CHAPTER 1

I woke up in some sort of octagonal room. Where I was? The brink of insanity, that's where. The man with the scythe stood over me, his steel eyes blinding me.
"We can end this now, or you can tell me where your source is." he said.
I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's go back to where it all started.

I'm Nolan Archer. In 8th grader at Plato Middle School, in New York City.
"You did finish your project. Right Nolan?" asked a mentally uncomfortable, tall, thin boy next to me. That's Alec. We've been friends since kindergarten. "Alec, dude, chill, I've still got two periods to finish it."
"You mean start it."
"Nonce. I'll just...wing it?" I shrugged, that's what I've been doing since day one.
"One of these days, you'll get it for winging it." Alec warned.
We had a science project worth half of our grade due today. I had gotten as far as my name when more important things happened into my life. Like video games, skateboarding, and video games.
"Nolan." came a grumbly choppy voice. One I knew. Erik McLaughlin, an 8th grader who was held back three times, trudged up to me, holding a failed Greek History test in his hand.
"What's this?" he demanded.
"A big, dirty, reeking, push over douc-"
"The paper, idiot!"
"A failed grade."
"Yeah, you said you would do it at a B level!" he roared.
I stifled a laugh, "You said you'd leave me alone when I got you an A on your last Greek test."
"You son of a-" Erik thanked me with a flying tackle, knocking over the library book shelves. I managed out of his grasp and ran for the door to the courtyard. I made it outside before a fist hit me in the back of the head. I fell onto the ground onto my head. My vision was blurred, and my head was sticky with blood.
I turned around. I was sick of Erik, and people like him. He threw another punch.
I held out my hand, and his fist landed dead on it. I expected to hear my hand break, but instead, his did. He let out a girly squeal, backed up, and charged. If only there was a wall between us. Haha, that would be awesome.
SPLAT I opened my eyes to find Erik pinned against a brick wall. He had ran head first into it. The wall flickered and was gone, like a hologram. Was that me? He charged again. Okay, no more walls. How about a... Weapon for me?
I felt cold iron in the palm of my hand, I gripped it. A staff with a blue shaft, golden claws at the top holding a crystal ball full of color changing smoke materialized in my hand. I took it and shook it, hoping for a spell or something. Nothing.
"Stupid-" a ray of heat disoriented the air around it, straight into Erik. He flew backwards into the library, shattering the windows on the way. Alec came darting from the carnage.
"Did you see that? YEAH!" I roared.
"Gods... That staff. The illusion... Nolan, come. I must bring you to-"
"Whats with the medieval words?"
"Nolan! C'mon!"
"Where are we going?"
"Uh... Summer camp, for people like you. I think you could help us find somebody." he said.
"Who?"
"Percy Jackson. I think you know him."