(A/N) This past belongs to Alexandros Blackburn Ashtide. He was submitted by RangerMK01.
Discovery – Alex just wanted to be a normal boy from a small town in Oregon but he didn't think he would get his wish. Alex was not a stranger to bad days. He had bad days when he was small and they hadn't stopped as he got older. Now his bad days seemed to be more frequent than the rain.
On Monday, he had gotten pushed to the ground by bullies, and get this, the bullies didn't even go to the same school as him. It was just a group of random kids who walked onto the play ground and decided to show him they meant business. Alex hadn't been standing anywhere near them; he hadn't even seen them in his life. People just seemed to target him. On Tuesday, he had a spelling test and a math test and the math test had word problems. What kind of test about numbers had more words than numbers? Wednesday resulted in Alex getting a detention because the normal bullies pushed him around. Thursday was an assembly that was supposed to last for a whole two hours and Alex couldn't sit through it. Yes, pulling the fire alarm was a bad idea but he had thought he saw someone who was on fire. The teachers didn't believe him so he got another detention. On Friday, his report card had come and his teacher recommended sending him for remedial help. Normally, when Alex was having a hard time at school, he could count on his mom to make things better. She always knew just what to do or say but not this week. On Saturday, he had to stay at home all day even though his mother had promised they could go out and see a movie. Apparently she had seen a strange man, or maybe a few strange men, roaming around the neighbourhood. Alex had seen one of them and he didn't think they were men. No man only had one eye in the center of his forehead. They had left and Alex thought they could go to the movies now, but his mom claimed she was tired so Alex had to stay in. This was turning out to be the worse week ever and for Alex, it didn't look like it was going to get any better.
"Alex." his mother whispered shaking him awake.
"What time is it Mom?" Alex asked sleepily getting up and wondering if they were going to the movies after all.
"Five o'clock." she whispered, "Get dressed."
'Scratch the movie idea.' through Alex.
"In the morning?" asked Alex groggily.
"Yes." she said, "We have somewhere to go."
"Where?" asked Alex since he didn't think any place he wanted to go was open at five.
"New York." his mother whispered, "To a summer camp there."
"New York!" Alex exclaimed as he came fully awake, "But that's almost two days away by car."
"I know." his mother said, "That is why we are leaving early."
"Wait," Alex muttered than shouted, "But it's the middle of the school year Mom!"
"I'll tell them we moved." she replied reappearing in his doorway, "Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah." Alex told her then asked, "Are we driving the whole way?"
"Yes." his mother replied, "I've already packed the car."
She grabbed his lunchbox off of the counter, put on her coat and then they headed out to the car. Even though it was still dark, Alex's mom hurried her son into the car as if she was scared of something seeing them outside. Then she backed out of the driveway and headed out of town. On the highway, she sped almost the whole way. Alex was afraid that they would crash but the moment the sun came up, his mother turned on the radio and everything was normal again.
Alex was getting tired of the car by the time they got to New York but at least his mother was driving the speed limit. Then she began to speak and he remembered why they were on this trip.
"Alex, you are special." she said, "You are a demigod, meaning you are half mortal and half Greek god."
"Which one?" asked Alex since he had loved hearing stories about them when he was little.
"I don't know." his mother replied, "Your father never told me. The camp that you are going to is one your father wanted you to go to."
"Why?" asked Alex, "I thought he never met me."
"He didn't but it is a special place for demigods." his mother told him, "My father went there."
"He was a demigod too?" asked Alex.
"Yes, he was a son of Apollo." his mother told him, "I have his weapons in the trunk. I am going to give then to you. The world is a dangerous place for demigods. Monsters will hunt you if you don't stay inside the camp."
"Monsters?" asked Alex worried.
"Just listen to the camp director and you'll be fine." his mother reassured him.
She was speeding again and all of suddenly she turned down a well hidden road and stopped near a hill. His mother popped the trunk.
"Alex, get your bag and the bow and the short sword in the trunk." she told him.
Alex did as he was told and closed the trunk door. He marvelled at the intricate etchings on the bow and the sharp edge of the sword. Slowly he walked around to the passenger side of the car.
"Over that hill is a big farmhouse." she told him, "Go that way and talk to someone named Chiron. He'll help you settle in."
"Aren't you coming?" asked Alex worried.
"I'm sorry Alex. I have to go." she said.
"Mom?" Alex asked as he reached for the car door.
"I love you." she told him, "Never forget that."
"I love you too." he whispered hand held out but frozen in place.
A sharp click let him know that the door was locked. Then his mother was hastily rolling up the window.
"Mom!" Alex yelled.
She put the car in reverse and was gone almost as fast as they had arrived. Alex started to cry. He cried for a long time. This was the worst week in his short seven year existence. His mother dumped him here and he felt alone for the first time in his life.
Alex gave himself a minute to get his emotions under control. He let a few tears trickle down his cheek before he readjusted his weapons and his backpack and trudged up the hill and back down to see a man in a wheelchair waiting for him on the porch.