The Lightning Thief - My Way

Revenge of the Pre Algebra Teacher

     "Ah good old Loremaestus. I like Bluetide better," I thanked Chiron. Percy uncapped Anaklusmos. He translated the name to Riptide. Percy looked like he suspected that he was going to lose it. "You can't," I said.

     "Can't what?" Percy asked.

     "Lose the pen. It will always appear in your pocket even if you lose it," I explained. Percy threw it as hard as he could. Seconds later he found it back in his pocket. We walked down the hill to the van with Argus, Annabeth and Grover waiting.

     "I call shotgun!" I said right away. Percy just stared at me. "What? We're going on one of the first quests in many years and I can't call shotgun?" I looked at him. He rolled his eyes. I climbed into the front seat and put my backpack between my feet. We drove off. The mortal world seemed so unreal compared to what happened in the past two weeks. Percy and Annabeth did the usual conversation with Percy being stupid and Annabeth explaining. This time Annabeth explained that our parents Poseidon and Athena did not get along so it is assumed that they didn't get along as well. Since we had some traffic issues we reached Manhattan at sunset and it started to rain. Argus dropped us off at the Greyhound station. It wasn't far from the apartments. I caught a glimpse of a HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BOY flyer of Percy before he snatched it off. Grover seemed to sense Percy's feelings. He told us that his mom married Gabe to protect us. His aura was so mortal and strong that he's protected us for years from monsters. We waited for the bus. We passed the time by playing Hacky Sack with an apple. Annabeth and I were pros. The boys weren't too bad either. But it ended too soon when the apple got too close to Grover's mouth. Percy hit it toward Grover and with one huge chomp the apple disappeared: core and all. Grover was blushing and apologizing but the three of us were laughing hard. Then the bus pulled up. I suddenly felt something... bad. I started to get jittery. Grover did too. Then three old ladies boarded. My breathing got heavy. I looked to my left where Percy and Annabeth were. Annabeth looked worried. Percy was well... still recognizing the problem. My hand traveled to my right pocket where the pen was. Grover snatched my arm. I looked at his shaking head. The first old lady was a good teacher of mine: Mrs. Dodds. With all three of the Kindly Ones in the bus I could sense the power they radiated. It made me jittery and sweat with nervousness. Percy said that he thought that it took years for monsters to come back. Annabeth said if you're lucky.

     "They won't attack us with witnesses around right?" Percy asked his voice quivering ever so slightly.

     "All three of them! Di immortales!" Grover mumbled.

     "It's okay," Annabeth said thinking like there was no tomorrow.

     "Totally gonna be okay," I mumbled.

     "The Furies. The three worst monsters from the Underworld. No problem. We'll just escape through the windows," Percy suggested. Grover said they won't open. "Back exit?" There wasn't anything. I was just panicking and sweating like crazy anticipating a huge fight to break out with three old ladies against two twelve year olds, one eleven year old and a satyr that was whimpering so bad. I just dreaded it.Then we hit the Lincoln Tunnel. It was eerily quiet without the pounding of the rain. Then Mrs. Dodds suddenly stood up.

     "I need to use the restroom," she announced.

     "So do I," the second sister echoed.

     "So do I," the third sister echoed. They all got up... and started down the aisle toward the back. Then Annabeth suggested that Percy take her invisibility cap. Percy was confused.

     "You're the one they want Percy," Annabeth whispered desperately.

     "What about Clair? She's important too. She's more powerful than me," Percy whispered back.

     "I have a weaker aura stupid. They can't sense me as powerful and important," I explained urgently. I snatched the cap from Annabeth and shoved it into Percy's hands. He hesitantly put the cap on. He shimmered and turned invisible. Then I lost track of him after I felt the air shift when he got up. I really wanted to see him to make sure he wasn't stupid. Then he suddenly reappeared. I was about to shout to Percy to yank the hat back on but it was on his head. He was transparent. I realized that he was invisible but I can see him. I nudged Annabeth. "I can see him," I whispered. She looked at me shocked. I shrugged. Then there was tension when he retreated into an empty seat when they were passing. Mrs. Dodds stopped and sniffed in his direction. She looked straight at his body. I held my breath. Then she went past him. I was relieved. But she headed toward me, the one in between the girl and half guy the one that was very vulnerable. She morphed. They became the hags with bat wings again. They had handbags that turned into fiery whips. Mrs. Dodds, the one in the middle, lashed her whip at me.

     "Where is it? Where?" she hissed. I shrieked.

     "He's not here! He's gone!" I yelled. I lost sight of Percy because I was too busy with other problems I guess. I learned later that it was because I wasn't concentrating on seeing through invisible barriers. Anyway Annabeth drew her dagger, Grover got a tin can and I got Bluetide. Suddenly I was jerked against Grover and Annabeth. Apparently Percy was still here and jerked the driver's wheel to the left. (stupid!) I lost sight for a bit and I did hear shrieking. I think the Furies had a little trip. I felt weightless for some moments but most of the time was crashing and banging and yelling. I felt water start to pour in.

     "I will kill you if we live through this!" was the one thing I managed to yell. Then I felt us spin in a circle and hit a tree. The emergency lights went on and the doors flew open. The bus driver sped out followed by shaken and shocked mortals. The Furies stood up again. I started to go over bus seats waving my sword if one of them got too close. One lashed their whip so close to my arm I thought the little hairs got singed off. That was when Percy got the Idiot of the Day award from me. He yanked the cap off and yelled for the Furies attention.

     "Perseus Jackson. You have offended the gods. You shall die," Mrs. Dodds said in that distorted voice.

     "I liked you better as a math teacher," Percy said. Annabeth, Grover and I snuck up behind them trying to find an opening. Percy snatched Riptide out of his pocket. He uncapped and it grew to a twin of my sword but more bronze than blue. The Furies hesitated. I'm offended! They didn't back down on my sword but they cower over Percy's! I see how it is!

     "Submit now and you will not suffer eternal torment," the Fury hissed.

     "Nice try," he said back.

     "Percy watch out!" Annabeth and I yelled. Mrs. Dodds whip wrapped around Percy's hand. I leaped onto the Fury to her right while Annabeth and Grover took care of Mrs. Dodds. Percy slashed the left turning her to dust. I slashed the right one which was too easy. Mrs. Dodds was trying to get Annabeth off her back. Grover wrapped her legs up with her own whip. Thunder shook the bus.

     "Get out! Now!" Annabeth yelled. I scrammed over Mrs. Dodds and emerged into the rain and storm. We all left the backpacks and escaped into the woods. All I could sense was panting, running and being swallowed by darkness and trees.