A/N: kind of distracted by college, I'm on track now. Chapter 1 (technically 2) has arrived!

Getting to know me… and how I got in this mess

When you grow up on the streets you meet a lot of weird people. I'm what you classify as "weirdest."

I'm no one special, just a kid with OCD and an eidetic memory. Ever watched Psych? If you have you'll know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, fix that. It's a great TV show. That and the old episodes Doctor Who. (The orphanages I grew up in were pretty lax with letting the kids watch whatever they want. I'm a nerd, sue me.)

Sorry, where was I? Ah right, introductions. I'm Andrew. Just Andrew. Don't ask about my last name. It's definitely not important to the story.

Moving on, leaving the possibilities of my last name behind; I'm an orphan. I know what you're thinking: "Aww, poor Andrew, you have no parents?" Stop. I don't need a pity party. I'm almost 13, an independent teenager by my standards. A teenager shuns everything that is offered to them. Except food. Food is always good.

Going off on a tangent again, I'll be doing that often.

I'm weird. So what? Everyone's their own kind of weird. That's normal. In my case, though, I'm an exception.

When the orphanage took me in I was wrapped in a blanket with hourglass decorations. I was sucking on a golden pocket watch, courtesy of whoever left me on the doorstep.

I still keep it with me. It's probably the only reminder I have of my parents.

When I'm taking tests in school I seem to complete them before everyone else. That's normal, assuming I'm smart, right? Wrong. I'm average at best. Einstein had problems with math. I'd rather take second grade for eternity than advanced geometry. Whenever I take tests time seems to slow down for me. My pencil flies across the paper and by the time I've finished with 30 questions five minutes have barely passed. The teachers keep telling me to slow down and take my time - I've tried taking their advice, but that seems to only make things worse.

And it's not just in school. A copperhead had snuck into my room when I was getting into bed. I woke up to see it sleeping next to my head on the pillow. Being seven years old at the time I didn't know anything about poisonous snakes. I just saw the snake and thought it looked cool. The head of the orphanage walked in and nearly fainted when she found me playing with my new pet, whom I named "Pete."

When I was barely ten I was walking home from school one day, suddenly approached by someone wearing a jacket. They asked me what I was doing by myself. Might've been my imagination but I swore that they had just one eye. Told them that I was going home, they offered me a ride. Told them I was fine by myself, but that seemed to upset them and they grabbed my arm. As soon as I touched their wrist they started to disintegrate in front of me, prompting me to call for help as their hand started turning to dust and they were shrieking in panic. By the time the police showed up they were a pile of dust and bones on the pavement.

They dismissed it as a prank, that it was just a kid that got spooked by a late halloween prank. I was left traumatized for weeks. Wore winter gloves to prevent that from happening again.

Despite what everyone said I knew better. Underneath the kid diagnosed with OCD and generalized anxiety, there was something else.

"Hey, Andrew!"

A smile grew on my face at the sound of my name called. I turned to see a boy my age with ruffled black hair and skin with a hazel tone. We exchanged fistbumps before the bro hug amidst lighthearted chuckling.

Stephan's been by my side since the first grade. He was the first to ask for my name, offer me a piece of his mom's double chocolate brownie, you get the idea. In return I was the one who stood up to the jerks making fun of him for the goat bleating he would randomly make. They called him "Sheep boy"; I gave them a knee between the legs. Staying in the corner during recess was worth it.

I could've been jealous that he had a family and I didn't. I could've joined the crowd in mocking him and his weird habits of eating tin cans. The thing was though, he was the first and only decent person I'd met. So I figured I would return kindness with kindness.

"We hanging out after school today?" he asked. "First weekend of summer vacation!"

"Well, yeah, as long as your mom's okay with it, because if I'm not needed-"

"Ah, you need to stop worrying amigo!" he clapped my shoulder, giving me his trademark, toothy grin. "You're always welcome at our house, Mama loves you! It's a wonder you aren't my brother already."

I avoided his gaze, somewhat uncomfortable at his statement. Thankfully he somehow senses my hesitance and changed the subject. He tended to do that, understanding me and my fears on a level nobody else could. "Anyway, Mama's got her famous double chocolate brownies for us when we get home, you feeling up for some Monster Hunter 2?"

I perked up instantly, grinning and nodding enthusiastically. He was the one who introduced me to the series, and though he was a fan of the game I became a fanatic about the whole series. The two of us chatted a little longer before the bell rung and we separate for our classes.

History was, well, mildly boring. Greek mythology's somewhat appealing to me, tales of Gods and heroes fighting monsters is cool. I'm busy taking notes on the Titans when a ruler tapped the edge of my desk. I look up to see the substitute studying me with stormy grey eyes, mouth pulled into a tight line.

"Need something, Ms. Diana?" She didn't reply, continuing to stare at me with an emotionless face before she moved past. I watched her move with some confusion, other students doing the same.

If you thought that was weird, I was about to enter a whole world of it.

The bell was drowned out by the yells of students rushing out the doors, all eager to enjoy summer vacation. I waited for the last of the students to trickle out the halls before making my exit. Stephan's waiting for me at the entrance, smart enough to know I waited for the hordes to pass before I poked my head out. The two of us made our way down the sidewalk to his house. It was a sunny day, not a cloud in the sky. Perfect, it seems.

How such a day could end up so horrible.

We turn onto the corner of Stephan's block to see a pillar of smoke rising up from a house just next to Stephan's. My friend exclaimed in Spanish and rushed home, me in pursuit. He burst in through the front door and yelled for his mother, dashing between rooms in search for her. I'm calling her name out, praying to whatever deity for the fire to not reach this house before we escape.

I dashed up the stairs, but I froze halfway up as my eyes met the gaze of… of… something.

It looked like a dog, but if its deathly snarl and the body in its jaw was anything to go by I guessed it was nowhere near as friendly. Its fur was jet black, allowing it to blend in with the shadows of an alleyway at midnight.

It dropped the body of Mrs. Castanza and barked once before leaping down at me, mouth open and filled with bloodied fangs. I had time to yelp and dive out of the way as it sailed past me, skidding along the wooden floor, though it's not long before it regained composure, turning to face me-

Seconds later a bronze pole is sticking out of its side, prompting it to let out a yip before melting into a puddle of darkness. The pole was, in fact, a javelin, the end sharpened to do serious damage, possibly kill. I recognized it as Stephan's makeshift crutch he would use when his legs were acting up.

Speaking of, he scampered to the remains of the dog that just tried to kill me, kneeling to retrieve the spear and examine the remains.

"Stephan?"

He looked up at me, his face unnaturally grim. His eyes flicked past me to look at his mom, laying dead on the top of the stairs.

"Mama always said Hellhounds were be the first to catch a demigod's scent."

I looked at my friend as if he had spoken gibberish. And in a sense, he had. He ran up to me, holding his spear by his side. "You alright?"

I nodded, scarcely believing that my friend was a monster hunter. He jogged up the stairs and knelt by his mom, muttering words I didn't catch from where I was. Somehow I managed to get to my feet and approach the thing that was, as Stephan said, a "Hellhound." The jet black pool was disappearing, leaving behind a small pile of fangs. As soon as my hand touched them they changed into a necklace of dirty dog teeth.

I don't do jewelry. Especially if it came from a dog that just tried to kill me. Nevertheless I felt compelled to put it on just as Stephan came hurrying down the stairs.

"We need to move."

I tried to say something. A protest, or something smart. All that came out was, "Hddefferweh?"

"The Hellhound was just the beginning. Other monsters are already making a move on us. Grab your stuff."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" I grabbed his arm as he starts to walk away. "What about game night?"

He sighed, though it's patient despite the circumstances.

"Andrew, remember what we learned in history class? The myths of Greece and the Greek gods?"

I nodded. He kicked his shoes off, exposing what I assumed would be feet-

Hooves.

Black, cloven hoofs attached to ankles covered in fuzzy brown hair. I look up at his face, then down at his hooves. "Are you part goat?"

"Technically I'm a satyr, but yeah, satyrs are half-human, half-goat. Beats being called part donkey. Anyways, grab your stuff." Before I say that my stuff's back at the orphanage he said "I've already brought your things home, they're in the family room in a bag. Food, clothes, some knives if we need to defend ourselves."

"What- where are we going?"

"The only place people like you can go to," he set the spear on his shoulder in an attempt to look awesome (he did better than if I had tried). "Camp Half-Blood."

A/N: told you the story would pick up here. Next up is a taste of Andrew's powers.

Again, thank you to those who left a like and/or follow! If you liked what you read, how about a like? Didn't like it, tell me what I did wrong? Reviews are always appreciated, see you next chapter.

Write on!