It was only moments before my life was about to be changed in the blink of an eye. The clock was ticking, counting down to midnight. I had no idea why I was supposed to be so worried. Yet, something in my gut told me something was about to flip my world upside down. I wasn't sure yet if it would be in a good way or bad. I suppose it would depend on what went down tonight.

Let me introduce myself. My name Aevril Lewis. I live with my mother, Carrie, in a tiny apartment in New York City. It was just the two of us. My father died a few months before I was even born. Or so my mom told me. She was very hesitant to tell me these kind of things about what happened before I came into this world. I never understood why she was so distant. She would hardly breathe a word about my father. If she did, the few words she did say about him were vague.

Anyway, my life has been relatively normal for a teenager. As normal as you can get with having dylexia and ADHD while trying to not get kicked out of a different school every single year. Now that is really tough.

However, my best friend Kelly had been there with me every day. We was inseperable, joined at the hip. Kelly has this disability, a bum leg. She she limps a lot. But if you can get her to run, she's like lightning fast. It's crazy. I was wishing she was here now. She'd know what to do.

My mother is pacing the floor non-stop, beginning to wear down the hardwood. I sat on the edge of our couch in the living room, my school backpack beside me. Mom had woken me up in the middle of the night, telling me to pack some clothes and anything else I had that was important. By the time my mom returned to get me, I had changed and my backpack was almost stuffed. Then here I am now.

My eyes watch the old grandfather clock in front of me. My knee bounces up and down as I watch the hour hand slowly creep closer to twelve. It's almost midnight. And something deep in my gut says that I need to be very worried. I begin to speak up to demand an explanation from my mom.

We both jump in shock when the doorbell rang through the house. Mom walks away to answer the door, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. She throws the door open to let the person inside. Kelly? What is she doing here? She sprints through the doorway, up to the end of the couch. I glance down to pick up my bag and notice her her feet. I almost scream in shock. In place of her feet…are hooves. Honest to goodness goat hooves and legs.

"My best friend is half goat," I mumble as she grabs my backpack.

"Long story, I'll explain in a bit. Come on!" she exclaims, grabbing my hand.

As she drags me out the door, Mom grabs my other hand. She stops me, pulling me into a bear hug. I feel something wet on my shoulder so I pull back to see Mom crying. Tears run down her face, creating wet tracks on her cheeks. I grab her shoulders, becoming worried. Mom hardly ever cries unless it is a big issue. So what is going on that scared Mom so much?

"Mom?"

"Don't worry about me. Just be careful, okay?"

I don't have a chance to answer before Kelly grabs my hand to drag me out of the house. I can barely see three feet in front of me due to the dimly lit streets. In front of my house is a dark car idly waiting with the back door open. Kelly jumps in, scooting to the other side of the seat. She looks out at me, noticing my discomfort as I stand, undescisive of what to do, at the curb.

"Trust me and get in," she commands desperately.

How could I not trust her? We have been best friends for a long time. For seven years. We have stuck side by side every day through thick and thin. She is so protective of me for reasons I never knew. It would be impossible not to trust her. So I follow my instinct like always. I get in.

I slide into the car, awkwardly curling my legs in to be able to fit. My legs are so long they got in the way so much. I despise it when I have to be in small cramped spaces. That's the main reason I have claustrophobia. On top of that I have my ADHD and dyslexia. Talk about annoying.

I turn to face Kelly whose knee bounces nervously. I stare down at her furry goat legs. This night is turing into a real weird one. It doesn't help that I had no idea where I am going or what is happening. It's almost frightening.

"Care to explain what the heck is going on?" I ask, turning fully to face Kelly.

Kelly sighs, turning to face me.

"Alright. Your dad died before you were born, correct?" she inquires.

I nod, beginning to grow uncomfortable. I shift slightly in the leather seat, staring at Kelly. A frown etches on my lips as a huge knot forms in my chest. I never find this particular topic easy to talk about. Mostly because I never can. If I ever bring up my dad, Mom will shut down or finds something else to talk about. I hardly get anything out of her about him. So I am hoping that just maybe Kelly had an explanation.

"Your mom lied. He's alive."

I almost stop breathing as my eyes grow as wide as saucers. I have to be dreaming. My dad is alive? How can Kelly, of all people, possibly know? I eye Kelly, remaining silent as she continues her explanation.

"You're a demigod. That means you're half human, or mortal, and half god. Greek god to be exact. The ones from myths. You dad is one of the gods. Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, you get the gist. And occasionally, Greek gods will have children with mortals. Those children are everywhere. They just don't know who they are, not have been claimed yet by their godly parent.

"I'm taking you to a camp. It's called Camp Half-Blood. It's where demigods go to for training and shelter. Once you hit a certain age, the monsters start picking up your scent. It becomes stronger once you discover who your godly parent is. Even more so for certain demigods, depending on your parent. Your dad must be helping you out because the monsters should have found you way before now. I began smelling more monsters when I was hanging around you so I knew it was a matter of time before they found you. In fact, I saw some today when I was at your house. They were a block or two away from your home. They were about to find you."

I sit back against the seat, staring down at my knees as I process all she said. If my life before was normal, then it sure isn't anymore. I tapp my fingers on my thigh, as I think about what is going on. I glance up at Kelly, a grim look on both our faces.

"When do we get to the camp?" I ask.

"Soon." is all she says. Any other time I would say it in a creepy way but I'm just too stressed to even think straight.

Shaking my head, I look up to see the car beginning to slow down at the base of a hill. Kelly jumps out as soon as it stops so I take it as we are at the camp. I grab my backpack, sticking my arms through the straps as I clamber out of the car.

I follow Kelly where she stops right before we begin to climb the hill. It is pitch black under the trees so it's practically impossible to see anything. It's dead silent, no signs of night life, so I can't help but feel uneasy. Kelly steps closer into the shadows of the tree canopies, crouching low on her hind legs. She sniffs the air, a look of worry on her face. She turns to look over to me.

"They're more active tonight. They must know something's up. We're going to have to move as fast as we can to the crest of the hill. Once we reach there, we'll be safe."

I nod slowly, adjusting my backpack so it won't be uncomfortable when I run. Thank the gods I am in cross country. Kelly begins to sprint up the hill, myself quickly following behind her. I have no idea what was happening but my gut tells me that something is wrong. And usually my gut is right. So I run. I run hard.

The hill is a pretty steep climb so it quickly becomes exherting. I am determined to keep running, however, so I keep following Kelly. I move my long legs, covering more distance than I might if I have my mother's genes and have been short. Thank you, father, for being tall. I am actually suprised in myself that I am so calm about this. I suppose it wasn't that terrible. I grew up, loving to read about myths. Learning about the Greek gods was my favorite. I guess I was more excited than shocked that they really were real and I was the daughter of one no less.

I sprint alongside Kelly, glancing over at her from the corner of my eye. She moves quickly, her goat legs acting like springs to push herself forward. I then realise what she is.

"Wait! You're a satyr?!"

"You are thinking about this now?!"

"Sorry! It's the ADHD!"

We laugh together, feeling relieved to do so in the seriousness of the situation. I can see the worry on my friend's face. Whatever she had been smelling has to be bad. I have read on the monsters. If the gods are real, then so are the monsters. And they are in no way cute and cuddly. We can get killed if we come across one.

As we near the crest of the hill, Kelly runs faster. I struggle to follow, my legs beginning to cramp up due to the lack of any stretch before. But I have to keep going. I feel that my life depends on it. And it probably does.

"Come on! Once we get over this hill, we're safe!" Kelly yells at me.

That's when we hear a roar. I freeze when I hear how close it is. It is too close. My eyes dart around the trees though there is no use. It's too dark to see anything right now.

Wait! My flashlight!

I yank off my backpack, suddenly remembering I had grabbed my little blue flashlight off my dresser before I left my room. It should be in the very top of my backpack since I stuffed it inside after I remembered it. Unzipping my backpack, I dig inside until I feel my fingers close over the flashlight. I yank it out, closing my backpack and tossing it back over my shoulder. I hold out my flashlight toward the trees where I heard the roar and flick on the light switch.

Bad idea.

I let out a scream. Standing in the glow of the light is a Minotaur, waiting right in front of me. Just a couple feet away from me. How did I miss the thing? My hand shakes, fear washing over me like water. My eyes dart off to the side where the crest of the hill is half a mile away. If I can get up there…

The Minotaur roars, swinging a hand at me. I duck away from it, jumping away from the creature. Where is Kelly at? I am all by myself, weaponless, possibly about to die. All I can do is run. Just a bit farther and I will be safe. I begin to sprint up the hill, trying to get away from the wretched beast. I have to force myself to run hard, no matter how much my legs burn. I am only a few yards away when I am thrown off my feet. I fly off to the side, the force of the Minotaur's swing throwing me into a tree. I cry out in pain, dropping to the base of the tree. Never before have I felt so much pain hit my body at the intensity as it does now. I shakily rise up onto my hands and knees, looking up at the monster that approaches me slowly.

I am only a short distance away from the top of the hill. Right in the direction of where the monster stands. If I can just get past him and up the hill. I have a plan set out, I just need to time it right.

The Minotaur steps closer to me, it's large body looming over me. He raises his arms, ready to smash me into pancake. Just as his arms begin to move, I scramble underneath his legs. I get up to my feet as the ground shakes from his fists hitting right where I had been. Another ear splitting roar comes from behind me as I run closer to the crest. Almost there. Then a sharp pain shoots through my side as something tears through the skin. I stumble, being drug back a few feet. I let out a painful yell, my hand shooting to my side as agony rippled through my body.

I sink to my knees, cradling my side. I can feel the blood seep through my fingers, causing me to become light headed. I can barely make out three long gashes through the blood on my skin. My stomach churns at the feel of my skin torn so deeply. I need help desperately. I need someone to be my savior.

Oh great, now I am sounding dramatic. I must be delirious from the loss of blood.

I drag myself by one hand up the hill. The distance feels like miles away. I can hardly see due to my blurred vision, my side feeling like it was tearing apart with every movement, and I don't even have to look up to see that the Minotaur is right above me, ready to kill me.

"Help," I call out, my voice barely raising over a strangled moan.

Then there they are. My savior. Oh joy, back to drama. Someone take me out of my misery. And I ain't talking about being in pain.

I look up at the mysterious person who stands above me in a protective stance. I can make out a sword in their hand, looking dangerous even if I can barely see it. Who even uses swords anymore?

I can hear the Minotaur roar, the sound muffled in my ears. I can feel myself beginning to go unconscious. If this person desn't hurry up, I will die at their feet. I feel the vibrations of the monster's huge feet as it lunges toward the mystery savior. The person doesn't move away to dodge the creature, instead reaches their sword out toward it. It comes in contact with the Minotaur, piercing its skin. A agonized wail comes from the creature as a bright golden glow suddenly lights the dark forest. I am able to make out the person who had come to save me.

It isn't Kelly. It's a teenage boy. With dark hair and an aviator jacket. He grips a long black sword in his hand, eyes squinting as the flash of light diminishes. As it becomes dark again, I feel the boy kneel down beside me. A pair of arms lift my limp body up from the ground. I am too weak and tired to talk or move. I am just grateful for the warmth and safety that I feel by being in my savior's arms.

You can stop me anytime now.….Anytime….No? Okay.

As he carries me up the hill, I hear voices approach us. Many are young, about teenage or even young adults. One voice then stands out above the rest. Older and powerful.

"What happened?" says the voice.

"The Minotaur found her," my savior says, his chest rumbling as he speaks.

I hear someone run up to me, gripping my arm. By the tight hold, I can tell it was my best friend in the whole world.

"Ave! Oh my gosh, you're okay. I'm so sorry! I never should have left you there alone!" Kelly rambles, trying to explain.

I weakly pat her arm, fighting to stay awake. Actually, sleep feels like a good idea right now. It's like, one in the morning or something? I should maybe get some sleep now. Before I slip under, I hear someone yell out to someone below the hill.

"She's losing blood fast! Get up here!"