They set up camp in the woods, a hundred yards from the main road, in a marshy clearing that local kids had obviously been using for parties. The ground was littered with beer bottles and fast-food wrappers.

They decided to sleep in shifts. Percy volunteered to take first watch. Annabeth curled up on the blankets and was snoring as soon as her head hit the ground. Grover fluttered with his flying shoes to the lowest branch of a tree, put his back to the trunk, and up stared at the night sky. Sophie sat nearby and was trying to make a rope out off grass.

"Go ahead and sleep," Percy told the other two. "I'll wake you if there's trouble."

Grover didn't close his eyes. "It makes me sad, guys."

Sophie lifted her head.

"What does?" Percy said. "The fact that you signed up for this stupid quest?"

"No. This makes me sad." He pointed at all the garbage on the ground. "And the sky. You can't even see the stars. They've polluted the sky. This is a terrible time to be a satyr."

"Oh, yeah. I guess you'd be an environmentalist."

Grover glared at Percy. "Only a human wouldn't be. Your species is clogging up the world so fast...ah, never mind. It's useless to lecture humans. At the rate things are going, I'll never find Pan."

"Pam? Like the cooking spray?"

"Pan!" Grover cried indignantly. "P-A-N. The great god Pan! What do you think I want a searcher's license for?"

A strange breeze rustled through the clearing, temporarily overpowering the stink of trash and muck. It brought the smell of berries and wildflowers and clean rain-water, things that might've once been in the woods they were resting in.

"Tell me about the search," Percy said.

Grover looked at him cautiously, as if he were afraid he was just making fun. Sophie scotched closer to indicate she wanted to listen as well.

"The God of Wild Places disappeared two thousand years ago," Grover told them. "A sailor off the coast of Ephesos heard a mysterious voice crying out from the shore, 'Tell them that the great god Pan has died!' When humans heard the news, they believed it. They've been pillaging Pan's kingdom ever since. But for the satyrs, Pan was our lord and master. He protected us and the wild places of the earth. We refuse to believe that he died. In every generation, the bravest satyrs pledge their lives to finding Pan. They search the earth, exploring all the wildest places, hoping to find where he is hidden, and wake him from his sleep."

"And you want to be a searcher?" Sophie asked.

"It's my life's dream," Grover said. "My father was a searcher. And my Uncle Ferdinand...the statue you saw back there—"

Grover took his reed pipes out of his pocket. "No searcher has ever come back. Once they set out, they disappear. They're never seen alive again."

"Not once in two thousand years?" Percy asked.

"No."

"And your dad, you have no idea happened to him?"

"None."

"But you still want to go," Percy said, amazed. "I mean, you really think you'll be the one to find Pan?"

"I have to believe that, Percy. Every searcher does. It's the only thing that keeps us from despair when we look at what humans have done to the world. I have to believe Pan can still be awakened."

The three sat in silence for a few minutes. Sophie admired Grover's ambition.

"How are we going to get into the Underworld?" Percy asked. "I mean, what chance do we have against a god?"

"I don't know," Grover admitted. "But back at Medusa's, when you were searching her office Annabeth was telling me—"

"Oh, I forgot," Percy said with a scoff. "Annabeth will have a plan all figured out."

"She probably will." Sophie mumbled, Percy heard her shooting her an annoyed glare before turning back to Grover.

"Don't be so hard on her," Grover said. "She's had a tough life, but she's a good person. After all, she forgave me..." His voice faltered.

"What do you mean?" Percy asked. "Forgave you for what?"

Suddenly, Grover seemed very interested in playing notes on his pipes.

"Your first keeper job was five years ago," Sophie guessed. "Annabeth has been at camp five
years. She was your first assignment—"

"I can't talk about it," Grover said, and his quivering lower lip suggested he'd start crying if pressed.

"Sorry," Sophie said, feeling guilty.

"But as I was saying," Grover said. "Back at Medusa's, we think there's something strange going on with this quest. Something isn't what it seems."

"Well, duh. I'm getting blamed for stealing a thunder-bolt that Hades took," Percy said.

"That's not what I mean," Grover said. "The Fur—The Kindly Ones were sort of holding back. Like Mrs. Dodds at Yancy Academy...why did she wait so long to try to kill you guys? Then on the bus, they just weren't as aggressive as they could've been."

"They seemed plenty aggressive to me," Sophie said, touching the scarred burn on the back of her hand.

Grover shook his head. "They were screeching at us: 'Where is it? Where?'"

"So they were asking about me," Percy said, as if it were obvious.

"You're not an 'it,' Perce," Sophie said.

"Well I wouldn't be surprised if Mrs. Dodds called me one."

"They could've been talking about you but...again, they said 'it.' That makes me feel like they weren't talking about a person."

"That doesn't make sense," Percy said.

"We know," said Grover, "But if we've misunderstood something about this quest, and we only have nine days to find the master bolt..."

"I haven't been straight with you," Percy suddenly said. "I don't care about the master bolt. I agreed to go to the Underworld so I could bring back my mother."

Grover blew a soft note on his pipes. "I know that, Percy. I bet Sophie does too. But are you sure that's the only reason?"

"I'm not doing it to help my father. He doesn't care about me. I don't care about him."

Grover gazed down from his tree branch. "Look, Percy, I'm not as smart as Annabeth. I'm not as brave as you. Or as strong as Sophie—"

Her strong? Grover may want to rethink that.

"But I'm pretty good at reading emotions," Grover continued. "You're glad your dad is alive. You feel good that he's claimed you, and part of you wants to make him proud. That's why you mailed Medusa's head to Olympus. You wanted him to notice what you'd done."

"Yeah? Well maybe satyr emotions work differently than human emotions. Because you're wrong. I don't care what he thinks."

Grover pulled his feet up onto the branch. "Okay, Percy. Whatever."

"Besides, I haven't done anything worth bragging about. We barely got out of New York and we're stuck here with no money and no way west."

Grover looked at the night sky, like he was thinking about that problem. "How about I take first watch, huh? You guys get some sleep."

Sophie nodded suppressing a yawn as she scooted over to the tree and lay her back against it.

It took her a few seconds to fall asleep.

It was hours later, when birds started chirping and the sun started rising.

Percy bolted upright.

"Well," Annabeth said, "the zombie lives."

Percy was still shaken from the dream. But Annabeth didn't seem to notice. She tossed a bag of Doritos at Percy's head and said, "Breakfast."

He was about to start eating when he noticed Sophie wasn't there.

"Where's Sophie?" He asked.

Annabeth just shrugged in response, "She went for a walk."

Percy wondered why Annabeth let her go off on her own, in the middle of a quest, then reminded himself Sophie could handle herself... Probably.

"Grover went exploring," Annabeth said. "Look, he found a friend."

Grover was sitting cross-legged on a blanket with something fuzzy in his lap, a dirty, unnaturally pink poodle.

Percy stood up and the poodle yapped at him suspiciously. Grover said, "No, he's not."

Percy blinked. "Are you...talking to that thing?"

The poodle growled.

"This thing," Grover warned, "is our ticket west. Be nice to him."

"You can talk to animals?"

Grover ignored the question. "Percy, meet Gladiola. Gladiola, Percy."

"I'm not saying hello to a pink poodle," Percy said. "Forget it."

Gladiola barked at him again.

"Percy," Annabeth said. "I said hello to the poodle. Sophie said hello to the poodle. You say hello to the poodle."

"hold up, Sophie?" Percy asked.

Just then Sophie entered the clearing, a half full bag of chips in her hand. "Yeah." She said sitting down next to Grover scratching the poodles ear.

Percy said hello to the poodle.

Grover explained that he'd come across Gladiola in the woods and they'd struck up a conversation. The poodle had run away from a rich local family, who'd posted a $200 reward for his return. Gladiola didn't really want to go back to his family, but he was willing to if it meant helping Grover.

"How does Gladiola know about the reward?" Percy asked.

"He read the signs," Grover said. "Duh."

"Of course," Percy rolled his eyes. "Silly me."

"So we turn in Gladiola," Annabeth explained in her best strategy voice, "we get money, and we buy tickets to Los Angeles. Simple."

"Can I request we not take another bus?" Grover asked warily.

"I'm fine as long as Percy isn't driving," Sophie said licking the chip crumbs off her fingers.

"No bus," Annabeth agreed.

She pointed downhill, toward train tracks. "There's an Amtrak station half a mile that way. According to Gladiola, the west-bound train leaves at noon."

The next two days on Amtrak went by rather fast. They kept a low profile, especially Percy since his face was plastered over the front pages of several newspapers. Sophie was glad Rory hadn't reported her as missing, even though it'd been at least a week since had contact with him. She guessed that meant either he'd been told the truth or her Uncle had made up a lie of some sorts.

Percy paced the length of the train, having a hard time sitting still. Sophie's ADHD kicked in too, so she started trying to make origami with a napkin.

It didn't work.

Percy had started mumbling things under his breath, only a few words Sophie was able to make out, "Hades... Mom... quest." Clearly Annabeth heard too as she let out a loud sigh.

Sophie turned her head to look at her "You okay?" She asked.

Annabeth shook her head gently "he needs to know, you can't gamble with Hades."

"Hades has his mom." Sophie pointed out.

"He's a god, he won't care about that."

"What would you do if it was your dad down there?"

"Easy, I'd let him rot." Annabeth said crossing her arms and leaning back in her seat.

Sophie lent back too but was uncomfortable so she sat back up "I probably would too."

"oh yeah?" Annabeth said sitting back up, Grover was now looking at them weirdly "I thought you lived with your dad?"

"Nah, I live with my uncle." She explained "My dad wasn't the best dad."

Annabeth nodded in agreement.

"I mean I can tell he tries, but... he got a bit weird after..."

"After what?" Annabeth asked, jeez, did this girl have no idea of boundaries?

"My sister went missing." Sophie said "I don't really remember her much, it was when I was seven, my mom, or I guess she's not my actual mom. Anyway, she took Leila out for a walk one night while I was at my grans, me and Leila used to take turns going."

Annabeth looked at her, Sophie could tell she didn't care about that.

"Anyway, my grandad dropped me off the next day and there were police cars outside the house, My mom had taken Leila somewhere and refused to say where. The cops arrested her but she still didn't budge, so last year when she was declared missing my dad arranged a funeral," she explained.

"Me and the rest of my siblings- Connor and Millie -were separated. They all went to foster homes, while my Uncle took me in."

"My stepmom was the same way. And my dad just went along with her. I realized I wasn't wanted. So I ran away when I was 7. Athena and some friends guided me. For a short time anyway." Annabeth looked out the window, lost in sad memories.

Percy appeared by her side moments later, curious as to why both girls seemed so deep in thought. But thankfully, he didn't ask any questions. From the window, they watched Ohio roll by, listening to the sound of Grover's snoring.

Toward the end of their second day on the train, June 13, eight days before the summer solstice, they passed through some golden hills and over the Mississippi River into St. Louis. Annabeth craned her neck to see the Gateway Arch.

"I want to do that," she sighed.

"What?" Sophie asked.

"Build something like that. You ever see the Parthenon, Sophie?"

She had not. So she shook her head.

"Someday, I'm going to see it in person. I'm going to build the greatest monument to the gods, ever. Something that'll last a thousand years."

Percy laughed. "You? An architect?"

"You got a problem with that Percy?" Annabeth asked angrily.

"Here we go again." Grover who had woken up a minute ago mumbled.

"No not at all." Percy rolled his eyes.

Annabeth sent him a glare.

They pulled into the Amtrak station downtown. The intercom told them they'd have a three-hour layover before departing for Denver.

"Were here"? Grover yawned still sleepy.

"Come on, goat boy," Annabeth said, "Sightseeing,"

"Sightseeing?" Grover asked.

"The Gateway Arch," she said. "This may be my only chance to ride to the top. Are you coming or not?"

Grover and Percy exchanged looks.

Sophie hopped off her seat "Let's go, but I am looking out for a clothes store, we have $20 left and these cargos do not look good with the shoes."

She started walking behind Annabeth Percy and Grover staring at her in amusement.

"As long as there's a snack bar without monsters," Grover said.

The Arch was about a mile from the train station. And the line wasn't that long. They threaded their way through the underground museum, looking at covered wagons and other junk from the 1800s.

Percy didn't find it all that thrilling, but Annabeth kept telling them interesting facts, Grover kept passing them jelly beans, and Sophie was tossing said jellybeans into the air trying to catch them in her mouth, so he was okay.

"I have a weird feeling." Sophie said to Percy.

He rolled his eyes "It's just anxiety."

"Or it could be my spidey-senses," Sophie said ducking behind a startled Grover like a spy.

They continued walking, then Percy said "Guys, You know the gods' symbols of power?"

Annabeth had been in the middle of reading about the construction equipment used to build the Arch, but she looked over. "Yeah?"

"Well, Hade—"

Grover cleared his throat. "We're in a public place...You mean, our friend downstairs?"

"Our bestie down in the basement." Sophie grinned tossing another jellybean in the air.

Annabeth scowled at her.

"Um, right," Percy said. "Our friend way downstairs. Doesn't he have a hat like Annabeth's?"

"You mean the Helm of Darkness," Annabeth said. "Yeah, that's his symbol of power. I saw it next to his seat during the winter solstice council meeting."

"Hold up," Sophie interrupted. "I thought he wasn't allowed on Olympus."

She answered . "It's the only time he's allowed to visit Olympus—the darkest day of the year. But his helm is a lot more powerful than my invisibility hat, if what I've heard is true..."

"It allows him to become darkness," Grover confirmed. "He can melt into shadow or pass through walls. He can't be touched, or seen, or heard. And he can radiate fear so intense it can drive you insane or stop your heart. Why do you think all rational creatures fear the dark?"

"I'm not really scared of the dark," Sophie said.

"He said rational," Annabeth smirked.

Percy continued. "But then...how do we know he's not here right now, watching us?"

"We don't."

"My Spidey senses were right!" Sophie exclaimed.

"Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better," Percy rolled his eyes. "Got any blue jelly beans left?"

Percy and Sophie faltered when they came upon the tiny elevator they had to ride to the top. Percy hated small spaces. The latter hated heights,

They got shoehorned into the car with this lady and her dog, a Chihuahua with a rhinestone collar. They started going up, inside the Arch. The entire time Sophie had a solid grip on the leather seat.

"No parents?" the lady asked them.

She had beady eyes; pointy, coffee-stained teeth; a floppy denim hat, and a denim dress that bulged so much, she looked like a blue-jean blimp.

"They're below," Annabeth told her. "Scared of heights."

"Oh, the poor darlings."

The Chihuahua growled. The woman said, "Now, now, sonny. Behave." The dog had beady eyes like its owner, intelligent and vicious.

Percy said, "Sunny. Is that his name?"

"No," the lady told him.

She smiled, as if that cleared everything up.

At the top of the Arch, was an observation deck. It was a more open than the elevator, and the windows showing the sky made the space feel huge, so Percy felt better. But he looked at Sophie and saw that he was definitely not okay. Heights were not her thing.

Sophie stayed close to him. Eventually the park ranger told them to return to the elevator. Percy was elated. He grabbed Sophie's hand and steered all three of them to the exit. Annabeth and Grover entered first, but after them, there was no room left for Percy and Sophie.

"Next car," The park ranger said.

"We can get out," Annabeth said.

But Percy shook he head. "Naw, it's okay. We'll see you guys at the bottom."

Yay, longer in the tall gravity defying building.

The elevator door slide shut and their car disappeared down the ramp.

The only people left on the observation deck were Percy and Sophie, a little boy with his parents, the park ranger, and the lady with her Chihuahua.

Sophie made eye contact with the lady. The lady smiled at her. Her forked tongue flickering between her teeth.

Sophie flinched, her back slamming into Percy's side. He looked at her trying to understand what had made her jump. Before he could ask, the Chihuahua left the woman's side and started yapping at them.

"Now, now, sonny," the lady said. "Does this look like a good time? We have all these nice people here."

"Doggie!" said the little boy. "Look, a doggie!"

His parents pulled him back.

The Chihuahua bared his teeth, foam dripping from his black lips.

Percy stepped closer to Sophie, now slightly In Front of her.

"Well, son," the lady sighed. "If you insist."

Ice pooled in the two kids' stomachs. "Uhm, did you just call that Chihuahua your son?" Percy asked, uneasily.

"Chimera, dear," the fat lady corrected. "Not a Chihuahua. It's an easy mistake to make."

Hold up that was one of the monsters Annabeth-

She rolled up her denim sleeves, revealing that the skin of her arms was scaly and green. When she smiled, Sophie noticed that her teeth were fangs. The pupils of her eyes were sideways slits, like a reptile's.

The Chihuahua barked louder, and with each bark, it grew. First to the size of a Doberman, then to a lion. The bark became a roar.

The little boy screamed. His parents pulled him back toward the exit, straight into the park ranger, who stood, paralyzed, gaping at the monster.

The Chimera was now so tall its back rubbed against the roof. It had the head of a lion with a blood-caked mane, the body and hooves of a giant goat, and a serpent for a tail, a ten-foot-long diamondback growing right out of its shaggy behind. The rhinestone dog collar still hung around its neck, and the plate-sized dog tag was now easy to read: CHIMERA—RABID, FIRE-BREATHING, POISONOUS—IF FOUND, PLEASE CALL TARTARUS—EXT. 954.

Percy and Sophie backed up slightly. Percy uncapped his sword and Sophie drew her dagger.

The snake lady made a hissing noise that might've been laughter. "Be honored, Percy Jackson, Sophie Jones. Lord Zeus rarely allows me to test heroes with one of my brood. For I am the Mother of Monsters, the terrible Echidna!"

All Percy could think to say was: "Isn't that a kind of anteater?"

"I thought she said Enchilada." Sophie spoke aloud.

The Echidna howled, her reptilian face turning brown and green with rage. "I hate it when people say that! I hate Australia! Naming that ridiculous animal after me. For that, children, my son shall destroy you!"

The Chimera charged, its lion teeth gnashing. Percy and Sophie leaped aside to dodge the bite. The two ended up next to the family and the park ranger, who were all screaming now, trying to pry open the emergency exit doors.

The two demigods locked eyes, knowing they couldn't let the innocent people get hurt. Percy unsheathed his weapon, and ran to the other side of the observation deck. He waved his sword, yelling,"Hey, Chihuahua!"

Sophie pushed past the group of spectators and started trying to wedge the emergency door open with her dagger. She pushed her whole body weight against the weapon and the door jarred slightly. Sophie removed the dagger and the park ranger elbowed her aside to open it the rest of the way. The mortals ran for it without a second glance at her.

Percy was still fighting the Chimera. He swung for the monster, but had to retreat to avoid being bitten. Sophie ran to Percy and slid in front of him. But before either one of them could make an attack, the Chimera opened its mouth, emitting a horrible stench, and shot a column of flame straight at them both.

They had to dive through the explosion. Sophie getting to brunt of the blast. She covered her face with her arm and hissed at the intense heat that she was hit with. The carpet burst into flames. Where they had been standing a moment before was a ragged hole in the side of the Arch, with melted metal steaming around the edges.

Her arms were stinging, like she'd pulled a giant plaster off. It wasn't actually that sore, she thought it would be worse.

Riptide was now a shining bronze blade in Percy's hands. He lunged for the monster and slashed at its neck. But the blade sparked harmlessly off the dogs collar. Percy tried to regain his balance, but he was so worried about defending himself against the fiery lion's mouth, he completely forgot about the serpent tail.

The snake sank its teeth into Percy's calf.

"No!" Sophie cried, and she raced to retrieve her dagger. She gripped it tightly and stabbed at the snake. The serpent hissed when her blade nicked it's side this time, but it kept coming forward. It wrapped itself around her torso and threw her through the air. She landed on her back with a thud, sliding across the floor towards the gaping hole in the wall. She looked to the side. She was about an inch away from falling off the Arch.

She had to duck when a bronze sword was flung towards her head. Riptide flew over her and down in the River below.

Sophie stood up on shaky legs, holding her aching head. Percy, now weaponless, backed up towards to hole in the wall, nearly bumping into Sophie . The Chimera advanced, growling, smoke curling from its lips. The snake lady, Echidna, cackled. "They don't make heroes like they used to, eh, son?"

The monster growled. It seemed in no hurry to finish them off now that they were pretty much already beaten.

Percy looked at Sophie, very aware they had nowhere else to go. He stepped closer to the hole. Far, far below, the river glittered.

"If you are the son of Poseidon," Echidna hissed, "you would not fear water. Jump, Percy Jackson. Show me that water will not harm you. Jump and retrieve your sword. Prove your bloodline. Though I'm afraid your little friend is as good as dead."

The Chimera's mouth glowed red, heating up for another blast.

"You have no faith," Echidna told him. "You do not trust the gods. I cannot blame you, little coward. Better you die now. The gods are faithless. The poison is in your heart."

Percy met Sophie's eyes, and his face became one of determination, and Sophie knew he had a plan.

A really, really dumb plan.

Hey he was Percy.

He backed up inching closer to her.

"Die, faithless one," Echidna rasped, and the Chimera sent a column of flame toward the two.

"Father, help me," Percy prayed.

Percy turned, wrapped his arms around Sophie, and jumped, pulling her with him.

She had never wanted to go skydiving, let alone without a parachute.

And together they plummeted hundreds of feet, towards the river below.

As Sophie plummeted to her doom she tried to accept death. She'd finally get to meet Hades, and she'd be a free spirit, the first thing she'd do was haunt Percy if he survived. If not Nancy, that would be fun.

Percy's high pitched scream kinda interrupted her deep thoughts.

"WERE GOING TO FUCKING DIE!"

The two raced towards the Mississippi River.

Percy tightened his arms around his best friend, continuing to curse. The wind had ripped the air out of Sophie's lungs. Her blonde hair whipped around her and Percy's heads.

"Percy if you survive I want you to have my stash of Skittles!" Sophie screamed although she suspected he couldn't hear her.

Percy knew the hitting the water from hundreds of feet in the air would be like face planting on concrete. He had a sliver of hope that being the son of the sea god would save him from the fate of death. But about a quarter of the way down, he started to have even less hope for Sophie, who was not a child of Poseidon.

"Please work please work please work please please please" he muttered into her hair, his fingers digging into her side.

He positioned his body so that he would hit the water before her. Praying on everything that that did something.

Then, there was a whiteout of bubbles. And the two sank to through the murky green water, clinging to one another. They settled at the bottom of the river soundlessly.

Alive.

They were alive.

The fall had hardly even hurt. Percy noticed they both were completely dry, and he felt the poison from the Chimera being dissipating. His ears were still ringing from his own screams, but other than that, he was fine. He could breath underwater.

Percy was so startled by the fact that he could breath, he didn't realize that Sophie couldn't. 

Shit.

Way to true

Sorry this chapter is late, first i was sick, then i was captured by a spaghetti monster, then i discovered home sick on webtoon. 📖

Anyway here it is

The whole funeral thing may not be correct and stuff 😅

also how would you feel about me posting a wattpad original, theres a story thats been in my drafts for a while

hope ya'll are having a good day

Blake 🫡