xiv. Dead On Arrival

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chapter xiv.
( the lightning thief )
❝ d.o.a ❞

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      THE ENTRANCE TO THE UNDERWORLD looked rather boring. I was expecting something horrifying and huge. Something dreadful looking and full of ghosts drifting around – perhaps even zombies. Not a mortal-looking building with boring painted grey bricks and boring glass doors.

      I shared a glance with my friends, "This is the entrance to the Underworld? – I expected ... you know, something more."

      Percy arched a brow at her and grinned, "Oh, all right Sunshine, brighten up."

      I glared at him, "I will hit you."

      We stood in the shadows of Valencia Boulevard, looking up at gold letters in black marble reading: DOA RECORDING STUDIOS. And underneath, stencilled on the boring glass doors was: NO SOLICITORS. NO LOITERING. NO LIVING. It was almost midnight, but the building lobby was brightly lit and full of people. Behind the security desk sat a tough-looking guard with sunglasses and an earpiece.

      Percy turned towards us. "Okay. Remember the plan."

      "The plan," Grover gulped. "Yeah. I love the plan."

       "Sure – great," Annabeth swallowed hard.

      "What happens if the plan doesn't work," I raised my hand slightly as if I were in a class.

      Percy rolled his eyes, "Don't think negative."

      "Right," I said sarcastically. "We're ending the Land of the Dead and I shouldn't think negative."

      He took the pearls out of his pocket, four milky spheres as smaller than marbles. They were our backup, and they didn't seem much. I just realised how much this worried him. Percy was so close to getting his Mom back, and here I was making fun of his plan and saying it won't work. I sighed and covered the pearls in his hand with my own, "Look, Percy, I'm sorry. You're right, we'll make it."

      Annabeth nodded, "It'll be fine."

      She nudged Grover.

      "Oh, right!" He chimed in. "We got this far. We'll find the master bolt and save your mom. No problem."

      Percy gave us a grateful smile, and we returned it. He slipped the pearls back into his pocket, and together, the four of us walked side by side into the DOA lobby.

𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐄!         percy jackson¹Where stories live. Discover now