I don't own PJO!

"Percy," I warned, giving him a stern look. "don't."

"But she-!"

"You're already on probation. Just ignore her."

Grover sighed. "Harley's right. She's not worth your time. This is my fault, anyways."

"I heard that, you hairy freak!" the orange haired girl yelled, ripping off another chunk of her nasty peanut butter and ketchup sandwhich. "I am not in the mood, Bobofit!" I grumbled.

Today was the day, the fated day where everything would begin. And I was not ready- I was rudely shaken awake at 6:30 AM for this stupid field trip and was about to fall asleep on the spot if not for Nancy's annoying taunts.

Grover dodged another piece of the sandwich. Percy gave up and groaned, sliding down into his seat. "It's only five more minutes until we get there," Grover said, shining a ray of hope on us.

Mr. Brunner's tour went just as I expected, with the exception of me lingering around the edge of the crowd.

By lunch, I was anxiously waiting for Mrs. Dodds to show up while Percy and Nancy (God I hate her) had an argument near the fountain. But I couldn't interfere with the storyline, no matter how much I wanted to. With the slightest change, millions could die. Hell, I could probably kick a pebble and bring upon the end of the world.

And all of a sudden, there was an eruption, and Nancy was in the fountain and dripping wet when I looked over. The nearby kids began to whisper in awe. I couldn't hold back a snort at her expression.

"Shut up, Harley! And you, Percy..." She seethed, summoning all the dignity she could while walking out of a water fountain. "You are so dead." And with that, she turned around and went off to go whine to Mrs. Dodds.

"Oh no..." Grover murmured something under his breath, looking even more nervous than I felt. "Sorry, Harley... She's probably gonna blame you too," Percy muttered. "It's fine. I have a feeling I would've had to come along anyway..." I murmured the last part to myself.

"Hm?"

"Nothing."

Dodds seemed to materialize next to us, a permanent wicked look fixed on her face. She stared down at Percy. "Now, honey-" He sighed, staring at the ground. "I know, a month erasing textbooks."

She cast her evil glare over to me as well, ignoring Percy's remark. "Mr. Jackson, Mr. Allen- come with me now."

"Wait!" Grover yelped. "They didn't do anything. I was the one who pushed her!" She stared him down. "I don't think so, Mr. Underwood." Props to him for trying, at least.

Percy gave him a thankful look as she steered us away, Grover shooting Mr. Brunner panicky looks.

I saw Percy give Nancy a death glare as she smirked at us, crossing her arms before we headed into the museum. When Mrs. Dodds wasn't watching, I took the chance to flip her off.

Dodds quickly led us past the gift shop and right into the Greek and Roman section. I saw Percy getting confused. Then she crossed her arms and stood in front of one of the marble statues- you know, those ancient ones where the body is cut off at the chest.

A strange growling sound beginning to echo in the empty halls, sending chills down my spine. "Did you really think you could get away with it?"

Percy sighed and lowered his head slightly. "I'm sorry, ma'am. It won't happen again." I swallowed nervously, gazing into the evil look in her eyes. I've dealt with some dangerous things before, but a mythological monster from the Underworld? That's on a whole different level, to say the least.

Thunder shook the building. "We are not fools, Percy Jackson, Harley Allen. Confess, and you will suffer less pain." Her words were followed by confused and tense silence.

"Well?"

"Ma'am, we don't know what you're talking about," I spoke up. She narrowed her eyes, and I felt an oncoming sense of doom. "Then your time is up."

Dodds began to transform into her true form. Her eyes began to glow like barbecue coals. Her fingers stretched, turning into talons. She grew large, leathery wings. She wasn't Mrs. Dodds anymore. She was a Fury.

All of a sudden, a familiar voice shouted, "What ho, Percy!"

In the nick of time, Mr. Brunner appeared at the doorway, throwing a pen to Percy. A wave of relief washed over me.

Just as I thought we were saved, my feet were unexpectedly swept off the ground. With a strangled yell, I struggled to escape the claws gripping my shoulders.

Oh shit. My eyes widened as the world below me began to sway. I was losing focus. Shitshitshitshitshit-

I barely saw Percy grab the hilt of a bronze sword, the same one Brunner used on tournament day. Not the pen that was thrown to him. Anaklusmos, my mind whispered.

"Harley!" he yelled, gripping the sword. "Let him go!" His voice shook. She snarled. "Only if you hand it over."

"I don't even know what you're talking about!"

"Lies!" She zoomed towards Percy, raising a talon. "Get down!" I yelled, still trying to unhook my shoulders from her grip all while internally freaking out. Percy barely dodged the swipe, getting a nick on the tip of his ear. I tended. That was a close one.

And right before she ascended again, she released her grip a few feet above the ground. With a stumble, I managed to land on my feet, only to fall on my ass a few seconds later due to my shaking legs.

Percy looked relieved- and very disheveled. I couldn't blame him. He'd just seen his best friend get swooped away by a hellish creature that was also supposed to be our pre-algebra teacher. "Harley, thank God, you're not hurt, are you?" I shook my head, groaning. "Just mentally scarred from being dragged through the air by a Fury..."

Before Percy could question what a Fury was, I saw Dodds turn around and close in on us. "Behind you!" I yelled. She was using the distraction as an advantage.

He whipped around, hands shaking on the hilt, and sliced cleanly through her shoulder on instinct. She exploded into yellow powder, leaving the stench of sulfur behind. That can't possibly be good for our nostrils.

I took a deep breath, trying to get my heart to relax. The threat is gone. We're both alive and... mostly okay. The adrenaline slowly faded.

I wrinkled my nose, dragging a shell-shocked Percy away from the scene. Riptide had already reverted back to a ballpoint pen in his hand. We had to get back before anyone started questioning where we were.

It was raining outside. Grover, Mr. Brunner, Nancy, and her ugly friends were all still there. "I hope Mrs. Kerr whipped your butt," Nancy said. "Who- ow!" I stepped on Percy's foot. "Yeah, she did, so you can go back to your little gang now," I retorted. She glared at me. "Whatever, Allen."

As soon as she was gone, Percy yelled, "What the hell was that for, Harley?!"

"Don't you need to return that to Mr. Brunner?" I pointed at the pen in his hand, dodging the question. Percy blinked. "This... this was a sword. Mrs. Dodds-"

"Ah, that would be my pen. Please bring your own writing utensil in the future, Mr. Jackson." Before we knew it, Mr. Brunner had appeared in front of us, his hand outstretched. Hesitantly, Percy returned the pen.

"Sir," he asked, "where's Mrs. Dodds?" Brunner stared at him blankly. "Who?"

"The other chaperone. Mrs. Dodds. The pre-algebra teacher."

He frowned and sat forward, looking mildly concerned. He's a fairly good actor. "Percy, there is no Mrs. Dodds on this trip. As far as I know, there has never been a Mrs. Dodds at Yancy Academy. Are you feeling all right?"

Later that night

"Chiron, about Harley..."

"I know. It appears that there is more than his intellect that is out of place."

"Do- do you think he knows?"

"Unfortunately, I can't tell. But the way he acted... Perhaps the Mist did its job. He may not be who we think he is after all. But if I'm wrong, then..."

There was a brief moment of silence. "Then he is a very dangerous being."

Outside of the room, I smiled slightly, leaning against the wall. If only they knew.

For the rest of the school year, the entire campus seemed to have fallen victim to the Mist. Mrs. Kerr- a perky blond woman whom I'd never seen in my life until she got on our bus at the end of the field trip- had apparently been our pre-algebra teacher since Christmas.

Percy was the only one who insisted that Mrs. Dodds had existed. He constantly tried to get me and Grover to "remember" to no avail.

I was doing fine convincing him. Grover, on the other hand? He would hesitate every time Mrs. Dodds was brung up. I knew Percy could tell he was bluffing.

"Harley!" Percy slammed his hands down on the cafeteria table as he arrived, drawing the attention of a few students. I sighed, fiddling with my straw wrapper. "Is this about Mrs. Dodds again? The nonexistent pre-algebra teacher?"

He frowned, sitting down. "She really was there. I swear. I don't know how everyone else forgot."

"I'm telling you, there must've been something in your lunch that day. Probably the expired juice box."

"There's no way. It was so real, and I can tell the difference between illusion and reality. Besides, Mrs. Dodds was here for months. It doesn't add up!"

I stirred my chocolate milk. "I don't know what to tell you, Perce. All I know is that there was never a Mrs. Dodds here, as far as I know."

It hurt a bit to lie to my friend, but it was necessary.

Slowly, I began to notice the change in weather. There were thunderstorms, earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes all over Manhattan.

Percy's grades began to slip. His attitude grew crankier. I helped him study, which raised his grades a bit, but not much.

One night, he finally snapped, throwing the Cambridge Guide to Greek Mythology across the dorm room. I raised an eyebrow, putting my phone down. "Is it your dyslexia acting up again?"

"I can't help it! It's like they're doing freaking gymnastics across the page!" he groaned, pacing around the room. "Maybe go ask Mr. Brunner for some help?" I suggested, suppressing a smile.

He sighed, picking up the thick book. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right. I'll be right back." I smiled to myself as Percy left the room.

Around 20 minutes later, he came back into the room, looking pale. "You look like you saw a ghost," I commented. "What's wrong?"

"It's, uh... nothing. I'm- I'm going to sleep." He put away the book and turned over in his bed so that his back was facing me. I couldn't blame him. All that stuff about being "kept alive" must've shocked him.

I sighed, putting my phone away and shutting off the lights. I'm going to miss this normal... well, normal-ish life.