NOAH

MY HEAD HURT. I woke up in the bottom bunk of a bed. I couldn't remember anything from the past day. My name is Noah Cruz. I'm a fourteen year old dyslexic with ADHD. I remember that at least. The last thing I can remember is seeing a…horse? I looked around to see I was in a cabin. It wasn't any normal cabin; it was a dark cabin with green torches lined on the walls. There were bunk beds and a treasure chest filled with golden drachmas, an ancient Greek coin.

What am I doing here? I thought. I stood up making sure not to hit my head on the top bunk. It was just then I noticed a girl sitting in the parallel bunk looking down at a dagger. I stumbled backwards making much noise and then she finally noticed me. She had olive skin and long, curly black hair that stopped at her hips. Her dark brown eyes said "Don't mess with me". She wore khaki shorts, bright orange shirt that read, "Camp Half-Blood".

"Oh," she said, "you're awake. Hi I'm Nicole." I kept quiet and regarded her. Did this girl kidnap me last night? I thought.

"Hi," I said, "um…where am I exactly?"

She stood up and slipped on her monochromatic white Vans. "I would explain," she said, "but you would freak out. That's why I'm going to let Chiron do the talking."

"Chiron," I exclaimed, "as in, the wise centaur from Greek myths?"

She nodded and walked over to the door. She opened it to let me see the outside. It was bright daylight. This is a camp? I thought. I'm at a camp? There was a fire in the middle, but on the sides were lined many cabins with different designs on them. What a creative camp. I thought. Nicole pointed past the fire and cabins to a house that wasn't all that big. "You'll meet him and Dionysus at the Big House."

Now I was mad. "Wait! Dionysus as in the wine dude from the myths! Okay where am I and how do I get out?"

The girl looked into my eyes with a deep, powerful gaze. "Just trust me. Okay?" Something about her made me feel like she wasn't lying.

"Okay," I said, "I trust you."

I walked out the cabin, past the fire and cabins, and towards the Big House. I walked up the steps of the Big House. There sat two men with dark, scruffy beards at a round table playing…pinochle? One man was in an electronic wheelchair and had many gray hairs in his dark hair. The other was a man with darker hair wearing a Hawaiian shirt and drinking a Diet Coke.

"Norman!" said the Hawaiian shirt.

"Dionysus," said the man in the wheelchair with a stern look on his face, "his name is Noah."

"Chiron, I don't care what their names are, we went over this."

"Wait," I interrupted, "you just said he was Chiron, right?"

"That is correct." Said the so-called Dionysus.

"Chiron was a centaur, half horse, half man. You're just a regular guy in a wheelchair. Plus, Chiron is dead."

The man in the wheelchair chuckled deeply. "This is just the beginning for you Mr. Cruz." I didn't understand what he meant. Then, he did it. He seemed to pull himself out of his wheelchair. That's when I realized his legs were fake. He brought out his true legs. When Chiron was done, I examined him properly. From the waist-up, he was a regular guy, but from the waist down, he was a majestic, brown stallion. This was Chiron. As crazy as it was, I was also starting to believe the guy drinking the Diet Coke was a god.

"Sit down Noah," Chiron said, "We have much to discuss."

I sat down in an empty chair. "So, what is this place and why am I here?"

"This is Camp Half-Blood, home of demigods." Chiron responded.

After seeing a real life centaur, I wasn't so surprised. "So this is where demigods stay, why am I here?"

"I can sense your powerful aura Noah, you are a demigod."

I almost laughed. "Me? A demigod? Very funny."

"There's actually no humor about it. You're fourteen years old; you could have been killed by monsters. I was surprised that you haven't come to camp yet."

I gulped. "My mother is a normal human, not a god."

"And your father?"

"He died before I was even born."

"As your Sharon told you, correct?"

"Correct—wait—how do you know my mom? Wait! Where is my mom? What happened last night?"

Chiron sighed. "Sadly, I do not know. Last night you were brought into camp borders by a satyr who found you lying outside. As for your mom, I've known you and your family ever since you were born. I mean, except your godly parent, your mother did not even know who your father really was."

"So my dad isn't really dead, he's an Olympian god."

"Or a minor god, but you're catching up nicely."

"When will I get to know?"

"Since your fourteen, he should claim you sometime today. Until then, I have told Brady Simmons, son of Apollo to show you around camp, but of course that's after you get more sleep."

"I'm not tired." I said yawning.

"You need rest Noah. You just got to camp, go to bed."

I went back to the cabin I was in before because Chiron said he didn't want the Hermes kids bothering me. It was the Hades cabin according to him. That's not creepy. I thought. That girl Nicole was still there.

"Chiron said I could crash here." I said.

"That's cool." She replied not looking up. She still studied the knife.

I got into the bunk I was in when I woke up and fell right asleep, but nobody told me about the dreams demigods have. I was in my house, I was sure of it. But everything was destroyed. My mom lay on the floor, lifeless and splattered with blood. I staggered backwards shielding my eyes. Then I heard the voice: "Hello Noah. I killed her and your next if you do not give me what I want." It was a deep voice, but I could tell it was a woman.

"Who are you?" I yelled. "You're crazy!"

"I am the goddess of madness child. Do not try me."

"Why did you do this?"

"I am mad, mad that you will be destined to defeat me, with your friends, demigod."

"What do you mean?"

"You will see soon demigod, but in the meantime, wake up." I woke up. There was a loud knock at my door. Nicole was gone from the opposite bunk.

"Hello," said the voice behind the door, "I'm Brady. Chiron told me to give Noah a tour of camp."

I now remembered everything from last night. My mom died right in front of my eyes and I ran away. I followed the red fiery light to camp borders and passed out. That's what happened. I had to find this goddess, whoever she was, and defeat her. But for now, I had to take a tour of camp.

"Coming!" I yelled.