Chapter 1

It was late at night and Gregor sat, knees to his chin, on his bed. He couldn't sleep. It was just one of those nights where his mind wandered back to the Underland. Back to all his friends. Back to those that he lost when he left.

It would be one year to the date since he closed the rock in Central Park and left the underworld behind the next day and he couldn't stand it. He didn't want to be home, in the overworld. He felt like he didn't belong, like he didn't fit in. And to tell the truth he really wasn't. He still had Larry and Angelina as his only friends and everyone thought he was the weird kids. Due to all his scars he was restricted, not by himself but by his mother, to wearing long sleeves and jeans when out of the house. He had an acceptable story for the scars but his mom didn't want him making stuff up.

Being in the Overworld also made him being a rager difficult. He was known to many as a kid who wouldn't pick a fight but would stand up for others. That changed however when he came up from the underland. While he could control it some, on occasion he would lose it and get in a fight. He had been suspended twice because of it. Both times he was standing up for a weaker kid and both times it ended with him standing over a kid knocked out with a broken nose.

He looked over at his clock. 3:30. His eyes drifted over to the picture next to his clock. It was the picture of him and Luxa in the museum. He had put it in a frame so as to keep it safe. His hand involuntarily moved to the thing hanging around his neck. Ares claw hung there on a thin leather necklace.

"Gregor, are you awake", he heard someone ask from the door. He made a soft click with his tongue. He was still practicing his echolocation.

"Yea, come in Lizzie", he said as his now 9 year old sister walked into his room and sat down on his bed next to him. She sat for a minute or two just watching him. She had done this many times. She finally spoke up.

"You're thinking about them again aren't you." Gregor could only nod, his hand still clasped to ares claw. She leaned over and gave her big brother a hug which he returned without really even thinking.

"You miss them too, right Liz?" he whispered barely able to get the words out.

"Of course i do, Gregor. How could anyone forget them?" The question plagued his mind almost daily. Does she still remember me? Does she still love me? Does she want to see me? He knew his answers were all yes, but with her being so busy with her royal affairs did she have time to remember or to love him still.

"I'm gonna try to go back to sleep, Liz. You should too." She looked at him and got up. She slowly walked toward the door and looked back at her brother, who sat curled up on his bed. She knew he wouldn't be going to sleep.

The next morning Gregor tiredly swung his legs out of bed and found some clothes to throw on. He didn't really care what it was. He walked out to the kitchen and was surprised to see his father standing there. Usually he was still asleep on saturday mornings. Things were still bad financially in Gregor's home but at least his dad had become well enough to work and his mom now only worked regular work weeks. He had gotten his old job back as a science teacher. This was a relief on his mother and also, in Gregor's mind, a way to not have to go to Virginia. He dreaded having to move there and his dad's job was a good way to keep them right there in the Big Apple.

"Morning," Gregor said tiredly at his dad.

"Oh, good morning Gregor. I thought i would fix up a bit of breakfast for everyone," his dad said a bit shocked from the voice. Gregor grabbed some toast and eggs and a glass of Orange Juice and sat on the couch. He ate slowly and without talking.

"Gregor, are you feeling okay," said a new voice in the room.

"Yes, i'm feeling fine mom," he replied gloomily. He wasn't fine. He had the underland on his mind obviously, but he wasn't going to bring it up and get in an argument with his mom. At least not this early in the morning. The last time he brought it up was two weeks ago and it lead to him being grounded for a week. He didn't need that now.

"Can you go get your sisters then for me?" she asked from the table. He obliged and got up off the couch leaving his food behind. He walked into his sisters room and touched Lizzie's shoulder.

"Get up sleepy head". He walked over to Boots his 4 year old sister and scooped her up. She yawned in his ear."Gregor?"

"Hi Boots."

"Hi you."

"Lets get breakfast," he said as he put his sister down and she ran to the kitchen.

"Bacon!" Boots yelled at his dad. She had a weird infatuation with bacon along with the color purple and cockroaches. She was known as the princess to the giant roaches in the underland and ever since has always talked to the little ones around the house.

"You want bacon Margaret," his dad asked her. Margaret was her real name and he still called her it a lot more than everyone else.

"Ye-es," she replied. She was still working on her speech and for some reason yes was one of those words she struggled with. The family sat down at the table and talked about their day. His parents were going to see his Grandma at the hospital and he was hoping to spend some time with Larry and Angelina.

"Gregor would you take your sisters to the park today?" his mom asked him and his hopes dropped, but he grudgingly agreed. Lizzie and boots were still too young to go by themselves and if they wanted to go he had to go too. Maybe he could get larry and Angelina to go with them. He grabbed the phone and called them both. They both agreed to meet him at the park.

Two hours later, Gregor and his sisters were on the way to Central Park. Gregor had his hands in his pockets and was kicking along a stone as Angelina and Larry ran up to them.

"Hey guys," gregor said to them.

"Hey Gregor," they said in unison. Everyone laughed including Gregor. Even in his bad mood that day he couldn't help it. They walked on to the park just talking and joking around like any 3 13 year olds would. Gregor scooped up boots who was holding them back and they ran the rest of the way to the park.

When they got to the park Lizzie and boots started to run around doing kid stuff and Larry and Angelina looked over at Gregor. They saw distraught on his face and they both realized something was bugging their friend.

"Gregor, is something bugging you," Angelina asked tentatively. Gregor looked over at them. His mind had been lost in the endless expanse of memories he had of the underland. He shook his head, "No, I just didn't sleep well last night". They sat there for a little bit talking about school and parents and stuff.

"Let's get up and go see what the girls are doing," Gregor suggested after several moments of silence.

"OK," both Larry and Angelina replied. They jumped up and all 3 slowly walked over towards Boots and Lizzie.

"This looks like a good spot," Larry yelled to them. They were looking for a good place to sit down after playing a game of tag with Gregor's sisters. Everyone ran over and sat down. Gregor was a little behind everyone as he had also been looking for somewhere to sit. He instantly knew exactly where they were but he didn't want to make everyone move or something. They were all sitting around the rock that had an entrance to the underland under it. Gregor sat down on the rock and everyone started to laugh and joke and tell stories. Gregor more or less just listened and agreed with everything. After what seemed like hours it started to get dark.

"We should get going shouldn't we," Gregor said. It was the first time in at least an hour Gregor had said something more than 2 words in a row. All them were taken back his words. They almost forgot he was there. Everyone got up and started to walk back towards the exit to the park. Gregor was tailing a bit behind because he kept looking back. It was the closest he had been to the underland in months. He had gone down to laundry room several times but his mom had covered the grate with wood and nailed it down very good.

"Hurry up Gregor or you'll be home by Tuesday," Lizzie yelled back to him. He was snapped out of his little trance and he turned and started to move a bit faster when he heard something. He spun around. He swore he had heard the sound of a moving rock. A very big heavy rock. He squinted back and thats when he saw it. A piece of parchment was snagged under the rock to the underland and he knew how it got there.