SCENE NINE

~~~

INT. HALLWAY

The hallway is dark, only one or two lights are on. PERCY descends the stairs. There is only one room with the light on. PERCY walks over to it.

GROVER: I'm just worried about Percy, sir. (PERCY presses himself against the wall next to CHIRON'S door.) I mean, a Kindly One? In the school! We know for sure, sir, and so do they.

PERCY looks confused.

CHIRON: We would only make matter worse by rushing him. We need him to be more...mature.

GROVER: We don't have time! The summer solstice deadline—

CHIRON: Will be resolved without him, Grover. Let him enjoy his ignorance...his normalcy...while he still can.

GROVER: He saw her.

CHIRON: Wrong. He imagined her. The Mist over everyone will be enough to convince him of that.

GROVER: I can't fail again, sir. You know what'll happen.

CHIRON: You haven't failed, Grover. I'll be sure Mr. D knows that. I should've been able to see her for what she was. Now let's just worry about keeping Percy alive until next fall—

PERCY'S jaw drops, as does his book. The thud echoes throughout the hall. PERCY slowly picks up the book, and backs away from the office, and into the nearest classroom. He hides behind the door. A large shadow passes by the door, a clip-clop-clip-clop following it.

CHIRON (from off-screen): Nothing. My nerves haven't been right since the winter solstice.

GROVER (from off-screen): Mine either, but I could have sworn...

CHIRON: Go back to your dorm. You've got a long day of exams tomorrow. 

GROVER: Don't remind me.

The lights turn off. PERCY'S heavy breathing grows quieter as the scene fades.