“This simulation is about shooting accuracy. When it comesto Titans, a Spartan gun is your best defense. Your powers are secondary.”
He lifted Poco up from his shoulder and gently placed him on the ground.
“Protectors head over there for safety.” Augustus pointed to the dark alcove behind the stairs we’d come down.
Poco screeched and put his hands in the air like he wanted to be picked up.
Nero and Poppae trotted over obediently. Hell and Hound followed, their bony skeletons appearing every couple of steps.
In contrast, Fluffy Jr. jumped high, wildly throwing his back legs up into the air in a full donkey kick. Apparently, the motion got things moving—he hacked loudly and threw up a twig.
Everyone stared at it.
“I’ll get that later,” I mumbled (I wouldn’t).
Nyx sighed as she slithered off my shoulders. “I’ll go make sure the obese horse doesn’t choke to death.” I was both grateful and offended.
While Fluffy Jr. chased his tail (it was hard to watch), Augustus gave Poco a treat. He waved his cookie at me as he waddled past.
What a cutie patootie.
I waved back and he chittered while covering his crumb-covered face.
When all the animals were safe behind the stairs, Kharon pulled his mask up and held the hilt of his dagger between his teeth. He clapped loudly and everything plunged into darkness.
Drex and I both gasped with awe.I thought clapper lights were just a myth.
“This is a level-one simulation.” Augustus’s silky voice echoed strangely in the pitch-black. “We will not harm you—we are only using evasive maneuvers. This is to assess your shooting accuracy in the field.”
“THREE,” Kharon yelled abruptly, and lights flicked on in the floor, casting strange shadows across the room.
“TWO.”
There was a loud hum and fog billowed out around us.
“ONE!” Kharon (Karen) cackled.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Explosions flared all around the course; the floor shook; fires raged in all directions; smoke mixed with fog.
All five Chthonics disappeared like ghosts.
There was a loud staticky noise as Titan screeches echoed over speakers.
Drex looked at me with panic. “These people areactuallymental.”
“Cults!” I yelled louder as the sound of machine guns popped. “I told you.”
Another explosion rocked the room.
“Run—or I stab the boy.” Breath blew against the shell of my ear. “Carissima, you better hunt us down.Now.”
Whirling around, I aimed, recoil vibrating through my arms as gunpowder burned my nose.
