Hey, sorry for the long delay I got caught up with other stories. Anyway, no one has guessed the number yet but one person was very close so I will give you another hint: it is 1-50. Now, may the continuation of the story continue!
Chapter 3: Let the Games Begin
Once all the teams were ready, we stood facing everyone around the campfire area. Chiron was going over rules and a lecture about how you can injure someone but not seriously maim or kill them. I tried to pay attention but with my ADHD, that was not going to happen. I started thinking about how cool I looked with all this gear on. I know, I know, that's kind of conceited, but I never really felt good about how I looked before.
At school, jeans and a T-shirt was usually all I ever wore and I used to get made fun of a lot. But with chest armor and a sword at my side, I felt strong and confident. When we were getting ready, Annabeth helped make sure I had a weapon. At first, we tried knives but those always scared me. When I was young at my elementary school, I used to see the lunch ladies stab the knife into a big chunk of what was supposed to be meat. After that, I stayed away from knives, lunch ladies, and suspicious meat as often as possible.
Next, we looked at a bow and arrow but my aim is pretty horrible and guns were just out of the question. I have very sensitive ears, so we went with a sword. Its name is 'Hooded' because clicking a small button, it can become invisible which I thought was the coolest thing ever! What was weird, though, Annabeth said whenever everybody else tried clicking the button, it never did anything. She said I was a special camper. I didn't know how to respond so I just nodded meekly.
Chiron was pretty surprised too, but just smiled and said the same thing Annabeth did. However, I can't use its ability in camp games or sword fighting because it's too much an advantage that should only be used in fighting monsters and other bad creatures and enemies.
I must have been gazing off when Chiron finished speaking because the head counselor, this guy named James, nudged me and asked me if I was ready. I quickly nodded and ran to catch up with the others.
We started on a hill and had to grab the as many other flag's as possible. James split us up into defense and offense; when he got to me, he asked, "What position are you good in?"
Remembering the conversation with Leo and wanting to impress him with my 'skills' I answered, "Yes—I mean offense."
A few of my team members and I sneaked into a part of the woods which seemed deserted. "You two go over there and we'll go over here," this girl named Angela whispered to me and this other girl named Jamie.
Just as we took a few steps, we were suddenly ambushed by a mix of Apollo and Hephaestus kids. Jamie grabbed her flute-like instrument out and music started that brought some of the campers down and sleepy. She looked pleased and I stared, my mouth gaping open. Whoa. Too bad the only instrument I can play is the triangle. Guess I'm not a Hermes kid.
I think she forgot about the ones who were strong enough to withstand that because they tackled her and knocked her out a little too quickly for my taste with a conk to the head with a conveniently placed log. I almost tried to try to help her but then I realized I was the next target.
I tried to control my fear but they were going towards me with such speed that frankly, it put a little pressure on me. I backed up slowly as they surrounded me, but thankfully, I remembered my sword. It made a swoosh sound as I pulled it out. It actually sounded kind of cool, but right then, I had other matters to worry about.
I heard them snicker a bit before the first one started to attack me. Ok, if they're laughing at me, they're in for a surprise. I struck my sword near them and they clashed it with another sword. I was bewildered I hadn't died in the thirty seconds we battled, but even more, that I won! On my hardest strike, their sword flew out of their hands and onto the ground about twenty feet away.
She attempted to get it but I stuck my sword out in front of her, blocking her path. "Don't even think about it," I stated, now calm, cool, and collected. Wow, I was feeling very superior at the moment, especially now that the other campers backed away, their faces pale. I stomped in front of them, making it seem like I would go for them next and they sprinted away as fast as they could.
Did I really just do that? I thought. Maybe my dad's helping me after all, through the necklace. Smiling, I rubbed the necklace between my two fingers. Thanks, Dad. The necklace glowed and I knew he heard me.
I started moving toward where Apollo's and Hermes's teams' flag were. A bright green was beside a rather large rock and I grinned thinking this will be a piece of cake. Boy was I wrong.
Tip-toeing near it, a boy with dark curly hair jumped out of the tree right in front of me—wait a second. That's Leo! It was pretty impressive hiding in a tree despite the fact he fell. I suppressed a giggle and exclaimed, "Leo!"
He got up and brushed dirt off his jeans. "Told you I have mad ninja skills," he grinned.
"Like falling out of a tree?" I laughed.
"Um yeah, I definitely meant to do that," Leo saved.
I rolled my eyes teasingly and replied, "Right, well you might want to move because I'm taking that flag."
"You'll have to go through me first." Ooh, a challenge. Leo is really asking for it now.
"Omigosh, check out those squirrels up there!" I tried to distract him, pointing up the tree. Fortunately, I'm a really good actress and he fell for it.
"Where? I don't see them." He skimmed the tree again but by this time, I was already to the rocks.
Lifting the flag with all my strength, I yanked it out and held it up high.
"Hey—whoa wait a second. You were like right there and now you're—you tricked me?" Leo looked slightly amused and very impressed. Oh yeah, my plan totally worked.
I grinned. "I guess I have mad skills in trickery. I might be a Hermes child after all," I said as a cheer went up through the woods surrounding us.
Leo smiled back and we held our romantic gaze until my team came up to congratulate me. Which so ruined the moment but I have a feeling we'll have many more moments later tonight at the bonfire.
Ok, I know I said this chapter would be the bonfire too, but I didn't expect Capture the Flag to be this long, so until next time, ciao!