Zarion's POV

My name is Zarion. Zarion Resonance Malachai Frost. I don't know why my mom let my dad give me a middle name like that. I'm a weird looking Black kid cause I have red eyes with specks of gold, silver, and sea-green. Mom says it's a very rare optic condition where my eyes are practically albino.

My onyx black locs haven't gone past my ears yet.

"Uughhh!! So annoying!" I said, irritated.

Me and Percy just got in trouble for something that wasn't even our fault. I think.

We were trying to eat our lunch when the Klepto Orangutan poured her lunch on Grover's lap. She was always picking on him cause he has a weird leg disease and need crutches. He's the only sixth grader with acne and a goatee. Don't let his disability fool you. You'd be surprised at how fast he was when enchiladas are on the menu

Percy looked ready to commit murder and I looked ready to go to jail.

Me and Percy don't know what happened next but Nancy some how ended up in the fountain with her clothes having burnt marks on them.

It was weird cause I swear on my grandma's grave we didn't touch her.

Me Dodds made sure Nancy was ok then told us to come with her. Grover was overly- freaking out and tried to cover for us by saying he pushed her, but she was adamant.

We were know walking after her. My uneasy feelings caused me to be on my guard. There was something wrong with her I couldn't explain. She once made me and Percy clap all the erasers in school. When we were done, we whined to Grover how she practically wasn't human. He looked us dead in our faces and said "If only you knew how right you were"

"You're blind! Everyone could see we didn't touch her!" I said angrily.

"No talking. Show some respect to your elders, you wretched boy!" Snarled Ms. Dodds. I left all my fucks at home so I said, "We're already in trouble so fuck you, you heartless demon!"

She just smiled at me creepily like I had just given her a compliment, "You have no idea who your messing with, honey"

Percy was staying quiet, scared of disappointing his mom again when he wasn't even trying. This may be the last school that would take us, but if I know for a fact I didn't do anything wrong, I don't care what I say.

Percy said, "Calm down, bro. Let's just get this over with. Looks like disappointing mom is inevitable"

I said, "Perce, it's ok. Our moms always believe us, even if it's not normal."

"No tal-!" growled Ms Dodds, but I interrupted, "Shut the fuck up, you blind retarded bat-looking bitch!!"

Momma taught me respect goes both ways. So if you don't respect me, I honestly don't care how old you are, I don't have to respect you. Ms. Dodds obviously doesn't respect either of us.

She didn't say anything else when she led us into an empty gallery. She just kept growling int her throat

She turned to us with her arms crossed, "Both of you have been giving us problems"

Percy said "Yes ma'am" while I raise my left middle finger.

"Do you think you could've gotten away with it?" Said Ms Dodds with a mad look in her eyes.

Her eyes is what put my body into high alert. They were filled with pure evil.

It was thunder hard outside. Percy said "Just-just give me another chance. I know I can do better"

I put Percy behind me, "Just send us home so we don't cause any more trouble" I said.

"We are not fools, Percy Jackson and Zarion Frost" snarled Ms. Dodds, "If you both confess now, you will suffer less pain"

I had a feeling she wasn't talking about earlier. Then our hearts started pounding in sync crazy loud like this morning. It could be heard throughout the entire gallery.

"Ma'am, we don't..." started Percy. But she hissed, "Times up!"

She started to change. It was the scariest thing we'd ever seen. When she was done, she had turned into a shriveled old hag with bat wings, talons, eyes like barbecue coals, and a mouthful of yellow fangs.

Then it got even weirder. Mr. Brunner wheeled into the door way and yelled "What ho, boys!"

He tossed Percy a pen as Ms Dodds decided to lunge at us.

With surprised yelps, we both dodged to the right. Percy caught the pen in mid-air, but when it met his hand, it was sword, a bronze sword.

Ms Dodds turned to us with murder in her eyes.

My eyes saw the world in a green tint and body went into auto pilot. I grabbed Percy by the shirt and threw him over me at Ms Dodds with strength that shouldn't have been possible.

Percy did the only thing that made sense: he swung the sword. It went through her side and he landed on the other side clumsily.

She let out a dying screech then exploded into yellowy powder. The green was fading from my vision as Percy rubbed his eyes and looked at me oddly.

We were alone and Percy now had a pen in his hand. Mr. Brunner wasn't there.

"What?!" I said. He said as about to say something, but then shrugged and said "It's gone now."

"What was it?" I said, a little ticked. He gestured to my body and said "Well your skin was green. But It gone now"

Both of our hands were shaking and Percy was ruffling his hair, something he only does under stress.

"Maybe the lunch had some mushrooms in it or something" said Percy, trying to rationalize it.

We went back outside. Grover came up to us, "Dude, are you guys ok? I hope Mrs, Kerr wasn't too rough on you guys?"

"Who's Mrs. Kerr?" I said, confused. A strange look passed over his face, "Our teacher?"

"Very funny, Grover. What about Ms Dodds?" Muttered Percy.

"Uhhhh...who's Ms. Dodds?" Said Grover. We were too shaken up to argue with him. We know who Ms Dodds is. We know something is up. We just don't know what.

Nancy and her ugly friends came up to us, "I hope Mrs...!"

Before she could finish, I got up in Her face and said "I'm not the one, you fucking orangutan. You can give me an excuse to show you why I'm quiet if you want too"

"And if you pick on Grover again, I will person oversee dropping your body into a ditch" said Percy, who still ruffling his hair, meaning his still on the verge of drop kicking someone.

Nancy and her friends all paled, then walked away. I think one of them even peed their pants.

Grover looked at us wide eyed, "What did Mrs. Kerr did to you guys?"

Me and Percy walked up to Mr. Brunner. Percy still had his pen in his hand.

"I don't know how my favorite writing utensil came to be in your possession, but please do bring your own next time" said Mr. Brunner.

Percy handed it to him, "Sir, where's Ms. Dodds?"

"Who's that?" Said A confused Mr. Brunner.

"The other chaperone for this trip, the pre-algebra teacher" I said.

"This is no and never has been a Ms. Dodds on the trip nor one at Yancy Academy." Said a mildly concerned Mr. Brunner.

"Are you two feeling alright?" He asked.

Something was off. Percy looked me in the eyes and we had the same thought.

What the fuck is wrong with everyone?

For the next few days, me and Percy were on autopilot, trying to rationalize what just happened. For some weird reason, every is convinced a perky blonde woman named Mrs. Kerr was the other chaperone and our Pre-algebra teacher.

Anytime we mentioned Ms. Dodds in any way, people looked at us like we were crazy.

It got to the point were we almost thought we were crazy.

Key word: Almost

Grover is a terrible liar. Whenever we mentioned Ms Dodds, he would hesitate before saying she doesn't exist.

The freak weather didn't help. It kept thundering, forcing everyone inside. All these weird storm keep happening lately. It was thundering nearly every day and there's was even a tornado 50 miles from Yancy Academy.

Of course it had to be when we just got back to school from being sick.

Me and Percy were really sick for a while 2 days before the Ms. Dodds incident, so they sent us home so we didn't get anyone else sick. The school sent one of their administrators to come get us today.

It was not looking good for us. My grades slipped from B's and C's to F's. Percy's went from D's to F's.

We became irritable and got into more and more trouble, especially with Nancy the orangutan and her group. It got to the point our moms were sent letters saying we weren't invited back next year.

That was just fine with us. Me and Percy just wanted to be home even if it does mean having to put up with Gabe. Sure we would miss some things about Yancy but I just can't do this anymore.

The day before our Latin final, the only one we study for, Percy threw a book against the wall out of anger cause of his dyslexia. I couldn't blame him.

Latin was a LITTLE easier for me, but everything else was harder.

"Can you come with me to Mr. Brunner's office? I want to apologize for the F he's about to put of my final." Said Percy. He grabbed a mythology book

I walked with him to Mr. Brunner's office. We were three steps away from his office, his door being ajarred slightly, when we heard voices.

"...Percy and Zarion are starting to worry me, sir" said a voice that was definitely Grover. He seemed really scared. Me and Percy looked at each and froze.

I don't get it. Our grades are bad, but I don't know why he so afraid. We got a little closer.

"..alone this summer," Grover was saying. "A Kindly one somehow got into the school! Which means we know th-!""

"We would only make matters worse by rushing them," Mr. Brunner said. "They have to mature some more."

"But time isn't on their side, especially with the summer solstice— "

"Which will have to be resolved without them, Grover. Let them enjoy their blissful ignorance while they can."

"But, sir, they saw her. And kil..."

Me and Percy zoned out a bit after Grover nearly said killed

"...worry about keeping them alive-"

The book in Percy's hand dropped. He picked it up quickly, grabbed me, and we ran away down the hall as quietly as possible. My heart was pounding like crazy.

We reached our dorm.

"Quick! We have to pretend to be asleep!" I whispered. We quickly got on pj's on and climbed into bed. Literally 5 seconds later, Grover walked in and went to bed.

I don't know what they were talking about, but it clearly wasn't about grades. Me and Percy know one thing: we're apparently in some sort of danger.

The next afternoon, me and Percy had just got done taking a 3 hour Latin exam. I know we didn't do well cause of all the words we misspelled, but we don't care, we just wanna go home.

Me. Brunner called us back in, worrying us a little cause we thought he knew we were eavesdropping.

"Percy and Zari" he said. "Don't be discouraged about leaving Yancy. It's ... it's for the best." I know he was trying to be nice, but it was still embarrassing. Nancy and her crew were snickering at us in the background.

I mumbled, "Okay, sir."

"I mean ..." Mr. Brunner wheeled his chair back and forth, like he wasn't sure what to say.

"This facility doesn't have the right materials to help people like you grow. Unfortunately, this was inevitable." My eyes stung. Percy's hands were clenched.

Here was our favorite teacher telling that getting kicked out was set in stone. Building us up all year with his notion that we could do just for him to tear us down when we get kicked out.

My eyes were twitching out of frustration and embarrassment, "Yes sir"

"Right" said Percy.

"Please don't misunderstand" Mr. Brunner said. "Oh confound it all. What I'm trying to say is you two aren't normal. Not in a bad way and it's nothing we-"

"Thanks a lot, sir. Thanks a lot for being just like everyone else" mumbled Percy.

"Yea thanks. For reminding us" I said.

"Wait, let m-"

But we already left.

By the time the term ended, we got our stuff and got on the bus with talking to anyone.

We thought we had to say goodbye to Grover, but he bought a ticket to come with us on the same Greyhound to Manhattan.

Grover kept looking around nervously, like some terrorist would come out at any second. He always acted like this when we left Yancy.

Finally I couldn't take it anymore.

"Looking for the Kindly Ones?" I muttered.

Grover nearly jumped out of his seat, "Wh-what are you guys talking about?!" We confessed to eavesdropping.

Grover's eye twitched, "Well, what d-did you hear?"

"What do you need to keep us alive for? Are you and Mr. Brunner cannibals or something?"

Said Percy. Grover actually looked really hurt, "What?! No! I just didn't want the stress you guys were going through with Ms Dodds to k.."

"Grover, you're one of the worst liars I've ever met" I said. His ears turned pink.

From his shirt pocket, he fished out a business card. "Just take this, okay? In case you guys need me this summer.

The card was in fancy script, which was murder on our dyslexic eyes, but I finally made out something like:

Grover Underwood

Keeper

Half-Blood Hill

Long Island, New York

(800) 009-0009

"What's Half—"

"Don't say it aloud!" he yelped. "That's my, um ... summer address." Me and Percy looked at each other. We never knew Grover was as rich as the other kids at Yancy. How come he never told us about a summer home?

"Ok then," Percy said, "So if we want to come to your mansion,"

He nodded, "Or-or if you need me"

"Why would we need you?" I said. That was definitely a lot harsher than I meant it to.

He was a practically as red as a tomato, "Look, guys, I have to protect you"

This confused us. We had been getting into fights all year, half of them on his behalf, and now he's sitting here acting like he was our defender the entire time.

"What exactly are you protecting us from?" I said.

The Greyhound started acting funny and it started to smell. So we got off and waited for the driver to fix it.

There was the ancient-looking old ladies across the street giving off a weird vibe. All them were sitting in rocking chairs, one of them holding a big electric-blue ball of yarn while the other two knitted socks on either side of All three women looked ancient, with pale faces wrinkled like fruit leather, silver hair tied back in white bandannas, bony arms sticking out of bleached cotton dresses.

They were looking directly at us.

Grover paled and said, "They're looking at you guys, aren't they?"

I said "Yes, but they're just old ladies. They must have embraced the herbalist lifestyle too much. They gotta be over a hundred"

"You guys think those socks would fit us?"asked Percy

"Not funny guys" muttered Grover.

One of them took some long ancient looking gold and silver shears. Grover's hands were shaking.

"Let's take the bus home. Come on, I walk you guys home" said a scared Grover. He started walking to the station, but me and Percy turned around to look.

Some how some way, me and Percy could hear the snip through cars driving and people walking on a busy street.

We got to the bus terminal, but ditched Grover. He was creeping us out too much, muttering and mumbling constantly, looking everywhere nervously, and looking at us like we were about to be in a coffin. As soon as we got off the bus,

he ran to the bathroom cause his bladder acts up when he gets upset.

He made us promise to wait for him, but we took our suitcases and caught the first taxi to East One-hundred-and-fourth and First as soon as he left.

I went against my instincts doing this but It was too freaky. I couldn't wait to get home, maybe eat some of Percy's mom's delicious blue cookies.

Percy's mom is named Sally Jackson. She makes me call her Mother and my mom would make Percy call her Momma. She is one of the best people in the world, but has always had the worst luck. And if you really want to get into it, the worst life partner choices.

After having a mostly hard life of her own, she marries an arrogant, rude, self-centered, gambling addict who's abusive, smells like gas station bathroom filled with mold and stinky gym shorts, and provokes Percy. Like when we got home

Instead of Mother being home, Gassy Gabe was playing poker with his buddies. The TV was on. There was beer cans and chip bags everywhere.

"Oh, you guys are home now." He said, not looking up.

"Where's my mom?" Said Percy.

"Working. Got some cash?" Said Gabe.

That was it. No how have you been the past few weeks? Was school ok? Glad to see you.

He was fatter than the las time we saw him. He had only a few hairs on his head and looked like a walrus without tusks. He's a manager at an electronics store.

"We don't have any. We walked all the way home" I lied. We went straight to Percy's room before he could say anything else. We stomped a little to make us seem scary.

It stunk in here cause Gabe used it as his "study" when we weren't here. Only thing he did was read old car magazines and loves shoving our stuff in the closet.

Percy kept ruffling his hair. My eyes were twitching. Nothing is making any sense. Grover kept acting like we borrowed money from a mafia. I felt bad for leaving him. We promised to wait, but everything is just so complicated.