I was somewhere in the middle of New york. Not New York City but somewhere in New York from the road signs I saw as I walked. I hitchhiked to a truckstop about two miles back. I have been walking since then. Of course it wasn't the safest way of getting around but I thought getting kidnapped was better than getting killed by a monster. I could take on another human but a monster was risky. Nico had told me about this other camp for demi-gods. I think it was called Camp Jupiter or something like that. Although he also told me that it was in Oakland hills, California. So I had to go across the country and I had to get there before I was found by someone for Camp Half Blood or a monster. I knew I would encounter at least a few monsters on my way there. But I hoped they would be less powerful so I could get away easier; the less arrows I had to use the better.
As I walked along the empty road for what I guess was about another two or so miles, I came across a town I recognized. I found my way into my mother and step-dads place. It was only noon so my step dad was still at work so didn't have to be bombarded with questions. I went to my old room where my mom hid the safe for emergencies under the floorboards. My step-dad didn't know about it of course. If he did he would have gotten into it right after mom died and used it for gods knows what probably drugs or something. I continued to keep putting money in it over the years to save up for college or to move out as soon as possible.
I removed the floorboards of my closest and pulled out the little black steel safe put in the code, 0214. The code was my birthday obviously and ironically I was born on Valentine's Day. Now that I thought about it that was probably on purpose since my dad was a god; the god of love at that. I reached my hand in and grabbed everything inside. I guessed there had to have been at least a couple thousand dollars in there. It's not like I needed any of it to move out now but I did need it to get to Camp Jupiter.
I grabbed the cross body bag my mom gave me and put the money in the magic make-up bag Piper had given me on my first day at camp. I grabbed my step dad's pocket knife and shoved it in the my pocket along with a hair tie. The blade wouldn't do much against monsters but it will protect me from other humans so that's something I guess. The biggest challenge of leaving camp is that it was extremely hot. If someone driving saw me in my bright orange camp shirt that would have definitely raised some questions so I kept my jacket on the whole time. On that note I went to change my clothes and put extras in my backpack along with a travel blanket in my crossbody bag. The last thing I took was a photo of my mom from the living room.
I left once again with my two bags, my bow and arrows, a few thousand dollars and the photo of my mom. Taking one last look at the house I grew up in that had turned into my least favorite place on earth; even though it was the only place I felt truly comfortable in. I walked to a bus station and got tickets on a greyhound heading to West Virginia. It wasn't supposed to leave until five o'clock so I had about three and a half hours to waste. On my way to the Wendy's down the street I had a feeling like I was being watched. Kinda like the day the minotaur came crashing through my school but this didn't feel like a malevolent presence so I wasn't too concerned. I walked to the back of the restaurant and hid my stuff behind the dumpster and walked inside.
I was in front of the guy that was definitely staring at me. At first I thought it might have been a monster so I made sure I said close to the door in case it tried anything. After I ordered my food I started to bring out the make-up bag I was keeping my money in. I stopped when I heard the voice of the man behind me.
"Here let me get that for you" The man said while reaching into his pocket. Out of pure instinct I gripped the knife in my pocket. Turns out the man was just getting his credit card to pay for my food. It's not like I needed him to by any means but I didn't say anything.
"Oh, um thank you" I forced a smile at the man and went to the back of the restaurant to sit and eat. After a few minutes I noticed the unknown man walking over to me then sat right across from me. I was about to tell him to get on or I was gonna call the police but he cut me off.
"Almost pulling a knife on your father isn't the best way to say hi" The strange man said. Wait, did he just say my father? Like my father, that's a god?
"I don't know what you're talking about, and you're not my dad" There was no way my dad was sitting at a Wendy's table with me right now.
"Really? Then what this" The pocket knife I was caring seemed to just appear in his hand. I slowly felt for the knife that was supposed to be in my pocket, just as he said it wasn't there. "Also I am your father, Eros… or Cupid whatever." The man who claimed to be my father took a bite of his sandwich.
"So if you're my dad, a literal god. What are you doing here?" I asked while eating some of my fries.
"Just to see you" He said taking another bite "I'm not like that rest of my family, I actually try to see my offspring" I started to believe that this was my dad because normal person says 'offspring'
"Okay… Why did you wait until now?" I asked skeptically.
"Well I am a god I have things to do" Eros dusted himself off. "Anyway I have a gift for you, well two gifts I guess"
"Is there some kind of catch to this or..? I ate some more of my food.
"Oh no my child, you have a hard enough journey ahead of you" Eros remarked.
"Okay what are these gifts then?" I was kinda worried that he was gonna give me something then expect something back even though he said he wasn't going to.
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