You know what, Hera, I can write a better plan than you to unite the camps. So much for giving everyone fake memories when Coach saw right through Jason. You had months to work with … use them.

Disclaimers - This is a TLH AU, taking place right before the start of the book. I will be doing my best to tweak and improve Jason, Piper, and Leo's characters while keeping them as accurate to canon as possible.

I hope you enjoy :)

I: Jason Wakes Up in The Wilderness School

Even before he went through the intake process, Jason was having a confusing day.

Actually, to be more accurate, he wasn't aware he was having a day.

He awoke sitting in front of an office desk, not sure where he is, in front of a woman he didn't know. That wasn't really the confusing part except … well, it was. The woman wore a black goat-skin cloak that drapes over her shoulders with a gold brooch in the centre of her chest. Her dark hair lies over her just like her cloak's hood, long dark tendrils nearly blending. Jason couldn't tell where the cloak started and where her hair ended, but it doesn't matter.

Jason couldn't figure out who she was or what he was doing here (wherever here is). He straightens in his seat and rubs his eyes. He didn't even notice a ringing sound in his ears until it fades. The silence hits him even louder than the ringing as the stale and pungent scent of the office fills his nose. There isn't even a window they could crack to cause a draft.

He isn't sure which is worse, the smell, the lack of sound, or his splitting headache.

Jason tries to focus on the woman in front of him. He was too distracted by her cloak to look at her face. It keeps blurring and shifting which makes his headache pound even more. Once her face solidifies, her glowing eyes dim. She's staring at him, saying something to him. Looks like his name. Did she ask him something?

"Where am I?" Jason asks instead. His voice is groggy as if he hasn't spoken in a long time. How much time has passed since he was last conscious?

"The Wilderness School," the woman responds.

If Jason could get more confused, he's reached that point. " … what?"

"A school for troubled youth. You just got enrolled today."

"By who? What is this?"

Jason tries to think back to before he woke in this spot. He isn't sure if it's his headache making it hurt to think, but everything's blank. He can't remember anything from a minute before waking up let alone yesterday or even an hour ago.

The woman rises from her chair and walks around the desk to where he's sitting. Jason looks up and can't help but notice how tall she is. Her cloak billows to the ground, rippling at the floor with every step. She places a hand at the back of his chair and Jason scoots to the edge of his seat, turning around. He looks at her hand and then up at her. She's smiling down at him with no teeth but plastered and glossy lips.

"All students have access to a fair, equal, and high-quality education centred around our values here," she continues.

Jason wonders why she sounds so artificial as if she was reading a script. Nothing about her seemed real. Nothing about this place feels real.

When the woman looks up, Jason follows her eyes and sees a small man walk into the office. He's the same height as Jason sitting down, holding a bat over his shoulder, and wearing a frown. His curly hair is dishevelled and there are lines on his face as if he just awoke.

Jason isn't tired, but he also just woke up without being aware that he was asleep. What time is it? He looks around the office for a clock but there isn't one in sight.

The tiny man grunts at him, jutting his chin.

"What?" Jason asks.

"This is Coach Hedge," the woman introduces, holding a graceful arm out towards the tiny man. "He's allowed to restrain you forcefully if needed and he has done that to other students on many occasions. Don't follow their example because I have high expectations for you. I've heard that tiny man has dealt with a lot bigger and badder so keep your attitude at bay. Coach, this is Jason Grace."

Jason gives Coach another look and he's still narrowing his eyes at him. Doesn't look that threatening but sure. "Noted."

The woman puts her hand on Jason's shoulders and chills run down his spine. "Make me proud, Jason."

Jason doesn't question how odd that statement is because he's already standing and Coach Hedge is right in front of him. Jason looks down at him as the woman dismisses them. When the two of them leave her office, the door slams shut as if a gust of wind swooped Jason didn't feel swept by. Jason turns around but looks back when Coach clears his throat.

"I'll take it from here," Coach says, his uninterested tone showing that he'd rather be doing literally anything else. "No orientations because there's a day-by-day curriculum around here. Everyone shows up and leaves whenever so we play by ear. Orientation is intake AKA when you show up. So now."

Jason follows Coach through the dingy halls. Paint peels from walls, windows are streaked, florescent lights flicker above them, and the linoleum floor is covered in skid marks. Jason's sneakers squeak with every step and he could've sworn Coach was clopping like a horse.

He looks around for any clue on where he is but doesn't conclude. They walked past a cafeteria, some more offices and storage closets, classrooms, a gym, and an unkempt lounge. If someone told him that this building was abandoned, Jason wouldn't doubt it.

"Pay attention, Cupcake," Coach orders.

"It's Jason," he corrects.

"I know. I wasn't aware that we were getting a new student, especially this late at night, but seems like I gotta watch someone else now."

"You don't have to, really. What time is it?"

Coach glares at him. "11 PM. You don't know how things work around here."

"I just got here."

Coach groans. "They all say that. Must be your first lock-up, huh?"

"Um…" Jason trails off because he doesn't know where to go.

Someone else? They all say that? That means there are other people here. Maybe on any other day, that notion would bring him some hope that someone else could explain some things to him, but Jason's gut churns the moment Coach leads him down a different hallway.

Other boys around his age litter the hallway. A lot of them slouch against the wall or doorway, chatting amongst each other or sitting on the ground sharing headphones with an iPod. Some stalk by themselves. The conversations stop when they look up at Coach and Jason, but he knows the stares are aimed at him since their heads are angled higher. Jason doesn't greet them but stares, watching them shove their headphones into their pockets. Some heads lean to their neighbouring friends, starting whispers that he knows are about him. Laughs sputter out and the looks continue even when Jason walks past them.

Coach doesn't seem to think much of it as he walks ahead, but Jason feels uneasy. He thinks they could hear his breathing.

They're bulking their shoulders as if they're taking a stance towards him, showing dominance. A familiar scene but he can't say why. Some ball hands into fists and Jason instinctively does the same. Others head back into their room and close the door.

None of them look helpful.

When he sees a boy point at his own forearm to his friends before looking back at him, Jason looks down at his arm. He notices what they were referring to. Jason sees a black illustration on his forearm like a tattoo. There's a black eagle with its wings spread open. The bird is perched on a box with the initialism SPQR on top of twelve small lines.

SPQR. Senatus Populusque Romanus. The Senate and the People of Rome. Why does he know that phrase and why is it inked on his arm?

Jason rubs at it with his thumb but it doesn't erase. It's permanent. But now that he's looking down, he realizes he's wearing a purple shirt with the same letters on it except in gold.

He has no idea what it means.

Jason looks back up and nearly topples over Coach, whom he didn't know stopped walking.

"You really need to pay attention around here if you're gonna make it," Coach says, brushing off after Jason steadies himself. "Get settled. Big day tomorrow."

Jason looks at the vacant room they stopped at before facing Coach again. "What's tomorrow?"

Coach groans. Again. "First day for you. Lights out."

Coach leaves and Jason closes the door, hearing the man yell at the other boys to get in their rooms since it's past curfew. Jason stands, scanning the room for anything to jump out at him. There's a bed with old pale blue sheets, an empty desk with a rusty lamp on it, a bedside table, and a dresser. Jason looks in the closet and opens all the drawers. All empty. Not one belonging. He has nothing except for the clothes on his back.

He looks out the window and it's too dark to see anything. Even when Jason turns off the lights, there's nothing out there.

Jason lies on his bed, back to the ceiling. Now that he's alone in the dark, he tries to think back to before he awoke here but there's still nothing. Jason closes his eyes tightly, pounding fists but it doesn't help.

He can't remember anything.

At least his headache is gone.

We're off to a great start.

As always with new stories, I always post two chapters on publication day.