Lost

10

Chiron had lended us a camp van with the logo Delphi Strawberry Services stamped on it. He allowed us to go without Argus as we were legally allowed to drive, but that didn't stop Argus from seeing us away.

"Sure you can drive?" he grunted as he crossed his arms, the keys clasped tight in his hands.

Grover nodded, although his nose was twitching in fear. "Yes, sir. I have a l-license."

Argus glared at him, all of his eyes wide open. "You, goat boy? You've got a license? With goat feet?"

"Yes, I've got a license!" Grover screeched. "And we're going to be late!"

After trying with no success to persuade Argus to let us go, we finally just agreed to let him drive us to the airport.

One we arrived he grunted in his form of a goodbye and then sped off, leaving us alone.

"I hate that guy!" Grover protested. "He never lets me drive, and all his eyes are creepy."

I shrugged as I peered at the airport. "I'd, uh, rather have him drive us than fly. But I suppose we'll be fine, right?"

Grover assured me everything would be fine and even advised me to make a prayer to Zeus (which I reluctantly did), we made our way on to the plane.

My hands gripped the seat nervously as Grover made his way into the window seat and looked out of it as if he were a little kid.

"This is so cool!" he exclaimed as the plane's engine roared to life. "Oh, yeah, sorry. I forgot you hate planes."

I tried to respond, but my mouth wouldn't open and let the words come out. Instead I just stared ahead at the seat in front of me and tried to ignore the kid kicking my seat from behind.

Grover fell asleep within the first hour of the flight, but I was so scared there was no way I could sleep, so I just tried my best to think about Annabeth.

Her letter repeated over and over again in my brain. Who was A? Annabeth and I had written several letters to each other before and she'd never signed it A. She always wrote, somewhat annoyingly, her full name out.

After a few hours of thinking the plane suddenly jolted, causing Grover to wake up.

"Whas happening?" he asked groggily as he sat up and rubbed his eyes.

Then a clap of thunder caused gasps from other people on the plane. The flight attendants all rushed away towards the front of the plane.

"This is somehow my fault," I murmured.

"Due to unforeseen bad weather, we have to take a layover in Reno, Nevada," a woman announced over the speaker. The whole plane groaned. "We have to wait for the storm to clear, but we will keep you updated. Please remain in your seats for the time being."

"It's him," I whispered to Grover, absolutely certain of it. "That's where the 'unforeseen' bad weather is from, Grover!"

Grover sighed and nodded. "You're right. Let's just pray the plane lands safely, then we'll wait for a new plane."

"No, Grover," I said. "Annabeth might be dead by then. We can't risk it....I think we need to get there another way."

"Driving? During a s-storm?" Grover asked. "What i-if he just strikes our c-car down? I think w-we should just wait, we've a-already annoyed s-some important people e-enough today."

I shook my head, suddenly not feeling afraid anymore. "Grover, it's our only option. Our only chance at saving Annabeth. Are you in?"