I do not own PJO. If I did, I definitely wouldn't be writing this.
Chapter One-The hellhound was catching up to me. I could hear its huge feet pounding behind me and smell its panting breath that stank of raw meat. It was roughly the size of a Suburban, and apparently extremely hungry. It had been chasing me for almost four blocks now. If I could just have two seconds, I could pull out Riptide and slash it to bits. But with it hot on my tail like this, it was impossible. If I even tried to do anything but run, I would get turned into a human meat cake.
As I turned a street corner and continued sprinting, I saw my ticket: a narrow alley between two apartment buildings. I charged and ducked behind a wall. As quickly as possible, I pulled out a ballpoint pen from my pocket and uncapped it. It grew long and heavy in my hand, until I held a large bronze sword. Just in time. The hellhound came roaring around the corner, its eyes wild and its tongue lolling, drool flying from its mouth. I knew I couldn't hide in this alley for long. The monster would sniff me out sooner or later.
I was right. As the hellhound raced past the alley, it took a deep sniff and screeched to a halt. Then it quickly reversed and headed back towards me. As it came back, I jumped as high as I could manage and drove Riptide into its chest.
I watched as its eyes got wide and it let a yelp before exploding into yellow dust as I hit the ground.
I got up, brushed the stuff out of my hair, and put Riptide back into my pocket. I had just begun to glance around to see if any of the mortals had noticed when a voice from above called, "Percy!"
I looked up and my heart sank. I guess I'd subconsciously run to my own apartment. And standing outside my front door was none other than my mom's fiancé, Paul Blowfis.
I gave Paul another lame excuse: the school bully had been chasing me from school because I wouldn't give him my money. When I got to the apartment, I thought I had lost him, but I had hidden in the alley, just to make sure.
Once again, Paul offered to help me with the "bully"- "After all, I am a teacher, Percy"- and once again I had refused. I was a little ticked off, because it was just my luck that Paul had taken off early from school today and that he had come straight to our apartment. I had used the bully excuse at least four times this year, but in the end Paul gave up and left me alone.
Half an hour later, when Paul had left, my mom had steered me into the living room and sat me down.
"Percy, we have to talk about this," she said, worry in her eyes. "This is the third time you've been attacked by a monster this week."
I stared at the floor. "So?" I said.
"It's Monday," she added bluntly.
I sighed in defeat. She stared at me worriedly. "I know you're trying your best, Percy, but we can't keep doing this. Paul is starting to figure things out, and I can't keep covering for you forever. We have to think of something else. Before we get married."
I sighed again, then I looked up at her. I could tell she didn't want to say it, but the look on her face told me enough.
"It's time to tell him, isn't it?" I said.
"I could do it, Percy. Or…"
I shook my head. "No. I've got to do this myself. I'll tell him tomorrow. Right after the picnic."
She looked straight into my eyes. "Promise?"
"Promise."
She looked relieved. "Thank you, Percy." She brightened. "I've got an idea! Why don't we go out to eat tonight. And when we get back, we can start packing for camp."
That cheered me up a little. "Okay." I said. Then I went upstairs to take a shower.
I didn't feel any better the next day at school.
I mean, don't get me wrong, I liked Paul. And my mom had been ten times happier than I'd ever seen her ever since he proposed to her, almost three months ago. But how was I supposed to tell him that the Greek gods were alive and that I was a demigod son of Poseidon? That's not a typical conversation you have with your future stepdad.
I passed by Paul on my way to my locker. He smiled and winked at me, and I felt even worse. I was never going to be able to do this.
I stopped at my locker and opened it. Students at Goode High School were buzzing with excitement today. It was the last day of school; exams were over (thank the gods) and after our half day today the school was having its annual end-of-the-year picnic, with a concert from some of the older kids' band and everything. I was mostly just excited because I'd talked to Tyson a couple of days before, and he'd told me he could come up to Manhattan from the Cyclops forges and that he'd come with my mom to the picnic.
Things were getting pretty complicated down there. The old sea gods were stirring and my father was at war with them. Tyson had been forced to leave halfway through the year because Dad needed everyone he could get. We had had a heated argument last December because he had insisted that I stay with my mom and go to regular school. We had never really fought before, but that was the closest we had come. In the end, he had convinced me to stay, because my survival was crucial at the moment.
I sighed. Life wasn't easy when your next birthday could decide the fate of Olympus.
As I was loading all of my books from my locker into my bag, a familiar voice called "Percy."
I turned, looking past the armload of books I was carrying. A red-haired girl whose clothes and face had dots of paint on them was walking down the hall towards me. It was Rachel.
"Hey, do you have that art book I had at your house the other night? I think I left it there."
I shrugged, dumped the books I was carrying into my bag, and got another load.
She nudged me. "Hey, what's wrong with you?" she asked. "You of all people should be happy to finally be getting out of school."
I made sure no one was looking, then I quietly told her about Paul.
She shrugged. "You were going to have to do it sooner or later," she said dismissively. "Better to do it before you decide the fate of the world, I guess."
"Will you please be quiet about that?" I said, looking around to make sure no one had heard.
"Hey, cheer up," she said, smiling. "Only a couple of hours until the picnic. Tyson's going to be there. And Annabeth."
I almost dropped the books I was carrying. I slowly looked up at Rachel. "WHAT?"
It's a bit of a cliffie, I know. I don't have much this week, so I should be able to update soon, but only if I get reviews!