Chapter 71
Argus drove us out of the countryside and into western Long Island. It felt weird to be on a highway again, Percy and Grover sitting next to me as if we were normal carpoolers. After two weeks at Half-Blood Hill, the real world seemed like a fantasy. We found ourselves staring at every McDonald's, every kid in the back of his parents' car, every billboard and shopping mall.
Traffic slowed us down in Queens. By the time we got into Manhattan it was sunset and starting to rain.
Argus dropped us at the Greyhound Station on the Upper East Side, not far from our mom and Gabe's apartment.
Argus unloaded our bags, made sure we got our bus tickets, then drove away, the eye on the back of his hand opening to watch us as he pulled out of the parking lot.
We thought about how close we were to our old apartment.
The rain kept coming down.