Chapter 10: They Aren't Real

So this is where I am, perked up on a tree getting ready to pounce the second Bob gives me the signal. Sorry that I skipped a couple of details of my journey. They were too gruesome to think about again. The last couple of weeks have been a bit harsh but with Bob on my side it's a lot more easier than I thought. I don't know why but ever since Bob and I paired up, a lot of monsters were frightened of Bob. Whatever he is he must be tremendously scary.

If I'm right I was in a forest in Long Island, and I should be able to reach my destination soon. I knew I was getting my hopes up that this was all fiction. None of this is true, but hey! It's a nice break from my family. Anyways my eyes fell upon whom I call Russell. Russell was really a manticore waiting to tear my insides out, but as I hope won't happen. How do I know he's a manticore? Well I've been doing my bit in learning my Greek mythology. Russell has the head of a human but the body of a lion under his green, " I LOVE HUMANS" shirt and brown shorts . Still don't believe me? Russell could shoot thorns that could either paralyze or kill someone from his tail.

"Come out, come out, where ever you are." Russell growled.

My grip around my kopis' tightened. My eyes darted everywhere waiting for the sig- BAM! The sound of a tree close by hit the ground. The signal! Russell moved toward the sound of the fallen tree. He was right where I needed him to be. I moved on the branch until I was crouching. I was five meters from the ground. With one final breath I jumped.

As I was falling I aimed for Russell and ended up kicking him from behind which made him land face forward into the ground. I tucked and rolled as I hit the floor. I stood up. Russell was getting up too.

"How did you? Where?" Russell questioned me completely surprised.

" You told me to come out, didn't you?" I answered.

" Yes, yes I did. I think you'll go well with my soup for dinner."

"I think you'd look even more handsome as a pile of sand, Russell."

"That's not my name!" he whipped his tail and out shot his nasty thorns. I ran behind a tree for cover. One swept right by face. That was close.

"Stop hiding like a baby and fight me, you weakling!" Russell bellowed.

I ran and jabbed Russell in the gut. I could hear him yowl in pain. "Weakling, eh?" I called back. I continued running in the direction where my destination would be and ...

" Bob!" I shouted. After I ran a couple more meters I turned around just in time to see Russell collide into Bob blindly. Russell stumbled backward.

"What in the worl-" Then he saw Bob. "You! You of all people should be on my side not hers!"

This is where I got confused. "You know him?" I asked Russell.

"Of course, I do! He used to be a leader but now is a disgrace to us." snarled Russell.

Leader? Disgrace? What's that suppose to mean? I didn't have time to think about it so I put it off to the side. Right now I got to get rid of Russell. I met Bob's eyes then yelled," Now!"

Bob and I charged. Thorns flew everywhere. I was able to make a few cuts in Russell's mushy body but nothing serious. I started to back away and I made the mistake of turning around. I could see Russell and Bob in deep combat. I wanted to run back and help but Bob said "Go!"

Then he got smacked with Russell's tail. "BOB!"I cried. I watched as he started to get up but he was wobbling. I started running toward him except he gave me a look that said," Let Bob handle this! You go!"

I stood there for a few seconds to make up my mind but then I felt a searing pain in my left arm. I looked down and saw one of Russell's thorns in my skin. I pulled the thorn out but I could tell the poison was spreading through my body, fast. I could even tell my mind was getting a little fuzzy. I heard Bob shout again," Run to tree!"

I saw a huge tree with something gold in its branches. There was also something slithering around the trunk. That must be the tree. I made up my mind and took off toward the big tree. I could hear Bob and Russell running behind me. I couldn't feel my left hand. I had to do something before I lost feeling in my body and pass out. I stopped running a few feet from the golden tree. Partly to help and partly afraid to find out what that scaly snake thingy on the trunk is. Russell stopped, looking confused.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

I gave him a look which I hoped said," I'm not going down without a fight."

"So Russell...How you been doing? Wait, scratch that. Get ready to take a nap because it's going to be the longest nap of your life." and with that I charged.

As soon as I was close enough I jumped up and brought my kopis' down into Russell's back. I yanked them free and took a few steps back. I could see Russell's eyes were red with rage, before he could say anything I ran in again and tried stabbing him. But this time Russell hit me with his legs and I slammed into a tree right beside the golden one.

I couldn't stand up. My whole body was in pain. I could feel a warm liquid drip down my skin. Blood. I fought to keep focus. I could see three people in armor, two guys and one girl. One of the boys ran to me, while the other two ran toward Russell and Bob.

"Are you okay?" the boy questioned. He had big brown eyes and extremely pale olive-coloured skin. He looked like he was a couple of years older than me. He had black hair.

"Do I look okay?" I answered.

"Sorry, stupid question." He brought his shield in front of us just as some of Russell's thorns impaled in the bronze. "I haven't seen a manticore in years. I hate those things." he muttered to himself.

My eyes grew wide. " I-I know you," he looked at me bewildered. "You, you shouldn't be alive." I was horrified. This shouldn't be real, he shouldn't be real! It's ALL FICTION. I would've ran but I couldn't move.

The boy was about to say something when Russell's cry cut him off. I looked at where Russell used to be and now in his place was a pile of sand. My eyes drifted to where Bob was and my face was a whole new level of terrified. The other boy was about to bring down his sword on Bob.

"NOOO!"I shouted as loudly I could. "Bob! Bob is good! Don't kill him!"

"Bob? No way..." the boy next to me said. He laid down his shield and took a better look at Bob. Then he yelled, "Percy stop! It's Bob!"

I couldn't see anything except a blurry spot of colour, but I could hear a boy say, "BOB? You're kidding!"

The boy looked back at me and smiled. Then a girl with I guessed with blonde hair ran up beside him and took a look at me.

I croaked out a few last sentences , "You all aren't real. You all are fiction."

Then everything went black.