Chapter 9: I Move Out
I stare at the shroud in silence. Nobody moves, the amphitheater is unnaturally still. Too still, I realize. I look up at them and they are frozen, unmoving.
"I put them in a state of temporary trance," said a voice. "They'll be back to normal in a few minutes."
I look at my father. My eyes sting with shame and fear. "I didn't mean to do it-,"
Dionysus raises a hand. "We have no time for this. Chiron." The centaur comes over, unfrozen.
"Yes…," he says. "Glen Faulkner, you have committed a crime horrific to this camp. You have murdered a fellow camper. Do you wish to try at redemption?"
Redemption? Was it possible? I nod. Chiron continues gravely. "Very well. You must perform a labor given to you by the Oracle. You may also choose two companions to journey with you." He glances at the frozen campers. "Who believes in Glen Faulkner's plea of redemption? Rise, if you do."
Nobody moves. My throat constricts, and I feel a wave of despair wash over me. Then I see a twitch. Someone moves, and I feel a glimmer of hope. Who is it?
The figure stumbles out and I blink in surprise. It's the Apollo girl. She looks at me, and I look back at her. Chiron speaks up. "Lydia Lian, do you stand by Glen Faulkner's side.
I wonder why she unfroze in the first place. How could she possibly believe in me, a killer? But our eyes make contact once more. She speaks up. "I will stand for Glen Faulkner."
Chiron nods. I look for Adrian in he crowd of frozen people. Dionysus speaks up. "He's in the Big House. Broken arm."
I feel somehow relieved. Adrian wasn't here because he was injured, not because he didn't believe in me. Dionysus studies me intently.
"Do you want to see him?" I nod. With a wave of his godly hand, I am sent to the Big House. On one of the beds used to hold injured people I find him.
"Adrian," I say. He looks at me, wild fear in his eyes. He hides under the blankets. I try to comfort him, but one touch and he starts trembling. Large sobs emit from under the blanket.
He's afraid of me. Then it dawned onto me: I had broken his arm. Suddenly I'm not there anymore and back at the amphitheater. I glare at Dionysus to cover my grief. "You could have given me a heads-up."
He doesn't say anything, and I know worse is to come. Chiron looks at me. "Child, you must set out to seek the Oracle. From there you must perform your given labor."
I gulp. "Where is the Oracle?" No doubt she was located at some monster infested cave.
"Clarion Ladies Academy." Or maybe not. Not that I mind or anything. Suddenly there was movement, and Argus was by our side. Chiron frowned.
"Argus? Shouldn't you be frozen?" Argus made a motion with his hands and Chiron looked at him in surprise. "I…see." Then Chiron turned to me. "Argus also stands for you, Glen."
I looked at Argus with awe. Raw emotion overcomes me, and my vision blurs. I quickly blink back the tears. Lydia and Argus. Two people who I barely knew, and yet were willing to believe in me.
Or so I thought. A word to the wise: many people have different agendas, and they jump at the nearest opportunity.
Dionysus stepped forward. He snapped his hands, and a pine cone appears in his palm. "Here, have this. Use it when you are in times of need."
I take the pine cone, and instantly a magic string attaches it onto my neck. It's a fashion statement too. Great.
"Go," said Chiron. "Seek the Oracle in New Hampshire." He made it sound so important, almost oblivious to the fact that it was a four hour drive.
I pack my bag up and glance at the camp for one last time. Wasn't this supposed to be my safe, happy place? You have to go to where you belong, my mom had said. But she was wrong. I didn't belong here. I still wasn't normal, or accepted.
I finish packing. There's not much I took from home. And not much I had at camp. Argus is waiting for me at the pine tree. I go over the hill.
I don't look back.
