Chapter 3

Calli

I woke up in the middle of the dream, same dream...again. About two people delivering babies to others. I looked over at the clock. It was 8:30. Time to get up.

I have to say, many people would think my life is terrible. My parents died when I was little, so I was forced to live with my grandfather. Since he really can't afford it, I don't go to school, my grandfather home schools me. So, I don't have any friends.

Well, I can't say that. Across the street lives my best friend, Griffin Pan. Griffin makes my whole life easier, he and my grandpa, who is awesome. Griffin has this weird baseball cap that he wears everyday. I don't know the team who's on it, The Athens Owls. When I asked him who the Athens Owls were, he seemed to go deaf.

Now, my grandfather is really someone who you should know about. He's the best. Because I was 'deprived of a normal childhood,' he goes out of his way to make life fun for me. Which, I really can't complain about.

Grandpa and Griffin are really the only people who will talk to me. The other kids on my street are popular and stuck up. The sight of them makes me sick, one girl in particular. Jenni Stevenson is the most horrible girl you could ever meet. She's stick skinny, wears too much make-up and is always making fun of me and Griffin.

One morning: Jenni Stevenson went too far.

It started out as a normal morning. Grandpa had given me a break from my studies so I was out walking with Griffin.

"Hey Calli! Do they sell girls' clothes where you got that outfit?" Jenni called. Her group of friends giggled.

"Yes, they also sell people clothes there! But those would be too baggy for you!" I called back, Jenni's face redden.
"That was not smart, Bell." Jenni said. "Girls, let's tear them apart." Jenni stood

up and her clones followed. Soon, the insult war began.

"Looks like Calli has a boyfriend!"

"Awww...they're so cute!"
"NOT!"

Insults came flying out of the girls mouths. I tried to resist a strong urge to knock

Jenni Stevenson flat.

That didn't go well.

"AHHHHH!" Jenni cried, blood leaking from her mouth.

"Oops! Sorry, Jenni." I giggled. Griffin knew I had gone too far and pulled me

out from the fray.

"That...was not smart, Calli." He said. "Brave, but not smart." He pulled his

baseball cap over his head.

"Griffin, I'm a big girl now, I can take care of myself." I said, pulling my long

dark hair into a ponytail, to keep it out of my pale eyes. Griffin started chewing his fingernails.

"Calli? Why don't we go get a Cool Dog or something?" Griffin said.

Actually, a Cool Dog sounded really good right now. I told Griffin I just needed to get some money from my grandpa and that I needed to go home.

"I'll be back in...like five minutes." I said, running through the door.

My house is like one of those 18th century houses, but only on the inside. The outside looks completely normal.

"Grandpa? Can I borrow-" I stopped as I heard my grandfather's voice. It sounded urgent and scary.

"You mean Zeus has found out?"
"Yes, he's sentenced her to suffering until he finds the twins. Then they will join

Artemis in eternal suffering. Hades has already sent out the worse of Tartarus to get Calli and Orion"

Who was my grandfather talking too? Who were Zeus, Artemis and Hades? And Orion? I knew that Zeus, Artemis and Hades were Greek gods and goddesses, but he couldn't be talking about the actual gods. I mean, they didn't exist. But who in this century had throes kinds of names. And Orion? Who was he?

"Shhh...I think Calli is in the room."

"Quick! Get back into your legs!"
His legs?

"Grandpa?" I called. "Are you there?"

"Oh, Calli." My grandpa's worn face smiled. He walked over to me and gave me a hug. I couldn't imagine my grandpa having a conversation like I had just heard. Maybe it was my imagination.

"Grandpa, I heard you talking to someone. Is anyone here?" I asked him, looking around.

"No, I can't recall." He said sharply. His faced tensed, but it relaxed just as quickly. Maybe it was my imagination.

"Um...I need some money for a Cool Dog with Griffin." I said, my grandfather smiled.

"Of course you do," he said, taking out a five dollar bill. "Have a good time." and left.

I didn't have time to ponder over what had just happened, Griffin was waiting outside for me. I quickly rushed out and started to walk to town with him.

"Hey Calli, why were you in there for so long?" Griffin asked me. I smiled.

"Do you really want to know? O.K. it the weirdest thing!" I told him about the conversation I heard and what my grandfather said. With every word, Griffin's face went paler.

"Well...maybe you were just imagining it. I can't see someone liked your grandfather talking about all those people. I mean, he's a history professor at the university, right?" I nodded. Grandpa had been teaching at the university for about as long as I can remember.

"Well...maybe it was another professor. A Latin one maybe, but anyway, I wouldn't worry about it." he looked like he was reassuring himself more them me.

We continued the walk in peace, not saying a word to each other. My mind was racing at a million miles per hour. As I sat in thought about what just happened, it suddenly dawned on me that Grandpa and Griffin had seemed very worried lately; but about what...or who? Grandpa had mentioned me and some guy named Orion. He had also mentioned Zeus, Artemis and Hades. Who were they?

"Um, Calli, we're here." Griffin poked me. I looked up and saw the Cool Dog stand in front of me.

"Dude, is your friend O.K.?" the guy asked, waving a hand infront of my face. I swatted the hand away.

"I'm fine. One Cool Dog, please." The guy shrugged and started making me my Cool Dog. A pair came up behind up. A very pretty looking girl and another guy, maybe they were cutting school for a date or something. Griffin looked around at the girl, eyes wide. I leaned.

"I'd back off Griffin; I think she already has a boyfriend." I told him, smiling. Griffin shook his head.

"Calli, maybe we should leave now." he told me.

"Oh, come on Griffin. I've been dying for one of these all day!" I said, taking my Cool Dog from the guy. I turned around. And gasped, the Cool Dog in my hand dropped to the ground.

Standing in front of me was a boy who was...me. He looked exactly like me: dark hair, pale eyes and skin.

I knew, that some how that this was Orion, the guy my grandfather was talking about. But what, I wondered then, did he have to do with me?

13