Agent Jackson

Chapter 8

They had only been walking an hour when they came across a building. A tall wooden gate stood open, revealing the large, one story, industrial looking warehouse. Another, smaller, building sat to the right. It was one of those picture-perfect houses that you see in commercials or catalogs. A blue, two story house with a wraparound porch that had a old fashioned rocking chair looking out towards the road, a small table next to it.

A large sign hung over the gate, words that Percy assumed were the name of the place carved into the wood in what was probably cursive, though it seemed like a bunch of squiggly lines to Percy.

"What the hell does that even say?" Percy asked, looking over at his companions.

"I'm not sure," Luke said with a confused frown.

"Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium," Grover translated for the two dyslexic demigods.

Flanking the gate, as advertised, were two cement garden gnomes. They were smiling and waving, as if they were about to have their picture taken.

The smell of food wafted from the open window of the warehouse. Luke smelled it and grinned. "That's the smell of fried, greasy, deliciousness. There's gotta be a snack bar; let's go in."

Percy frowned as something nagged at the back of his mind. "I don't know, Luke," he said doubtfully. "Why would a place like this have a snack bar? It could be a trap."

"You're being paranoid," Grover said.

"Please," Luke pleaded. "I haven't had anything unhealthy to eat since I got to Camp."

He was right; Camp had a way of making even the unhealthiest foods healthy. Personally, Percy preferred healthy food, but Piper had said that most kids didn't.

Before Percy could make a decision, Like and Grover were at the gate. He sighed heavily and followed them, not willing to let them go alone in case it was a trap.

They went straight to the warehouse building, following the smell. Grover knocked on the door loudly. When it opened, a woman in a black dress with a black veil stood in front of us. Percy could just barely make out the details of her face through the veil. There was no denying that she was beautiful, with her high cheekbones and slightly slanted grey eyes. A small smile graced her lips as she looked down at the three.

"Hello, ma'am," Luke said with a charming smile.

"Hello, dearies," she responded kindly. Her eyes were trained on Percy, a look of confusion overtaking her for a moment. "What are you doing out here all alone?"

"We're part of a circus," Luke said, causing Percy to have to resist the urge to face palm. Seriously? That was the best he could come up with? "We got separated from our caravan."

"Poor children," the woman said, sympathy heavy in her voice. "Why don't you come in and have some food?"

Grover and Luke immediately followed her into the warehouse but Percy hesitated, cursing the two under his breath before following. They were both much too trusting.

"Oh, I'm not sure we can stay that long," Percy said. "We really should find our caravan. The show master must be very worried. I'm the only mutant in the caravan, see, and I have a show tomorrow morning."

"Not to worry," she said sweetly, "you can call your master using my phone."

"That's very kind of you, ma'am," Percy said, though he was growing increasingly wary. She was too kind.

"Anything for such sweet children," she said.

Percy watched her closely as she moved, making burgers and fries for them all. When she placed them down on trays in front of them, Percy's eyes narrowed at Grover's, which held only vegetarian options. How had she known?