Peri's POV

"Behind you!" A curly haired girl from the crowd screamed, pointing towards the tunnel.

I turned around, and my eyes widened in shock.

About a bazillion spiny needle things were flying towards me.

I acted quickly.

I leaped to the left to avoid the attack. When my feet found the grass again, I felt a searing hot pain in my side. I looked down and gasped. Although I had avoided the brunt of the attack, about a dozen pin missiles had embedded themselves deep into my abdomen. Blood was gushing out like crazy, and my vision started going blurry. I grasped my side with my free hand, desperately trying to stop the bleeding. The sticky red liquid seeped between my fingers. My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the ground. I lost my grip on my sword, and it tumbled on the soft grass next to me.

Through my hazy vision, I saw an enormous cyclopes emerged from the shadows of the tunnel. He held a spiked club and a smug look on his face. He began striding towards me arrogantly. I could tell he was going over how he was going to dismember me in his pea sized brain.

I tried pushing myself up, but crashed painfully back to the ground.

"No..." I whispered. "It's not supposed to be this way..."

The cyclopes loomed over me, glaring with his one eye. He lifted his club high and shot countless number of spikes flying out in various directions. He looked down at me, grinning evilly. I was too weak to move, and this guy could finish me with one blow.

"I just need... a little help..."

As soon as it was out of my mouth I heard a familiar chuckling in my head. "I thought you'd never ask."

The cyclopes swung his club down towards my head.

At that same instant, a supernatural wave of energy passed through my body, from head to toe. It was like that feeling you get when your foot falls asleep, but all over my body. It was wonderful. All my pain was gone. I felt like I could carry an elephant on my pinky finger.

I felt like kicking some cyclopes ass!

I rolled out of the way, snatching up my weapon in the process. I hopped to my feet, bouncing on the balls of my feet. Smirking, I gripped my weapon tightly. I was gonna shut this guy down. Hardcore.

The cyclopes looked hella confused, to say the least. He kept looking at the puddle of blood I was just lying in, then back at me, then the puddle, then me again. His stupid club was lodged in the ground, and he was furiously trying to get it free. He would probably be better off just giving up on it and trying to fight me hand to hand.

I smirked.

Hell if he had a chance then.

I took a step towards him, taking my sweet old time. "You know I really should be thanking you," I started. I took another step forward. "I might have to get some badass stitches for that little trick you pulled."

Just as I was about to gut him like a fish right then and there, he spoke.

"B-b-b-but h-how?!" He stuttered pathetically. He glanced at my wounds before continuing. "Didn't it hurt? Are you invincible?" He gasped the last part, his one eye widening even more.

I couldn't help it. I threw my head back and laughed.

Did these monsters know nothing?!

"Oh, hell yeah that shit hurt!" I exclaimed between laughs.

I looked down at this feeble creature. He was so much larger than me, and he had plenty of opportunities to attack me. Yet, he let his own fears of pain stop him. I had no mercy for someone who didn't even try. He knew nothing of struggle, of hard work, of dedication. All he knew of was cheap shots when the enemy's back was turned.

I gripped my sword.

Smirking, I said to him, "But that's just progress pain, baby." In one fluid motion, I stabbed the monster in his gigantic eyeball. He imploded into golden dust, and it sprinkled down like gold snow.

I smiled softly. I'm getting really good at this!

I heard an enormous uproar of cheers, whoops, calls, and whistles. I looked over my shoulder, and I saw the crowd was celebrating. People were hugging each other and dancing. It looked like a lot of fun. I took a stride to join in the fun when my whole stomach turned back to fire.

I bit my lip to keep from screaming out. I doubled over in pain, my entire stomach on fire. I started seeing double, and I staggered dangerously on my feet. There was no way I could make it to any legit hospital before bleeding out. What could I do?

I heard a faint calling in the back of my mind.

"Cross over the bridge into Camp Jupiter..."

"What?" I gasped out almost inaudibly.

"Cross the bridge, Peri!"

I looked up and spotted a large wooden bridge over a flowing blue river. I had to reach it.

I had to.

"Quickly, Peri!"

I nodded once and took a shaky step forward. My side was set ablaze again with the slight motion. But that only made me take another step, and another, and another. The bridge looked so far away, I felt like I hadn't moved an inch. But I would not quit. Not in a million years.

I'm determined to make it to this stupid space camp if it's the last thing I do!

Sweat dripped down my face. Wiping it away, I smeared blood on my face as well.

I sighed.

I hope they have showers in space.

I gradually noticed my steps becoming slower and more pained. I felt myself becoming even more fatigued; partly because of exhaustion, and partly because of blood loss. Glancing up, I saw the bridge was only a few yards in front of me.

I'm gonna make it!

I gritted my teeth and willed my legs to keep moving. My bloody, holey socks slapped hard onto the stone bridge. My breathing was incredibly ragged, but I kept limping on.

"Almost... across..." I murmured to myself between strides. I shut my eyes tightly.

It hurt so badly.

As soon as I crossed, my body gave out.

I gasped in agony and let go of my sword. It plummeted into the soft grass at the same time I did.

"I swear..." I muttered with my last breaths, "I had better... go into space..."

Before I conked out completely, I heard a voice in the back of my head whisper incredibly softly.

"Well done, my young hero... My young, Periwinkle..."

Leo's POV

The crowd was surrounding the girl in a tight circle. She was unconscious, and we had no hint that she was still alive. Already, another pool of blood had formed underneath her. She was face down, so nobody had really gotten a good look at her. Her golden weapon was nowhere to be found.

Our group pushed our way to the front. Reyna quickly took control of the situation.

"Back up! Back up! Give her some air!" She barked out orders, and the Romans immediately complied. She definitely ran a tight ship around here.

"Medic!" She called.

A Roman girl stepped forward from the crowd. She was dressed slightly differently than the others; she wore a purple shirt, but it was emblazoned with the red cross symbol. She toted an enormous burlap bag labeled MED KIT. I figured that it would take a bit more than a band aid and a sticker to help the injured new girl, but kept my mouth shut.

The medic knelt down and began checking the girl's pulse and doing other medic-type things. The entire camp was holding their breath. She reached deep into her bag and pulled out a stethoscope, placing it around her neck. Gently, she rolled the girl onto her back and began giving her ambrosia and nectar.

As she did this, I couldn't help but stare.

The girl was gorgeous.

She had blood, sweat, and mud smeared all over her face, but she was gorgeous. Her lips were full and parted slightly. Her golden hair spilled all around her, like a river. Her brown skin shone warmly in the moonlight.

I sighed deeply.

The medic sat up suddenly, disturbing me from my thoughts.

She smiled softly and said, "She'll live,"

I swear the entire crowd sighed in relief at the same time.

"But she'll be in an unconscious state in the infirmary for about a week." As she said this, a couple Romans came and took the unconscious girl away on a stretcher.

Reyna nodded knowingly and stated to the crowd, "Okay, I think we've all had enough excitement for one day. Please, head to bed everyone."

There was a collective "Awwww" but slowly, the crowd trickled away as they all headed to their respective cohorts.

I glanced around at my friends; new and old.

Hazel lifted her arms into the air and said awkwardly, "Welcome to Camp Jupiter?"

We all burst out laughing as we headed to the 5th cohort.