Jim produced a familiar looking sword, and handed it to me.

I held it and admired the glow, tracing the riveted design on the handle.

I straightened and looked at Jim.

"That was my first sword. It's much too light for me now but it seems to suit you perfectly," he said smiling.

I swung the sword slowly. It was a little too heavy but I figure I'll get used to it.

Jim's face turned to stone. "Now, think of the sword as an addition to your own arm. I really want to stress this because the reach of the sword is very important. In battle, even an inch can mean the difference between life and death."

I swallowed as reality washed over me. I can actually die. I had previously ignored that fact and now, I struggled to digest it.

He made me practice swinging the sword, correcting my stance and my form as I went along.

"Hold it here, so you can defend your face and neck, while still having mobility," Jim explained, guiding my arm as he spoke.

Jim unrolled a long paper, and on it was a diagram of what looked like the human body, labeled and color coded.

He set the paper on the ground and went over pressure points and vital areas.

"You're going to want to strike in these areas," Jim explained pointing to the areas in red.

He made me do an exercise in which I carved an X into a stone with the very tip of the sword.

"Good, good. Bend your knees a little more," Jim chided.

I did as I was told. If Jim was right, there were things far more dangerous than just a Manticore out there. I have to be able to protect myself and my friends.

Friends. I had already made friends.

"You're slouching!"

I jumped.

Jim softened and said, "Ok, take a break in five minutes. Give me fifty repititions."

I puffed and wiped sweat from my brow. It was noon already. Break time.

Helen dropped by and raised a paper bag in the air. I grinned and we headed towards a picnic table.

"How is your training going, son of Hermes?" she asked, smirking.

"You found out? Well uh, he's been teaching me the basics, form and swinging and stuff. Pressure points, vital organs and places to strike. No combat yet," I explained.

Helen nodded and brought her sandwich to her mouth.

"Jim is a great teacher. Though we don't have much time, he'll get you ready," Helen said, fixing her gaze ahead of her.

"Are you nervous, at all? I mean, about the quest?" I asked.

She took a deep breath. "Of course. But this is what we have to do."

There was something woeful about her tone. It pained me. Something that made me want to look her in the eyes and hug her.

I swallowed, eager to change the subject. "Say, Helen, do you have any siblings here?"

Helen's face darkened. After a pause, she said, "I used to. A younger sister."

Way to go, Jeremiah. Real smooth.

"She--" Helen swallowed. "She's gone now."

I didn't dare ask for details.

Change the subject, change the subject, I thought, looking for an excuse to do so.

I didn't have to.

"Jessie took you on a tour, right? How did that go?" Helen asked.

I exhaled. "It was ok. She's not much for conversation," I said, laughing. "She's more interested in her nails than in talking to a real human being."

Helen giggled. I watched her and smiled.

"Too bad her boyfriend is a total jerk," I added.

Helen wrapped up her food. "Lucas. Lucas is unkind. He gets away with a lot because he's a counselor. Chiron is too busy to catch him as well. But let's not waste our words on him."

We went on, talking about anything and everything. It turns out Helen is a pretty good cook. She always makes cinnamon rolls and steak for the camp's celebrations. She doesn't have any siblings in her cabin but she gets along with a few other girls. She used to knit clothes for her younger sister but she still knits, just now without a sibling to give her works to.

Helen came off as an artsy introvert. She agreed to show me some of her embroidery later on.

Unfortunately, Jim had to come to end the break. I thanked Helen and waved goodbye.

Jim and I practiced until about an hour or two after sunset.

My form was still poor but Jim had faith that I'd imporve.

When I got to my cabin, I noticed some of my cabin mates were watching me with sidelong expressions I couldn't explain.

Was it longing? Sorrow?

Then it hit me: many of them had never been claimed. I had only been in the camp for a little over a week and my father had claimed me.

What made me any different from them? Why did I recieve recognition and why didn't they?

I had a hard time falling asleep that night.

When I did, I found myself in a dimly lit area. There was light coming from a glassless window somewhere above me.

I saw a disheveled boy with bleary eyes. He was leaning against a wall beside a few sleeping kids, also unkempt and sickly.

His expression lit up when he saw me. "He's not alone," the boy said, turning in the direction of the window.

There was movement beyond the wall along with some voices I couldn't make out.

"Wait, who's not alone? Where are w--"

I woke with a start.

The cabin was still dark, the only sounds were those of breathing campers. What was that all about?

I realized I was out of breath. I took a few sips of water and turned to go back to bed.

The next three days went like this: Jim and I trained and during my breaks, Helen and I would picnic and chat.

By the time the third day came to an end, my shirt was drenched in sweat.

"Come on!" Jim taunted.

I swung and Jim sidestepped.

He faked and I almost fell for it, barely moving my sword up in time to block his real attack.

"Don't get sloppy," Jim warned before he lunged.

I parried and our swords clattered.

I had to retreat a few steps because Jim's attack was stronger.

I ran and stopped short, aiming for his legs.

Jim deflected it easily but I was able to jab his jaw with my elbow.

He wrinkled his nose and shook his head.

"Decetption. Perfect," he said through his nose.

"That's enough for today," he declared.

Helen and I ate our last dinner at Camp-Half Blood. We ate on the grass, watching the sunset. The sky had streams of orange, purple and blue, making it calm and soothing.

"I think it's really impressive that you have so many talents. Not to mention you outclass the Apollo cabin in their own field," I said as I gazed into oblivion.

From the corner of my eye I could see Helen attempt to surpress a smile.

"I'm not as great as you make me sound," she said, bashfully.

I laughed and said, "If you say so."

We headed back and upon entering my cabin, I knew I wouldn't be able to fall asleep.

My heart was beating too fast. I heard every insect chirp and every breeze that rustled tree leaves. Ok, taunt me, mother nature.

I fell asleep from exhaustion and woke to someone shaking me.

"Get up, Jeremiah, we have to go. Everyone else is all set. We're all waiting on you."

My eyes sprung open. Jim stood over me, dressed in human attire.

I rubbed my eyes and slid out of my sleeping bag.

When our group approached the car, many of the campers came by to wave us off.

In the crowd, Navar grinned his gap-tooth smile, along with the rest of our teamates.

Jim pulled up in his Jaguar and our group piled in.

Chiron wished us good luck and we rolled up the windows.

I was going to call shotgun but Lucas beat me to it.

In a few minutes, we were on the highway racing down the road, Fallout Boy blaring.

I sat in the backseat on the left side, Helen sat in the center and Jessie sat on the right.

Lucas and Jim were entrenched in an argument.

"I'm telling you, the understeering on the Mercedes is better," Lucas protested.

"I don't want to hear it," Jim replied.

I looked out my window and behind us.

I noticed a truck with a yacht tied to it and a biker on our left. I rolled up my window.

Jessie was busy texting someone on her phone and Helen sat knitting something in her lap.

I cleared my throat.

Jim and Lucas stopped bickering. Helen looked up but Jessie continued to text.

"I know we're supposed to head west but where exactly are we going?" I asked.

From the rearview mirror, I could see Jim's contorted expression. "The truth is, we don't really know. The oracle said to travel West, so we do that," he explained.

"What, do you have any bright ideas? "Lucas taunted.

I tried to ignore the bitterness growing within me. "Well, the oracle asked us to rescue our friends from 'a land most sublime'." I looked out onto the road. "If Chiron was right about the ambiguity of the Oracle, it could mean we have to find a palace or something as one definition of 'sublime'..."

"Or it could mean a place that is literally sublime," Helen added, finishing my thought.

Jim was silent for a moment. "Sheesh, are you sure you guys aren't from Athena's cabin?"

Helen and I smiled at each other.

We got onto the I-80 West and traveled for a few hours. Eventually, we took an exit to grab some food. We decided to travel a few hundred more miles and stop at a hotel Jessie looked up and spend the night there.

Jessie put on some Taylor Swift and I opened the window again.

The wind disturbed my hair and I was about to close it but something stole my attention.

There was a biker to our left.

I had pulled my head into the car but when I peeked again, there was no one there.

Was that the same biker I saw this morning?

"Helen, I--" I started.

She couldn't possibly respond because she was sound asleep.

Jim was too frustrated with previous traffic to hear anything. Not even Lucas dared to argue now. I'll have to tell him later. Maybe it's not a big deal.

By the time we got close to the hotel, it was already getting dark.

We stopped to get some gas and Jim whistled as he parked the car.

"Bathroom breaks, everyone!" he exclaimed, after filling up the car.

We all got out. I stretched while Helen yawned and approached the women's room.

"I'll stay by the car. I don't have to go," I said, touching my toes.

Jim agreed and pretty soon, I was all alone.

The only sounds were coming from cars on the highway and from the flickering of a nearby lamppost.

I can't wait to sleep on a bed, I thought, as I began to stroll.

"You there!" someone yelled.

I looked over my shoulder and saw a burly old man wearing overalls.

He heaved and said, "Sonny, could you help me lift this tire?"

I took a look at our car and back at the man. Why not?

A part of me protested but I walked up to the man and rolled up my sleeves.

We held the wheel, which was surprisingly heavy and we lifted it into the trunk of his pickup truck, grunting all the way.

When I patted myself down from the dirt of the wheel, I noticed Jim was back, spinning his keys.

He hopped into the car and started it up.

The engine roared to life and without warning, the car rushed onto the highway.

I blinked.

Someone whistled and brushed their hands on their pants.

But...

Jim looked at me and then at the place where the car was.

My eyes widened.

Jim turned to the highway, which had a red Jaguar roaring in the distance.

The guy who entered the car--that wasn't Jim.

Chapter 6 is in the works. Leave a review! Let me know what you thought. If you liked it, tell your friends! I hope you enjoyed!