Looking back on it now, Percy realized that maybe disobeying Medusa's advice and leaping off a moving train wasn't the best idea. But hey, when you're being chased by monsters, you tend to throw caution to the wind and go with whatever crazy plan comes to mind. And right now, the plan was simple: get away from the train before it turned into a wrecking ball of chaos, taking innocent bystanders with it.
So, without further ado, Percy, Ethan, and Alabaster took a flying leap out of the train window, with Alabaster conjuring up some sort of cushioning spell to soften their crash landing. They hit the ground running, adrenaline pumping and hearts pounding as they sprinted away from the scene of the impending disaster.
"We need to find a crowd of mundanes, ASAP!" Ethan yelled over his shoulder, deftly dodging a venomous spray aimed in his direction. He moved with a fluidity that seemed almost supernatural, like he was born to be a parkour master in the midst of a monster chase.
"Did you forget we just bailed out of a train full of mundanes?!" Percy shot back, unsheathing Riptide, and slicing through an Amphisbaena with practiced ease. "And isn't it just our luck that we're now being hunted by the offspring of the very monster we just allied with?!"
The Amphisbaena, a snake with a head on each end, writhed in agony as Percy's blade cleaved through its necks. It was said that these creatures were born from the blood of Medusa's severed head, a fact that became painfully apparent as they fought for their lives.
Alabaster conjured up a fireball and hurled it at another approaching Amphisbaena, his expression grim as he considered the irony of their situation. "Yeah, real ironic! Also, we were in a train wagon on our own. But right now, we need to use the mundanes as our shield. No time for the monsters to strike if we're surrounded by innocent bystanders!"
"Should I be concerned about how casually you're suggesting we use mundanes as meat shields?" Percy shot Alabaster a horrified look, his expression a mix of disbelief and incredulity.
Alabaster, ever the indifferent one, simply shrugged nonchalantly. "Hey, desperate times call for desperate measures. Better them than us, right?"
"No time for debates!" Ethan interjected sharply, urging them forward as they navigated the bustling city streets. They might have slowed their pace, but they were still on the move, their adrenaline-fueled sprint showing no signs of stopping. "Look! Let's head over there!"
Ethan pointed excitedly at the Gateway Arch, the iconic monument standing tall and proud in the heart of Missouri, USA. At 630 feet, it was the nation's tallest monument, a beacon drawing visitors from far and wide for over four decades.
"Is it just me, or does heading towards the tallest monument in the US sound like a recipe for disaster right about now?" Percy quipped, a nagging feeling gnawing at his gut, warning him against the idea.
But with a horde of amphisbaenae hot on their heels, Percy didn't have much of a choice. He reluctantly followed Ethan and Alabaster as they made their way towards the towering structure. As soon as they crossed the threshold of the arch, however, a miraculous thing happened—the amphisbaenae stopped chasing them.
Percy, Ethan, and Alabaster practically collapsed with relief and exhaustion, their ragged breaths echoing in the cavernous space of the arch. They attracted some curious glances from tourists, but at that moment, the demigods couldn't care less about the mundane world around them. All that mattered was that they were safe, for now.
"So, what's the plan now?" Ethan's question hung in the air, breaking the tense silence that had settled over them.
Percy shot his friend a deadpan look. "Gee, I don't know, Ethan. Wasn't it your brilliant idea to come here in the first place?"
Ethan bristled, his frustration evident. "Hey, we were kind of busy being chased by monsters, okay? It's not like we had a plethora of options!"
Alabaster, ever the voice of reason in their ragtag trio, chimed in. "Let's head to the top. From up there, I can cast a locator spell to pinpoint where the monsters are congregating in the city."
Percy nodded, acknowledging the logic in Alabaster's suggestion. "Sounds better than wandering aimlessly. At least this way, we'll know where to avoid."
With their plan set, they made their way to the elevator, navigating through the throngs of tourists milling about the base of the Gateway Arch. It took them a good fifteen minutes just to reach the start of the queue, a testament to the popularity of the monument. However, as they approached the elevator, it became apparent that only two of them would fit inside with the rest of the mundane tourists.
"We're not splitting up," Ethan declared firmly, his gaze darting between his friends. "That's just the setup for a bad horror movie." Turning to the elderly woman standing behind them, Ethan made a decision. "You go ahead," he insisted, gesturing towards the elevator. "My friends and I will wait for the next one."
The old lady's response sent a chill down Percy's spine, her words carrying an eerie weight that seemed to linger in the air. "Nonsense, dear," she scoffed, her voice sending shivers down Percy's back. "You and your friend go ahead. I shall wait with Perseus for the next ride."
Percy's heart pounded in his chest as the old lady's gaze fell upon him, recognition flashing in her eyes. Before he could react, Ethan and Alabaster lunged forward, ready to defend their friend. But their efforts were futile as they were quickly overpowered and dragged into the elevator, leaving Percy standing alone in stunned silence.
As the elevator doors closed, Percy felt a sense of dread wash over him. He turned slowly, taking in the sight of the empty entrance floor, his mind racing with a thousand questions. Why had the old lady singled him out? What did she want with them? Where in Tartarus are the rest of the mundanes? The ground floor was packed only a couple of minutes ago!
His thoughts were interrupted by a sinister hiss, and Percy's gaze snapped to the source. Through the Mist, he could see the old lady's true form beginning to emerge, her features contorting into something grotesque and otherworldly.
With a smirk that sent chills down Percy's spine, the old lady revealed her true identity. "Behold, Perseus Jackson," she hissed, her voice dripping with malice. "I am Echidna, Mother of Monsters, and you have the honor of being tested by one of my brood."
In an instant, her human facade fell away, revealing a terrifying hybrid form. Her once-human head now sat atop a serpentine body, her skin glistening with scales and her eyes gleaming like a predator's. Her forked tongue flicked out, revealing razor-sharp fangs that glinted in the dim light of the elevator.
Percy's blood ran cold as he faced the monstrous creature before him. This was far from the usual challenges he encountered as a demigod, and he knew that escaping the clutches of Echidna would require all of his wit and bravery.
The writhing mass of amphisbaenae slithered menacingly around Echidna and Percy, their presence adding an extra layer of danger to an already perilous situation. Percy's eyes blazed with anger as he confronted the monstrous Echidna, his frustration boiling over at being deceived.
"You led us straight into your trap, didn't you?" Percy accused, his voice laced with righteous indignation.
Echidna chuckled, her laughter grating on Percy's nerves like nails on a chalkboard. "Oh, bravo, demigod. You caught me. Ten points to Gryffindor! Consider yourself the winner of the 'Most Gullible Hero' award."
Percy rolled his eyes. "Great, another trophy for my collection."
As the tension between them crackled in the air, Percy couldn't resist a jab at Echidna's choice of insults. "By the way, I'm a Hufflepuff, not a Gryffindor. But I'm sure your knowledge of wizarding houses is as accurate as your taste in fashion."
Echidna's coils tightened around her, her reptilian features contorted into a snarl. "You think you're clever, don't you, Son of Poseidon?"
Percy scoffed. "First of all, lady, I'm the Son of Sally Jackson, not Poseidon. And secondly, I'm the undisputed Prince of Elysium Prep. So, if you're planning to take me down, you better bring more than just a bunch of oversized snakes."
Echidna's eyes narrowed, a wicked glint dancing in their depths. "We'll see about that, little demigod. We'll see."
Percy's heart pounded in his chest as the amphisbaenae surged forward at Echidna's command. With lightning reflexes, he uncapped Riptide just in time, the celestial bronze blade gleaming in the dim light as he launched into a whirlwind of deadly slashes. He channeled every ounce of training he'd received from Alexander, his muscles moving with precision and grace as he danced through the fray.
Percy couldn't help but unleash his trademark snark even in the midst of chaos. As he swung Riptide, slicing through the serpentine monsters with a vengeance, he muttered under his breath, "You know, this whole 'being chased by monsters' thing is really cutting into my nap time."
Head after head fell to Riptide's edge, the demigod carving a path through the writhing mass of serpentine monsters with relentless determination. With each dodged strike and retaliatory swing, Percy couldn't resist taunting the amphisbaenae. "Hey, snake-face! Is that all you've got? I've seen scarier things lurking in the school cafeteria leftovers!" With each swing of his blade, he felt the weight of the battle bearing down on him, his muscles burning with exertion as he pushed himself to the limit.
Despite his best efforts to evade, Percy couldn't avoid every strike, and the venomous fangs of the amphisbaenae sank into his flesh, injecting their toxic venom into his veins. The pain flared through him, but he gritted his teeth and fought on, refusing to let it slow him down. Still as the last of the amphisbaenae fell, Percy staggered back, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he surveyed the aftermath of the skirmish. His body was battered and bruised, blood trickling from the wounds inflicted by the monsters' venomous bites. But despite the pain and exhaustion, he refused to yield.
With a defiant glare, Percy locked eyes with Echidna, who seethed with rage at his defiance. Even with venom coursing through his veins and the exhaustion threatening to overwhelm him, Percy's spirit remained unyielding. "You call this a challenge? I've fought ghosts, monsters, and my own math homework! This is just a walk in the park, except with more teeth and less ice cream."
Well, it sure would've been handy to figure out the whole "poison coursing through my veins" thing before getting cozy with Echidna and her snake buddies. But hey, who's keeping score? Certainly not Percy Jackson, as he found himself in yet another pickle. With each heartbeat, he could practically feel the clock ticking down, a countdown to whatever unfortunate fate awaited him.
Before he could react, Echidna lashed out with her snake-like tail, the force of the blow sending Percy hurtling through the air. He crashed through the glass wall of the monument with a resounding crash, the shards raining down around him as he plummeted towards the dark waters below. Percy tried to command the water to obey him, but he was too tired, and the poison was threatening to make him loose conscious.
"Help a demigod out, would ya?" Percy muttered, half to himself and half to any divine entity that happened to be listening. If only he'd remembered to pack his anti-poison charm alongside his celestial bronze sword. Hindsight, as they say, is 20/20.
In that split-second of impending doom, Percy couldn't help but wonder what Nico would think of all this. Maybe he'd get a good laugh out of Percy's misadventures, or perhaps he'd raise an eyebrow and ask why Percy didn't just stick to surfing or something equally less perilous.
As the ground rushed up to meet him, Percy braced himself for impact, the impending collision with the water below promising a rather unpleasant surprise. But hey, if he survived this, it would make for one heck of a story to tell around the campfire. Assuming, of course, he lived to tell the tale.