•Lost•

My eyes shoot open, only to see a chilling grey fog. My stomach churns as I fly through the air. Even before I tumble onto the cold ground, I know by the eerie cold and haunting feeling that sweeps over me that I'm in the Shadowland. And in Hello Kitty pajamas no less.

With a groan, I get to my feet and turn around, ready to jump through the portal I had just come from and set the idiot who shoved me in here aflame. But there is no portal, it has disappeared.

I shiver, looking at the haunting endlessness of the Shadowland that stretches out before me. A low groan sounds in the distance. I freeze. It's far away, but I've never enjoyed the sound of Lost Ones. They bring back horrible memories.

I shiver again, not because of the cold that weighs me down but because of the memories of those creatures. The groans get louder, forcing me to snap out of it and start searching for another portal.

Blowing the strands of fiery red hair out of my face, I run barefoot through the Shadowland, hoping to find another portal before the Lost Ones find me. The groans get louder still, making my heart pound through my chest. I've gone through too much just to be killed this way. This can't happen. I keep running, unable to see more than a few feet in front of me.

A figure looms in front of me. I try to stop but my momentum makes me crash into the figure. The smell of rotting flesh fills my nose and I back away, staring up into the soulless yellow eyes of a Lost One. A blood curdling scream, my scream, pierces the air and the thing reaches for me.

Its fingernails dig into my skin, making me cry out in pain. More groans fill my ears. Sweat beads on my forehead as it draws closer to me.

I spit in its face, but it merely grins, flashing its grimy teeth, tightening its grip on me. More shadows appear in the menacing fog. The Lost One takes my arm and bites into it, letting its teeth sink in slowly. My knee connects with its stomach, making it release its grip and double over. Unfortunately, more Lost Ones are in view, all sporting rotted flesh and those yellow eyes that haunt me constantly.

The first one gets to its feet, but I'm already backing away from it, from all of them. I glance over my shoulder to see that there are more of them. They have me surrounded. This is it. I am going to die.

I keep stepping backwards as they close in on me, my heart pounding loudly in my ears. I take another step back and trip over on what must be a detached limb. My stomach lurches. A hand reaches out to grab me but I smack it away as I fall. My eyes shut; I pray for unconsciousness when my head hits the ground. It never does.

My stomach flips continually as I fall through another portal. I curl into a ball, hugging my knees to my chest.

With a soft thud I land on a patch of plush green grass, but I don't move. No, I lay there as the pain slowly catches up with me and the adrenaline fades. The bite on my arm throbs, my muscles ache. I watch the sun travel across the sky with no energy to get up and travel myself. Nothing disturbs me while I let the pain of consume me.

When the sun set begins, I manage to get to my feet. Dizzy at first, I lean against a tree and bury my head in my hands. Unsure of where I am or what to do, I get up and start wandering aimlessly.

This isn't home; I know that, I can feel it. All I know is that it's just an endless stretch of woods. Small animals climb the trees, but I ignore them. There has to be someone out here.

The pain makes me wince with every step I take, not just the bite, but the pain of hunger as well. The full moon is the only thing that illuminates my path.

My eyes feel heavy; my senses are dulled by exhaustion. I consider resting for the remnants of the night, but a distant light catches my eye. It's faint, but it dances in the night like a flame and I'm immediately drawn towards it. Thoughts flood my mind as I sprint towards it.

I weave through the trees, ducking branches and avoiding trunks. My footsteps are loud and heavy like my breath. The sound of branches snapping beneath my feet is constant.

I stop at a break in the trees, trying to steady my breathing. The light I saw is a bonfire, but that's not all that's there.

People surround the fire, laughing and talking over one another while I hide in the shadows. I sit and rest against a tree, watching them closely. No one notices me.

The hunger gnaws at my stomach and the pain from my wound spreads through me like a disease. The skin looks like a chunk had been torn away, leaving it bloody and rotted from infection. I wince, trying not to take my eyes off the people.

Exhaustion gradually comes back. The number of people dwindles as they leave the fire and disappear into the darkness. Only a few remain, but they pay no attention to me.

My vision becomes blurry, my eyelids heavy. My breathing slows and I can't fight anymore. The sounds of the crackling fire and hushed voices fade away as I drift into a deep sleep.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

A warm liquid fills my mouth, sweet and heavenly. Like cookies 'n cream milkshakes. I swallow without hesitation.

"Told you she'd wake up." a smooth male voice whispers.

"Just because she swallowed doesn't mean she woke up, Danny." The second voice is female. It has a hard serious tone to it.

A glass is pressed to my lips and the same heavenly liquid washes over my taste buds. I swallow once again. "She's probably awake." He mumbles.

"Maybe not. Maybe you should check by awakening her with a kiss." The girl laughs.

"Oh, shut up." The boy, Danny, says. My body shifts and my eyes force themselves open only to take in the area around me immediately.

Soft sunlight fills the room. The room itself has a large collection of cots and medicines from what I can see. I am alone with the boy and the girl.

Sitting on one of the cots is the boy. His hair is jet black. He has a slight muscular frame and pale skin. His expression is soft, a smile evident on his face.

"I heard they found her floating several feet in the air." the girl comes into view.

She has honey blonde hair that falls to her shoulders in bouncy ringlets. The girl sits on the same cot as the boy. She looks at him with a soft expression, not noticing my wandering eyes. Her eyes are a pale grey, freckles spread across her face.

"Yeah, I was out there with them," the boy shrugs, "She was glowing, too. Very..." He hesitates, "unusual."

I hold back a laugh. How many times has someone said that about me? Countless. And they haven't seen anything yet.

"That's saying a lot, isn't it?" The girl laughs again.

The boy nods, turning towards me. His startling blue eyes meet mine.

The corners of his mouth turn up into a smirk. Before I can stop myself, I stick my tongue out at him. I sit up slowly, but nausea washes over me. My eyes glue themselves shut.

Sturdy hands help me up, careful not to jostle me. They let go, moving the hair out of my face and pressing the warm glass to my hands. I take it, pressing it up against my lips and savoring the taste.

Only when the glass is empty and the room is silent, do my eyes open. The boy, Danny, sits on the cot with curious eyes. The girl is nowhere in sight. But then I see a figure slip through an opening, probably a door, and I know it's her.

We sit in silence, staring at one another. He's holding back an infinite amount of questions, I can tell, it's the same expression I'm wearing.

"Where am I?" I ask, my voice weak and hoarse from misuse.

"Camp-Halfblood, a camp for demigods." He looks away from me and at his hands.

"Demigods?" I cross my legs, resting my elbows on my thighs and my chin on my hands. Shiny strands of my fiery red hair hang in my face and I make a weak attempt to blow them away.

He chuckles, "Half god, half mortal. Have you heard of Greek Mythology?"

"Sort of, I know some stuff but I've never paid much attention in class so..." I bite my lip.

"I get it. Well this is a place where people like...you and I...stay. People who have a mortal parent and a godly parent."

My mouth hangs open but I shut it. One mortal parent and one godly? But I have both of my parents; they're a witch and a wizard, not godly or mortal anything. Danny just watches me, unsure of what I'll do. My muscles are tense but I try to keep an even tone.

"L-Look." I say, "I have both of my parents. Neither of them have any godly powers, I swear. They're both mortals."

He shakes his head, "Then explain to me how you were floating several feet in the air, glowing." He puts stress on the last word. "And you were already inside camp borders which couldn't happen unless you were a demigod."

"My mom is a witch and my dad a wizard. They both have the capability of dying." I shudder at the memory of their 'execution' then shove the thought aside.

Confusion sweeps across his face, mixed with numerous others. I flinch when his eyes flicker with anger, similar to a deadly blue flame. Danny composes himself, thinking about his choice of words. He wants to ask more, but he's holding back.

I decide to break the silence, "It was nice being here and all but I really need to find a way home-"

"NO!"

"What?" I scowl at him, he shies away.

"I'm sorry but you can't go, Chiron wants to talk to you. And I still have some questions for you."

I roll my eyes, "Of course you do."

"What can I say? You fascinate me and I don't even know your name." he smirks. I'm torn between the sudden overwhelming desire to either kiss him or slap him and make rabbits fly out of his ass.

"Name's Wisty." I give him my best good girl smile but I already know he doesn't buy it, "And you?"

"Daniel, but you can call me Danny." Daniel, I like that name. "Ready to go see Chiron?" A smile spreads across his face.

I shrug, "Whose that?" I ask.

There's a moment of silence, then he stands. He outstretches his hand towards me, waiting for me to take it. He doesn't answer my question, he's not going to. i have to find out for myself.

Another moment passes before I realize he's still waiting for my response. I shouldn't respond, I should stay and demand to go home and forget this whole thing. I need to find a way home, not go walking into an attractive teenage boy's trap. Yet again, since when have I been good at doing what I should?

I smile and take his hand.