Hello! Here is chapter 2 in my Percy Jackson fanfiction! I hope you like it!
At the dance, with Jackson on the dance floor with his pet lizard
Toni whispered, "What is that thing?"
"It's an Amphisbaenia, a Greek two-headed snake," I whispered back, loud enough so all my friends could hear.
In spite of all that was going on, Autumn still had the time to the incredulously at me. "And how do you know that?"
"I read?" I asked, putting my hands up questioningly.
"Can we not worry about how Marina knows what the stupid thing is called and concentrate on killing it?!" yelped Ellie, clutching Toni's arm and hiding behind her.
"Do you happen to know if anyone killed it in Greek mythology?" asked Lilah hopefully, staring at the Amphisbaenia with wide eyes.
I racked my brain. "Nope. All I know is that Perseus made this monster. When he cut off Medusa's head and he flew away with it, the gorgon's blood dripped down to the sand and bam! Amphisbaenia was born!"
"That's not very helpful," Ellie complained.
"Wait a minute. Are we the only people that know its an Amphisbaenia? No one else is freaking out," noticed Toni.
We turned to Beech. "What's going on?" I asked suspiciously.
He gulped. "You're half-bloods. Half mortal, half Greek god."
He looked about as stunned as we felt.
Then Autumn laughed. "Us? Half god? We aren't even recognized in school! How can WE be half god?"
"I don't know!" Beech shouted, grabbing his head. "I should've been able to smell you as half-bloods. Five of you in one place? Without one getting killed? For several MONTHS?!"
We backed up a half a step. "Beech, calm down. How can we beat that thing without getting caught?" Lilah said soothingly.
"Could we just leave?" asked Ellie hopefully.
I shook my head, answering for Beech. "If we are what Beech says we are, that's probably what they're looking for, people who are freaked out by what they see and then leave because of it."
"So...what can we do?" asked Toni, trying to get out of Ellie's death grip.
"I don't know," Beech said softly. "I'm only a junior protector."
"Well, we can't just stand here waiting for that snakey thing to eat us!" Ellie yelled, attracting stares from the people around us.
"It's okay, she's afraid of sn-lizards," Lilah explained, putting her hand over Ellie's mouth.
They shrugged and turned back to "the lizard".
"Ellie! Keep your voice down!" Lilah scolded, taking her hand off her mouth.
"Sorry," Ellie whispered. "What should we do?"
"Beech? What do you think we should do?" I asked, hoping for a better answer than last time. "And if we are half-blood like you say, what are you?"
"Satyr. I'm a satyr," Beech said, perking up a little.
"Really? Cool," said Toni, impressed, giving up on freeing her arm from Ellie's grasp.
"Yeah," Beech replied, his eyes brighter.
"Come ON! Let's get a plan together!" Ellie complained.
Autumn raised her eyebrows. "Um, why don't you figure out a plan?"
Ellie frowned, thinking. "Why not wait until the amphi-thingy goes away and then leave?"
We all look at her.
"Good idea," I said, surprised. Normally Ellie's ideas ended up with us somehow in trouble. Like in the mall. Ellie just went up to him, thinking he was a girl. No, he was not.
"And if someone stops us, we can just say that I'm sick!" Ellie beamed at us, really getting into it.
Lilah nodded. "Sounds like a plan to me."
Autumn shook her head. "whatever. As long as we get away from that thing," she shuddered.
Toni glanced down at her arm, with Ellie still on it. "Can we go soon? I'm starting to lose feeling in my arm..."
My friends looked at me. I'm the only one who's not afraid of snakes. "Fine," I sighed, peering over everyone's heads.
"They are leading ChiChi away," I said, coming back down from the balls of my feet.
"Who the flip is ChiChi?" asked Lilah, bewildered.
"The amphisbaenia," I replied, confused. Was she not listening to Jackson when he announced who his snake was?
"What are you talking about? It's Spot," she said, looking to the others for confirmation.
"I heard ChouChou," Autumn said, looking to Ellie.
Ellie stared at her. "You know I don't pay attention. Why ask?"
We all open our mouths to argue. "Yeah, you're right," Autumn admitted.
Beech swallowed. "Can get going? Satyrs don't like snakes and snakes don't like satyrs."
"Yeah," I said, grabbing my stuff. "Let's make like a pearl and roll!"
Autumn muttered to herself. Probably about my saying...oh well! We grabbed our stuff and started heading to the door. When we were stopped. Of course. Lilah poked Ellie. Who gave her an evil look until she remembered her part. Then she doubled over, gagging.
The huge guard glared at us. "What are you doing? You are not allowed to leave until Mr. Bergren has."
"Mr. who know?" Toni asked, "holding" up Ellie.
"Mr. Bergren," the guard said with disbelief. "The reason that you are here tonight."
Autumn snaps her fingers. "Jackson? Gotcha."
The guard sighs. "Yes, Jackson. You are not allowed to leave before him."
"But our friend is sick," I explained, gesturing to Ellie who was still making retching noises.
The guard raised his eyebrows and stepped back a half a step. "And why would I believe you?"
Toni, looking up from supporting Ellie. "And why would you take that chance?"
The guard nodded. "Good point," stepping back to let us through.
We shuffled as fast as we could through the door with Ellie still hunched over.
"Thank you," I heard Lilah whisper to the guard. I was surprised, she doesn't talk to strangers unless the situation requires it. And I mean requires it.
Once in the shadows of the building, Ellie straightened up. "Uh...remind me never to do that again," she groaned.
"You volunteered," Lilah pointed out.
Beech peered around anxiously. "Car! Let's go to the car!"
"Beech? Are you okay?" I asked worriedly. If Beech spazzed out on us...
"Hm? I'm fine. There are things in the dark, that's all," he shivered.
Ellie's eyes widened. "What kind of things?"
Lilah frowned at Beech. "You didn't have to tell her that."
He shrugged. "She would have found out anyway."
"Kay, let's just go to the car," I said as I dragged Lilah towards the car. Lilah could get scary in a fight.
As we piled in my car, a blue Ford Taurus, I asked Beech where we were going.
"I'll only give directions when needed," was my vague reply.
Inwardly, I groaned. I hated getting directions on the go. After I pulled onto the road, I glanced at Beech. "Where to now?"
"Left at the lights."
Autumn, rearranging her dress, asked when we were going to get there.
"About 2 hours. We go over the bridge," Beech explained.
Ellie sighed. "Music?" she asked.
Lilah nodded enthusiastically. "The Wanted!"
Ellie glared at her. "No. One Direction!" she shouted.
Autumn held her hands up. "I know how to solve this. We listen to Justice Crew."
Which started World War III, with Toni in the squished on the side. I solved their war by putting Josh Turner on max volume. They covered their ears and I grinned at them through the rearview mirror.
"Now that's how you solve World War III," I said triumphantly, between song breaks.
An hour later, Beech finally said to turn on the bridge to Long Island.
"Finally," Ellie moaned from her position on Lilah's shoulder.
"You should talk," Lilah said rolling her eyes. "I've got you, Autumn, and Toni on Autumn all leaning against me."
"You don't need the 'got'. I have suffices," I corrected, being the grammar Nazi I am.
"Shut up Marina. It's too late to be smart," mumbled Autumn, eyes still shut.
"Maybe for you, but not for me!" I sang, checking the rearview mirror before turning onto the bridge.
Halfway across the bridge, I noticed a black Hummer seeming to follow us. I changed lanes to make sure, and there they were! I went back to the other lane and so did they.
"Guys? I think we have a tail," I told them, still glancing back at the Hummer.
"Who would be tailing us?" Toni asked, confused.
"Am I the only one who's confused about the whole tail thing? 'Cause I'm pretty sure we don't have a tail," stated a befuddled Ellie, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
"Yes," said Autumn, raising her hand.
"A little," Lilah admitted, abashed.
Toni raised an eyebrow to the three people sitting next to her on the bench seat. "That's sad."
I jabbed Beech with my elbow. "Wake up! We're being followed!" I yelled.
Beech jerked awake. "What? Followed? Who? Marina, following people isn't nice," he scolded.
I rolled my eyes. "I know. Why don't you tell the people who are following us that?"
"Us? Being followed? We can't be followed!" he yelped, eyes widening.
"Why not?" asked Lilah.
"Because if they find the camp, they could stake it out and wait for new half-bloods to come and kill them! And then we'd have to fight them off and possibly lose some of our best fighters in the process!" Beech yelled, still freaking out.
"What's in the camp exactly?" Toni wondered out loud.
Beech sighed and muttered to himself. Finally, having apparently solved an internal argument, he told us about the camp. "It's called Camp Half-Blood," he started. "It's a safe place for the offspring of the Greek gods to train."
"Train for what?" interrupted Autumn.
"Trained to kill monsters and survive in the mortal world," Beech continued, unaware that he was interrupted. "Half-bloods are more susceptible to being wounded or killed because they can be killed by both mortal and godly weapons, so training is a must. Some half-bloods are less powerful than others and can avoid detection or just train for a summer. The more powerful half-bloods mostly are discovered early because a monster wants to eat them. Also, when lots of half-bloods are grouped together, it increases their chances of being discovered. As does the use of cell phones. So how you five managed to avoid discovery is beyond me. It shouldn't have been possible."
I shrugged. "Well, we are pretty special. So what do we do about the follower?"
"Food stop?" asked Ellie hopefully. "It's been like two hours!"
"Actually, that's not a bad idea. We'll get time to think about what we have to do about being followed and Ellie gets to eat. What could go wrong?" asked Lilah.
"Well, if we are fleeing from the amphisbaenia, wouldn't it be weird for us to stop and eat?" I pointed out.
"There aren't any restaurants on the Island where we go. We can't stop," Beech said.
"So what are we going to do about our stalkers!?" asked a seriously flipped out Autumn.
"We could always pull over to the side of the road and fake car trouble. And escape through the woods if we are close enough," I remarked thoughtfully.
"Seems like our best bet. It's not as if we are full of ideas," Toni said, a little worriedly. "Do you think they brought the amphisbaenia with?"
I scanned her face and found a very well hidden fear of snakes. "Probably not," I lied. Honestly, I would find it strange if they didn't bring the amphisbaenia. It was a weapon of destruction and I'm sure that they would try and find a reason to use it.
"Okay, there's the end of the bridge. How far until we can pull over?" Lilah said, pointing to the end.
Beech squinted. "Maybe a couple miles. It's not that far if we cut through the woods."
"Then food, right?" asked Ellie, rubbing her stomach.
"Yes Ellie. Then food," I smiled at her. Sometimes Ellie knew just what to say to relieve the tension.
A few minutes later Beech said, "Anywhere along here is good."
"Here goes!" I muttered to myself, making the car "stall". I pulled over to the side of the road with my flashers on. The black Hummer kept going past, but slowly. We got out to "look" at what was wrong. I popped the hood on my car and examined the engine while my friends gradually made their way to the woods. I chanced a look at them and Beech waved at me to join them. I nodded and slammed the hood down. Walking towards the side of the car that faced the woods, I ducked down and ran.
"You made it!" whispered-shouted Lilah, giving me a hug.
"Was there any doubt?" I teased, squeezing her back.
"Let's go," Beech whispered, tugging Autumn and Toni with him deeper into the forest.
Five minutes later, Ellie complained, "Are we there yet?"
"No. Give it 10 more minutes," Beech said, looking back at her.
"Wait," I paused. "Do you hear something?"
Toni stopped and cocked her head. "Nope. I got nuthin'."
"I don't have anything," I corrected. "Are you sure? I hear rustling behind us when we move and when we stop, so does the rustling."
"Huh. Do we have another tail?" asked Autumn quietly.
I looked at everyone. "I think it's the amphisbaenia."
They all flinched. "Are you sure?" wondered Ellie, grabbing Toni's arm again. To which Toni responded with a sigh.
"Why snakes?" whimpered Beech.
"Look, we have to work through this," I said, walking forward slowly. "We have to keep moving; they might suspect something otherwise."
"Kay," they whispered back, walking with me.
"Alright, we need to lose it. Any ideas?" I asked.
"Wait a minute!" Beech perked up. "My girlfriend can help!"
"You have a girlfriend?" gasped Autumn. "No way!"
"Yeah, she's a tree nymph. She and her friends can help us escape!" Beech said excitedly, ignoring the general astonishment that he had a girlfriend.
"And how are they going to help? By beating the snake up with sticks?" snorted Toni.
"No, by transporting us through the air, if one of you distract the snake," Beech said, while touching random trees.
"Why are you touching trees?" asked Lilah. "I mean, I love trees too, but why touch them now?"
"Because some trees are homes to nymphs and I can't remember which ones are," Beech said. "Ah! Found one!"
"Hey!" a high girlish voice complained. "Oh! It's you Beech! You scared me!"
"Oh hi Poplar! Can you and your friends help us?" asked Beech. "And these are my friends, Ellie," he pointed to Ellie who waved with her free arm. "Autumn," who nodded. "Toni," who grimaced and waved. "Lilah," who smiled and looked thrilled that people lived in trees. "And Marina," I smiled and waved.
"Nice to meet you," we chorused to the person that was going to save us from being amphisbaenia food.
Poplar looked surprised. "Hello. Beech, we can't transport them all. One of you will have to stay behind."
"That would be me," I said, stepping up.
"No Marina! You can't stay behind," sobbed Ellie, letting go of Toni to hug me. "Who will make me waffles?"
"It'll be okay," I soothed. "Autumn will make you waffles," giving Autumn an evil glare.
"Yeah, I'll make you waffles," Autumn said, rolling her eyes at me.
"And I'll be gone long enough to distract the amphisbaenia, right?" I asked Poplar.
"Yeah, you should be close enough to the camp for the nymphs there to get you up," Poplar shrugged.
I toke a deep breath. "Let's go."
Poplar tapped some other trees and the nymphs melted out of the trees. Quickly, she explained what they were about to do. The nymphs grabbed hold of Ellie, Lilah, Autumn, Toni and Beech. I stood close by and watched them getting raised in the air.
"You can alert the Amphisbaenia now," Poplar whispered. "Good luck!"
I nodded and started yelling and screaming to attract the attention of the Amphisbaenia. "AHHHHH! MY FRIENDS WERE EATEN BY TREES!" was my brilliant yell. I sprinted towards the direction Beech pointed out. Before he was "eaten be a tree", he pointed me in the direction that I was supposed to run. If the nymphs weren't able to pick me up, I was supposed to meet them at a large pine tree at the top of a hill.
"AGGHHH!" I screamed, sprinting away from the rustling bush. As I ran, I chanced a glance backwards. And immediately regretted it. The Amphisbaenia was HUGE, with a capital H. It had this funky way of moving, with both heads facing forward, towards me. Its mouths were frothing green poisonous foam, with their fangs protruding out of its mouths. Mentally, I face palmed.
"You never look back," I muttered to myself as I tried to outdistance the snake. "Everyone knows that! But, apparently not me."
Now that I had looked back, it was impossible not to check on its progress. Unfortunately for me, it was slowly gaining. Good I suppose for the snake though. "Not that I'm looking to help it get a new meal," I thought, pumping my legs and hoping that I wouldn't fall.
Just up ahead was a clearing and in the clearing was the large pine tree Beech was talking about. It was the mother of all pine trees, spanning at least 10 feet across. As I ran, staring at the tree was when it happened. I tripped.
"AHHH!" I yelled, going down. Miraculously, my windmilling arms saved me. They hit small trees enabling me NOT to fall on my face and die. Literally. Unfortunately, that was the moment when the Amphisbaenia decided to kick it up a notch. It came at me faster, just when I regained my balance.
"UG! Why me?!" I groaned, sprinting to the tree. I felt the snake's breath hot on my heels and I shot to the tree. Somehow, I outdistanced the Amphisbaenia (don't ask how- I don't know) and reached the tree where I promptly fell on my face.
"Uh..." I moaned. Had to happen sometime I guess. Rather it here then with the snake. Speaking of snakes, the Amphisbaenia was staring at me and hissing. It was eerie, with the two heads in synchronization. I was about to taunt the snake by laughing at it and sticking my tongue out when my friends crashed down from the trees above and landed on me.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, Marina!" Lilah shouted, jumping up from her perch on top of the pile.
Beech followed with a muttered apology. Autumn and Toni were next, thanking me for the soft landing. To which I responded with an eye roll. Ellie was still on me when I poked her.
"Are you going to get up anytime soon?" I asked.
"You're alive! I knew you wouldn't die!" she squealed, hugging me in her death grip.
"Not yet I'm not," I wheezed. "But I might be if you keep holding me like this."
"Sorry!" she winced, finally letting me go and standing up.
I laid there for another minute before being offered two hands, Lilah's and Toni's.
"Thanks guys," I said getting up with their help.
We stood in a circle grinning like fools at each other, until we realized how tired we were and started swaying.
"Let's lie down for a minute," offered Autumn, curling up under the pine tree.
"Good idea," Ellie said, following suit.
"Why not?" asked Lilah, also curling up.
Toni shrugged. "I'm in." She got down and stretched out next to the others.
Beech looked nervous, but also laid down.
"You got me up just to bring me back down," I muttered crossly, laying down by Toni.
"Nighty night," sang Ellie softly.
We all wished her sweet dreams and I promised myself that I would sleep for only a few minutes.
As I fell asleep, the last of the 6 of us, I saw several fuzzy figures coming closer.
"Huh. I wonder what they are doing..." I wondered groggily.
"I hope they aren't in league with the Amphisbaenia," was my last conscious thought before I drifted off to sleep.
ment here...