Chapter One: A New World
Deno Matron awoke with a start, the strange sensations of a new body stirring him from unconsciousness. He was no longer in the familiar comfort of his apartment but lying on a narrow bed in a room that was a haphazard mix of childhood clutter and disorganization. The room smelled faintly of old books and the tang of an overripe fruit.He sat up, rubbing his eyes, trying to make sense of his surroundings. This was not the sleek, modern environment he had been accustomed to.
Instead, the walls were adorned with posters of mythical creatures and ancient Greek symbols. The bed was too small for his frame, and as he looked down, he noticed he was now in the body of a fifteen-year-old boy.Deno stood up unsteadily, his mind racing. "Where am I?" he muttered, examining his reflection in a dusty mirror.
The boy staring back at him had tousled brown hair and a pair of inquisitive green eyes. His clothes were simple—jeans and a t-shirt with the logo of some old superhero.His gaze wandered around the room, landing on a small bookshelf cluttered with volumes about Greek mythology. Deno's heart skipped a beat. He had a fleeting, almost ridiculous thought—could this be the world of Percy Jackson?A loud knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
Before he could react, the door swung open, and in walked a woman in her early forties with an air of casual authority. She had dark hair pulled back into a practical ponytail and warm brown eyes that softened as she saw him."Morning, Deno!" she said cheerfully. "I hope you slept well. I'm Mrs. Matron."Deno was taken aback. The name "Matron" seemed eerily familiar, and his heart raced with the realization. This was indeed the world of Percy Jackson. The thought filled him with both excitement and dread. What had happened to him? Why was he here? And most importantly, what was he supposed to do now?He cleared his throat, trying to sound as natural as possible. "Morning. Uh, Mrs. Matron. Do you mind if I ask, where exactly am I?"Mrs. Matron looked at him with a mixture of amusement and concern. "We're in New York, of course. You've been with us for about three months now. I thought you'd adjusted by now."Deno's mind raced. Three months? How had he not noticed the passage of time? He struggled to piece together his new reality.
He had been transported into the body of a boy who was evidently part of the Matron family, and from what he could gather, this world was deeply intertwined with Greek mythology."Well," he said cautiously, "I guess I must have been a bit disoriented."Mrs. Matron smiled warmly. "It's understandable. Moving to a new place can be tough, especially when you've had a rough time before coming here. But we're a family now. So, why don't you come downstairs for breakfast? We can chat more then."With that, she left the room, leaving Deno alone with his thoughts. He took a deep breath and looked around the room once more. There were pictures of Deno with the Matrons—a cheerful-looking couple, Mr. and Mrs. Matron—and another boy who looked around his age. In the pictures, Deno looked happy, a stark contrast to the confusion he felt now.
He decided to follow Mrs. Matron's advice and headed downstairs. The house was modest but cozy, with a lived-in charm. The scent of bacon and eggs wafted through the air, and as he entered the kitchen, he was greeted by the sight of Mr. Matron, a burly man with a kind face, cooking breakfast."Hey, Deno!" Mr. Matron greeted him with a warm smile. "I hope you're hungry. We've got a big day ahead."Deno hesitated before taking a seat at the kitchen table. He needed to gather information, understand his new role in this world, and hopefully find a way back to his old life—or at least gain some control over his situation.As Mr. Matron placed a plate of food in front of him, Mrs. Matron joined them at the table. The other boy from the pictures, who Deno now realized was named Ethan, ambled in and sat down with a yawn."Morning, Deno," Ethan said, looking up briefly from his plate. "Did you sleep okay?""Uh, yeah, thanks," Deno replied, forcing a smile. He was still getting used to being in a new body and was uncertain of how to navigate this family dynamic.As they ate, Mrs. Matron began to chat casually about their plans for the day. "We're going to the park later this afternoon.
It's been a while since we had a family outing. I thought it'd be nice for all of us to get out and enjoy the weather."Deno nodded, trying to stay engaged. He noticed that despite the warmth of their hospitality, there were small hints that the Matrons were somewhat guarded.
Deno wondered if there were things they weren't telling him.After breakfast, Mrs. Matron insisted that Deno accompany them to the park. Reluctantly, he agreed, figuring it was an opportunity to learn more about his surroundings and the people he was now living with.The park was a sprawling green space with plenty of playgrounds, picnic areas, and walking trails. As they walked,
Deno tried to engage in light conversation with Ethan. He learned that Ethan was a year older than him and was in high school. They talked about school subjects and favorite hobbies, but Deno found it difficult to fully connect, knowing he was in a foreign situation.As they strolled through the park, Deno couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched.
The sensation was subtle but persistent, making him constantly glance over his shoulder. Nothing seemed out of place, but he couldn't ignore the instinctual feeling of being observed."Everything okay?" Ethan asked, noticing his discomfort."Yeah, just feeling a bit… off," Deno said, trying to sound casual.Ethan nodded in understanding but didn't press further. They continued their walk, eventually settling in a quiet corner of the park for a picnic.As Deno sat on the grass, trying to relax, he couldn't shake the sense that there was more to his new reality than met the eye.
The Greek mythology books in his room, the peculiar sense of being watched—everything pointed to a world far more complex and dangerous than he had imagined.The sun began to set, casting long shadows across the park. As they packed up to head home, Deno resolved to find out as much as he could about his new life and the world he now inhabited. He needed answers, and he needed to understand what role he played in this seemingly mythical world.As the Matrons and Ethan chatted about their day, Deno's mind was already racing with possibilities and questions. What had brought him here? How could he navigate this new world? And most importantly, what was his purpose in this strange, enchanting place?He knew he was only beginning to unravel the mysteries of his new life, but one thing was clear: his journey in the world of Percy Jackson had only just begun.