Percy's POV

"Hi, I'm Grover!"

"Uh hey, I'm Percy." I replied eyeing him up and down, "Umm you can let go of my hand now dude…"

"Oh shit, sorry" he replied, "Any-anyway, I was just lost in my thoughts just now a-and I kind of forgot to look where I was g-going."

"It's cool man, no harm no foul." I replied.

He seemed like a generally decent guy, but there was something strange about him, that I just couldn't put my finger on. He was wearing the same orange t-shirt that I had, and his said HALF-BLOOD DEMI-GOD as well. On his wrists were beads and small wooden trinkets tied together with brown string. His shoes… well they weren't really shoes. They were slip-ons? I guess that's what they called them, and they were really worn out.

"U-um this your first try-outs?" he said, eyeing me cautiously. I was broken out of my thoughts by his question.

"Uh yeah. I don't really know what I'm supposed to do though." I replied. I didn't like the look and tone that he was giving me when he asked the question. But once he heard my reply, a look of relief seemed to come upon him.

"Oh phew!" he sighed. "Because you don't look like a half-blood. And I saw you holding the orientation t-shirt, so for a second there I thought the hunt had begun. Boyy do I feel foolish. Hahaha"

"Half-blood? ...Hunt?" I asked. "What are you talking about?"

"Errr no-nothing in particular, I was just ya-yammering too much again haha. I tend to do that a lot." He stuttered, "You heading for the orientation hall too? I can lead you there, it's my second time!"

"Well, yeah… but wait, repeat that… what is a half-blood?" I asked.

He didn't even bother acknowledging my question. Scratching his head, he took off ahead of me and quickly started walking. Shaking my head, grumbling and continually being suspicious, I followed him to wherever this orientation hall was supposed to be placed.

After about 2 minutes of following and walking, I couldn't take it anymore. I quickened my pace and caught up with him. He was mumbling something and could not stop scratching his head.

"Hey, Grover was it?" I asked.

He looked at me and nodded briefly before looking ahead again.

"I couldn't help but notice you're wearing the t-shirt. Should I be wearing it too?" I asked.

"Su-sure. It'd probably be for the best. You don't want anyone taking it fro-from you." He stammered.

"Huh ok…" I replied. "Wait what? Taking it away from me? What do you mean? Who's gonna want to take it away from me?"

"Uh no-nobody? Nobody!" he stammered… again. "umm so-sorry but stop asking me questions. Just follow me alright and you'll find out soon enough okay"

I nodded and decided I wouldn't press on the matter further. The poor guy seemed nervous, and was noticeably starting to sweat quite a bit. Pit stains had started to form and I was starting to get a little bit… concerned. The name on the shirt said half-blood, and from what he told me, this wasn't his first orientation. You mean he was invited back? So what happened to him during his first tryout…? He also mentioned a hunt and someone taking my shirt away from me. Was the shirt that important?

I collected myself. This obviously isn't an ordinary school. I mean the luxury cars, the helipads, the huge campus… There was something off about all of this. But I just couldn't seem to place a finger on what…

There was also going to be a hunt, and having a t-shirt played a significant role in it. When, what or where the hunt was, I had no clue. But I had a feeling that the orientation hall would be where I would find the answers.

We continued walking for a good 10 minutes. We walked up and down hills, past huge buildings and decorated gazebos, amongst students walking against or with us in different directions. After about 15 minutes, the landscape of the place started changing slowly. There were more trees and less buildings as it became clear that the people walking with us were all wearing the same orange t-shirt and were trying out as well. At the 20 minute mark, Grover stopped and we appeared to have reached. We started walking through huge wooden doors that provided access through a huge clearing of tall oak trees. The door's seemed to be cut right through the trees as it opened up into a huge clearing. I stepped through and I had to catch my mouth to make sure it didn't fall off. Further ahead, there were beautifully carved-out wooden bleacher seats that surrounded a huge, elevated and circular wooden stage. The entire hall was surrounded by the tall oak trees, which provided shelter, glimpses of the outside as well as let in strings of light from above. A cool breeze passed through the leaves and the rustling softly echoed throughout the hall.

I walked down the wooden steps and took a seat near the back row next to Grover. Most of the group had already found a seat, and were scattered about, chattering amongst themselves. I took a glance at Grover - the poor boy was a wreck. He was practically chewing off his nails and he seemed to be sweating even more if that was even possible. I shook my head and decided I'd just leave him alone.

Looking around me, there were about 60-70 students dressed in the same orange t-shirt and most of them looked strangely familiar. Quickly scoping around, I noticed that the group's sex was generally split right down the middle with a good mixture of boys and girls. I began looking around more carefully, taking in the seemingly familiar faces and drinking in the beautiful landscape.

Where had I seen these people before? So many of these faces looked so familiar and yet, I just couldn't seem to put my finger on where I had seen them before.

Waitaaaaminute. Waitafreakingnewyorkminute. My eyes widened.

Majority of the guys and girls here were freaking celebrities! I had seen most of them on television or magazines. Most of them were either junior Olympic athletes or globally recognised for their own specific sport or talent.

I didn't think it was possible, but I suddenly felt even more out of place.

What was I, Percy Jackson, adhd and dyslexia, kicked out of 7 schools doing here amongst there stars and celebrities? I didn't deserve to be here. I was about to get up, turn around and leave, when the chattering of someone's teeth brought me back. I turned and looked at Grover. The poor guy looked frightened out of his mind, and yet, here he was again for the second time. A pang of guilt struck me, I hadn't even started, and I was about to give up. The resolve that I had made in my car before I left, struck me like Bryan did to my poor back. I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth.

I wasn't going to let my mum or myself down again. I wasn't going to back down without a fight. No one may want me here or may think I don't belong, but that wasn't going to stop me…

KABOOOOM

KABOOOOM POOWW

BOOOOOOM KABOOOM

-Chaos ensued -

My thoughts were broken apart by loud explosions coming from the stage area. Smoke scattered and blocked my vision, while the smell of burnt wood filled the air. I started coughing and I could hear people screaming and shouting all around me. I was about to get up and run for cover when I noticed Grover was still seated there.

"RUN GROVER!" I shouted. "GROVER! LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!"

He didn't move and his gaze didn't even falter. I realised that he hadn't even flinched to the explosion. Along the aisles people were rushing up and out of the hall, there was chaos all around me. I was about to follow along, when I noticed that, like Grover, there were plenty of others who were still seated.

Why weren't they running? I turned towards the stage. The explosion sounds had stopped, and the smoke had started to escape. There wasn't any follow up after the explosions that indicated more danger. And strangely enough, there was no tingling sensation at the back of my head. It had mysteriously appeared whenever I was in danger but this time… Wait. Was this a test?

Apart from the smoke and bright lights that had come from the stage, there weren't any flying debris or fire. So why were they all running? I slowly sat back down in my seat, squinting my eyes to see what else was going on. The screaming and running had died down leaving about 20 of us left. What followed was an eerie silence around the hall.

SLAM SLAM SLAM

The entrances and exits to the hall slammed shut all around us. I spun around nervously as I saw our only route of escape swiftly close.

Shit. There was no escape now…

Clap clap clap clap clap clap

The sound of clapping drew everyone's attention to the stage as it resonated and echoed throughout the hall.

"Congratulations! You have all passed the first stage! Welcome! Welcome!" a deep and booming voice announced.

As the smoke cleared, a faint silhouette of a man in a wheel chair slowly solidified. He was a middle aged man, with brown hair and had a scruffy beard that reached his chest.

He had a huge grin on his face. "Welcome! all of you, to the Demi-Goode Academy Entrance Programme… Half-bloods!"

Thanks for reading!

Comment: Percy still is an ordinary kid. So all these new situations and things happening to and around him are all unexpected and frightening. Keep that in mind. He's not gonna be badass right of the bat, cause that'd be unfair to the character.

Let me know what you think by reviewing if you want.