Chapter II

Annabeth

I stared with horror at the spider behind the girl who had ran into me. I drew my knife, a look of terror fell over the girls face. I threw my knife and it went straight though the spider. Figures, I looked at the girl for a minute she had long brown hair, hazel eyes, tan skin, and she wore an absolutely terrified expression. She was about a year younger than me and she was terrified of me. I crouched down and offered her my hand. She took it after a moments hesitation. I hoisted her to her feet to only a second later be tackled by Will Solace.

"Will!" I yelled. "What are you doing?" Pulling him off her.

"She doesn't need to be running around!" He screamed in frustration.

"Well maybe if someone would answer three simple questions I wouldn't be flipping out." The girl yelled in response.

"Fine, what." Will yelled back. The girl opened her mouth to speak but I cut her off.

"Stop it!" I said. "What's your name?" I asked the girl.

"Aria." She said.

"Do you have a last name?" Apparently that was a sore point because she yelled.

"I don't remember!" That struck me and Will with the same amount of confusion. Then she took off. I was so shocked that I didn't even try to stop her. But she was powerful. Monsters would sniff her out from miles around.


One year later:

Aria

I looked around again to make sure nothing was around. Then I dashed across the road. It was almost summer finally. It had been one year since I left Camp Half Blood I was surprised I had survived for so long. Monsters where attacking me left and right. I was in Arizona again. It had honestly taken me six months to get there. I looked at the run down gas station in front of me. I walked in and bought a water bottle with my last two dollars. I asked the cashier where I was.

"Picture rocks, that's right next to Marana" He answered lighting a cigarette. He glanced over at me. "You know you look kinda familiar."

"Oh really." I said. "Where from"

"I think you came in about er year ago bought some water." He said rubbing his beard. "Said you where headed ter Old Tuscon."

"Well thanks." I said and walked out the door.

...

I paused outside and looked around. I placed the water in my brown knapsack.

"Hi!" A voice behind me said. I yelped and jumped three feet in the air. I whirled around to see a young girl wearing a green leaf print dress. Her hair was tucked behind her elvish ears, her eyes where bright green, and her skin was hinted green too. She was a dryad. I sighed with relief.

"Hi" I said calmly.

"Are you alive?" She asked.

"Uhhh yes."

"Oh my god." She sighed with relief. "Look, you need to go to Camp Half Blood."

"Why!" I yelled again.

"Because they need your help!" She yelped surprised. I raised my eyebrows. The hair on my back raised. Then I heard it, a sonic shriek.

"Get down!" I yelled and tackled the dryad. A blinding flash of white light exploded behind us. I looked back the brush was blazing. The cashier ran outside. The dryad had disappeared. I probably had two minutes until the police showed up. I pulled myself up and took off into the brush.