Miss Me?

I awoke to the sound of crying and a sheet over my head. It smelled of sea salt. The flames flickered around me. I didn't move for a while. The fire was now just starting to reach the surface I was lying on. I sat up.

Many people screamed. I pulled the sheet off of my head. It was my shroud. Chiron was still oblivious.

"He was a great hero, we will miss him."

I looked at him with my eyebrow raised. Tons of Aphrodite girls cheered. I smiled and waved at them. People laughed.

"What is so funny?" He asked.

He turned. He stared at me in shock for a little while. Then, he galloped forward and pulled me off of . . . . . whatever I was lying on. I pulled my shroud with me. He smiled.

"It must say, it is good to see you boy."

I looked down on myself. I was wearing the same thing I was wearing when I first woke up here. Chiron chuckled.

"For now, you are Superman. You might want to see your friends. None of them could bear to come today."

I nodded and took off down the path. I turned back around.

"Chiron?" I asked.

"Yes boy?" He answered.

"You should keep everyone away from their cabins. They need to sleep. I need them tonight."

He nodded. "You heard the boy! Back to your regular activities and stay away from the cabins."

Everyone stood and went back to their regular schedule. I turned back around and took off. My eyes started hurting. Suddenly, I was hit with a vision. I was standing near a black river. Many things you wouldn't normally see were floating in this river: a tiara, a college diploma, a microphone, and turntables. They all floated by. Annabeth was next to me and seemed to be explaining something but I couldn't hear her. I nodded and plunged into the river.

My eyes opened. I was in front of Thalia's cabin. I knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" A voice asked me.

I made my voice deeper. "It's the pizza delivery guy."

"That's very funny Arnold." Came the voice. I could also hear footsteps.

Arnold was a kid from Hermes cabin and the ultimate trickster. The door opened. Kayden stood there with an annoyed look on his face. Then it slowly melted. I knew Kayden wasn't the kind of guy to stand there and ask me if it was me. He grinned broadly and threw his arms around me.

"DUDE! Where have you been?"

I frowned. I didn't know. He sensed my hesitation.

"Not something you want to talk about in public?"

I shook my head still trying to figure out what happened.

"You're embarrassed?"

I shook my head again.

"You really don't know do you?" He asked his voice softening.

I nodded. "It's weird. But, maybe that's what it's like when you die."

He grinned. "The prophecy was right. I KNEW IT!" He yelled.

I frowned. "What did the prophecy say?"

His eyebrows scrunched together. "That a demigod would die and find an assurance to life. What is it?" He asked eagerly.

I seriously remembered nothing about what happened when I was dead. He shook his head grinning and pulled me inside of his cabin. In the corner was a soda machine. How did he get that in here? His bunk was huge. And he had a desk with a recliner. On the desk were a large TV, a Wii, an Xbox 360, a PSP, and a PlayStation 3. He grinned at me.

"This, my friend, is how the other half lives."

I looked around in awe. "It most certainly is."

He pressed a button and an orange soda popped out. He tossed it to me. I nodded my thanks, popped it opened and drank deeply. Kayden sat in the recliner chair.

"I hate to say it but, Andrea has been a wreak since you . . . . . died." He grinned. "It feels weird to say that. You don't really talk to someone after they died."

I nodded. "I better go check on her. But first, I'll go see everyone else."

He nodded sincerely. "You'd better. See you later man."

I was about to leave but remembered something. "Hey, you'd better get some sleep. We start the quest tonight."

He grinned.

I tossed the now empty can in his bin and left. I went and saw Marko. He was very happy to put it mildly. He nearly cracked all of my ribs. I told him about the quest and that he needed to get some sleep. He agreed. I went to Hades' cabin and saw Monica. I got the same reaction and I told her the same things.

Now for the tricky part. I walked over to Athena's cabin. I began to knock but stopped. How would she react? Would she be mad at me? This was going to be interesting. I knocked. I heard shuffling behind the door.

"Who is it?" She asked.

I hesitated. "A . . . . ."

She opened the door. I hung my head. Her hand reached out and touched my chin. She brought it up and looked me in the eyes. I tried for a grin.

"Hi?"

She nearly suffocated me with a hug. I hugged her back just as hard.

"I missed you so much!" She whispered in my ear.

"I missed you too . . . . . . I think."

She pulled back. "What do you mean 'I think'?"

"Well," I answered. "I don't exactly remember anything from when I was dead."

"Oh." She said in a small voice. Then she put on a seductive smile.

I raised an eyebrow. "What?"

She grabbed my hand and slowly led me to her bed.

I woke up with a start. I quickly tried to remember my dream. It evaded me just as fast. I groaned in frustration. All I could remember was me protecting my left palm and finding a door. I threw the covers off of myself and got dressed. I leaned over and kissed Andrea's forehead as she slept. I crept out of her cabin, carefully shut the door, and went to the combat arena.

When I got there, Matt was waiting for me.

"Hey rookie." He grinned. "Miss me?"

I looked around. The dozens of campers that where training where tied up. They all looked at me with big pleading eyes.

"What do you want Matt?" I asked still not looking at him.

"Your death." He answered.

I looked up at him and grinned. "I already died. You just weren't there to see it."

He gave me an amused smile. "This time," He pulled out his two swords. "I will."

I raised my eyebrows. "Really? How so?"

"Simple," He answered moving toward a camper slowly. "If you don't fight, one of these poor little demigods die."

I pulled out Riptide. I hadn't clicked to button yet. "Well then, let's get started."

He frowned. "Are you insulting me? A pen?"

I ran at him. He shook his head and charged me.

"You get twenty strikes Matt. That's it." I informed him.

He grinned. "Ten strikes is all I need, rookie."

He swung at my head. I ducked.

"One."

He frowned and tried to kick at me then strike. Blocked the kick and rolled out of the way.

"Two."

He snarled and used two swords.

"Three and four."

He just kept ducking and rolling out of the way. Five, six, seven, and eight went by just as quickly. I pocketed Riptide. He screamed and slashed at me with one sword. I blocked it . . . . . . with my hand. He tripped me. Now I was on my knees with my head bent. The second sword sliced its way toward my unprotected neck.

I was hit with another vision. Annabeth was standing in front of me wearing a chiton. I could hear her now.

"I am allowing you to be more in touch with your father's powers. You now can use the water in the air to propel yourself." She explained.

"Like flying?" I asked.

"Yeah. You can also cause mini earthquakes and shockwaves."

The vision cut off just as Matt's sword swooped down on my neck. A million thoughts flooded my mind. I did not just come back to life just to die again. How long was I out. Is mom okay? I wonder if I'll make it to the Isles of the Blest. No. I've only come back to life once. This will be your second time dying. Thanks Manual. No problem.

The sword hit my neck. It shattered. Everyone was looking on in awe. I was surprised too. I felt my neck. Matt stumbled back stabbed by a ricocheting piece of his sword. I slowly stood and looked at him. Shockwaves huh? I focused.

"BACK!" I yelled at him.

A wave of energy sent him flying into the bleachers. I didn't have to yell 'back' but, I wanted to be dramatic. He wasn't moving. I went to work setting free all of the half bloods. They thanked me profusely and left. Some stayed to see what I would do to Matt. I didn't know myself. I walked over to where he lay.

His head lolled to one side.

"Get is over with." He moaned.

I shook my head grinning. Flying huh? I grabbed him by his collar and rose into the air. I couldn't help but grin happily. I wondered how fast I could fly. I flew over the protective barrier and deposited Matt into Long Island Sound. And as he fell, I spit on him. He landed with a splash.