Chapter Thirteen

The Mysterious Kid

{Percy}

It was Friday.

Today were going to the Grand Canyon.

Today an extraction team is supposed to pick Hedge, Piper, Leo, and I up and take us to Camp Half-Blood.

It's also been two days since the fight between Dylan, the storm spirit, and I.

Ever since the fight, Dylan hasn't been seen. Rumors around the school say that he went back home, others say that one of the teachers attacked him, others say he's dead. I hope for the latter.

That is until we got to the bus. In front of us, Dylan was standing by the doors of the bus. He notices me and sends me a glare before turning back to his peeps.

"Oh, man," Leo groans. "Dylan's back. And I was hoping he was put into Juvie for good."

The three of us get on the bus. I sit next to Leo and Piper sits by herself behind us. Most of the kids did what they usually do during field trips: watched TV on their phones, listened to their IPods, or caught some Z's.

Leo begins tinkering with some wires and washers in his lap. Piper is looking out the window of the bus, probably daydreaming. I prop my knees against the back of the seat in front of us and lean back. I soon fall into a nap.

I don't know where I am. If I had to guess I d say . . . Alaska. All of the glaziers make it kind of obvious.

I am standing on the edge of a glazier, probably about fifty feet in the air. Ghosts were surrounding me. I am keeping them back with a hurricane, but you could tell I was getting tired. I am holding some kind of staff.

It's big, probably about as tall as me. It's gold and it has something that looks suspiciously like a chicken at the top.

Why the Hades am I carrying a chicken on a stick?! I think confused.

Suddenly I see the glazier crack the fall towards the ice water below, taking me along with it.

My eyes snap open in shock.

If I didn't know better, I'd say I just saw my death.

"Percy, something's wrong with Jason," Leo tells me.

Who? I think.

I look over the back of the seat with Leo and I'm stunned. Next to Piper is a boy about fifteen. He has golden blonde hair and bright sky blue eyes. Eyes I'd only seen once before. He was wearing a worn purple shirt that probably had writing on it at one point, but I can't make out what it once said. He and Piper were also holding hands, but I know for a fact that Piper's not dating anyone.

"Jason, are you sick? Did you hit your head?" Piper asks concerned. He places her hand on his forehead as if to check his temperature.

"I don't what you're talking about," Jason shook his head even more confused. "Do I know you?"

"Yeah, like you don't remember your three best friends," Leo scoffs. "That's not Piper your girlfriend. I'm not Leo your and this isn't Percy, your best friends and roommates." Leo snaps his fingers. "Wait, I know this is payback for putting shaving cream on your Jell-O, right?"

Leo put shaving cream on my Jell-O. We don't have a third roommate. Somehow this guy has made Piper and Leo believe that they've known him all year. He must be really strong to be able to affect the mist like that. I've only seen two things have that much control over the mist before: Monsters or gods.

Jason must be some type of monster.

My hand subconsciously traveled to my pocket where Riptide was kept.

I shift my glance towards the front of the bus, where Hedge is. He meets my eyes and nods knowing. I turn back to Jason to find him looking at me with pleading eyes. I narrow my eyes at him but otherwise don't change my facial structure.

"Valdez! Jackson! Is there a problem back there?" Hedge calls from the front.

We sit back in our seats, and Leo says, "No problem, Coach. Can you use your bullhorn please? I'm having a little trouble hearing you."

Leo has his familiar mischievous grin on his face so I know something is up.

Hedge grunts as if pleased to have an excuse. He unclips it from his side and speaks into it. Everyone on the bus immediately bursts out laughing. Leo has rigged the bullhorn to sound like Darth Vader from Star Wars.

"The cow says moo!" Hedge says again. He slams down the bullhorn in frustration. "Dammit, Valdez!"

"My god, Leo," Piper is cracking up from behind us. "How'd you do that?"

"I'm a special boy," Leo replies innocently, showing up the tools he has up his sleeve. I'm beginning to regret getting Leo that tool set for Christmas.

"No really guys!" Jason's looking really freaked out for some reason. "What are we doing here? Where are we? Who are you?"

"Jason, you really don't remember us?" Piper goes to grab his hand, but he pulls away.

Ouch, even I have to admit that s cold, I think. The bus finally stops. I look out the window to see the Grand Canyon in front of us.

This is going to be a long day, but one thing is certain. I am not letting Leo and Piper out of my sight. Not with Jason around.

A/N: Only two more chapters everyone. I want to thank you all for your support now. You've all been awesome and I love the feedback I've been getting. I really appreciate it. Keep it up!