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Bright bluesky, framed by rows of steel suspension cables.
What? he thought. Where am I?
His hands pushed against the surface beneath him. It was warm and scratchy. Tarmac. A road. Then he saw the cars on either side of him. Nico scrambled to his feet in a panic, certain that he was about to be run over.
But the cars remained still.
He hesitantly approached one and was further confused to discover that the driver’s seat wasempty. All the cars seemed deserted – two frozen lines of traffic, and in the distance the Manhattan skyline. The wind buffeted Nico’s clothes. The tarmac swayed gently, whileabove him the grey-blue metal support cables thrummed like giant guitar strings. Pedestrian paths on either side of the road were blocked off with dull red barriers. But there were no people anywhere. Far below, the East River rippled in the sunlight.
‘Okay, dream,’ he muttered to himself. ‘Why am I on a New York City bridge?’
As soon as he said it, Nico had two realizations.
First, he could talk again. His mouth was no longer fused shut.
Second, this was theWilliamsburgBridge.
Oh, no, he thought. No, Iwon’trelive this day.
There was a roar behind Nico, and his blood ran cold. He turned and saw the impossible.
The figure was tall and golden – but not in an attractive way like Will, more in an unnatural, terrifying,I’m going to kill yousort of way. He stood three metres tall, with a cruel ageless face, molten-gold eyes, and shining armour. In his hands gleamed an enormous scythe.
Kronos.
‘This doesn’t make sense.’ Nico edged back, his pulse racing as the Titan strode towards him, a horde of monsters and allied demigods at his back. Dreams rarely made sense, but this one … Nico hadn’t even been on the Williamsburg Bridge during the Battle of Manhattan. He’d only heard how Percy had collapsed the centre of the bridge to keep Kronos’s invasion at bay.
Kronos locked his eyes on Nico. The Titan smiled hideously, as if he could read Nico’s thoughts. He raised his scythe.
‘No!’ Nico turned to run towards Manhattan, away from Kronos’s advancing army.
Buttheystood in his way.
Percy.
Michael Yew.
Annabeth.
Will … looking so much younger, and so terrified.
Nico froze, trapped between the lines of battle. The bridge swayed beneath him.
‘This isn’t real,’ Nico told himself. ‘I’m not here.’
‘Listen.’ Percy stepped forward, forcing Nico back in Kronos’s direction.
‘Percy, what is this?’ Nico held up his hands defensively. ‘What are you doing?’
‘You have to listen,’ said Michael Yew, his intense brown eyes brimming with tears. ‘If you don’t, you will share my fate.’
‘Ominous much?’ Nico snarled. He spun around, but Kronos was nearly on top of him, wielding the scythe like a guillotine blade.
‘Listen!’ commanded the Titan.
‘Iam!’ Nico was furious. ‘Whoever is trying to reach me, justtellme what you want!’
Kronos’s scythe hurtled towards his face.
