In Denver, Percy confronts Ares for sending the quest group into Hephaestus's trap. Ares casually gives Percy, Annabeth, and Grover a ride west in a zoo transport truck, plus supplies, and then reveals the chapter's biggest shock: Sally Jackson is not dead, but being held hostage to control Percy. Percy insults Ares anyway, earning a threat, and the trio hurriedly hides in the truck before the animal handlers return.

Inside the trailer, Percy, Annabeth, and Grover find a zebra, an albino lion, and an antelope being cruelly mistreated by animal smugglers. Because the truck is moving, the group can only make the animals more comfortable for the night by giving them water and proper food. During the ride, Annabeth apologizes for panicking over spiders, and Grover finally admits his shame over failing to bring Thalia safely to camp; Annabeth confirms that Grover once escorted Thalia, Luke, and Annabeth together, and that Thalia died saving them. Percy encourages Grover by calling him brave and meant to find Pan, while Annabeth opens up about her failed attempt to live with her father again and tells Percy that if the gods go to war, she will still fight beside Percy because Percy is her friend.

Later, Percy dreams first of Thalia in a twisted classroom nightmare, then of the pit where the mysterious voice speaks with an invisible servant. Percy overhears that the theft has involved layered deception, that Percy remains ignorant, and that two important items are meant to be delivered to the speaker. The dream ends with Percy seeing Sally trapped in golden light in a dark throne room, while skeletal warriors mock Percy as a doomed hero. The nightmare deepens Percy's fear that a hidden power beyond Hades is manipulating the quest.

When the truck stops in Las Vegas, Percy, Annabeth, and Grover witness the smugglers abusing the animals. Percy suddenly hears the zebra speak in his mind and realizes that his connection to Poseidon may let him understand horse-like creatures. Acting quickly, Percy cuts open the cages, the zebra escapes into the city, and Grover places a satyr's blessing on the freed animals so they can survive in the wild. After leaving the truck, the exhausted trio wanders the Strip and enters the Lotus Hotel and Casino to rest.

The Lotus seems like paradise for kids, offering endless food, luxury, games, and rooms without limits or payment. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover become absorbed in the hotel's pleasures until Percy notices that other children think it is 1977, 1985, or 1993, revealing that time is being stolen from the guests. Percy snaps Annabeth and Grover out of the spell and forces them to leave despite the hotel's temptations. Outside, Percy discovers that five full days have passed, the date is now June twentieth, and the quest has only one day left before the summer solstice.