Chapter 2
Concentrate.
Jake balanced on the broom, eyes closed, books towering in both hands, while Fu Dog hung on his shoulders, constantly spouting off magical facts that Jake already knew, trying to throw his concentration.
Concentrate.
"Come on Jakie!" Trixie cheered from her safe spot, just in case he fell, again.
"You can do it this time bro!" Spud hollered, standing by Trixie in the safe spot.
Con-cen-trate!
Rose sat quietly, knowing that whatever she said could throw Jake off, having gone through similar training herself. She smiled. It was good of Jake to invite her to visit America for some time. She was tired of just seeing Jake in their dream dates.
Come on Jake! Rose is watching, so don't screw up. Concentrate.
Jake was tired. It wasn't from training with Gramps, studying with Rose, skateboarding with Trixie and Spud, or patrolling last night. He could feel the fatigue weighing his arms down, and winced inwardly as Fu Dog's voice kept hammering in his head, not helping the headache that had been formed from lack of sleep.
But Jake kept calm, drowning out all the voices, till all he could hear was his own breathing. At that point, he seemed to be half-asleep, only awake in his own mind, which had started to wonder off. Then it came to the factor that had him so tired.
Jake snapped to attention, wobbled on the broom a little, before falling back towards the floor. Fu Dog jumped off him, just in time to avoid becoming a cushion to soften Jake's fall. Jake hit the floor hard, and the dozen or so heavy books landed mostly on him.
Trixie and Spud winced from their safe spot in the corner of the room. Lao Shi started his lecture on how important good focus was. Fu Dog walked around, complaining about him being sore.
Rose got up and walked to her boyfriend, who was still lying on the floor, not having got up after fell off the broom. She moved a couple books off him and laughed.
"Gramps," She said, stopping him mid-lecture. She, like most of the Long family and friends, had started calling Lao Shi 'Gramps' after the battle in Hong Kong. "He's not listening, he's asleep."
"What!"
Sure enough, Jake was fast asleep on the floor, despite having just fallen from a broom and having about a dozen, 10 pound books fall on him. Gramps shook his head, muttering Mandarin under his breath. Trixie nodded her head in admiration, while Spud laughed his head off.
"I got it," Fu Dog said as he grabbed a cup full of ice and water. Rose took a few steps back, not sure if he had the same reaction to surprises as she did when she was woken up. Fu Dog wasted no time in dumping the cup full of ice and water on Jake's face.
He jumped shouting, "Cold! Cold! Really cold!" As he danced around, trying to get the ice that had, somehow, fallen into his shirt out.
This only made his two friends laugh harder, while Rose put her hand over her mouth, trying to stifle the giggles. Fu Dog threw a towel at Jake, laughing as he said, "Maybe you shouldn't fall asleep while training."
"S'not my fault," Jake yawned, helping Rose pick up the heavy books.
Lao Shi glared at his grandson. "Have you been staying up late playing video games again?"
Jake shook his head as he yawned again, putting the books back on the bookshelf. Lao Shi continued to glare at him, not believing him.
"He really hasn't Gramps," Trixie said, finally getting her breath back, "If anything Jake's been leaving earlier than usual."
"I've been trying to get some more sleep," Jake mumbled, his eyelids drooping, "I've been having nightmares." He looked thoughtful for a moment, "Well, one nightmare. Over and over again."
"Well that's funny," Spud said, plopping down on the couch next to Jake, "I've been having the same nightmare for the past few weeks. It has clowns." Spud shuddered.
Lao Shi frowned. "So both of you have been having the same nightmare? Has anyone else had any?"
Rose sat next to Jake, occasionally prodding him awake. She nodded her head. Trixie leaned on the wall next to the couch, "Yeah, why? Ya think something's doing this to us?"
"Maybe. Fu Dog?"
Fu Dog pulled out a bunch of the magical guide books, leafing through them quickly. "There isn't anything I've ever seen or heard of that could do something like that, but I'll keep looking."
Rose stood up, pulling Jake with her, "Meanwhile we'll go to the library. Maybe we will find something there."
Percy flew up, gasping. He looked around the cabin, trying to catch his breath. The sun was just starting to rise, but breakfast was still an hour or two away. He put his head in his hands, his breath finally slowing.
Just a nightmare. Just a nightmare. It wasn't real. He groaned as he lifted his head and got up from his bunk.
He got dressed, trying to shake off the effects of the nightmare. Why oh why did demigods have to have realistic dreams? Why can't they have normal nightmares.
Percy finished dressing ,and walked out the door, heading down to the shore to kill time till breakfast. The camp was just waking up, campers stumbling out of the cabins. Some heading to various buildings to get a start on the day. Some checking in and around their cabins for any pranks that had been laid in the night. Some standing around the corner as they watched their pranks go off.
A thought crossed his mind as he looked towards the forest. Percy turned and raced to the Big House.
Before he got to the door, Chiron came trotting out. "Percy!" he called out surprised, "Why are you up so early?"
"I need to ask you a question," said Percy, slightly winded from his run.
"Okay, what is the question?" Chiron said, looking curiously at Percy.
Percy rubbed the back of his neck, "Well, is there any monster or god or other mythological creature that can control dreams?"
Chiron raised an eyebrow, "There are two, why do you want to know?"
Percy let out a sigh before saying, "I've just….I haven't been sleeping well….and usually….you know I get dreams every now and then….but they aren't like the usual dreams….and I….I don't know…."
"Percy, you can tell me. What's troubling you?" Chiron said kindly.
"I've been having the same nightmare for weeks straight now. It's the same every time, and I want to know-"
"You too?" A voice said behind Percy. He turned to see his friend Grover trotting over to him, bags under his eyes.
"You've been having nightmares also?" Chiron asked.
Grover nodded, stopping to stand next to Percy.
Grover nodded, stopping to stand next to Percy. "Yeah, the same one. Over and over again." He looked to Percy, somewhat sheepishly, "You see any rabbits in your dreams?"
Percy looked at his friend strangely. Then he snickered. "You still haven't gotten over that?"
Grover shook his head at Percy. "It's not funny," He said, "Has anyone else been having these problems?"
Percy sighed tiredly, "Don't tell her I told you, but Annabeth's been looking tired lately and when I commented on it, she said she had trouble sleeping."
"No one else?"
Grover and Percy shook their heads. "So something's targeting you three," Chiron turned away from them, "Find Annabeth and meet me back here as soon as you can. We have some research to do."
Percy groaned as Grover pulled him away from the big house to find Annabeth. Maybe she'll know what, or 'who' is targeting them.
Sorry. Been focusing on my other story.
I'm not writing from Harry's point of view. It's basically just him waking from a nightmare, not telling anyone, and going back to sleep in Grimuald Place. Nothing exciting. And yes, Ron and Hermione have been having nightmares, but they're keeping just as quiet. I'm not good at writing from Harry's point of view, so no wizards till later chapters. Sorry wizard and witch fans.
Mornig-Star57: Thank you. For being my first reviewer and for liking the story.
GuardianWitchDemiGhost: One, love the name. Two, I'm glad you liked it enough to flip a random table. Three, you are the first person to ever flip a table for me, hypothetically or otherwise...thank you!
*sigh* I'm tired, I'm sore, and if I keep writing I'm going to get detention and won't be able to write for you guys for months.
Until next time my viewers of the corn!