Part 1: The Lightning Thief
Percy Jackson; the hero, right? Wrong! I hate that little bastard. Sure, at first glance he seems like a sweet kid, but beware, for once you turn your back hell stab you in it. He did it once to me, who's to say he won't do it again?
The name's Rebecca Vise, I spent close to 9 years of my life shifting from one foster home to the next. Adoption was a hopeless dream, I've been kicked out of every foster and group home I've been to, and if not kicked out, then it was me who ran. Let's face it; I've never fit in, raging fights with the other kids doesn't exactly earn you a gold star or foster child of the year. I'm alone in this world, I always have been, and I always will be.
This is what I thought up until June 3, 2005, two weeks to my 14th birthday. It was on this day that I became the girl with many foes and little fear, with many talents and few weaknesses. It was that day that I became Rebecca Vise, Demigod daughter of the Titan lord, Kronos.
...
I layed on my small, hard bed, covers pushed off due to the humid June air. I stared at the crack forming in the ceiling above; restlessly I came to my feet, ducking my head awkwardly to avoid the low ceiling. The crack was mere inches from my face. I tilted my head to get a closer look at the chipping paint. Just seeing that flap of paint there drove me crazy, like most imperfections. If I see something even slightly amiss I will do everything in my power to fix it, trust me, I've stopped rocket launches before. Don't ask how. My teachers have requested to all my foster parents to get an ADHD test done on me but of course they're too cheap for even that.
Just as I lifted my right index finger to remove the problem I heard a knock at my door. Leaping off my bed I shouted, "Come in." Landing in front of the door I realized that it was my foster brother, Alexander Rideau. The door opened and I rose and eyebrow, "Yes?"
"Um...I just came to check on you, I heard your bed squeaking like mad. I was worried he..." Alex gestured down the hall to where my foster dad's bedroom was located. "You know..."
Yeah, I did know. My current step father was a pervert, that's why he wanted to be a foster parent. He hid pornography all over the house. Trust me, that's not something you want to find when you're looking for your toothbrush in the morning. Lucky for me, Kandas, my 15-year-old foster sister, had some nice 34Ds that were way more appealing than my 32As. The only reason he kept Alex was to hide from suspicious eyes.
Alex was almost two years older than me and had acted as my "guardian" from William since I arrived three months prior. Sadly, his scrawny figure and pale freckled face was less intimidating than a bee without it's stinger.
"I'm fine Alex, I was just–"
"What is going on in here?" William burst through the door which Alex had closed mere seconds ago.
"Oh...uh, I–was–just..." Alex stammered.
"...Leaving," William gestured for Alex's departure. He shut the door, leaving us alone in the room.
I glared up into my foster father's beady brown eyes. He slicked his greasy brown hair back with his meaty hands.
I swallowed hard as he backed me further into my room. My pulse quickened. My body temperature rose, I screwed my eyes shut ready for whatever was to come, and then everything went completely and absolutely still.
As I opened my eyes I caught a whiff of William's dreadful cologne. It reminded me of a bag full of used cat litter, I was appalled. Hastily, I squirmed away from my guardian's frozen figure and ran as fast as I could down the hall and into Alex's room. It was almost identical to mine; one bed, one dresser, and one light. He layed on his bedside reading a poetry book as usual; next to him sat a brown tattered notebook, which he didn't dare let me touch, ever.
My breathing had finally returning to normal, a loud crash came from my room, Alex glanced up at me in shock. "What was that?"
"Alex..." I tried to tell him what happened, I wanted him to know, but felt like he shouldn't, like it was crucial for him to not know.
"Rebecca? What happened? He didn't hurt you, did he?" His tone was filled with concern.
"Um...no, but..." Another crash sounded from the hall, Alex bolted to his feet.
"Rebecca, we have to go." A low growl came from outside the door. "Right now!" As quick as a ray of sun, Alex tossed his books into a black satchel and threw it over his shoulder. From his top drawer her produced a long wooden bow and a quiver full of arrows. I simply stood there, my jaw gaping in awe.
"Come on," Alex flew open the door, only to find William standing there, hand on hips, and teeth bearing. I had never realized just how tall he was, I mean, I'm quite above average height myself, but he must've been at least seven feet tall.
Alex, however, didn't seem to be shocked at all, he simply drew one of his many bows and shot it right between his eyes, yet it confused me further when the arrow began to move, like it was stuck in his eye. Suddenly, the strangest thing happened; as Alex fled the scene, dragging me carelessly behind him, I glanced back to see the arrow caught in one massive eye planted in the centre of my guardian's face.
Alex had taken me to the airport where he bought us each a ticket to Ne York. I had a bazillion and one questions for him: Why did he shoot our foster parent? Why were we going to the United States? I liked Canada very much! Where did he get that money? And could I please change out of my pajamas? But all he would say was, "You'll find out everything you need to know soon enough." Which really perturbed me, but I knew better than to pester Alex.
...
The plane ride was a bore; I tried to sleep, but found it impossible, so I spent the duration of the flight reading one of Alex's poetry books, although I found them horrific.
Once we landed, Alex hailed us a taxi, which took us out to the middle of nowhere. We were dropped off at the bottom of a large hill, scattering where we stood was nothing but dense forest, but atop the hill stood a single, perfect pine tree. I decided it would make a great Christmas tree, Dr Seuss' Who's would be jealous.
I turned to Alex, waiting for him to get back in the taxi relaying that this was simply a nice breath of fresh air. Instead, he paid the driver and we began our assent to meet Cindy Lou Who herself.
A few minutes later I stood at the crest of the hill, next to me was the pine tree, but no Who's. Alex breathed in the fresh air as he stood overlooking a camp of some sort. There was a huge farmhouse at the bottom of the hill and just a few meters away, there were about twelve cabins, but none of them looked the same, they all had their own theme. It would have been a very peaceful spot, but there was something wrong. I couldn't quite place it, but it just didn't feel right.
Alex began to walk slowly down the hill towards the house and reluctantly, I followed. As we crossed the field the porch became more focused, and I made out a group of boys, all about sixteen, huddled together. They were all top-less and wearing baggy track pants in different shades of brown, yellow and red. I approached them with caution. Then I realized that they weren't just top-less, they were bottom-less. Now, it's not like they were being indecent of anything, because what was there was hair, goat hair at that. And they had hooves and horns. They reminded me of Mr. Tumnus from Narnia. Alex gave them a friendly wave and his shimmering smile.
I was debating whether or not to run when I heard the sound of a horse galloping towards me from the direction of the cabins. I turned to see an older man on horseback. No, he wasn't on horseback, but rather his back was the horse. He was human from the waist up, but where his legs should have been was the body of a horse. There was no more need for debating, I took one last look at the Mr. Tumnus look-a-likes and booked it.
Unfortunately, they had noticed me too and I could sense Alex turning to me with a look of disappointment. I could hear my heart beating in my ears as I ran up the hill towards the tree. I took one look behind me and that was my first mistake. The horseman was fast approaching on me and before I could even see the road he snatched me by the back of my shirt and held me in midair.
"Let go of me, you bastard." I shouted. So he did. I fell to the ground, but before I could gather my bearings I felt two strong hands grasp my arms and hold me in a lock. I tried to squirm away, to lessen the grip, but it was no good. I was trapped.
"Wow, easy there. Don't want to hurt yourself now," the voice came from behind me; I turned to see who held me. I had never seen such a face; his face was slim with short blond hair enveloping his being, and those eyes, those gorgeous blue eyes that shone in the sunset. There was only one flaw that I could see. A long, jagged scar ran from his right brow, across his eye, to his left cheek.
I was stunned, where in the hell was I? "Just let me go, you pathetic meat sack," I don't know who I was aiming that at, but I didn't want to aim it at the boy.
"You're not going to run again, are you?" The horseman asked me.
I said nothing.
"Rebecca?"
I looked up in bewilderment, "How did...?"
"How did I know your name?"
I nodded
"Because I know you. You and Luke here aren't that different."
I looked at my captor. "No, we're very different, because I wouldn't hold a fourteen year old girl in a death grip, for no apparent reason," I said with annoyance in my voice.
Luke looked at the horseman for guidance, "You can let her go, she's not going to run anymore," he told Luke, and I didn't. I just walked up to the horseman, looked him up and down, and spoke three simple words. "What are you?"
"Rebecca," Alex panted as he reached the crest of the hill, "What were you thinking?"
I turned to him and was preparing to speak when the horseman but in. "It's okay, Alexander, I think she was just a little overwhelmed. Isn't that right, Rebecca?"
"Um, yeah, I-"
"Listen Alex," Luke gripped his shoulder, " You must be tired. Why don't you head back to your cabin? Your bunk mates are missing you. We can take care of her."
Alex focused his glimmering eyes at me for approval and I nodded. He then slowly made his decent down the hill and towards the cabins.
"So," I emphasized the word as to remind the others of my presence. "Could someone please tell me where the heck I am?"
The old man just laughed, it was a warm laugh, full of joy. "My dear child, you're at Camp Half-Blood. My name is Chiron, and I am the activities director here."
I shook my head in confusion. "Camp Half-What?"
"Half-Blood," Luke's voice chimed in, "It's another word for someone who's half mortal and half god.
"What? I must have misheard you, I thought you said half god."
"No-"
"I think that's quite enough questions for now," Chiron cut in.
"What...but...where..."
"I have to go to an archery lesson. Luke, if you wouldn't mind taking Miss Vise to the Big House."
"Sure, Chiron." And just like that I was on my way to a strange farmhouse, in Manhattan, with a boy who I didn't even know. There were so many questions I wanted answered. Like: Why does Alex have a bow and arrow? What was wrong here, I knew there was something not quite right, but what? Why the heck was the activities director of this camp a centaur? And was Luke single?
Hey, if you're familiar with my stories you may recognize this one, that's cause it's a revisation of 'The Other Side.' You may notice some odd spelling of certain words, and that would be the Canadian spelling, so no need to fret :) I'll try to update it soon too. Hope you like it!
