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Chapter 16: Just Google it

"Why, Aiden? Why did you run away?"

I... I couldn't respond. I couldn't do anything. I was helpless again.

"You could've saved us, Aiden."

No... I tried!

"This is all your fault, Aiden."

No! No, it's not! I didn't knowbut I couldn't speak. I couldn't fight back.

"All you needed to do was act!"

I—I'm sorry! I couldn't...Why didn't I act?

"You had a choice, Aiden."

I... I didn't.

"Aiden..."

"NO!" The words broke free, a scream in my throat.

I jerked awake, gasping, drenched in cold sweat, the remnants of the nightmare clinging to me like a heavy fog. My heart raced, thumping in my chest, as though it could never slow again. It's been a long time since I had this one.

The cold night air hit my face as I stepped outside the tent, hoping the coolness would ground me. The moon was a sharp sliver in the sky, casting long shadows across the camp.

The Moon. My mother's symbol. Artemis. But could I even call her that? I don't know. I still haven't figured out what to call her. The first time we met, she didn't even acknowledge me. The second time, still nothing. She never claimed me, never embraced me. And I don't know if I even wanted her to. Part of me wanted to be angry with her, wanted to yell, to scream. I wanted to demand answers. But another part of me knew better. Emotions like that were a luxury I couldn't afford. I learned to bury them deep, to push them away.

But then I look at the Hunters, how easy it is for her to accept them, how easy it is for her to love them… and it makes me feel—

"Can't sleep?" Thalia's voice cut through the silence.

I jumped, a bit startled. I hadn't even heard her approach. "Nah, think I drank too much coffee," I said, trying to sound casual. "How about you, why are you still up?"

"Can't close my eyes. I'm kinda worried about this whole... big quest," she said, her voice low.

"Excuse me, last time I checked, it's MY big quest," I said, trying to joke, but there was a bitter edge in my tone.

"We're dealing with a force that might end all existence, Aiden," she smirked, the words meant to tease. "I think it's everyone's big quest. After all, you're just a rookie in dealing with apocalypses."

"Yeah, yeah… I've heard the story," I said, rolling my eyes. "You guys defeating Kronos and all. Those are some stories you only read about in novels."

She chuckled, and I could feel the tension ease in my chest just a little. "Yeah, crazy, huh? But I guess that's what we do. Just... keep going. And now it's your turn."

"What do you think we're facing this time?" Thalia asked, her voice growing more serious.

"Who knows? But the bottom line is we fight. We always fight," I said, trying to sound confident, but a lingering fear gnawed at me.

"And what if our best isn't enough?" She asked quietly, almost like she was afraid to hear the answer.

"Come on, why so gloomy?" I tried to tease. "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you Hunters."

Thalia raised an eyebrow. "Those are some big promises coming from a guy with one eye."

"Hey, make no mistake," I said, smirking. "This one-eyed guy can still shoot an arrow better than you."

"Oh, really?" she rolled her eyes, but I could see the hint of a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

"Haha… Guess we'll just see," I said, feeling a little lighter. "Now, you need to go to bed. We need to be in good shape tomorrow."

"Yeah, yeah. Go get some sleep yourself," she said, turning toward her own tent.

"Night," I said, before heading back to my tent.

"Night," she replied.


The Next Day...

We flew for another two hours, the landscape shifting below us as California loomed in the distance. This was my first time in the state, and I couldn't help but be amazed by how everything looked from the sky.

When we finally landed and found Gary's address, I was shocked by what I saw. The building was... not what I expected.

The sign said: GOOGLEPLEX.

"Hold on," I said, staring at the building, still trying to wrap my mind around it. "We're in the Google HQ? This is our destination?!"

Thalia just shrugged. "Seems so. Let's go in and find out."

I was still processing how absurdly out-of-place I felt in this sleek, colorful, modern building. It was the last place I expected to find anything related to the quest.

"I think I've heard of this informant," Sasha said. "He's a mortal who can see through the Mist and turned it into a business."

Of course, everything came down to business.

We walked through the Googleplex, and I had to admit, the place was impressive. Modern art, sleek designs... it was as if this place was meant for innovation. But my mind wasn't on that. I had a job to do.

"Let me handle this," I said, as we approached the receptionist. "Excuse me, ma'am, how's your morning?" I greeted her, hoping for a warm reception.

She didn't even look up from her computer.

"Can you please direct me to Mr. Page's office?" I asked, my patience thinning.

"Have you made a schedule with Mr. Page?" She asked without looking up, her voice monotone.

"No...?" I said, caught off guard by her lack of response.

"Then I'm sorry, but you can't see Mr. Page without an appointment, and those are scheduled a month in advance," she replied.

"Real smooth, Aiden," Thalia muttered from behind me.

But before I could respond, Thalia stepped forward and pulled out a Golden Drachma, holding it up for the receptionist to see.

The woman's eyes went wide. "Ah… You're here for information. This way, please." She led us down a corridor and into a small office labeled CEO.


The office was… well, more of a kid's dream room than a CEO's office. Posters of superheroes and action figures lined the shelves. And sitting in the middle of it all was none other than Larry Page himself, playing an Xbox.

He glanced up and paused the game. "Ah! Splendid! Lily, bring them here!" he said, excitement dripping from his voice.

We all stepped in, unsure what to expect. He waved us toward the beanbag chairs. "Go on, sit down. Don't be shy."

I sank into one of the beanbags, immediately swallowed by its soft embrace. "Okay, so we're here for some information... From what I've heard, you know a lot about... well, everything," I said.

"Ha! Of course not everything, I just know a lot of things," he said with a grin. "And I'm happy to share."

Larry leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping the desk in a thoughtful rhythm. "Alright, alright," he said, clearly enjoying this little game. "I'll give you the information you want, but it's gonna cost you."

I raised an eyebrow. "Cost me?"

He grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Yeah. It's not free, kid. The price for my info is steep."

I glanced at the Hunters, who all looked equally confused. "How steep are we talking here?"

Larry's grin widened as he held up his hand and began counting off on his fingers. "I'll need… let's see… ten thousand drachmas."

I blinked, processing the absurdity of his request. "Wait, what? Ten thousand drachmas?"

He gave me a nonchalant shrug. "Yep, that's the price for a good trade, my friend."

The Hunters exchanged glances, and I could tell none of us had anywhere near that amount of drachmas.

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to hide my frustration. "I don't exactly have that on hand,"

Larry's eyes twinkled as he leaned forward, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "No drachmas? Tsk tsk. I suppose that means we're going to have to come to an alternative arrangement."

I sighed. "What's your alternative?"

Larry raised an eyebrow and tapped the side of his nose. "Ah, now you're thinking like a businessman."

A small wave of realization washed over me. "You're an information trader, right?" I said slowly. "So, instead of money, you'd settle for... I don't know, information?"

Larry's grin grew even wider. "Finally! You're catching on, kid! That's right. A trade of knowledge. You give me something good, and I give you what you need."

I hesitated, then exchanged a look with the Hunters. I wasn't sure what I could offer him—until something clicked.

I turned back to Larry. "Alright. We've got something that might interest you."

Larry raised his hands, ready to make the deal. "What do you got?"

I leaned in, lowering my voice. "There's something you don't know. Something that even the Gods themselves can't talk about."

Larry's eyes narrowed, clearly intrigued. "Go on," he said, leaning closer.

I glanced at the Hunters. Was I allowed to say this? Was itsafeto say this? I had no idea.

Rey seemed to sense my hesitation and spoke up before I could say anything. "What about this?" she asked, sounding a bit more forceful than usual. "There are 73 Hunters who left the Hunt because of a man."

Larry blinked, taken aback. "Now that's interesting. A bit scandalous, but interesting! Alright, alright, you've got yourself a deal."

The Hunters and I exchanged relieved glances. At least we wouldn't have to share my deepest secret with this guy. And Rey's tidbit seemed to do the trick.

Larry clapped his hands together. "Great! Now we can get down to business. The three-headed man you're looking for? Cerberus, right? Let's see…"

He closed his eyes for a moment, muttering to himself, and I couldn't help but feel a bit of impatience growing. Finally, he snapped his fingers. "Ah! Got it! His real name is Rowe. Been around for about... 7463 years. A little bit of a history buff, if you ask me. Likes... chess? Oh, and his hobby? Reading Homer."

"Actually, we just need to know where to find him," I quickly cut in.

Larry seemed unfazed. "Right. You'll find him at Tartarus."

"The Tartarus?" Sasha asked, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"Not the Tartarus," Larry clarified with a chuckle. "Just a café called Tartarus. It's near the Golden Gate Bridge. He works there part-time as a cashier."

There was a pause as we wait for him to elaborate more.

"That's it?" I asked, still trying to wrap my head around the situation.

"Yep. That's what you get for the info you gave me," Larry said with a shrug. "Now, if you want more details—juicierdetails—I'm gonna need something a bit more valuable next time. This kind of info? It's a nice tidbit, but it's not enough to trade for anything else."

I looked at the others, silently relieved we didn't have to share anything more than Rey's tidbit.

I sighed with relief. "Alright. Thanks for the info. We'll be on our way."

Just as we were about to leave, Larry stopped us. "Hey, before you go—any of you interested in making a Google Plus account?"

I closed the door behind me.


We stepped out of the office and into the street. The cool air of California wrapped around us as we walked down the sidewalk.

I had to admit, the whole situation was bizarre. I couldn't believe we were walking out of Google with information about Cerberus, of all things.

"So, Tartarus... a café," I mused, glancing at the Hunters. "Who would've thought?"

Rey, still looking slightly irritated from earlier, muttered, "It's weird, but I guess we've seen stranger things."

I chuckled under my breath, but then my thoughts drifted. As we walked, I couldn't stop thinking about what Rey had said earlier about the 73 Hunters who had left because of love.

"Is that really true?" I asked, breaking the silence. "Seventy-three Hunters? That's... a lot."

Rey sighed, looking more resigned than anything. "That's just what I've heard. Some of them were close friends of mine. I don't get it, honestly. But... that's what happens when you vow to Artemis. You're supposed to give up all that. All the feelings, all the ties."

I could feel the weight of her words pressing down on me. It wasn't just about hunting monsters or saving the world. It was about the price of that life. A life without love. A life without connection.

I turned to Rey. "Have you ever... you know... felt it?" I asked, then immediately regretted it. It was one of those questions you didn't want to ask, especially not of a Hunter.

Her eyes widened. For a moment, I thought she might just ignore me or brush it off. But instead, she went rigid, her face contorting with anger. Without warning, she grabbed me by the collar and shoved me into a nearby wall.

"Howdareyou?" she hissed, her voice trembling with fury.

I stayed calm, despite the pressure on my chest. "I was just asking..." I repeated, though this time, I was more prepared for her reaction.

The other Hunters rushed over, trying to calm her down. Thalia pulled Rey back, but Rey was shaking, her face pale with anger.

"I haven't," she spat, still glaring at me. "And I swore to Artemis I never would. Not ever."

She let go of me with a final shove, leaving me to stumble back slightly. I could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating. It wasn't just anger at my question—it was something deeper, something that was a part of her very identity.

I stepped back, trying to make sense of everything that had just happened. Maybe I didn't understand the Hunters, and maybe I never would. They were... different. I couldn't blame them for that, but it didn't make it any easier to comprehend.

"Alright, alright," Thalia said, holding her hands up. "Let's get back on track. We've got a café to find."

Rey gave me one last look, eyes narrowed, before turning and walking away. I exhaled slowly, trying to shake off the discomfort that had settled in my gut.

Whether any of us liked it or not, we were in this together. And we had a quest to finish.

"Google Plus", huh? Now that's dated, lol. A reminder that this story was first written in 2015, sheesh I'm old. Even Larry Page is no longer the CEO of Google, ha-ha.

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