~~~CH. 3-Emily POV~~~

Due to popular request, here's the next chapter!

When I was next aware of my surroundings, I felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. I was laying down, feeling heavy sheets piled up on top of me. I tried to open my eyes, but they felt glued shut. I wanted to move, to find out if my mother had survived. I struggled against the drowsiness, but it soon overtook me and I drifted away again.

When I next gained consciousness, I was able to open my eyes a bit. The first thing I saw was bright yellow, shaggy hair, on the head of a blue-eyed boy.

"...Shouldn't've survived, sir. The sides were completely smashed in. She should've been crushed, impaled, and mangled beyond recognition," The boy was saying.

My mind was groggy. Was he talking about me?

"Whether or not it should've happened, she is here now, and we must take care of her. She made it past the border, so she has godly relations. It is our responsibility to protect her now." An older, deeper voice joined the conversation, and I caught a glimpse of what looked like a horse. I remembered the car crash, and it seemed I had miraculously survived. But what about Mom? Was she crushed, impaled, and mangled beyond recognition?

"Did...Mom...where…?" I struggled with words. The horse and blonde boy turned to me. The boy, seeing I was awake, grabbed something from a table beside the bed. He leaned in.

"Here, eat this. It'll help you heal. We couldn't get it in your mouth when you were asleep." He brought a spoonful of something to my lips, and I took it. It felt like pudding, but tasted kinda like popcorn. After a few more spoonfuls, he put the delicious food back on the table. He was right-I felt stronger almost immediately. I could now open my eyes fully. I caught the look on his face when he turned back to me...I can't explain it, but it felt like I had disappointed him somehow, like I was supposed to be more. He turned his head back to the horse. No wait...not horse. A man's torso replaced where a normal horse's neck and head should've been. A centaur. The only creature I could remember from the Greek mythology classes at school.

"It...it's her? She's the one to hold the pillars?" The blonde asked the centaur. Pillars? What?

"I don't know, Jake. It was vague about when they would come-there might be another to come that's chosen. He, or she, even might already be here." Jake looked doubtful, but turned back to me. Then his confusion hardened into accusation.

"Well, are you? Are you the one who will restrain the pillars and save us? Tell me the truth!" He was almost yelling at me, which I thought was totally unfair. I was still unconscious, or hallucinating. I had so many questions of my own; how and why could I answer his? But, I decided to give the answer that seemed right.

"I...I...I really don't like you, annoying hallucination boy." I managed to say in a complete sentence. His face, though, was worth the struggle. It looked like he got hit by a brick. I grinned before losing consciousness again.

The next time I woke up, I felt refreshed and stronger than before, so I sat up. I immediately got dizzy, but it soon passed. When I could see straight, I checked out my surroundings. I was on a cot in a smallish room. Other cots lined the walls beside me, and small tables holding random bottles speckled the room. A med bay of some sort. I tried to stand, but my legs were feeling rebellious and I crashed to the floor.

"Ow," I whimpered. I grabbed the side of a cot to pull myself to my feet, but the stupid piece of furniture snapped in half. I fell back down, yanking sheets and pillows down on top of me. Someone heard the noise I was making, and ran in. A helpful hand lifted the cloth off of me. I looked up from my awkward position on the floor to see an orange-haired girl standing in front of me, trying not to laugh.

"Don't say anything and I won't break anything," I snapped.

"I think you already did," she responded. I growled. Her eyes widened and she started to back away.

"Ares. Definitely Ares," she said. I realized that scaring her wouldn't help me at all, and tried to suppress my angry-face.

"Just help me up, would ya?"

"Okay...just don't hurt me, please. I have a prank planned in ten minutes," was her response. I held out my hand and she yanked me to my feet. My legs swayed, but otherwise I was fine. I started to walk away, but the annoying redhead grabbed my arm.

"Oh, no, I'm not letting you roam around camp just yet. First we're going to see Chiron." She pulled me toward the med room door. I could've easily thrown her off, but I was still uncoordinated.

"Who's Chiron? Answer me, Carrot," I threatened. 'Carrot' still looked scared of me, but her only answer was a wide grin.

"You'll see."

I finished it finally! Here you go guys, sorry to keep you waiting.