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Chapter 3
Over the next few weeks, the prospect of approaching exams pushed thoughts of the strange creature farther and farther from my mind. The first day of exam week was met by the students with a constantly-shifting mixture of stress, panic, and complete apathy. Laurel and I sat on a bench outside Chesapeake Bay Middle School with our history books open on our laps. We were supposed to be studying for our second test of the day, but we had accepted the fact that no amount of last-minute cramming was going to save our grades now. Besides, were more interested, naturally, in our summer plans.
"Two more torturous days of testing, and then I'm free! Two and a half months of no homework, no studying, and no stress! I can finally relax," I fantasized wistfully.
Laurel chuckled. "Well, while you're here, wasting away from boredom, I'll be up in New York at camp."
"Really?" I inquired. "You're excited about summer camp?" She smacked my arm playfully.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing! Nothing! You just don't really seem like the summer camp type."
"Are you kidding? All that time outside enjoying nature! Some of us like to do more than read about the wilderness."
"Hey! I like nature, too. I just happen to also like reading."
"Fair enough," Laurel said. "Speaking of camp, Rory, this is my summer address." She handed me a piece of paper she had torn from her notebook. I glanced at it. There was a phone number scribbled on it beneath an address for some place I'd never heard of.
"Half-blood Hill? That's a weird name. Is that your camp?"
"Uh... Yes," she replied. "You can call me there if you need me." If I needed her? That was an odd choice of words. I mean, I would definitely miss her during the summer. She was my best friend. But still, need just sounded... peculiar. I suddenly remembered the look on her face that day a few weeks ago after the incident with the lights.
"Um, okay," I said. "I'll call you. When do you leave?"
"On Saturday. I'm just staying long enough to finish exams." The bell rang just then. Time to go take our history test. We both sighed and started gathering our books. I stood and handed Laurel her cane.
"Two more days," I muttered, and we trudged inside.
My last exam was math. Mr. Crosley stood at the front of the classroom, watching all of us intently. There were no sounds except the scratching of pencils and the ticking of the clock. One by one, the students handed in their tests and walked out to freedom. Laurel finished before I did. She waved discreetly at me as she left. I bade her goodbye with a small smile. Pretty soon, I was the only one left. I glanced at the clock, already knowing I didn't have much time left. Desperate to finish but ready to be done, I scrawled out uncertain answers to the last few questions. I handed in my test and breathed a sigh of relief. Free at last! No more math for two whole months! And even better, I was done with Mr. Crosley's class for good.
Just before I made it the door, Mr. Crosley stopped me.
"A moment, Mrs. Sullivan?" It was a question, but his tone left no room for denial. My brow furrowed. What could I possibly be in trouble for now?
"Did I do something?" I asked hesitantly. Slowly, I closed the door. Before I could turn around, I heard Mr. Crosley speak behind me.
"Night is rising, half-blood." His voice was harsh. Sort of strangled.
"Wh-what did you call me?" I stammered. I had been annoyed at being held after class, but that annoyance dissipated. It was replaced with a sense of dread, heavy in the pit of my stomach. The hair on the back of my neck prickled and every muscle in my body tensed. I became very aware of an imminent danger. Very slowly, I turned to face him.
"You will not prevail. Darkness will reign, and you will die!" He exclaimed. Then he started to change. I blinked, frozen in disbelief. This didn't make any sense. I must have been dreaming. I willed myself to wake up from this nightmare, but to no avail. I watched as Mr. Crosley's beak-like nose elongated into a real beak. His hair and clothes melted into feathers on the top half of his body, golden fur on his legs and feet. His feet, though, had been transformed into lion's paws. His fingers stretched into long, razor sharp talons and a pair enormous feathered wings sprouted from his back. This grotesque sort of metamorphosis continued until Mr. Crosley, standing before me, was no longer remotely human. What I now faced was a terrible monster, half-eagle and half-lion, towering above me. A gryphon.
I stood dumbfounded, too afraid to move. He fixed me with a predator's gaze: powerful, cruel, and hungry. His lion's tail swished back and forth. The feathers on his golden wings shivered with anticipation. He took one slow prowling step forward.
And he lunged.