Hotel

Annabeth POV

The backup plan is to take the entire camp to a hotel in Philadelphia. We actually had two options for a backup getaway, but Chiron made the executive decision to go to Philadelphia. He said that this option is better than the New Jersey alternative.

The buses were full of gas, so we didn't even have to stop in the middle. Of course, when we're transporting about 200 individuals, we have to stop at some point.

As such, we paused at a state park in New Jersey on our way to Philadelphia. Everyone was either eating, stretching, or using the restroom. I was changing Stella's diaper inside the school bus when Piper and Hazel approached.

"We were just wondering if you were okay, Annabeth."

"I'm staying focused," I replied. "I'm trying not to think about the fact that we left Percy and Thalia behind. I'm trying not to think about their deaths."

"The worst part is that we don't know anything for certain," Hazel cried in frustration. "We don't know anything."

I sighed while fixing Stella's dress and standing her up. She clutched my blonde hair and rested her head against my shoulders in exhaustion. Usually, she takes a nap every afternoon, but she didn't get to today. It's been a long day, and it's only 5:30 pm.

Piper simultaneously rubbed mine and Hazel's arms. Stella had already fallen asleep in my arms. I gently patted my back while leaning my face against her head.

People were starting to file back into the buses.

Despite the relative safety, we don't want to stay here that long.

The trees make a good cover against the zombies. Cities and towns are usually where the zombies reside. Isolated state parks like this don't attract zombies because there usually aren't any people. Also, zombies usually stay near the places where they were converted. People don't live in state parks, so you wouldn't expect zombies to be here.

Luke pushed Chiron back into the bus. His gaze lingered on me and Stella before he retreated out of the bus. I watched him go into the driver's seat of the second bus.

There were four buses in total. After an hour and a half of traveling, we had come 75% of the way to Philadelphia.

Piper and Hazel sat in the seats in front of me.

Jason was on one of the buses behind us. Reyna and Frank were on the fourth bus. After we stopped, the seating arrangement switched around so that there would be an equal number of guards on every bus in case we run into trouble.

Bob Titan was driving our bus.

He is about ten years older than me. Bob doesn't work as a guard, but he always helps the camp in any way possible. Right now, he's driving our bus to Philadelphia.

The bus engine roared to life, and we were on the way. Will was giving the driver instruction on the way to the University of Pennsylvania's hotel. Will Solace was a medical student at UPenn, so he had a say in picking this location for backup.

It was guaranteed that the hotel would have access to a lot of resources. After all, it was in a big city surrounded by multiple hospitals, stores, and universities.

UPenn's hotel is a very good idea (better than the museum to be honest).

Reyna suggested that they close off all the stairways inside the hotel. Basically, that's what they did at the hospital Reyna, Frank, and Hazel stayed at. They closed off the staircases so that zombies can't enter the other floors of the hospital.

"We're going to have our work cut out for us," Piper said quietly.

"It won't be that much work. I feel like we can handle it. We'll park the buses in the parking structure next to the hotel as Will suggested," I explained.

Chiron decided to intervene for clarification. "Half the guards will stay to protect the civilians. The other half of the guards will a few hours to clear the hotel. then, we'll close off all the hotel entrances and fortify the staircases. We'll clear and close the entire hotel, but we'll stay on the upper floors for extra safety."

"It's a solid plan, Annabeth. Good work," Chiron added.

I nodded before looking out the window. If only I planned Percy's quest back into the museum better, then he'd possibly still be alive.

Gods, I miss Thalia and Percy so much. Thalai was my best friend who brought me back to the museum. She helped keep my brothers safe.

Then, there's Percy.

No words can explain how much I'm missing him. He opened me up in a way that no one ever has. He made me realize that a relationship is okay to have. Percy makes me happy. More importantly, he is the person with whom I can be weak.

With him, I don't have to be a leader and a guard. I'm just a girl who could use some reassurance and love. Percy gives that. Now, he's gone.

Even though it's useless, I'm hoping for a miracle.

One day, I'll open my gray eyes, and Percy will be right in front of me again.

***

The buses barreled through the zombies. The driver was aggressively rampaging through the streets of Philadelphia. According to Will, we were only a few minutes away.

Bob spoke into the bus's speaker system again:

"All right, the best bus driver in the world rammed through five more zombies. That would be 20 points on Grant Theft Auto."

The passengers cheered, especially my brothers since they love video games.

Bob was an amazing driver and person. He noticed how exhausted and down everyone was, so he was cracking jokes and playing games with the speaker system. I smiled as Bob started singing a song horribly. Under the Sea reminded me of Percy.

Finally, we arrived at our destination.

The plan was going well. The bus driver's parked on the first floor of the hotel's parking structure. They parked right outside the hotel's doors. This would make it easier for the guards to protect them and for the civilians to come inside when it's time.

The Stolls, Katie, Luke, and a few others guarded the buses.

Leo started reconfiguring the electric box in the basement. Frank and Hazel went with him to the basement. They were trying to kickstart the generators. UPenn also uses a solar energy system, so this form of electricity would be best for us. Solar energy doesn't run out if it's properly harnessed.

Reyna, Jason, Piper, and I rushed into the hotel. Since the hotel belongs to a university, it mimicked a dormitory hall.

There were lounges on every floor that separated into hallways of rooms. Each floor had over 40 rooms, so it was a big place. We started clearing the building from the top down. The job went from easy to hard.

The fourth floor had zero zombies.

We 'borrowed' some keys from the maintenance room and locked the floor's two stairway entrances. It was easy to fortify the fourth floor.

The third floor was similar to the fourth. There was one zombie that was trapped in one of the rooms, but that's it. We closed the stairway's doors and locked the floor. The top half of the building was quite easy to take care of.

However, the first and second floors had free-ranging zombies.

We stood in the stairway and peaked into the second floor. Several zombies were growling and stumbling in the lobby.

"All right, does anyone have a succinct plan?" I asked.

"We barge into the floor and dropkick these suckers. There's no other way but to take these bastards down," Jason growled in anger. It surprised all of us.

It was obvious that Jason was feeling the effects of PTSD and depression. After all, he lost his sister and one of his best friends today. Jason isn't as controlled or compartmentalized as I was. I could feel the emotions ravaging my mind, but I can control myself. It's just a known fact: not everyone has my level of self-control and leadership qualities.

"Sounds like a solid plan," Reyna murmured.

We barged into the second floor and gunshots fired in all directions. My back was against Reyna's. She was firing to the left side while I was firing toward the right. Zombies stumbled toward us on all sides, but they didn't get near us.

Reyna and I supported each other well. We shot the zombies on all sides. Jason and Piper didn't even have to do much.

"Wow. GIRL POWER," Piper exclaimed.

Reyna and I smiled while shaking hands. The cumulative firing of guns led to all the zombies getting killed. It was a good thing that the hotel had a straight hallway. We don't need to worry about turns and curves.

We checked every single room for any more threats but found none. The second floor was fortified pretty easily, but there were a lot of corpses on the floor.

I massaged my arms to get rid of the ache from the gun's kickback.

We locked both entrances of the second floor before entering the first floor. We were surprised though to find most of the floor had already been cleared. Luke barged into the main lobby with his gun raised.

"Hey, we thought we'd help you out," he expressed.

"It wasn't that hard. The building's linear architecture is making it quite easy to take care of the zombies," Katie exclaimed.

"How is everyone outside?" I asked quickly.

Suddenly, the lights in the main lobby flashed on. The warm light felt so good against my tired skin. I wondered if Leo could work his magic for the water as well.

The hotel has five entrances. Luke and Katie had already closed the main lobby entrance and the staff entrance on the east side. They bolted the doors with thick pieces of wood and metal. We just won' be needing those entrances at all.

The other two entrances lead into the parking structure.

We'll be keeping those entrances open and always monitored. Obviously, we'll close, lock, and bolt the doors at night, but we'll also open them from time to time. We need doors to go in and out of the hotel for raids and such. We're going to use the parking structure for that reason, especially since our vehicles will be staying there.

The final entrance is in the back of the hotel. It opened into an alley where a large dumpster was located. It was a single steel door that was easy to lock.

Finally, all the guards met in the main lobby.

"Has the entire hotel been cleared? We don't want any surprises," Luke instructed. I nodded while looking around the group. We sent additional guards to check the hotel thoroughly for a second and third time. It was better to be safe than sorry.

"All clear, Luke. We're ready to bring everyone inside," Reyna informed

"Yeah. Everyone's starting to get antsy outside. It's also gotten dark now, and everyone's hungry and tired. They can' be patient out there at night," Frank said.

Frank and Hazel went back outside and started ushering everyone inside. Everyone on bus #1 went to the fourth floor. Bus #s 2 and 3 went to the third floor. The last bus's people went to the second floor. The guards will stay on the second and third floors.

I sighed while sitting in the main lobby's chairs. I was so exhausted, and I wanted to let everyone else do the work. Percy isn't like me in that aspect. No matter how tired and pained Percy is, he always tries to make others feel better.

Percy does anything and everything for the people he loves. His loyalty is phenomenal yet also a curse.

I watched all the civilians come inside and take the stairs up to their rooms. There were plenty of rooms for everyone to have a single room. Of course, most people had paired up with at least one other person. I wouldn't want to sleep alone either.

However, my roommate, Thalia, isn't here anymore.

Percy's not here either.

At least, until I'm acquainted, I'll probably be sharing a room with my brothers on the third floor. I can't imagine sleeping without Percy next to me. I can't imagine the nightmares.

It was a late day for us all.

It was close to 11 pm when we bolted the parking structure's entrance. We had successfully cleared the hotel and moved in. Zero casualties on the way here. Of course, that doesn't matter. We lost over a hundred friends and family members at the museum.

Thalia and Percy were amongst them. Tears sparkled in my eyes.

I wiped them quickly before standing up from the couch. The other guards looked at me in surprise. No one said anything. Piper simply handed me an extra piece of bread before waving me off.

I took the food with gratitude before walking away from the group. The hallways were piled with corpses on the first and second floors. It was disgusting.

However, no one had the energy to clean up today.

I don't even have the energy to cry today. I checked on Stella in Grover and Juniper's room before settling down next door with my brothers.

Matthew and Bobby embraced me tightly on the bed. I hugged them just as hard. I accepted the warmth of my family, but it didn't replace the love from Percy.

It will take time to heal. I'm sure I fell asleep before my brothers.