Chapter four: On my own

Monday morning, in the woods

I woke up hungry, but I didn't eat. I only had a little bit of food, which I needed to conserve. I left the woods as soon as I woke up and walked to the nearest small town. I didn't know the name of it, and I didn't care. It had a library. A library that had computers. What was better for looking up global news than a computer?

I walked into the library, and immediately felt like I was being watched. The place was so small and cramped. The librarian didn't help to make me more comfortable.

"Excuse me, ma'am, but could I please use one of your computers for a while?" I asked her sweetly.

"Where's your mother, Missy?" she asked, completely ignoring my question, even though I'd asked so nicely.

I hesitated. Lying was, unfortunately, not one of the things I picked up from the Hermes kids. "She's... at home. We don't have Internet at my house, and I have a project due on the 6th. I need to research for it."

"It's the 5th, Missy," the librarian narrowed her eyes and rested her hands on her hips the way only old ladies can do. "Are you lying, by any chance?"

"No. I'm just... a procrastinator." I grinned sheepishly.

"What's this project on, anyway, Missy?" Something in the old lady's voice told me that she wasn't giving in anytime soon.

I said the first thing that came to my mind. "Ancient Greek gods. I have to, um, make their family tree and write a two page essay on my favorite god and why I like that god."

Thunder boomed outside. I guess heroes weren't supposed to take favorites.

The back of my neck tingled and I turned around. There was a tall man holding a husky pile of books and a DVD. He was ready for check out. I smiled sweetly at him. It's better to make friends than enemies, Chiron always told me.

Chiron...

I suddenly felt sad, homesick. But I wasn't going back home until I found the boy.

The woman cleared her throat, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Well, Missy, I have someone waiting. Go get your mommy and bring her back here. I need her permission to let you on these computers."

Her tone was sarcastic.

I felt my face harden and the blood rise to my face. I was getting mad. Did this old hag have something against homeless kids?

"No," I said, planting my feet firmly on the floor. "I'm not going to go ALL the way back to my house and get my mom, old lady. You are going to let me on one of those computers."

She looked mad. Maybe calling her 'Old lady' wasn't the best idea. "Why would I do that, Missy?"

"I have a project due tomorrow. I need to do it to pass the seventh grade." I said it slower, as if she were a toddler—which she obviously wasn't—and needed me to explain everything to her.

She glared at me, as if she had read my thoughts.

The man behind me sighed impatiently.

The old woman ignored him. "Missy, if you don't leave my library, I will be forced to remove you myself."

The way she said remove made me feel uncomfortable, as if I were a disease.

"Look, lady, I really, really need a computer. Ten minutes, please." I put on my best innocent-kid-that-doesn't-want-to-fail look.

She looked as if she were about to cave for a moment. But no, her face went back to a wrinkly scowl and she said, "I need your mother's permission, Missy, for you--"

"Excuse me," someone said.

"What?!" the woman snapped

I turned around. There was a man with big blue eyes and pale white skin standing right beside the man holding the stack of books. I recognized him, but I didn't know how.

"I think you should let this little girl on a computer," Blue-eyes said.

"Why?" the old lady looked at Blue-eyes in distaste.

"Do you really want to be the woman responsible for this girl failing all because she didn't do one project?" Blue-eyes waved his hand at me.

"Well..." The old lady was at a loss for words.

"Let her on a computer." He demanded.

Go Blue-eyes! I silently cheered.

The old lady hesitated. "Oh, fine, but if you break it, you buy it."

"Thank you!" I said excitedly.

Blue-eyes turned to walk away while I was signing the papers that said that I was on this computer. When I finished signing my name sloppily, I rushed after him.

"Thanks so much, mister." I said when I caught up to him. "I owe you big time."

"It was no problem, Alli." He smiled at me.

Alli? How did this man know my name... well, nickname?

"How do you--" I started.

"Call me Hermes," He held out his hand for me to shake.

"Hermes? I-I've never met a god before. Except, well, Mr. D." I shook his hand nervously. This was the man that had found me in the woods. I did owe him big...

He put a finger to his lips. "We're in a puplic place," He said.

"S-sorry," I stuttered.

He winked at me. " You don't have to be nervous, you know."

I nodded. "Well, thanks for helping me. I better get on before the old lady changes her mind."

I gave him one last smile, and turned to walk away.

"Wait, Alli." He put a hand on my shoulder. "There's something you should know. The boy you are seeking—he's real, and he's in Florida. Near Tallahassee."

I was speechless.

First, Hermes helps me get a computer, and now... this? Were supposed to be more... like Dionysus. But this, this was amazing. I felt extremely thankful for Hermes. I just wanted to hug him, but I didn't.

"Oh, wow, are you serious?" I said in disbelief.

Hermes nodded. "Tallahassee. I can't tell you any more, though. I want to see if you can find him."

Hermes grinned widely.

My own grin was just about as wide. "Thank you, so much, Lord Hermes."

I did a small curtsy and went back into the library to look up recent Florida news to see if there were any explosions in the last few days. That would probably be the work of the boy.

SF: Once again, we haven't updated in forever.

JJ: Blame it on SF.

SF: Why?

JJ: I dunno, I just don't want to take the blame.

SF: . Whatever. Alli is getting closer and closer to him...

JJ: Yeah, but it will be a WHILE before she actually finds him. **Evil smile**