Chapter 3 – Chiron Ruins My Life
Chiron studied the apple thoughtfully.
He, Annabeth and I were in the basement of The Big House. Annabeth's stormy grey eyes were tight with worry.
A deadly silence filled the room.
"What does it mean?" I asked, trying to break it.
Chiron looked up at me. His face was seared with a thousand wrinkles. He took a deep breath before replying. "It means that someone is trying to provoke arguments at the Camp. We must hold a contest to decide who is 'the greatest', just like the Gods did all those years ago."
A contest?"But that will just cause another war!" I objected.
"Not if we go about it in the right way," Annabeth told me. "If we make the competition as fair as possible, no one can complain."
"And how do we do that?"
Annabeth turned to face me. "We must give everyone a fair chance."
"Yes, child", Chiron agreed. He padded to the door on his horse hooves. "It is time to tell the Camp."
"Gather round, campers. I have an announcement."
Annabeth and I stood next to Chiron. The campers gathered around us.
Chiron held out the golden apple. "A few hours ago, this was left at the Camp. It is just like the one in the judgement of Paris. It reads 'to the greatest," instead of 'to the fairest', though. We must hold a contest to decide who will win the apple."
Shouts filled the air.
"I want it!"
"When will the contest be?"
"I SHOULD HAVE IT!"
"NO WAY. I'M THE MOST BEAUTIFUL!"
It didn't surprise me that the Aphrodite kids were the most interested.
"SILENCE!" Chiron roared.
Everyone was quiet.
"If you'd like to take part, put your name in this", Chiron held up an old brazier. "We will pick three names out tomorrow night, and those three demigods shall go into the final. As Percy is Camp leader, he will judge the contest."
That shocked me. I didn't want to be blamed or hated. "Chiron…I don't want to…please…."
"You must." Chiron trotted away.
The other campers moved off, too, leaving me alone in the clearing, feeling sick.