Project Demigod (a Percico fanfic)

Chapter 18: Ride or DIE!

Big thanks to all the cop videos on YouTube and maps of Moscow I had to study... I swear if someone finds my laptop and phone they're gonna think I'm trying to pull off a heist or something... No regrets! Haha and thanks as always to you guys for enjoying the ride. This is the end of the Lightning Arc (Thalia's character arc) in the story (finally, phew!) and if you notice, the Water (Percy) and the Death (Nico) are the constant under-arcs... but whose to come next? ;)

Update: hey y'all... So the reason why I've been so late to update this is because someone broke into my house and stole my laptop, taking this chapter with it... I'm sorry. They also stole all of my jewelry and hard earned money, and the sapphire ring my grandmother gave me before she died. And I've been dealing with some major heartache. There's nothing worse than finally admitting your feelings to someone, have them happy and say they like you back, only to go back on their word when you express how much you care... I'll stop blabbing now. I doubt anyone read this part anyway.

...

"Chczz–This Is Hunter 506."

(Russian) "GIVE US PERCY JACKSON!" the cops cried outside. Their Interpol partners were already stationed with powerful rifles and armoured vans outside Thalia's building.

Ddddrrrmmmm...

"Welcome to Overpass 9, the last of nine tunnels beneath Moscow."

Percy pressed his forefinger to the onboard touchscreen. He watched as the GPS activated and had already set coordinates to Sheremetyevo Airport, north of Moscow. It looked like an upside-L diagonally running up from the center of Moscow where they were.

"Be ready."

Ddrrrmm...dddrrrmmmm...

(Russian) "Nyet! You have already seen th–"

"Thalia! We know he is somewhere! Airport cameras DO NOT l–"

"Russian undercover law enforcement has already sealed off three blocks around Thalia's workshop. You will need to lose them the second you exit the tunnel."

They always got called to Thalia's region for weird activity they'd received over the hotlines – strange people coming and going in red or silver clothes yet no one got a picture, blood and tire marks that would vanish in the morning, a loud explosion... the list went on! But now there was an internationally wanted criminal possibly around and they couldn't take precautions... so Thalia's strange company (an obvious front) was under suspicion of harbouring the fugitive.

"Should you need assistance, the Hunters will leave on the lieutenant's command."

Nico stared at the touchscreen from the passenger seat. He clasped his hands together, heart pounding quicker than the departure sirens. The sound of hundreds of Hunters pounding the ground in their combat boots around their car woke up whatever lethargy he had left in his system he had left from his nap.

"Good luck. Though Thalia says, you do not need it.–Chzzc!"

Then the message cut out and the entire touchscreen (along with the GPS) blacked out.

"What?! No!" Nico cried.

The screen did eventually come back... except, the only thing it showed was a strange word in Cyrillic that kept changing.

... триста шестьдесят...

With his gift, Nico could translate.