Page 148 of Ares' Shield
“Keep following this road and we should get to the docks in a little while,” Greyson mutters.
We follow the road until we get to the machine shop that’s supposed to be abandoned and I clench my sword in a tight fist.
“I thought she said it was abandoned.” I chew my lip as thick black smoke billows from the stacks above the factory.
“I don’t like this,” Jayden says, peering through the windshield.
“Why would she say it’s abandoned when it’s not?” I unbuckle my seat belt.
“I don’t know, but keep your eyes open for monsters.” Jayden frowns.
We are too close to the grove of Ares for comfort and we haven’t had nearly as many monster attacks as we had last time. It’s unsettling to me as we all pile out of the SUV, clutching our weapons like lifelines.
They may justbelifelines.
Jayden rounds the vehicle and steps up next to me. Raven and Greyson flank my other side as we hurry to the machine shop.
The door creaks open loudly and I wince. Well, we just alerted anything that may be inside to our presence.
Just fucking great.
“Sorry.” Jayden holds the door open and we all flood inside to the last thing any of us are expecting.
The place isn’t empty. Far from it. The walls are lined with shelves of the oddest inventions. Everything glints silver under the ultraviolet lights of the space.
A soft hum fills the air, coming from somewhere I can’t see because crates and boxes are piled taller than me all around.
“This is a hoarder’s dream,” Raven whispers, probably so that she doesn’t disturb anything.
One bump or stiff wind is all it would take to bury us under all the boxes.
“Do you see any kind of path?” I ask the others but their heads all shake.
Jayden places his hand in mine. “There has to be something here that Artemis wants us to see, but what?”
“I don’t know. If she thought it was abandoned, maybe this is some kind of trap and someone took over. I just don’t know what it could be.” I scrub a hand down my face and grip my sword in the other hand.
“I think I see a path over here.” Jayden points to the side.
“Okay, everyone keep your eyes open for the maze of possible death and dismemberment.”
Raven visibly shudders. “Do you have to say it like that, B? This isn’t the labyrinth.”
“For all we know, it could be and we’re about to get lost in there and never escape,” I grumble.
“You two are dramatic.” Greyson chuckles.
“Have you heard of the labyrinth? The only way to navigate it is Ariadne’s string. Do you see any string in our hands?” Raven shoots back.
“Yes, I’ve heard of it. Everyone has but you’ve already killed the minotaur several times, so I doubt that’s in this country.” Greyson shakes his head.
“I really hope we don’t ever have to find out.” I take a step into the path.
At least the ultraviolet lights shine between the boxes and crates so it’s not dark on top of everything else.
The path is tiny and the guys almost have to turn to the side so they don’t accidentally nudge any of the boxes over.
“Shit,” Raven hisses behind me.
