Ventures Chapter 16

Instructions

Chapter 16 Setting Off ------------------ We got this far before lunch: The ‘day is shortest’ bit is the Winter Solstice. It’s currently November 20th. The solstice is December 21st. We have a month. That should be enough time, right? That’s it. We couldn’t figure anything else out but I do have a suspicious feeling about the line about ‘sisters reunite.’ I’m the only one who had a sister. But, Jacob got hungry so we went to go eat something. And now we’re supposed to go. I have no idea where. So I’m currently in my cabin grabbing my backpack. I didn’t exactly unpack. I walk out and am about to find Jacob, Havi and Aternus when I get the feeling that I’m being watched. I turn around, facing the area of trees behind my cabin. Stepping cautiously, I glance around. Nobody’s there. I shrug and turn around, and get startled when I see a boy a few years older than me, with grey eyes, peach skin and red hair. “Hey. Name’s Xaviar. Athena Cabin.” My eyes just widen behind my glasses as I say, “Ummm hi, I’m Abby, I’m in the Athena Cabin too.” “Cool. Hey, you’re going on the quest right?” Okay, creepy. Why does this kid know? “Um, yes. Why?” “I can help. I know for a fact that you need to go to Cal1f0rn!a.” “How-” I start but he cuts me off. “Trust me on this.” He says and then walks away. I shrug and walk back. I find Jacob, Havi and Aternus standing together by the border of Camp Half-Blood. “Hey” I say and Jacob waves. Then I notice that Jacob and Aternus has a sw0rd strapped to their waist, Havi with a d@gg3r. I fiddle with a charm bracelet around my wrist. It turns into a dagger when I unclip it. Maria’s dagger. I got it as a hand-me-down. This thing has saved me and my brother multiple times. Jacob is fiddling with his nuts and bolts again. “Hey, Abby.” Havi says and I wave. Jacob puts his bolts and nuts away and says, “You ready?” I nod and the four of us walk out of the border as I wonder when I will ever see camp before. --- We make it down Half-Blood Hill with no problems and then Aternus signs ‘So where are we supposed to go?’ I sigh as I translate it to Jacob and say “Well, one kid told me Cal1f0rn1a…” Havi looks confused, “I wonder…” “What?” I ask. “Nothing.” “Well, I have been hearing of crops failing in Cal!f0rn!a.” Jacob interjects and I give him a look. “What? I came from Cal!, so what?” I shug and then say, “So how are we supposed to get there?” Aternus runs after a car and they stop before I can say or do anything else. Havi walks over to the window and they roll it down. She seems to be having a conversation with them but I can’t hear anything. “It’s good!” She yells, “Come on!” Me and Jacob share a glance and walk over. Aternus opens the back seat door and motions for me and Jacob to go in, after Havi climbs in. “Erm, okay?” I say and climb in and sit next to Havi, Jacob right next to me and Aternus sits on the other side of Jacob and closes the door. I look up into the front seat and see three grey ladies. There’s one of them with a tooth and one of the other ones has an eye. I’m wondering who they are and then remember Annabeth talking about the three Grey Ladies that drive a cab for demigods to get to places. And then we take off on the road to Cal!f0rn!a.