Ch. 1

"Terra and Darren come down for breakfast." My adoptive mother yelled. I yawned and lied down again looking at the posters in my room. A few minutes later I heard a knock on my door. "What," I moaned still incredibly tired.

"Terra get up, it's the first day of school. Your junior year at Goode High!" My older brother, Darren, said enthusiastically.

"I hate school," I moaned as I got dressed. I decided to wear a pair of dark jeans, my favorite white T-shirt that says New York, New York on it, and combat boots. When I opened up my bedroom door I saw my brother waiting for me with a stack of pancakes. I got wide eyed at my favorite breakfast food, buttermilk pancakes. I grabbed the plate from my brother and starting walking down the stairs.

Right at the bottom of the stairs Darren grabbed my free hand and yanked me back; resulting in my precious stack of homemade pancakes to almost hit the floor. "Um hello pancakes here," I laughed as I pointed at the pancakes.

Darren just shook his head at me. "Terra you know that summer camp that I go to every year?"

I nodded remembering the time a number of years ago when Darren told me that he was going to a special camp and that maybe I could go with him one year.

"I think it's time you come with me this year." Darren said it as if he was certain that I had to go for some reason.

"Why in the world would I go to a stupid summer camp? I have much more important things to do." I snapped.

Darren looked really mad now. "Oh like what? Are you going to get into more fights? Is that your plan for the whole summer just walk around until you get insulted and plan your revenge or something? Terra you could make real friends and put your talents to some use."

And with that I ran off. That was low for Darren he knew I had a hard time making friends and fighting with other students. I stormed out of our small ranch style home and ran to school. It was incredibly windy outside and it looked like it was about to storm. Luckily I arrived before it did. I put my backpack in my locker and started for the bathroom.

I look like a mess, I think to myself as I stare at my reflection in the mirror. My light brown wavy hair looked like it went through a tornado. Realizing that I still had ten minutes before class, I slumped down against the wall and starting playing music on my phone. I heard the door swing open a few minutes later and looked up. A girl with blond hair and intense gray eyes was looking down at me. She looked about seventeen. She walked over sat down next to me. Then she asked me what was wrong. Not being in the mood to tell this girl my life story, I pretended to not hear her question. "Who are you?" I asked the girl. "I'm Annabeth Chase," the girl said. "I go to the same summer camp that your brother does."

I stare at the girl trying to figure her out; one of my few known talents is looking right through people's masks and reading in between the lines. My conclusion was that this was a girl who had been through a lot in her life and was someone even I wouldn't want to mess with. "You must be new here," I finally state. "Why would you think that?" Annabeth asks. "If you weren't new to this school you wouldn't be talking to me." I told her. Annabeth gives me an understanding look. "Well I'm not like other people," she says. I smile. For some reason I feel that this girl is different, maybe it's her willingness to actually talk to me or maybe it's because she acts like nothing in the world can catch her off guard. Annabeth started to stand up, but before she left she looked at me once more and said, "I think you should take up that offer that your brother gave you." She must have seen the confusion on my face because she gave a little laugh before leaving the bathroom. How did she know about that?

I left the bathroom soon after Annabeth did and left for my fist class which was AP calculus. I was actually pretty smart for my age, which just made people think I was a complete nerd who could throw a pretty dam good punch. Not exactly the reputation I had hoped for myself.

I was the last one to enter the classroom, which means everyone stares at you when you walk in. I sat in the only seat left which happened to be in the back corner of the class. As usual I didn't pay attention one bit the entire class, my mind kept on going to the blond haired girl, Annabeth. "Terra," my teacher called out, "can you answer question thirty please." I looked around and everybody was filling out a worksheet. Oops! "Um," I started to say right as the bell rung. Yes, saved by the bell! I scrambled to get out the door first so I couldn't be stopped by the teacher.

As I walked to my back to my locker I heard a piercing scream from behind me, then a loud crash, and lastly a very cold and raspy voice yelling my name. "This can't be good," I mumbled to myself. I turn around to see a vulture like thing flying towards me. I knew it would reach me momentarily. I scanned the hall for anything I could use to defend myself. Just my luck, nothing. I scream as I duck and stick my hands out to cover my face. "Like this will help," I think to myself. I think I must be going crazy because I swear I saw a lightning bolt shot at the vulture thing then I black out.

I wake up in almost a hospital looking place, but it definitely wasn't a hospital. The first thing I see is people sitting down by my bed. My brother and Annabeth were sitting on my right and a few others that I didn't recognize on my left. "Where am I?" I ask. Darren smiled at me, "that stupid summer camp," he said making quotes with his fingers. Annabeth grinned at me and then said, "Welcome to Camp Half-Blood Terra."