My name is Declan Cole. This is my story.

Let's get things straight first. This is in my view of these events. I'm not very good with words, so deal with it.

I'm fourteen. I'm relatively tall. My skin is tanned. I have hazel eyes (as others have said, at least). My hair is messy and brown. That's enough to give you an image, right?

Anyway...

It started on... April Seventeenth, I think it was. I was in Math class, where the very Hellspawn himself was teaching Math. If you couldn't tell, I hate Math. Numbers are stupid. Mr. Shelton - a tall, waif-thin, bald old man, I'm surprised he didn't burst into flames when he crossed his stick-thin, dry legs - was droning on, and on, and on, and on, and on, about numbers. Stupid numbers.

Yes, I do realize I'll get nothing useful done unless I pay attention in class. But numbers are boring, and that's that. So I took a nap - bad decision, I know. But numbers, so I'm justified there. Mr. Shelton didn't think so. "Excuse me, Mr. Cole," he said, in his high, whispery voice. "I do believe we are learning?" I sat up, because it would be stupid not to. "Yes, sir," I said, throwing off a lazy salute. Shelton didn't so much as blink. "Ah, that reminds me. Rector Pierce would like to speak to you later."

I groaned inwardly as Mr. Shelton went back to droning. A few of the the other students smirked at me, so I nonchalantly took my butterfly knife out of my pocket and twirled it a little. They promptly looked away.

Don't judge me, okay? It intimidates people, makes you look skilled, and it looks pretty cool. It's useful. That's why I got it. I've never actually stabbed someone, I swear.

So anyway, I 'waited' (read:daydreamed) until class was over. Then, I went to see Rector Pierce, otherwise known has Headmaster Pierce, or Head Piercer, as some students called him. Strict, skeletal, and very attentive. A trickster's worst nightmare. My worst nightmare. So anyway, I was on my way to see him. Obviously.

Right as I entered the office building, though, the power went out. Oh well, I thought. I'd still have to go to his office. But... something was different. Who thought it was a good idea to put no windows in a building? Creepy. I crept down the long hallway leading up to Pierce's office. I didn't remember this place looking so... abandoned. Slowly, I pulled open his door, peeking inside. Empty.

I scowled to myself. Getting all riled up over nothing. He must've left office for a little. Relaxing I turned around - then froze. I heard someone.

"Come, little one, don't you want a hug? Come, little one, guts splattered 'cross the rug."

A throaty, whispering voice penetrated the dark silence. I felt my heart beating faster. Oh, God, I'm trapped alone with a serial killer. I slowly shifted backwards, and hit Pierce's office door. Stupid. Should've remembered I was standing against a wall. I slowly shuffled to the left.

"Don't run. Don't cry. I'm fun. You'll die."

The voice came again, as if from all directions. God, that was creepy. I was on the verge of panicking. There's the door, just open it...

I pushed against it.

It didn't budge.

Oooh, shi-

I panicked.

I made a break down the long hallway, straining my muscles as hard as I could. Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap. I pushed against it.

Didn't budge. I turned -

and ran into someone.

I fell on my butt, scrambling back frantically until I ran into the still immobile door.

"Hello, child!"

I screamed. I'm not ashamed to admit it. If it was a serial killer, it wasn't a human one.

It looked like a woman, taller than me, except with no skin. Still wearing some ragged tatters of clothes, for some unfathomable reason. It only had one eye, the other socket empty. Maggots crawled through its flesh, wriggling and fat. It bled openly from various wounds. It had hands more like claws - fingers more than six inches long, ending in wicked talons.

I whimpered. It's worse than it sounds, as disgusting as it sounds.

It leaned forward, smiling, showing hideously large fangs.

"Hello, little morsel! You look tasty, don't you? Yes you do!"

I curled up in a ball. Look, it was terrifying, okay?

"You've been a bad child, haven't you? Bad children are killed, slowly!"

I started crying. Justifiably.

It opened it's mouth, clicking its teeth together. It grabbed my arm with one of its wicked claws, pulling with hideous strength. For some reason, I only struggled feebly. I felt paralyzed.

It raised my arm up to its mouth, opening its mouth wide, like a snake. I didn't even move.

Then it bit down.

I screamed. Its hideously long fangs went straight through my arm. Through bone. I heard it crack. It held its mouth there for a second, before letting go.

"Delicious! Just like bad boys deserve!"

I curled up on the ground, whimpering. I cradled my arm. God, it hurt. Obviously broken. I really hoped that it wasn't going to do that again.

Actually, I confess; when it was happening, I was really thinking something like, I'm gonna die, slowly, horribly, painfully, tortured to death by this hideous monstrosity, they'll find my mangled body in a pool of blood, never find my killer, case closed, forgotten. You can't really imitate that type of vivid horror.

I sobbed, curled in a fetal position. Anyone would've.

"Are you ready for a second helping? I know I am! G-"

It suddenly went quiet. I didn't look up, just cradled my arm.

I flinched as something brushed against my arm. As I opened my eyes, though, all I saw was - dust. No monster lady.

And someone standing a few feet away.

I pushed myself up against the wall, cradling my arm. "Who're you?" I muttered, wiping away a tear.

The stranger stepped forward.

It was no stranger.

It was Rector Pierce.

I blinked, stunned. Then I saw a large scorpion tail behind him.

I screamed for the second time that day.

"Hm? Oh." He looked behind him, and quickly tucked the tail away. Somewhere. "Don't worry, I'm on your side." His voice was slightly amused, but also a bit hoarse with age and clipped, though his icy blue eyes looked amused. "I see I was too late to stop it. Oh, well." He offered a hand. I accepted, pulling myself up.

"What are you, and where'd the creepy monster go?"

"He smirked, wiping a little dust off his immaculate suit. "I'm a Manticore. Surely you pay attention in Social Studies? I believe Mr. Valdez teaches that. Good man."

I blinked. "Uh, weren't Manticores monsters? Bad guys?"

He frowned. "Rather rude of you. Besides, don't the Furies work for Hades? Don't the Cyclops work for the Gods? At Camp, I've heard they even have a trained Hellhound, and a dragon. Besides, I'm a civil man - I tell a lie, a civil Manticore. And that despicable creature that is now thankfully dust was a Mormo. Rather like a boogeyman. Supposed to bite bad children, though nowadays they settle for any children at all. No wonder you couldn't move - they have an aura of paralyzing fear. I had to kill it from several meters away."

I blinked, and settled on one question. "Camp?"

He nodded. "Our next destination." He started walking, gesturing for me to follow.

"Uh..." I said. Pierce looked back, annoyed. I gestured towards my arm. "Aah, nearly forgot!" He threw me a square of golden... stuff. "Ambrosia. Eat it. Good for you." Then he continued walking.

Annoyed, slightly, I popped it into my mouth. Immediately, my mouth was filled with the flavor of fresh mango. Weird, but tasty. Suddenly, my arm felt better. I moved it.

Ooow.

Okay, not that much better. I followed him, cradling my arm. Apparently, he busted the door down. It was twisted, looked like a cannon shot it. I carefully stepped through.

"So... where are we going?"

"I'll tell you when we get there!"

"...That's, uh, not very helpful, you know."

"Yes, I do know. Now be quiet for a second."

He stopped right outside, next to the forest that was to the left of school. He pulled something out of his pocket, threw it on the road, and muttered something under his breath.

Soon enough, a grey taxi cab stopped right outside.

"Uh... that looks a little suspicious."

"Oh, just get in. It's relatively safe, I swear it."

"Relatively?"

"That's what I said, didn't I? Get in."

I stumbled out of the cab as it sped off. I fell on my knees, dry heaving.

Pierce stepped past me, whistling cheerfully. He paused, then turned around.

"Well, then? Places to be, places to go! Come on!"

I lifted a finger - 'wait a second' - and then vomited noisily. Pierce rolled his eyes.

I slowly got back up. I was never riding on that cab, never again.

The cab had dropped us off at a hill, in the middle of a forest. I didn't know where we were. I had been to busy being nauseous to pay attention.

We climbed the hill, and at the top...

I gasped.

Pierce grinned, raising his arms as if in greeting.

"Welcome! To Camp Half-Blood!"