CHAPTER THREE: ACCUSED FOR NOTHING

After that little dramatic scene, I rode a bus to East 81st, heading to Goode High School. There, I had to meet up with Rook, the only closest friend I had in Camp. Don't worry, I asked permission from Chiron the centaur, our camp activities director. Yeah, Chiron is a centaur. I know, for a girl who's scared of horses, I'm shocked too. Well, the weirdness is just beginning; Rook is half-man and half-GOAT. That's right, he's a satyr; a rapping satyr, I might add.

Satyrs like him had one mission: protect demigods. I guess that is why they were also known as the "protectors". Rook has been in Goode High School to keep an eye for fresh demigods. Once that happens, he has to find a way to bring that unfortunate person to camp. Rook was also the one who found me in Japan. But we didn't meet in a school; I was forced to go to camp. I'd rather not elaborate on the details.

I arrived a few blocks away from the school and decided to walk the rest of the way. Usually, when a half-blood goes out like this, being an instant target to monsters was the price to pay. I just hoped that the monsters took a vacation somewhere, and gave operation gobble-up-demigods a rest. However, it weren't the monsters that bothered me this time.

While I was walking, I noticed a police car slowly following me. I stopped to look at the car, and two policemen immediately came out. They approached me slowly, with friendly looks on their faces. However, I could already smell trouble from them.

The first officer gave me a less friendly smile. "Good morning, ma'am." he greeted. "I'm Officer Morrison. This here is Officer Gopher." Gopher?

I gulped. "Is there any problem, officer?" I asked, politely as possible. But I could not control the shaking in my knees.

"Well, you need to come with us to the police station right away." Officer gopher replied.

I took a small step backwards. Police station? "Why is that?" I looked at them, raising a brow at them.

"We need to ask you a few questions, ma'am. Don't worry, I'm sure it'll only be for a short while." Officer Morrison reassured. But I could tell that he was lying.

"Why not ask me those questions here, then?" I asked, hoping their answer would confirm my suspicion.

The officers just laughed at me, like I did something stupid. "That simply isn't done," Officer Morrison said, sternly. "You must come with us."

I was starting to sweat like a pig. "Uhh, I can't. I have some other business to attend to." I said, trying to leave. "Perhaps another time."

"I don't think that's a wise decision, ma'am." Officer Morrison said, revealing handcuffs. "After all, we've been after you for years." Both of them soon walked closer to me. I gulped and walked backwards, expecting them to turn into some random Greek monster. But nothing happened. They were still average cops. "What are you?" I asked, realizing that was not the right question to ask.

Officer Gopher scoffed. "You're just like what the criminal records described: crazy-looking. " he said, trying to grab me.

I dodged his approach and immediately ran. They aimed their guns at me and shot. I managed to dodge the gunshots, and ran a little faster. I turned into a different street and I soon heard their car engine roaring. The only thing I could do was outsmart them.

Thanks to my ADHD, I ran as fast as a cheetah. I turned to another street and I slipped into an alley. I hid behind a huge black dumpster, and I stayed there until the police car finally passed by. I sighed in relief, but my mind went racing. What was going on? They were certainly not Greek creatures. They were actually mortal officers telling me that I did something wrong. But what did I do?

After fifteen minutes, I left the dark alley and headed for Goode High School.

When I got there, the students were already out. Unlike Japan, American schools were much more chaotic. There was PDA (if you do not know what this means, then I suggest you must not know), loud chattering, and jocks and other chumps were bullying defenseless kids everywhere. I even saw a group of men throwing a nerd into a dumpster. That scene made me grit my teeth. As a nerd myself, I hate seeing cowardly jerks persecuting our potential. Before long, I finally saw Rook.

He was wearing his usual green jersey and the mist-the one that distorts reality- concealing his furry legs and hooves with a pair of loose camouflage pants and oversized rubber shoes. The satyr also looked impatiently at me. I sighed and walked towards him.

"What took ya, man?" he asked, exasperated.

"Sorry, I got a little... side tracked." I said.

He let out a heavy sighed and decided to give me a huge grin. "Nah, forget it. It's good see ya, man!" he said, giving me a bear hug.

I smiled, and returned the embrace. "Yeah, it sure is." I had to admit, I haven't seen Rook for almost two months, and camp has been rather lonely without him around.

"Shall we get going then? I wanna do some shopping for Criss' birthday present! Remember him?"

I tried to make myself look excited."Yeah, how could I forget?" Yeah, how could I forget his insane driving?

"Sweet! Let's go!" He was about to run, but I grabbed his shoulder with my tensed hands.

"Hang on! There's something I need to tell you." I said, feeling a lump forming in my throat.

"What's that, yo?"

"I think... I'm in trouble."

(O u O)

"The police did what?" he nearly shrieked, causing an echo throughout the shop we were in. He immediately covered his mouth in shame and bent his head down searching for a perfect gift for his friend.

"Are you sure they're not wild Greek monsters?" he asked, whispering.

"Uhh yeah, I'm certain. They didn't change form like they usually do, they tried to grab and handcuff me, and they tried to shoot me." I said.

"Man, this is bogus, yo!" he said. "Are you sure you didn't do anything?"

"This is practically like the first time I got out of camp for leisure! How could I be in the wanted list?"

He paused for a moment. "You sure you didn't do anything during your previous quest with Lucius?" he asked, giving me a conspicuous look.

"Rook!"

"Alright, alright! I believe you." he said, waving his hands in surrender. "Do you intend to tell Chiron about this?"

"No... at least, not yet. We've got a lot more to deal with at camp."

"Figures." he said, checking out an orange jersey. "Do ya think this would suit him?"

I grimaced. "Rook, you guys wear jerseys like...all the time." I pointed out.

"Heh, I guess you're right." he agreed, returning the jersey back in the rack. "Man, a lil' help here?" he begged. I sighed and handed him a something random from one of the shelves. It was a chain vintage necklace with a huge golden dollar sign dangling. "How about this... what did the Americans call it? Bling?" I asked. He looked an inch closer to the necklace, and began studying it. A grin came across his face.

"Dude! This is perfect!" he exclaimed. "Thanks man! You're like my savior! You're beautiful, man!" he then skipped to the counter and paid for the chain necklace. I groaned and went to the satyr's side. "Rook! This is serious! What if I do get locked up?" I asked, with a worried look.

"Chillax... people like you deal with this all the time." he said, getting the shopping bag from the clerk. "You just have to stay at camp for the time being and the police will give up in looking for you."

"But they said they've been after 'me' for years! They think I'm a wanted criminal!"

"Yo, you're exaggerating."

I sighed. "I hope you're right. It's bad enough I've got a couple of rebellious minor gods to deal with." My eyes widened with what I just said, for a moment. Was I actually taking this whole Olympian business, seriously? I then whimpered, inside. I am really becoming one of them. By them, I mean the demigods, the Olympians, the whole Greek enchilada.

"Yeah, sure... "He said, patting my back. "Now come, looks like we're gonna have to go back to the demigod crib."

"Huh?" I blinked, remembering that I was in shop with a satyr.

"Back to camp, yo!"