Honestly, I never knew what really happened. I was just placed in a foster home, then bam! Some weird hybrid thing attacks me a week later.
I was expecting a normal life with a normal family, but no. My dad had to join the army. He had to get deployed to Afghanistan, and he just had to never come back. Afterwards, I had to live with my step-mom and step-brother in California, since my biological mom left my dad. My step-mom just had to force me to go to that stupid picnic for school, only resulting in a car crash that killed both her and my step-brother, who was only ten. And the worst part of it? I wasn't dead yet. Instead, the police decided to put me into a foster home without even blinking since I'm not eighteen. I'm not suicidal or anything, but my life couldn't get any worse. But no! I just ended up jinxing myself, having monsters attack me everyday.
I'd expect a bit of decent treatment, like some "Missing" posters at least, but the foster home never actually cared about the kids. They just wanted the money. If I were them, (thankfully I'm not), I would've put a notice on my absence because it could've also included some money and publicity for help, but all of the staff there are ruthless and stupid.
I jar back to reality, sitting down and leaning on a tree. I haven't showered for three days, ever since I ran into a lake. The last actual shower I had was at the foster home, but didn't run because I wanted to, only because a second monster came to try and kill me. Luckily, it ran off before I could do anything, but it gave me a very heartwarming message. The monster told me, "If you don't leave here, you'll be dead by a month from today." or something like that. I would've ignored it, but there was a feeling that that thing wasn't lying to me. Plus, that was about three months ago.
I assume I'm in New York, since I was heading Northeast, but why Northeast, I don't know. Probably because it was the only path a monster wouldn't come hurtling itself towards me. I found some small woods to conceal myself in, but I know I won't be resting for long. Those monsters are attracted to me like I'm the butter to their bread, and I wouldn't be surprised if they use me for exactly that purpose. I remember hearing one say my "scent" is strong, whatever that means. I lift my head up against the tree a bit, looking at the night sky. Then I hear a rustle of leaves from a bush not too far from me, and I know it's show time. Thankfully, I have a weapon. I stole a steel sword from a guy's house that recently caught fire. I mean yeah, I feel bad for being the one who actually set his house on fire, but I'm just glad I actually found something pretty useful.
I stand up, holding my sword, and wait for the monster to jump at me because I'm really not in the mood for attacking it on the spot. It slowly comes out of the bush, a bit too dramatically. I'm not describing what it looks like, since I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want to know if you had the chance to leave without a problem, either. "Half blood." it snarls at me. I roll my eyes. "Can you and your monster friends stop calling me that? In fact, can you all please stop trying to eat me?" I ask it stubbornly. "Feisty one, I see," I grip the sword tightly.
"Unlike my brothers, I won't be gone so easily." The monster starts towards me, so I sprint away from it. I dodge the trees, bushes, and tree stumps. Since the woods I'm in aren't so big, I run straight into a clearing of nothing but grass. Instead of focusing on the monster, I daydream a bit while running mindlessly.
Maybe I should've brought a bag with me, with my important belongings in it, but no. I only have a note my dad left me before he went to Afghanistan and a picture of him in my pocket, and that's all.
I jar back to reality, and see a large set of woods in front of me. I glance behind my shoulder, but the monster had caught up to me. It's about to grab me, but I push myself further so it only slashes my back. I feel a stinging sensation, but run into the woods, knowing the monster will have more difficulty chasing me since it's ten times larger. I dodge dozens of trees and jump over a log or two.
I hop over some tree roots, only to get my foot caught, making me fall on my stomach. I look back and see the monster is about to tackle me, so I roll to the side. It lands at where I was a second ago, and I get up from the ground and try to run further. The monster grabs my foot at the last second, and slides it beneath me so I land hard on my stomach again, my sword falling out of my hands. The monster drags me towards itself, and I claw at the ground and try to grab hold of my sword, but it's out of reach. I kick at the monsters face, hitting it in the eye.
I look above the ground, and see a single pine tree on a hill, probably five yards away. I don't know why, but I get a feeling that I need to get past that tree.
The monster's hand reaches my face, and I kick around harder. It's claws scratch at my mouth, and I feel a cut from the right corner of my lip, down. That should leave a mark. Finally, I grab hold of something, a large rock, and force myself on my back. The monster gets up, but keeps its hairy claw on my shoulder so I can't get away. Luckily, the rock is in my other hand so I can throw it easily. I bring my hand back as far as it can go, and hurl the rock to the monster's face, going inside its mouth. It lets go of my shoulder, and I get up as fast as I can, forgetting my sword on the ground.
I sprint to the tree, and glance back at the monster one more time. It seems like it's about to try and jump on me again, so I jump past the pine tree, and end up rolling downhill. I try to stop myself, but there's already too much momentum. I cover my face with my hands and wait to come to a stop.
The world finally stops spinning, and I stand up, even though it hurts. I look up the hill for the monster, but it's not chasing me anymore. I turn around taking in my surroundings. There's a blue and creamy white house not too far from where I'm at. There are kids and teenagers of all ages, doing different things. A group is laughing and talking to one another, and also some kids playing tag. I see a silhouette of someone running towards me, since the sun is setting.
"Hey, are you okay," the person asks. It turns out to be a boy who seems to be my age. "I just saw you tumble downhill! Oh, my name is Jake, by the way."
I nod. "It's okay, I'm fine." I say, then wipe some blood from my lip, where the monster clawed at me.
"Here, follow me." Jake says, carefully grabbing my arm and leading me to the blue house in the distance.
We walk together in silence, but I don't mind. Jake tells me to stay outside while he talks to someone, and I pace around in silence.
"Chiron said you should go to the infirmary, obviously," Jake says, coming out from the Big House. "You'll get fixed up there." He leads me to somewhere not so far.
"But there was a monster chasing me right out- wait, did you say Chi-" I start, but Jake interrupts me.
"It's okay. I can promise you that you're safe now." We finally make it to the infirmary, where a few people swarm us and bring me to a small bed. I turn around and see Jake wave goodbye, a hint of a smile on his face.
I lie down on my stomach and let people take care of me, which feels strange, considering the fact I've been on the run for a few months. They pour something on my back, where the monster slashed at me, making it soothe rather than burn. Somebody has me turn around on my back and hands me a cup.
"Here, drink this," she says. I take a sip, tasting warm fudge brownies right out of the oven. Weird, since the drink looks nothing like it at all. "You can sleep here for tonight, since it's already 8 o'clock. I'm sure you'll be claimed by tomorrow." With that, she winks at me then leaves.
Claimed? Is this some auction or something? What does she mean by "claimed?" And what did Jake mean by "Chiron?" Isn't he that centaur that trained heroes in Greek mythology?
I'm too tired to think it over some more, and I just finished my drink. I can worry about whatever this stuff is tomorrow. Surprisingly, I fall asleep with ease.