Chapter One
Hazel gazed at the desk in the classroom. The other students were talking to each other, whispering as the teacher graded papers at the front.
A snuffling noise came from the door. Oh no. Not again.
She looked up. Don't make eye contact, they'll get aggressive.
Llamas. Again. And, once more, she was the only one who could see them.
Great.
One of the llamas started sniffing the hair of Drew, a popular girl who tormented Hazel mercilessly. The llama seemed to find her hair delicious, and it started chewing.
Hazel frowned.
"HAZEL LEVESQUE!"
She jerked upright and realized the teacher had been saying her name.
"Why do you never pay attention!" Snapped the teacher.
"S-sorry Mr. Rampion. I-I was just…" She sighed. The teacher would never understand why she never payed attention.
Ice began to creep into the room. She felt a roiling sense of dread. The llamas are gone…
The teacher began writing on a sheet of paper. Ice crept across the floor. Hazel watched it creep up a seat and freeze the boy sitting in it. No…
Ice crept up her legs, and she felt them freeze into place. She watched it creep up her torso and across her arms. She felt it creep inside through her nose. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe…
The teacher froze. Voices buzzed in her ear; 'Why isn't she moving? She's not even breathing… Little weirdo… It's not like the teacher's threatening her, he's just writing a note…
The ice melted. Hazel looked around. Everyone was watching her and whispering.
"Hazel, give this to your mother when you get home." Mr. Rampion held out a note.
Hazel took it with a shaking hand. The bell rang. Everyone began to pack up their bags and head for the door.
She drifted forward, looking around nervously. Earlier in the day, when she had headed into the classroom, she had seen a grinning troupe of skeletons, brandishing spears and dancing.
Whew. They're gone…
She edged toward the front doors and hurried out, heading down the sidewalk toward her house.
Upon reaching her house, Hazel opened the front door and froze. Her mother was talking on the phone to someone.
"Yes, I'll call you again if I need to. It's quite possible she'll need it. Yes, thank you." Click. "Hazel? Is that you?"
Hazel walked into the kitchen. "Yes, Mom. The teacher gave me a note for you…" She held out the piece of paper.
Her mother read it, then let out an exasperated sigh. "Hazel, child, why? Why must you always do this?"
"Mom, it was the llamas! And then everyone froze!"
"Llamas again!" Her mother said frustratedly. "Please, Hazel, go to your room. I need to call someone."
Hazel walked down the small hallway to her room. She opened the door, sliding in and collapsing on her bed. She stared at the ceiling, words drifting through her head. 'She'll need it… Why can't you pay attention… Why, Hazel? Why?... Poisoned child… Little weirdo…
She sobbed. It's not my fault…
"Hazel?" Her mother entered the room. "I called some people. They can take care of you better than I can. It's just getting to be a bit too much."
Hazel looked up. "Who?"
"A place called Olympus Asylum."
Hazel felt tears threatening. "You think I'm crazy."
Her mother sighed. "Hazel…" She gestured helplessly at the far wall. A spot on the wall was jagged as though a large, psychotic chipmunk had tried to chew out. Hazel winced, recalling the night she had tried to escape her room. The blood had been mostly scrubbed off, but…
There was a knock at the door. Hazel stared helplessly at her mother, who said, "Hazel, take this locket. Wear it. When you're better, I will come for you. I promise."
Hazel took the locket. Her mother hastily clasped it around her neck, then stood and left the room.
Hazel opened the locket. It was a picture of her and her mother, smiling and laughing.
A woman appeared in the doorway. "Ready to go? I am Artemis."
Hazel stood up and left her room, casting one last glance around.