I try not to gape as I step out of DOA Recording Studios, into the bright lights of Los Angeles. Gaia turns to me, and I can see a smile pulling at her lips as she seems to watching my reaction, but I vaguely wonder if she can see me. She looks back at the city. It's night time, but it's still too bright for my eyes right now, just coming out of the Underworld.
"Terrible, isn't it? Look at what mortals have done to me," she begins to complain. "They have torn down all my trees, and destroyed all the natural beauty of the wild, and build things like this!" This time it's me that holds back a smirk. I can feel my personality coming back to me, my body. "Well, I can complain later. Right now, we need to get you clothes." She looks at what I'm wearing.
I look down, and find I'm still wearing my armour. It still looks brand new, jet black with gold arm and leg protectors. My scythe hangs by my side, and underneath I wear shorts and a short sleeved shirt. My sneakers are torn up, and I can see scars from the battle before my death. I'm covered in dry blood and dirt.
I look back up at Gaia. "Good idea." I say.
She teleports us to what I guessed a hotel room. I march straight for the bathroom, dead set on taking a shower. I reak of blood, sweat, and dirt. Something that even I found repulsive. I jumped in and took the longest shower ever, scrubbing every part of my body. Getting out, I grab a towel, wrap it around me, and step out of the bathroom.
Gaia set out some clothes on one of the two beds. I take them and get dressed, and notice Gaia is gone. My only hope is that she is out getting something to eat, because I am starving. Despite me just coming back from the dead, I know exactly the year and day, thank you very much dad. It's June 21. The Summer Solstice. 2011. I've been dead for thirty years. Thirty damn years. I back up and lean against the wall, sinking to sit down.
I count the years again, but it's no use. I have been gone, out of the world, for three decades. I close my eyes, and take a deep breath. I vaguely wonder if Hannah is still alive, my very best friend, along with Alice. They would be like, fifty now. I have to find out.
I start to form a plan to escape. I am not going to join Gaia, even though my bastard of a brother deserves to be overthrown and thrown into Hell himself. Even though I hate his guts, and really want to kick his ass. But I push my grudge down, because it will only get in my way.
Gaia is gone right now. It's the perfect time to escape. But I have no where to go. Camp Halfblood, a voice in my head suggests. My brother would surely take me in. And feed me. And I wouldn't have to destroy the world for him. I look towards the window, considering my escape options. I will not take the elevator, because Gaia could be coming up now.
I walk towards the window and look out. I'm not that high up, and I can jump and slow down the fall. I open the window just as Gaia steps in the door. I spin around and look at her. Her head is turned toward me, frowning.
"I was just a little too warm," I lie smoothly, desperatly trying to cover myself up. She nods, and seems convinced, but she could be pretending. So I act cautious anyways. I look down at what she brought back, and it's pizza. So Mother Earth eats pizza. Okay...
But it turns out she doesn't. Because while I eat the pizza, she explains to me all the stuff I missed out on. Apparently my father tried to come back. Through corruption. My mind drifts to what I learned about the Egyptian gods. Didn't they use possession? I tune into what Gaia is saying again.
She says that she's waking, but only a very small part of her essence is here. So it would be easier to escape. She says she's stirring, but is waking quickly. I nod, and pretend to be interested in what she is saying, but I am formulating a plan in me head to get away.
"Can I go to the store?" I ask her. She closes her mouth.
"Well, I guess you need some more clothes, and I can explain this to you later. Come on, I'll bring you." I inwardly curse, I can't escape if she's there.
"But I'm going to take a long time probably. I'm very picky with what I wear. And besides, I, um, need some time to myself. To think things over." It takes a bit more convincing, but she reluctantly gives in eventually.
When I get out of the hotel, I take out the bank card she gave me (cha-ching!), and go to get a cab. I want to get as far away from here as possible. The cab driver takes me to Las Vegas (after a bit of convincing and price offering) and I get out and look around. I am exhausted, and it's morning.
I go to look for a hotel or something, and find the place is packed with places to stay. I walk around a little, getting sleepier by the minute, and pass by a hotel called the Lotus Hotel Casino. The name sounds familiar, and I remember one of my friends telling me to stay away. I shrug and continue walking.
I stay at some other not very fancy motel, somewhere cheap, I don't know how much money is on the card. The next thing I do is get out as much money as I can at a bank machine, so incase Gaia cancels it or something. I know she'll find me though. Eventually. So when I wake up after sleeping for five hours, I get on the move again. I don't want to stay in one place too long.
I consider taking a plane to New York, but decide against it, because I don't want to go up in my brother's domain. Whether he knows I'm alive or not, I am staying on the ground. But ground means Gaia. I hear that voice in my head again. I curse. Whoever said it (I think I'm going crazy), is right.
I take another cab to Denver anyways, and hope that I am not running out of money. It takes hours, and I am getting frustrated with how long it's taking to get to the camp's safety. The fact that I haven't seen Gaia is making me paranoid. I know I'm going to end up running into her at some point.
After arguing with myself (in my head of course) multiple times, I decide to take the risk of taking a plane to Manhattan, because I would rather Zeus than Gaia any day of the week. But every jolt of turbulance had me wondering if I was going to die.
Eventually the plane lands, and I jump straight on a cab to camp. Just when I am getting out, the cab driver turns to me, and I realize her eyes are closed.
"Are you sure you're making the right decision?" she asks. Instead of answering I bolt up the hill and step over the camp borders. I look down, and see it is so much different from when I last saw it. They have a better sword arena, before it was just wood walls. And the cabins look new.
I walk down the hill, straight to the Big House. I see if my brother Chiron is still alive. I look around, watching the stares of the demigods. I smile sweetly at them, and try to look nice. I step up the steps of the front porch (another addition) and open the door.
