Chapter Four

My heart was pounding in my ears. My breath came out faster and faster. I was under a lot of pressure. It couldn't have easier. I was fifteen paces from the golden flag. It's shimmering pattern waving in the light breeze, mocking me. I pinched my own arm, hard, and shook my head. Now was not the time to be nervous. I wouldn't be able to just run out and grab the flag and run back over. They would certainly fight me and my heavy spear would do me no good.

Carrie and Dylan talked quietly, sweeping the area with their eyes every once in a while. I shuddered and stood still when they looked towards me. I needed them to look the other way, I needed a distraction. I picked up a handful of rocks by my feet. What does the heroine always do in the movies? Throw a rock. Taking a deep breath, I winded my arm back and threw the rock as hard as I could.

Smack! I heard Dylan cry out. I choked with fear. I must have hit him smack on the back of his head. I swallowed a meek laugh and threw an other. This one sailed far to the left of us by a pine tree.

"Carrie!" Dylan called, "Someone's over here!"

I froze. My plan was totally not working. I poked my head around the tree and saw the heading not towards me, but the pine tree. Now was my chance. I crawled out from behind the tree and raced over to the flag. I pulled it out of the dirt and started running back to our side but stopped short. Dylan stood between me and the other side. I looked behind me and saw Carrie come up.

"Nice try, new girl," Dylan smirked, "But not quite. Give us our flag back and tell us where yours is."

I shook my head, frozen in fear. I willed my feet to move, run, jump, anything. Dylan started closing in on me. I glanced to the back of me at Carrie and saw her do it as well, a determined look in her eyes. I felt a rush of adrenaline. It was time to fight. I stuck the flag in the waistband of my shorts, and readied my spear.

Dylan laughed, "You want to fight, little girl?"

Suddenly, the same as it had been in the alley, with the snake man, as my senses focused at once. It seemed like when Dylan swung his ax down it was slow motion. I stepped to the step and slammed the dull end of my spear into his back. He slammed into the dirt with a groan. Carrie ran at me with her knifes, aiming for my arm. I easily ducked, then turned and roundhouse kicked her legs out from under her. She crumpled. Dylan was on his feet again.

"Not done yet!" He said, spitting out dirt, "That was lucky!"

I narrowed my eyes and ran at him with my spear, aiming for his thigh. He grabbed it and turned the tip to the side, forcing the spear sideways. I gritted my teeth and dropped the spear, jumping back from his ax. Then it was Dylan's turn. He rushed at me, with his ax high. He was laughing at me, weaponless. He swung the ax down in an arc and I managed to dodge, falling back in the dirt. He swung the ax again and I rolled, letting the ax bury in the dirt and winced as it skimmed my arm. I gasped at the sight of my own blood.

"It's over!" Dylan cackled, "Tell me your flag's hiding spot!"

"Not a chance!"

He swung the ax down and I watched as it swung down, towards my chest. I closed my eyes, but not pain came, only the sound of metal clinking. I opened my eyes and saw more people had come, red and blue. Percy was fighting off Dylan, and Leo sent punches with fists of fire at two guys attacking him. I climbed to my feet, shaking. I held the flag in my hands.

Percy looked over at me and flashed a thumbs up, "Run!"

Leo laughed so hard his hair burst into flames, "Hurry!"

I suddenly felt the impulse to grin, and I did as I raced over roots and plants in the woods. Blood dripped down my arm and even though it hurt, it made me feel so, so alive. I ran back towards the rocks, Percy and Leo on my heels. We came to the pile of rocks, where a giant fight had broken out, and Piper stood at the top of the rocks with the flag, fending off the other team. When we crossed into the clearing, cheers broke out, and the fighting halted.

"The fight has been won!" Chiron called, galloping into the clearing on a horse. No, he was the horse, a centaur, "Red wins!"

I couldn't sleep that night.

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The other campers explained to me that when a demigod comes to camp. Normally. Then get claimed. A floating glowing symbol on their heads. Yay. I kept glancing up self consciously. I spent the night in the Hermes cabin, on a red sleeping bad on the floor, and people kept trying to steal the only things I had. I lost my toothbrush and toothpaste. Not like I cared.

Waking up wasn't hard, since at least four people laughing breathlessly around me, made my eyes snap open. They had drawn all over my face in marker. A nice girl named Shelby showed me where the bathrooms were. She kept called me "spud" and patting me on the head. Nothing could have been wrong.

Then the screaming began.

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