Chapter 54: Heading to Nashville
Percy stared at the spot where Medusa had turned to dust and vanished completely, the faint remnants of golden particles still lingering in the air before fading away. He shook his head slowly and said:
—Even though she left smiling, I can't see this as a happy ending at all.
Dante replied thoughtfully, his voice carrying a hint of melancholy:
—Because it wasn't a happy ending. It was the helpless ending of a person who managed to fulfill the meager wish of dying as a person, not as a monster. So it wasn't something beautiful or pretty. It was just the harsh reality of this world where weakness is considered the ultimate sin.
Annabeth reached out and gently held Dante's hand, squeezing it reassuringly as she said:
—You did everything in your power to help her. You may not have saved her life in the end, but I think after so many centuries trapped in that curse, she truly wanted to rest anyway. You saw the smile of gratitude on her face at the end, right? That meant something.
Dante managed a small smile and said:
—Well, I think you're right. Some people just want to rest in peace. That's all they ask for.
At that moment, Grover suddenly shouted and pointed excitedly:
—Guys, look over there!
They all turned quickly and looked to see every single stone statue in the garden beginning to crack and break apart, crumbling into fine dust that scattered in the evening breeze.
Percy asked, eyes wide with curiosity:
—What's happening here? Why are they all breaking?
Dante explained calmly, watching the process unfold:
—Since Medusa's curse was finally broken with her death, all the stone statues created by the power of that curse are breaking together too. It's like the magic holding them is unraveling completely.
After a short while, every last statue had crumbled away, leaving only piles of harmless dust on the ground.
Percy looked at the scene and said:
—Well, and now what do we do next?
Annabeth replied practically:
—Well, it's already getting dark night's falling fast. I think we should find a place to sleep and rest up before continuing.
Grover nodded enthusiastically:
—That's a good plan. But how are we going to get anywhere? After all, there are no more buses running at this hour.
Dante suggested logically:
—Well, let's search through the abandoned cars around here and see if any of them still start. If we find one that works, we can use it to get moving.
Percy agreed:
—Well, that seems like the only realistic way right now. So let's go start looking.
Annabeth interjected suddenly:
—Wait a minute. And this lady? What do we do with her? We can't just leave her here unconscious.
Dante was about to answer when they all heard a man's voice calling out in the distance:
—Judith! Where are you? Judith!
They looked to the side and saw an old man wandering around, looking lost and calling her name repeatedly.
Annabeth whispered in surprise:
—But she said her husband had been turned to stone by Medusa
Percy speculated:
—Maybe it was because of the curse breaking that he returned to normal? Like the magic reversed on him too?
Grover added:
—Then why didn't all the other statues the older ones return to normal as well?
Dante reasoned thoughtfully:
—Well, I think it's because of the time they were transformed. The others have been stone for over a century, and even if the curse doesn't kill instantly, after so much time exposed to the elements, there probably wouldn't even be dust left just complete disintegration. But he was transformed less than an hour ago, which makes it possible for his body to still be intact and reversible after the curse broke.
Dante then carefully picked Judith up in his arms and called out:
—Sir, we're over here!
The man, spotting Judith, ran toward Dante and the group as fast as he could.
Dante smiled reassuringly and said:
—She's fine, sir. She just fainted from exhaustion. Here, take her from my arms carefully.
The man, tears in his eyes from relief, said gratefully:
—Thank you so much for helping her from that monster.
Dante smiled kindly and said:
—I think you got it all wrong, sir. This place has no monster. It's isolated because the former owner discovered there's natural gas leaking in the area. So you both must have been influenced by that gas and ended up having vivid hallucinations from it.
Jon nodded, processing the explanation:
—Well, you must be right. In my dream—or hallucination she turned me to stone. How would I be alive and walking if that were true, right? Well, thank you again for taking care of my wife after she fainted too.
Dante replied modestly:
—It was nothing, really. She was also suffering from the hallucinations and fainted after calling for help. So my friends and I stayed taking care of her. We were just about to call an ambulance for her, but since you arrived, you can take her home safely.
Jon said:
—Well, I'll do that right away. And once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
He then gently took his wife into his arms and left the area, heading back toward civilization.
Percy said, turning to the group:
—Well, let's start looking for a car that still works. We need to get moving soon.
Grover said:
—Well, let's go no time to waste.
After a thorough search among the abandoned vehicles scattered around the old garden attraction, they finally found a red pickup truck that looked promising.
Dante looked at it and smiled a little nostalgically, saying:
—Seriously? In this place of all places, I can't escape you.
Annabeth, noticing Dante's smile, asked curiously:
—What happened? Why are you laughing like that?
Dante explained with a fond chuckle:
—It's nothing major. It's just that my older sister also has a red pickup truck exactly like this one. So it's kind of nostalgic to have to travel in one again it brings back memories.
Grover said enthusiastically:
—It's good that you liked it, because this is going to be our carriage for the next leg of the journey.
Percy asked practically:
—Well, who's going to drive it?
Dante admitted:
—I don't know how to drive cars very well never really practiced much.
Percy said:
—I don't know properly either only basics.
Annabeth said:
—Don't look at me. I never learned how to drive at all.
Grover volunteered confidently:
—I'll do it. I have some experience.
Then they all climbed into the car, settling in comfortably, and Grover started the engine, pulling out onto the road as they began driving.
Annabeth said after a moment of silence:
—Well, now it would have been nice if Luke had warned us that we were going to encounter Medusa on this quest.
Percy replied:
—Well, maybe he didn't know it would happen—or forgot to mention it.
Dante added casually:
—Well, in the end I managed to resolve the matter with Medusa pretty decisively, so I'm not complaining about that part. But leaving an open invitation for a lover in such a dangerous place... Well, I think to have a hot night with a goddess, you really can't be weak, apparently. Takes a certain level of guts or recklessness.
Grover laughed and said:
—You can believe that, my friend. Definitely not for the faint of heart.
Annabeth rolled her eyes and said:
—Well, leaving your nonsense aside for a minute, where do we need to go now exactly?
Percy said:
—Let me check the map again.
He then took out the map and studied it carefully for a moment.
—The second destination on our list will be at the replica of the Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee.
Grover said:
—Well, then the destination is set. Nashville, here we go full speed ahead.
After some time driving on the open road under the starry night sky, they had a close call nearly getting run over by a massive oncoming truck that swerved at the last second. Hearts pounding from the near miss, they decided it was safer to stop at a hotel for the night and continue fresh in the morning.
Finally pulling into a modest roadside hotel and stopping, Dante got out of the car first, stretching his legs, and said with his usual arrogant tone:
—Honestly, you demigods are such wimps sometimes. Even a truck of several tons coming at over 100 km per hour can kill you. What a bunch of softies ragile half-mortals.
Percy defended lightly:
—Sorry if we're half-mortal and actually die easily from things like that.
Grover added:
—And you say that, but you'd get hurt a little too if it hit, right? Even you aren't completely invincible.
Dante replied confidently:
—No way. It's just you weaklings who have to worry. I could take a nuclear bomb straight to the face and nothing bad would happen to me barely a scratch.
At that moment, Dante stopped being arrogant instantly when he heard a cold, dangerous voice saying from behind him:
—So I'm a softie? So I'm weak? Good to know that's how you see me.
Dante turned slowly and looked at Annabeth, who was smiling affectionately on the surface but with eyes that promised trouble, and she said:
—Good to know my boyfriend thinks that of me and all demigods.
Dante said, suddenly scared and backpedaling fast:
—Darling, it's not quite like that at all. Listen to my side first please?
Annabeth said firmly:
—Well, I'll listen... after we talk a little alone in private.
She then grabbed Dante by the arm and dragged him toward the hotel lobby to check in to a room right away, leaving no room for argument.
Grover turned to Percy with a knowing look and said:
—And that's exactly why daughters of Athena aren't a safe option for those who want a gentle, low-drama girlfriend.
Percy nodded seriously and said:
—Noted. Definitely don't go for daughters of Athena if I want peace.
Annabeth looked back over her shoulder and shouted at them sharply:
—Hurry up, you two! Aren't you coming inside? Or are you planning to sleep outside in the parking lot?
Percy and Grover responded quickly in unison:
—Yes, ma'am! We're coming right now!
They then ran to catch up and reserve their own rooms too, not daring to delay any further.