After a chaotic showdown with three cranky old ladies and the tragic demolition of a bus, Percy couldn't help but feel a smidge grateful for the mythology crash course he suffered through at Elysium Prep. As they trudged through the gloomy woods, his mind was a whirlwind of muttered expletives aimed squarely at the gods he'd come to know so well.
With a frustrated kick, Percy sent a rock hurtling into the river nearby, the splash offering a small moment of catharsis. "Could this summer get any worse?" he gripped his buddies, Ethan, and Alabaster, nodding in agreement.
Left with nothing but the essentials they carried, they soldiered on, armed only with Ethan's morning star, Alabaster's spear and grimoire, and Percy's trusty Riptide. The latter, a seemingly mundane pen, had a nifty secret—uncap it, and voila, you've got yourself a sword fit for a demigod. Speaking of demigods, Percy's relationship with his divine dad, Poseidon, was a bit of a mixed bag. Sure, the guy was MIA for most of Percy's life, leaving his poor mom to fend off oceanic nightmares on her own. But hey, you gotta give credit where it's due—Poseidon's gifts came in pretty handy when Percy found himself in a bind.
"Hey, am I gonna kick the bucket?" Percy blurted out, his tone a mix of concern and morbid curiosity. His friends shot him horrified looks, and Percy rolled his eyes. "Don't give me those wide-eyed stares! Those crones straight-up snipped my life thread while locking eyes with me!"
After a tense silence, Alabaster finally spoke up. "I wouldn't dwell on it too much, Percy. The prophecy didn't mention anything about anyone dying."
Ethan chimed in, nodding vigorously. "Yeah, and even if it did, it could mean anything. Maybe they clipped the lifespan of some random mortal, or a monster we'll take down on this quest. Or hey, it might just be some far-off future demise when we're old geezers with more wrinkles than brain cells."
"Oh, fantastic!" Percy shot back, dripping with sarcasm. "So, those shears could mean my demise, someone else's, or even me becoming a certified murderer. What a joyride!"
Ethan and Alabaster burst into laughter, with Ethan managing to compose himself first. He turned to Percy with a grin. "What we're trying to say is, don't go losing your marbles trying to decode this. Those three are cosmic forces beyond our pay grade."
Alabaster nodded in agreement. "Exactly. The last thing we need is a self-fulfilling prophecy scenario."
"Self-fulfilling prophecy, huh? Like when the hero in the myths tries to change their fate but it is their actions that cause that future to happen?" Percy quipped, a smirk playing on his lips.
"You could explain it like that," Alabaster chuckled, thoroughly amused by Percy's analogy.
As they trudged through the moonlit forest, branches creaking ominously overhead and shadows dancing in the darkness, Percy couldn't help but feel like he'd stumbled into a horror movie set. Alabaster led the way, using his magic to light up the way, cutting through the thick blanket of darkness. Ethan brought up the rear, his eyes darting assertively from side to side as if expecting a monster to jump out at any moment.
Every rustle of leaves or snap of twigs sent a jolt of adrenaline coursing through Percy's veins, his heart pounding in his chest like a drumbeat of dread. They finally stumbled upon one of those roadside joints that seemed to cater to folks with yards bigger than their taste. Percy's imagination was already wild with visions of creepy old ladies and haunted establishments straight out of a ghost story.
"Looks like we've stumbled upon civilization," Ethan remarked, his voice tinged with relief as they approached the entrance of the roadside joint.
"More like civilization's distant, creepy cousin," Percy muttered under his breath, eyeing the dilapidated sign above the door with suspicion.
Alabaster nodded in agreement, his expression mirroring Percy's unease as they stepped into the dimly lit establishment. Percy squinted at the faded red sign with cursive he could barely make out, but Alabaster, being the walking encyclopedia he was, read it aloud with a hint of suspicion.
Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium
Suspicious? Definitely. But after the streak of bad luck they'd had, Percy was ready to risk it for some grub. He shot Ethan a look, and they exchanged a silent agreement: Food trumped all. Alabaster, ever the voice of reason, tried to protest, but Percy and Ethan were already marching towards the door, ignoring his objections.
Before they could even knock, the door creaked open, revealing an older woman cloaked in a full veil. Percy couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the sight, but Ethan was quick to take charge, spinning a tale smoother than Poseidon's sea foam.
"Hey there, ma'am! Sorry to bother you at this hour," Ethan began with a charming smile that screamed 'trustworthy kid, not a fibber.' "My friends and I are traveling with our teacher for an out of state competition, but our van conked out a few miles back. Phones are out of battery and none of us were smart enough to pack a charger with us. So, we split up to find help, any chance we could use your phone to call for a tow?"
Percy had to bite his lip to stop him from laughing at Ethan's theatrics. The woman's expression softened into one of concern.
"Oh, you poor darlings! Come right in," she exclaimed, ushering them inside with a motherly warmth. "I'm Aunty Em. Go on back, and I'll whip up something to fill your bellies."
As they stepped through the creaking door into the dimly lit shop, Percy's gaze swept across the eerie statues that lined the shelves, each one a frozen embodiment of anguish and despair. The flickering light cast eerie shadows, adding to the unsettling atmosphere of the place. Alabaster's shoulders drooped in resignation, and Ethan's expression mirrored Percy's unease, his features contorted in a grimace that betrayed his discomfort.
They made their way to the snack bar, their footsteps echoing in the empty space. Aunty Em was nowhere to be seen, her absence leaving them alone with their uneasy thoughts. The silence was suffocating, broken only by the faint hum of a refrigerator in the distance. Percy couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, his senses on high alert as he scanned the shadowy corners of the shop.
Percy couldn't help but break the tense silence with a sarcastic remark. "Well, well, well, look what we stumbled into. Medusa's hideout, right?"
Alabaster let out a weary sigh, massaging his temples as if to stave off an impending headache. "You can practically taste the magic emanating from those statues. First, the Fates, and now Medusa. Aren't we just a lucky bunch?" His voice dripped with sarcasm, the weight of their predicament settling heavily on his shoulders.
But Ethan, ever the voice of reason, tried to assuage their fears. "I don't think we need to worry too much," he said, meeting Percy's skeptical gaze head-on.
Percy's eyes narrowed at Ethan's nonchalance. "Are you forgetting the part where my dad played a starring role in Medusa's tragic backstory? He turned her into a monster after... well, after what he did to her." Percy hissed, compartmentalizing the fact that his father was a serial rapist to deal with for another day.
"Al was not the only one feeling something coming from those statues," Ethan's expression softened, his tone earnest as he countered Percy's argument. "Whatever happened to them, before they turned into statues, my mother deemed it necessary retribution. As such I believe that if we leave her, she will leave us."
Percy grunted in reluctant agreement, his mind still struggling with the fact that they had willingly walked into a monster's lair. It was then that Aunty Em bustled back into the room, balancing trays laden with milkshakes, burgers, and a mountain of fries. Percy barely managed a quick "thanks" before diving into his meal with gusto. If Medusa was going to turn them to stone, at least Percy was determined to meet that fate on a full stomach.
Recalling his mother's lessons on manners—unless someone gave him a good reason not to be polite—Percy decided to play it cool for now. After all, Medusa hadn't made any moves to kill them yet, which was a point in her favor. "Wow, this food is amazing! Do you usually get many customers out here?" he asked, trying to keep the conversation light.
Though Percy couldn't see her face behind the veil, he sensed a smile in Aunty Em's voice as she replied, "Not since they built that blasted highway, no. But I don't mind the peace and quiet if I'm being honest. It's a rare treat. Still, I must say, I'm quite surprised to see such well-mannered children out here all on their lonesome. Surely your teacher didn't intend for you to wander this far?"
Ethan, never one to hold back, chimed in with a shrug. "They're pretty negligent, to be honest," he said, earning an amused snort from Percy. Trust Ethan to always speak his mind, even in the most precarious situations.
"Are you gonna turn us into stone or what?!" Alabaster's patience finally snapped, earning a groan from Percy and a facepalm from Ethan.
Medusa held up a hand in a gesture of peace. "No need to worry tonight, son of Hecate," she assured him. "While I used to be quite the stickler for revenge back in the day, I've since retired from the whole vengeance business. Believe it or not, I used to be a priestess. Hard to picture, huh? Anyway, consider yourselves my honored guests. I only petrify the rude ones, you see. Sadly, good manners seem to be in short supply these days."
Ethan cleared his throat, shooting a pointed look at Alabaster. "So, uh, let's just eat our food and say thanks, alright?"
Alabaster muttered a reluctant "thanks" before taking a sip of his milkshake. "We don't have any cash on us, but maybe you could start a tab for Elysium Prep? The school will cover our expenses and those of any other demigods passing through. And we'll be sure to spread the word that you're a neutral party and that guests should mind their manners." Despite his diplomatic approach, Alabaster couldn't hide his discomfort. "Sorry for snapping earlier."
Medusa waved off his apology with a smile. "No worries, dear," she said, the word "dear" sounding bizarre coming from a monster. "I understand how it is for demigods on a quest. Nerves of steel, right?"
"I... I would also like to apologize for what my f-father did," Percy stuttered, his gaze shifting away in shame.
For a tense moment, silence hung heavy in the air until Medusa reached out and gently placed her hand over Percy's. He flinched at first, but soon relaxed under her touch. "I no longer hold the sins of a parent against their children," she reassured him softly. "There's nothing for you to apologize for. You did nothing wrong."
Percy's disbelief slowly melted away, replaced by a grateful smile that spread across his face. He nodded in thanks, silently acknowledging Medusa's unexpected act of kindness. As they polished off their meal, the tension that had gripped them earlier evaporated, replaced by a comforting sense of relief. They gladly accepted Medusa's offer of a place to crash for the night, thankful for the chance to unwind after the chaotic events of the day.
The night passed without incident, and they woke up refreshed, thanks to the peaceful slumber they had enjoyed. Medusa treated them to a hearty breakfast, adding to their appreciation for her hospitality. "By the way, you must get going soon. You have a train to catch!"
Percy, Ethan, and Alabaster turned to Medusa with confused expressions. At the end it was Ethan the one who spoke up. "We have a train to catch?" He repeated, though it sounded more like a question.
"Yes, this morning I woke up to this," Medusa theatrically waved an envelope, before placing it on the table in front of the demigods. "She always did like her hospitality laws, very few people obey them anymore. It seems that you caught her eye by following them and managed to impress her."
Percy did not even need to ask who Medusa was referring to, as he rapidly recognized the sacred flame in the wax seal. This was a gift from his aunt, the new Olympian, the eldest of the children between Kronos and Rhea, Hestia Goddess of the Hearth, and Family. "Thank you," Percy finally managed to open his mouth and respond, taking the envelope in his hands.
"I recommend you go straight to Santa Monica, not stopping anywhere," Percy could not see it, but he somehow knew that Medusa was winking beneath the veil.
"We will do our best not to," Alabaster replied, knowing better than to make any oaths and the unpredictability of quests.
With full stomachs and lighter hearts, they said their goodbyes to Medusa, promising to return once their quest was over. With newfound determination, they hit the road again, ready to tackle whatever challenges awaited them.
"No one is gonna freaking believe this," Ethan muttered under his breath as they walked away.
Alabaster snorted. "I can't even believe it myself, and I was there!"
"Maybe we should think twice about which monsters we pick fights with from now on," Percy suggested, earning nods of agreement from his friends. "What a crazy ride."