roll, quickly yearning for more. A part of me was tempted to take Helen's as well.

I looked at her, sleeping peacefully, a lock of hair over her serene face and a pang of guilt jabbed me. How could I be so selfish?

I shook my head and stood up, seeing Jessie in the mercy of the sun. Her hair was wild and wavy and her eyes were bright. Man, she was a real looker.

"Jessie, who are your parents?" I asked.

Jessie looked up. "My mother is Aphrodite and my father is a film director. Why?"

"Just curious," I said.

No wonder she was so hard to pry my eyes away from.

I thought about her reasons for wanting to join the quest. She was here for her family.

"We'll rescue your brother," I promised.

"Brothers," she corrected. "I have two of them. Both younger."

I struggled to find words to say. My mind just wanted to tell her she was attractive. I couldn't think of anything substantial to ask her.

"You're worth too much to spend your time with someone who can't see that," I said, thinking about Lucas.

She looked at me with curious eyes. "What makes you say that?"

She had me beat. Why did I say that? Was it just because she was pretty?

I swallowed. "Well, you are a, uh, compassionate girl and you deserve the same amount of love you give."

Jessie laughed. "You're so cheesy."

And without warning, her lips pressed against my cheek. My heart raced and I looked at her, astonished.

Jessie was even more beautiful close up: her blonde hair fell to the side and her full lips curled into a smile. She was inches away from my face.

"You have beautiful eyes," I whispered, without thinking.

Jessie pursed her lips, trying to surpress a smile. She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Come on," she whispered, with a dangerous glint in her eyes.

I stood up and followed her into the woods.

We crossed a lake, iridescent and vivacious, with fish swimming merrily with the current.

I reached the other side and Jessie struggled to keep her balance. I retraced my steps and grabbed her hand, leading her with me.

We stopped at a clearing and sat on a rock. She started talking about this rapper and his girlfriend and concerts she went to but I wasn't really paying attention.

She would express herself through her body language and I would watch, nodding and agreeing to what she was saying.

Man, I thought, Lucas is missing out.

Her perfume used to smell obnoxious and strong but I didn't mind being this close if I could watch her.

Jessie seemed pleased and she began discussing her life before camp Half-Blood. I listened to most of it and then continued to watch her vibrant eyes.

Something was nagging my head but I kept pushing the thought away.

Something fell to the ground behind us.

I turned and spotted a branch that had fallen, crushing a few stray leaves.

For a moment, I couldn't understand where I was or what I was doing. Why was I sitting so close to Jessie? Her perfume is so strong.

Then it came to me. Our quest. Helen.

I stood up and Jessie was saying something and stopped mid-sentence. "What's wrong?"

"We have to get going. We can't waste time," I declared.

She looked a bit hurt at my comment but she stood up and walked back with me.

Helen was perched on a tree and she jumped down once we approached her.

She looked grieved. "Where were you guys?! I've been searching everywhere."

I bit my lip at my realization: I had been flirting with Jessie. Before I could apologize, Jessie chimed in: "We went searching for food." I almost gasped aloud at her lie.

Helen's face scrunched up. "You weren't able to find anything?"

Jessie shook her head, with no indication of guilt. How could she just lie? We were a team. How could we work together if we couldn't trust one another?

And what was I doing out there with Jessie? What got into me?

"We should get going," I said, resolved on redeeming myself. "There's an Amtrak station we can head towards but I think at this distance, we'll need a cab."

The forest wasn't as bright as it was earlier, meaning I had wasted more time with Jessie than I had thought.

Helen nodded and returned my jacket. I felt a strange feeling as I accepted it. I realized I wanted her to keep it.

We snuck out of the woods, armed with a dagger, rocks and sticks but no monsters attacked. We slipped through the park and towards population.

Once we paid the cab driver, I swallowed as I realized we wouldn't have enough money to travel very far.

I sighed and looked over at Helen, who looked as distressed as I felt, and at Jessie, who proceeded to text someone on her phone.

It was a long ride and the sun was beginning to set by the time we arrived at the station.

The cab vroomed off, leaving us in a crowd of bustling straphangers. The man at the booth laughed at me when I told him where we were trying to go.

"Those tickets won't get you past Chicago," he asserted.

"Can you please make an exception?" Helen pleaded. "We have urgent business. Could--"

The man crossed his hairy arms and shook his head.

I swallowed. These tickets are more expensive than I anticipated.

Jessie stepped forward and I almost discouraged her from trying. We couldn't do anything. "Sir, I'm sure you're a very kind man. It would mean a lot to us if you could give us better tickets."

I immediately reached into my pockets to produce tickets I didn't have.

The man blinked twice and said, "Just a moment." He turned around and fished for something behind him.

"Wait what just happened?" I felt like I missed a conversation.

"Charmspeak," Helen stated. Jessie smirked as Helen explained the power of Aphropdite's progeny to manipulate others with their words.

I marveled. Jessie had actually contributed to the group for once.

The man returned, shuffling the tickets and double checking them. "These will take you to the Iowa-Nebraska border."

Jessie held the tickets and flipped her hair. I didn't meet her eyes. If she had the power to manipulate others with her words, she could probably do the same to me with her appearance.

Pretty soon, we were on the train, wolfing down our meal. We ate ravenously and I couldn't help but wonder how Lucas and Jim were faring. I realized I didn't know Jim as well as I thought I did. In fact, I had learned more about Helen in the past week than I had about Jim throughout all of highschool.

Jessie didn't seem bothered about their absence and Helen never mentioned them so I couldn't really tell how she felt. Jessie stood up to use the restroom and walked down the aisle, earning stares from each boy that saw her.

The city whizzed past us and I saw Helen's face reflecting off of the glass window I was peering through. It looked like she was watching me.

I turned and she immediately looked away.

"Helen, is there something you wanted to say?" I ventured.

She looked around at Jessie's empty seat and was silent for a moment, then said, "Is there--anything between you and Jessie?"

I felt my heart sink for a moment.

"It's just...you guys were gone for a while and you said you were--it's not my business or anything. I--"

I raised a hand to gesture for her to stop. I looked up at her, remembering Jessie's lie.

Helen's rosy cheeks reddened and she looked away. I felt an inexplicable feeling in my heart. I think it was guilt at first and something else afterwards. I remembered how she had nurtured me back to health, how she and I had shared our picnics, and how she went on about her younger sister. Her reassurance, her bashful smile and her reserved nature. She never seemed to complain or whine. Helen had no reason to even be on this quest. Yet, she seemed to have the most resolve when it came to succeeding.

Wait, did I...like this girl? I looked at her again and I felt that same warming feeling.

"Helen, I'm sorry about this morning," I said, scratching my head. "We weren't really hunting."

Helen's smile faded. "Oh." She paused for a moment. "I understand."

My eyes widened as I realized what I had said. "No! No, it's not like that. There's nothing between us at all. I promise."

Her face lit up and then, as if realizing what happened, she composed herself.

"I was just curious. Sorry if that was personal." Helen pretended she was interested in her dinner, her eyes flitting in my direction and darting back every once in a while.

Jessie had returned, nose still her phone.

Helen asked me what life was like in the outside world and I remembered she had spent most of her life at Camp Half-Blood. The topic changed and we discussed anything that came to mind. She was particularly interested in school, I couldn't imagine why. We were deep into our conversation when a snore startled us.

We looked up to find Jessie out cold. Helen giggled, probably at the way Jessie's mouth hung open as she slept.

Helen became serious as she looked out the window. "We should get to sleep too."

I nodded, realizing how late it was. The moon was out and most of the passengers had already fallen asleep.

How are we going to get to the west? We were broke and weaponless. What if a monster attacks again? Too many thoughts flooded my mind.

My eyelids became heavy and I fell into a slumber.