I sat in the seat next to Katie, looking out of the window. We were driving down 4th Street of Downtown Los Angeles. People were still out, despite it being the middle of the night. I saw a group of men going dizzily down a line of houses, drunk from the long night. Well...when you think about it, when a city of storms is on the way, bringing death and doom in its wake, having a drink or two didn't sound like a bad idea.

"Heads up," Jake warned as he sat straight up.

I looked up at what he was pointing at. Black clouds covered the starry night sky, flashes of lightning flaring and roaring. The street lights lit up the road and sidewalks of the street, but something seemed really wrong with the lights. They were duller than average lights. I squinted my eyes...and saw the reason why the lights were dull.

Fog – thick grey fog. They covered the lights, making us almost blind.

Just like the last time...

"Chloe, get that bow of yours ready!" I shouted.

"What's going on?" she asked, bringing her bow out.

I brought out Tsunami, feeling the weight of the blade in my hand. "We got company, but I don't know how many there are."

"Who do you think it might be?" Chloe said as she an on her bowstring backwards and an arrow appeared. "Which cohort is coming?"

"Judging by the size of that storm, it's gotta be Whirlwind Hunters!" I replied. I looked at Katie. "You better know how to fight."

In response to that, Katie reached behind her and whipped out two long daggers. She looked scared, but at the same time she looked determined. "You don't have to worry about me, Marcus. I've dealt with thugs a while ago."

"You haven't met these guys yet," I countered. "Whirlwind Hunters are a lot more dangerous than you think. They are well experienced in what they do – they are more like Cyclone City's main police unit."

"You can say that to them," Jake said, his voice rising with each word, until he was practically shouting, "because they are RIGHT IN FRONT OF US!"

I looked out the window. My shoulders sagged in annoyance. "Yep, it's them alright. You've got to be freaking kidding me."

Chloe came up next to me. "What?"

"Whirlwind Hunters," I screamed. "Jake, stop the van!"

The son of Zeus floored the brakes, making the van stop. I immediately jumped to the back door, clutching my sword in both hands. Chloe was crouched at my right, bow at the ready. Jake brought out his golden sword and stood at my left, while Katie stood behind me. I grabbed one of the door handles while Jake grabbed the other. We both nodded and flung the doors open.

A stray arrow flew into the crack of the van and thudded into my left shoulder. I stumbled backwards at the impact, falling on my side. Everyone ducked for cover, while Katie half helped, half dragged me to the side of the doors. She carefully grabbed the arrow and pulled it out. She looked at the hole in my T–shirt.

"No blood at all," she marvelled. "How did you...?"

"I'm one of the last descendants of Achilles," I growled in pain. It felt like a baseball bat had whacked me in the shoulder. "I've gained invulnerability because of that. It makes my skin like iron." I winced as I moved my left arm. "But it does have its limits, because I can still feel the impact of the blow, and it hurts like hell."

"Get out of the van, Dimascio," someone bellowed outside the vehicle.

I took a quick peek out of the open doors and drew my head backwards when another arrow almost got me in the face. In that instant, I knew who was attacking us.

"Kane," I shouted, "is that you?"

I remembered seeing the white haired Hunter in one of my visions of Proculus. I knew it was him for sure.

"How do you know it's me?" the teenager demanded. "You've never met me."

"Demigods have visions Kane," I retorted. "You should try once in a while. I saw you talking to Proculus, right before he knocked you out. Now, I'm not a person who gets amused easily, but that part made me laugh."

That sounded very harsh to my ears, but I had to say something or I would be at a disadvantage. And judging from the intake of breath, I knew I got Kane mad.

"I know you well enough to know that you're trying to figure a way out of this," Kane growled. "You've got nowhere to go. Your vehicle is completely surrounded with a dozen arrows aimed at you."