"I hate public transport!" moaned Nico.
"You hate everything Nico." smiled Piper.
"Not everything..."
"You miss Will, don't you?"
"No..."
"That is strange of you, Nico, I've only known you for a while but missing someone doesn't seem to be your style." said Alabaser.
"It's just... What if I don't see Will again? I've lost so much already: my mom, Bianca, what if we lose someone else during this journey?"
"We won't Nico," said Jason. "I promise."
"But how do you know Jason? This new threat is nothing like Greek nor Roman mythology we are used to. This is different, you heard Chiron's warning."
"We need to have hope." started Annabeth.
"Since when did you get sweet?" asked Percy.
"Also just letting all of you know, if any of you die on me, I will personally come to the Underworld and kill you again." finished Annabeth.
"There's the Annabeth we all know and love!" smirked Percy.
Annabeth playfully punched Percy in the arm.
"I'm back with the snacks," said Frank, carrying a large amount of crisps and fizzy drinks.
"I'm sorry," said Hazel. "But when Chiron gave us a big budget, Frank got us lots of food."
"Thanks, man." said Leo, grabbing some crisps from the top and started eating.
"How much did you spend?" asked Jason, joking around. "Because it comes out of your money if we don't have enough money to get to Maine."
"Very funny, Jason." said Frank. "But we'll take a train to Maine and we'll be there in no time."
"Nico?" said Annabeth.
"Yes." he replied.
"When me, Percy and Thalia came here to the boarding school to collect you and... Bianca, we were in Maine. Was there anything out of the ordinary when you were here?"
"It was a shocker to me when I found out the principal was a manticore, if there was anything out of the ordinary, I probably have... I've forgotten it by now." stumbled Nico.
"Okay." said Annabeth, not convinced.
"Nico," she said. "If there was anything weird you had seen, please tell us. Please, I am scared one of the nine of us will lose a life and this is the last few weeks me and Percy have at camp. Please, I don't want to leave camp mourning."
"I saw nothing!" growled Nico. "And it hurts that you think I do. I know in the past I was untrusted because of what happened to Bianca but I am now!"
Nico shoved past her but Annabeth knew that was just an act. Nico di Angelo was hiding something and she knew it. But what was it? Annabeth still trusts Nico, he wouldn't be hiding something to kill them all. But why was he hiding something? What had he seen that would make him refuse to tell her? Annabeth needed to find out.
Meanwhile, the three Roman demigods were discussing another issue in getting train tickets...
"Nine children are going to Maine?" said the ticket salesmen. "Something fishy is happening and I know it."
"Well, we aren't all children," said Hazel. "Two are nearly eighteen."
"Yes, sir." said Jason.
"Guys, this is going to work," whispered Frank. "I'm getting Piper so she can use her charmspeaking on him."
Frank walked away and Jason and Hazel kept on trying to convince him until Piper came. After what felt like an eternity of waiting, Piper funally showed up.
"Hey, sir," said Piper, using her charmspeak. "Please can you take us to Maine. First class please and for free as well, it's an emergency."
"Right away, ma'am." said the salesman as he gave them the tickets.
"Thank you!"
Jason and Hazel looked at her.
"What?" she said. "This could be our last trip ever, me may as well go in style!"
"Piper, I love you but sometimes you're a bit greedy." smiled Jason.
"Must be all the rich-dad stuff getting to her head." joked Hazel.
"You two are hilarious. Now go and get the others, the train will be leaving in half an hour." laughed Piper.
"That's plenty of time." said Hazel.
"No, we must go early before a monster shows up, we're lucky one hasn't followed us so far."
You're right." said Jason. "Nine demigods who have travelled about six hours with no monster, we need to stay close from now on. Something is going to try and stop us from getting to Maine."