Here's Chapter 2. I had writer's block for a while. That is my only excuse for it taking so long. Oh yeah, and my computer has been acting up. That's it. Now look down.

CHAPTER 2- I Run From Death

"Oh, Athena." I said. No wonder Alex was so smart, even with her ADHD and Dyslexia.

"Yeah, sometimes I wish that-"

"ALEX!!!" came a voice, getting louder.

"James? What's go-"she was cut off again as the kid ran up, and hugged her.

"Alex! I thought you were dead! I heard about the Manti-"

"JAMES!" yelled Alex. "I know your happy, but gods! I'm alive." I got a better look at him now. He had brown hair, and hazel eyes. He was about our age, and had almond colored skin. He looked like he had been here for a while. He looked at me.

"And this is?" he asked scornfully. I felt a surge in my heart, anger. I was about to step forward and introduce myself, like I should have, but James was saved as Alex said,

"This is Adam. He's my friend. I've known him since third grade. You never heard me talk about him?" I smiled. Well, on the inside. She talked about me! Anyway, James just said,

"Oh, okay. I guess I never listened." I clenched my fist.

"Uh, see you later James." Said Alex, and grabbed my arm, pulling me farther. "That's James." she said, looking at me with a look of, "thank the gods were out of there!"

"Hey, he seems nice." I said, sarcastically. She sighed.

"Yeah, he's had a crush on me since like… we met. He thinks I don't know, but it's pretty easy to tell." She said.

"Oh, he's…okay." I lied. She pushed me.

"Uh huh." She mumbled. "Come on, let's get to camp." She said, and started walking again. I caught up.

"So…"I said, trying to break the awkward silence.

"So…"she said. "What's been going on lately?" she asked.

"Well, I was going to my Aunt's wedding. Plus, my mom just got into that cooking school she wanted to go to. She made her signature milkshakes for celebration."

"Mmmm…" said Alex. She adored my mom's milkshakes.

"Well, I see you have gotten taller." I said to Alex. It was kind of weird. She was about a ½ of an inch taller, but noticeable. Plus, I was about 5 months older. She smiled.

"Yeah, so have you. How tall are you now?" she asked.

"About 5 feet 6 inches." I said, shrugging.

"Ha, short stuff." She teased. "I'm 5 feet 7 inches. Anyway, were almost there." She said, looking up. I saw some cabins in front of us. Each one was different. She pointed to the oldest looking one. "That's the Hermes cabin. And then that's the Artemis cabin, even if she has no children, it's all about respect. Then the Dionysus cabin, the Poseidon cabin, the Zeus cabin, and the Demeter cabin. All of the Twelve Olympians, plus the minor gods. These cabins, if you haven't already figured it out, are where the campers stay. "

"What about Hades?" I asked. She pointed to another one.

"Right there."

"Oh." I said. She led me to the Hermes cabin, and opened the door.

"We've got another one!" she yelled in. A kid who was fiddling with some kind of model plain looked up.

"Claimed or undetermined?" came his reply.

"Undetermined!" she said. I heard some moans.

"Oh, get over it." She said. "Let's go." I followed her in, and looked around. Dozens of other kids were here. Some looked like preps, some like Kurt Cobain, and some like they rather have been dead. I didn't like them. There was one that stood out though. There was a group of boys, about 15 years old, stood 10 feet away, snickering to themselves. "That's Josh Smith, son of Ares, and the other three are Jake, Mike, and Patrick Travle. They are Hermes' sons."

Josh looked kind of annoyed with the demigods, but I could probably get on his good side. I was good at that. He looked over, and walked over to us.

"Hey, look who the brainiac dragged in. Who's this?" Alex looked kind of angry, but I guessed he always teased her.

"This is Adam, son of…who knows what." She looked at me and pushed me forward. I though for a second, and finally I said,

"Wassup?" Wassup? I thought. Did I just say wassup? He looked me over.

"Wassup? Humph, kids." He said, and turned to walk away. He stalked off, and soon was back with the Travle triplets. I sneered.

"He sounds nice!" I said. Alex looked at me again.

"Let's get out of here. I need to take you to Chiron."

***

About an hour later, I and Alex were standing in the same room as a horseman. He told me the politically correct term was Centaur, but I didn't get it.

"So," the horsem-er… Centaur said. "You found this half-blood at your school?" he asked.

"Yes Chiron." Alex answered, nodding.

"Hm… and he is?" I stepped forward.

"Uh, Adam Cook, sir." I said, introducing myself. He sat there for about a minute before answering. He leaned forward.

"Adam Cook? Yes, I'm afraid I've got things I need to do. Alex, would you mind showing Adam where he can sleep?" Chiron asked.

"Yes, sir, I will." She said. She pulled me out of the room, and led me outside. "You'll be sleeping in the Hermes cabin, since you haven't been claimed." She said, looking at the old-looking building. I looked up at the sky, and realized it was dusk, and still getting darker. She looked over at a different cabin. "I've got to go, Adam, you can bail on dinner if you want, but only tonight. See you tomorrow," and with that she ran off, heading for the Athena cabin.

I stood there for a minute, and then sauntered towards the Hermes cabin. I walked in, the cabin dark, and found a spot in the corner. I sat against the wall, and fell asleep, thinking about what tomorrow would bring.

***

I woke up, and found only a few people in the cabin. I looked out the window, and saw that it was just now Sunrise. I yawned, and got up, stretching my arms. I walked out of the cabin, which smelled like mothballs, and headed for the arena, where I learned my first lesson would be. When I got there, I saw different campers, in armor, holding swords and daggers. I walked for the one person they were huddled around. I recognized him as Jonathan Press, son of Poseidon, who Alex had described as "the best sword fighter in camp." I sighed. He must have taught it, I would probably get humiliated, and end up face flat in the dirt. I finally spoke up.

"Um… I don't have anything, you know, for class." I stood there, probably looking like a moron. He looked as if I just said I like milk topped with pickles, but eventually, he laughed.

"Ah yes, the newbie, don't worry. I'll get you something." He walked out, and I was left in the large circle of kids, eyes blazing into me. Some of them were probably thinking, "Let's kick his butt," and, "he looks like a dweeb, I wanna swing at him." After waiting about 10 minutes, I walked towards the armory. What was taking him so long? I opened the metal door, and saw a terrifying sight.

Jonathan was huddled against a workbench, choking. Blood spilled from his mouth, and a creature, which looked like it had crawled from Hell, looked at me. Its face was ghost white, and its eyes like black holes, staring into my soul. It leaped forward, and missed me by an inch. I ran, my legs carrying me faster. I didn't stop, and could hear the horrible creature following. I almost stopped to look behind me, but I didn't. Terror ate at my flesh, and I could hear it approaching. We ended up by the pond, and I tripped. I thought I was going to die, and my life flashed before me. Then, I felt a tug in my gut, as if it was trying to tell me something.

The creature's fowl-smelling breath washed over the back of my neck. Just then, what you probably thought was going to happen, didn't. The shadow formed around my body, and swallowed the creature whole. I opened my eyes, after ages. Every thing was quiet, and I sat there, completely awe-struck, and frozen in fear. I saw the rest of the campers around me, and that made a huge crowd. Chiron stepped forward, all four legs moving.

"Every one welcome Adam Cook," he yelled loud enough for everyone to hear, "son of Hades!"