Disclaimer: I still don't own PJO or HOO.

Chapter 4

He was just like he had been when we had kicked him out. He smelled like Mouldy Garlic Pizza in wrapped in gym shorts, he had a cigarette in his mouth, he still looked somewhat like a walrus, and his hair, excuse me three strands of hair, were still combed back as if it made him handsome or something.

Judging by the appearance of our apartment, it seemed like he had been here for a while. The television blared ESPN. Chips and beer cans were strewn all over the carpet. Looking up, I saw that Gabe wasn't alone. His poker buddies were back.

It was turning out to be the same as that day three years ago. My nightmare had returned.

As if he had suddenly sensed me, he looked up and smiled creepily.

"Well, well, look who's back," he sneered.

I backed up a bit only to find myself back up into someone. They grabbed me by my shoulders and-

"Excuse me, we've arrived," the driver called out.

I thanked the driver and tossed him a twenty, telling him to keep the change.

Stepping out of the cab I looked at building. What if the dream was true? A glimpse of the future? Demigod dreams are like that.

My thoughts centered around this as I walked towards our apartment.

Bracing myself, I rang the doorbell and closed my eyes. The door opened. I took a deep breath and looked at who opened it.

It was not anything like I expected.

It was someone I did not know.

Someone completely new.

Mom told me his name was Paul. Anyways, after introducing him to me, he left, bidding us a good trip.

"Sooo," I said, turning to my mom. "Why was he here?"

"He's in my writing seminar group. We were studying."

I raised my eyebrow. "Sure. I'm going to pack up my things," I called out walking to my room. It was pretty. The walls were painted a sparkly sea green color, due to the sparkles I had tossed in with the paint a few years ago. It was sort of small, but very cozy.

Packing in everything I needed and changing out of my uniform, I ran out of my room, eager to get to Montauk.

When we finally left, I was bouncing in my seat. We went every year, except the years we had with Gabe, because we supposedly didn't have enough money. More like he gambled it all away. I can remember most it clearly.

This flashback started right when the previous one had ended.

Gabe's smell was almost worse than the nightmares about Mrs. Dodds, or the sound of that old fruit lady's shears snipping the yarn. But as soon as I thought that, my legs felt weak. A sudden chill rolled through me. I felt like someone-something-was looking for me right now, maybe pounding its way up the stairs, growing long, horrible talons. Then I heard my mom's voice. "Percy?"

She opened the bedroom door, and my fears melted. My mother can make me feel good just by walking into the room. Her eyes sparkle and change color in the light. Her smile is as warm as a quilt. She's got a few gray streaks mixed in with her long brown hair, but I never think of her as old.

When she looks at me, it's like she's seeing all the good things about me, none of the bad. I've never heard her raise her voice or say an unkind word to anyone, not even me or Gabe. "Oh, Percy." She hugged me tight. "I can't believe it. You've grown since Christmas!"

Her red-white-and-blue Sweet on America uniform smelled like the best things in the world: chocolate, licorice, and all the other stuff she sold at the candy shop in Grand Central. She'd brought me a huge bag of "free samples," the way she always did when I came home. We sat together on the edge of the bed.

While I attacked the blueberry sour strings, she ran her hand through my hair and demanded to know everything I hadn't put in my letters. She didn't mention anything about my getting expelled. She didn't seem to care about that. But was I okay? Was her little girl doing all right? I told her she was smothering me, and to lay off and all that, but secretly, I was really, really glad to see her.

From the other room, Gabe yelled, "Hey, Sally-how about some bean dip, huh?" I gritted my teeth. My mom is the nicest lady in the world. She should've been married to a millionaire, not to some jerk like Gabe. For her sake, I tried to sound upbeat about my last days at this school. I told her I wasn't too down about the expulsion. I'd lasted almost the whole year this time. I'd made some new friends. I'd done pretty well in Latin. And honestly, the fights hadn't been as bad as the headmaster said, which was why I had gotten kicked out.

"I have a surprise for you," she said.

"We're going to the beach." My eyes widened. "Montauk?"

"Three nights-same cabin."

"When?" She smiled.

"As soon as I get changed."

I couldn't believe it. My mom and I hadn't been to Montauk the last two summers, because Gabe said there wasn't enough money.

Gabe appeared in the doorway and growled, "Bean dip, Sally? Didn't you hear me?" I wanted to punch him, but I met my mom's eyes and I understood she was offering me a deal: be nice to Gabe for a little while. Just until she was ready to leave for Montauk. Then we would get out of here.

"I was on my way, honey," she told Gabe.

"We were just talking about the trip."

Gabe's eyes got small. "The trip? You mean you were serious about that?"

"I knew it," I muttered. "He won't let us go."

"Of course he will," my mom said evenly. "Your stepfather is just worried about money. That's all. Besides," she added, "Gabriel won't have to settle for bean dip. I'll make him enough seven-layer dip for the whole weekend. Guacamole. Sour cream. The works." Gabe softened a bit.

"So this money for your trip … it comes out of your clothes budget, right?" At this, my blood boiled.

"Yes, honey," my mother said.

"And you won't take my car anywhere but there and back."

"We'll be very careful." Gabe scratched his double chin. "Maybe if you hurry with that seven-layer dip … And maybe if the kid apologizes for interrupting my poker game." Maybe if I kick you in your soft spot, I thought. And make you sing soprano for a week. But my mom's eyes warned me not to make him mad.

Suddenly, that flashback ended.

For some weird reason, I've been having lots of them since the Winter Solstice. Maybe it had something to do with the gods.

"Percy," my mother said softly, making me look at her. "We're here."

Suddenly, a smile lit up my face. I bounded out of the jumping into the warm water. I could vaguely hear my mom laughing as she pulled our bags out of the car.

Jumping out of the water, I dried myself and ran towards the car to help my mom get our bags out and into the cabin.

It was sunset now. We opened all the cabin's windows, and went through our usual cleaning routine.

Another flashback came.

We walked on the beach, fed blue corn chips to the seagulls, and munched on blue jelly beans, blue saltwater taffy, and all the other free samples my mom had brought from work. I guess I should explain the blue food.

See, Gabe had once told my mom there was no such thing.

They had this fight, which seemed like a really small thing at the time. But ever since, my mom went out of her way to eat blue. She baked blue birthday cakes. She mixed blueberry smoothies. She bought blue-corn tortilla chips and brought home blue candy from the shop.

This-along with keeping her maiden name, Jackson, rather than calling herself Mrs. Ugliano-was proof that she wasn't totally suckered by Gabe. She did have a rebellious streak, like me.

When it got dark, we made a fire. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. Mom told me stories about when she was a kid, back before her parents died in the plane crash. She told me about the books she wanted to write someday, when she had enough money to quit the candy shop.

Eventually, I got up the nerve to ask about what was always on my mind whenever we came to Montauk-my father. Mom's eyes went all misty. I figured she would tell me the same things she always did, but I never got tired of hearing them. "He was kind, Percy," she said. "Tall, handsome, and powerful. But gentle, too. You have his black hair, you know, and his green eyes." Mom fished a blue jelly bean out of her candy bag. "I wish he could see you, Percy. He would be so proud."

I shook myself out of it.

Why was this happening to me? Thinking of all the possibilities in my head, I sighed. Pretty much none of them made sense. I wish I could know why. I wanted it to stop.

You wish to know why, a cold, harsh voice said, their voice echoing in my head. I clutched my head, the sound was overwhelming. They laughed. Now why would you think I'm overwhelming. Hmm it's probably because of your pathetic mortal mind. So fragile. STOP! I screamed mentally. Now why would I do that. What was I going to say? Oh yes, I'm sending you your little "flashbacks." Now, why you would want this to be over, I wouldn't know, but they'll help you realize that you should join my side, rebel against the gods. I'll see you in a few hours.

I gasped for breathe. The last thing I saw was my mom looking at me concerned, right before I blacked out.

I had a dream while I was out.

It was storming on the beach. A white horse and a golden eagle were fighting, trying to kill each other by the looks of it. I knew I had to stop them. I felt a connection to them somehow. I ran towards them, but I was too slow. I screamed, waking up.

Frantically, I opened my eyes, taking a look around. There was a storm outside. Really strong by the sound of it. My mom was sitting beside me. She looked at me concerned.

"What happened," she asked.

I sighed, opening my mouth to tell her, but a voice pounding on our door stopped me. I knew that voice. It was Grover.

Springing out of bed, my mother raced to the door, flinging it open.

I stared at the person there.

I was right. Grover was standing there. But that wasn't what was wrong. It was the fact that he was standing there, in all his satyr glory. Which meant that he didn't care that I would find out.

Standing up, I drew the dots. I was certain now.

I was going to Camp Half-Blood because something was after me.

Aye so I've finished editing all the chapters, finally, so the next update should be up sometime this month.