Chapter Text
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ϟ⚡ ϟ ˖ ݁ 𖥔.
I'm a half-blood. If you're reading this because you think you are also one? Go ahead and find out if you are. I couldn't truthfully care less what happens to you, as long as it doesn't affect me and my friends.
Being a half-blood is… It's really annoying. And because of the gods it was dangerous. My existence caused a problem with my father and he ordered me to be killed. Crazy,
If you´re reading this because you assume it's fiction? Have fun. But don't disregard most of the thoughts you get if you start wondering if it's real. Don't stop wondering.
If you start to recognize yourself in this story, go ask your parental figure what happened to your mom or dad. Go ahead and risk your life. Because if you're one of us, they sense it easy, easier than you expect.
My name is Marcie Elliot. I'm fourteen years old. It all went to crap in July. School had just ended and I had gone back home to my trash dump of an apartment. My mom had a really bad case of depression so she barely cleaned the house. I didn't mind that much. It smelled terrible though.
Me and her were talking about stuff, mainly how the school year went. I told her it went fine. It didn't. I passed, barely, sure but still, I passed the year even with my dyslexia.
I'm really, really curious about something. I'm gonna ask. Ask her today. ¨Mom. What happened to dad?¨ I ask, my mom tenses and I swallow my spit, knowing she's going to scold me for asking, like she always did. But she didn't. She just said her usual answer when I asked. ¨He died when you were young.¨
¨… You won't tell me how or why.¨ I answered. Her brows furrowed and she frowned. ¨Because you don't need to know.¨ She responded, slamming her hands on the desk. ¨Why not?¨ I exclaimed, mimicking her action. The faint pitter patter of a sudden rain hit our rooftop.
What?
There wasn't a cloud in the sky when I got home and the forecast said it was not likely for rain. My mom stared down at me before staring at the window. She took a deep breath and tried to calm me.
¨Marcie. Calm down—¨ ¨WHY SHOULD I? YOU HAVEN'T TOLD ME ANYTHING ABOUT HIM! EVEN JUST KNOWING WHO HE WAS AS A PERSON WOULD BE NICE!¨
The rain got louder, almost pounding against the roof like a robber trying to break in. I heard a faint crackle of thunder and lightning, causing me to pause slightly startled on what is going on.
That was odd for the timing especially with the 2% chance of rain on the forecast and the timing of the situation, I got angry and then lightning and thunder and it literally started pouring heavy rain!
¨Mom. What's going on?¨ I managed to ask, my voice coming out WAY more wimpy than I thought it was. ¨We need to get to the car. I promise I'll explain everything on the way just–¨ My mom began rambling and began rushing to pack a few bags.
Seeing her panic, I began panicking as well. I grabbed some bags and began filling. I grabbed some clothes. I grabbed my (surprisingly) pristine quality, white shoes and shoved them onto my feet.
I stepped out into the mud before walking back into the apartment to grab a jacket to stop the rain from soaking my already messy black hair. My mom could notice the panic in my royal blue eyes, so she reassuringly put a hand onto my head.
As I entered the car, I decided to sit in the front seat and turned on some music from bluetooth. I decided on Weezer's "Buddy Holly¨ because why the heck not?
My mom tossed the bags into the backseat and began to murmur something to herself as she ran a hand through her hair. She zipped up her jacket before she closed the backseat doors and walked to the drivers side, unlocking the door. She sat down and turned the car on, key in the ignition.
Mom swiftly began driving and after a few seconds I spoke. ¨Mom— What's going on— I dont–¨ ¨Your dad. He's… A god. A womanizer, but a god.¨ She explained. If I had been drinking something, I'd have spat it out.
¨Mom this isn't something to joke about–¨ ¨ I'm not joking, Marcie. Your father is a Greek God. This means you´re a half-blood. A demigod.¨ She explained, only making the situation more confusing.
¨THAT DOES NOT HELP IN THE SLIGHTEST—¨ I spat out, my face slightly red. ¨What do you mean I'm a demigod?! I'm so confused! You always do this you always freaking do th–¨
¨MARCIE ELLIOT! If you don't listen to me..! Your dad is a Greek God. We're going to get you to a safe place for Demigods called Camp Half-Blood. It's in New York so we´re gonna be driving for a while! So calm yourself!¨ She explained, speeding about 25 in a school zone, 10 MPH over the speed limit. She was gonna get us pulled over! I could practically hear the sirens and they weren't even here yet!
The faint sound of the song was overshadowed with the sound of the increasingly louder lightning and thunder causing me to go weak. I'm better than this. I know I am. I've beaten people to a pulp before!(Albeit in self defense)
I felt my face scrunch up as tears welled up in my eyes, my hands instinctively going to cover my ears like a child caught between a gruesome argument.
And then I do that thing I do where my mouth sort of sucks itself in and turns downwards. My nose crinkled and tears fell down my face and onto my jeans. Against my will, a shaky sob exits my dry, chapped up lips.
¨I'm doing this to save you. Camp Half-Blood is safe. You need saving.¨ My mom spoke, eyes never leaving the road. At the time, I didn't know how I was supposed to answer that.
But had I probably answered at that time, I would have said something like 'We all do. Life is a mistake.’ But now it's different, I have people worth saving, for both them and myself. There is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for, that's what she always said.
I try to calm down, try to calm the both literal and metaphorical storm raging in both person, and in my mind. Something stirs in my gut, likely stress as the rain outside slowly gets louder, and louder. Is this what a Panic Attack felt like? My heart was beating fast.
The dread lasted for maybe 30 minutes, slowly dying down to just a mild paranoia, calming the thunderous storm outside. How come this has never happened before? Or has it and have I just never noticed? I was jolted out my thoughts by the loud sound of tires screeching.
My mom screamed. ¨HOLD ON MARCIE!¨ She exclaimed. I closed my eyes as I held tightly onto my seatbelt. We crashed right into a ditch, but luckily, remained un-scaved. Our Honda Civic however… We needed car insurance, asap.
I was jolted out of my thoughts for the second time by the sound of wing puffing and the piercing sound of claws…No… Talons, scratching at the doors, trying to get to us.
¨Harpies…¨ My mom gasped under her breath. ¨Don't move. Don't make a sound—¨ In the haze of terror, I listened to my mom for the first time since the storm began.
¨Let's get the big one first!¨ A harpy commented. ¨But Zeus said to kill them both—¨ Another added. Wait. So Zeus, a Greek god, sent these bird ladies to kill us. How surreal.
The second that one of the harpies turned away. My mom slammed open the door and dragged me out of the car. We swiftly sped out the ditch, hoping to get to that camp my mom discussed in the car.
My legs felt like they were about to give in. The strain from the sprint had pushed them to their breaking point. My breathing had become short. The drops of rain hit my face and damped my hair and clothes.
We ran into a dense forest, the harpies right on our trail, tailing us like we were rabbits and they were farmers hungry for meat. My mom shoved me forward as we approached a hill. I heard loud hoovesteps, like maybe a cow or horses, but I didn't move my head to see what it was.
My legs and arms were scraped up from thorns and branches, my whole body was soaked from the rain. But that was the least of my worries right now. The harpies had killed my mom, and if I wasn't careful, I'd be next.
¨ Hurry.¨ A man's gentle yet old voice spoke as I felt myself being dragged up the hill away from the sight of my mothers death. I closed my eyes tightly, hoping to just wash away into a dark abyss and forget what I witnessed.
Something I've learned is... well. Grief is forever. It doesn’t go away; it becomes a part of you, step for step, breath for breath, tear for tear. I will never stop grieving what I saw. That’s just how it is. But grief is connected to love, you don’t get one without the other, so even with her dead, I will never stop loving my mother.
I heard a commotion of whispers around me for a few moments before I was set on a soft surface. I opened my eyes. Oh. A cot… It looked like this place was some sort of infirmary.
The oddness of this situation caused me to open my eyes, sit up and take this in properly. The man who had carried me in… He seemed fairly kind, likely an older gentleman. But the issue was the lower half of his body was a horse. I almost screamed at the sight, but I had lost the energy.
I closed my eyes and laid back down to calm myself, getting comfortable as I felt a strange liquid being poured down my throat. Sort of like… The honey from honeysuckle flowers. I swallowed the drink and murmured something to myself.
A few more footsteps entered my ears as I presumed another person entered the room.¨… Is she dead..?¨ I croaked out, never opening my eyes. ¨Oh. Uh… Probably. I would say I'm sorry but I don't know you¨ A boy answered, his voice raspy like he hadn't had anything to drink besides Monster Energy for like three weeks.
So. It turns out I fell asleep while being treated. I woke up to see a boy of color, about maybe 15, with a vibrant orange shirt, a shell necklace, black hair in dreads and black eyes.
¨You´re awake. That's good.¨ He spoke as the old man from yesterday walked in, dropping a vibrant orange shirt like the boys into my hands. ¨Put this on. Floyd has been watching you since you passed out, such a good young soul…¨ The man muttered.
The black haired boy, Floyd, smiled a bit. ¨I'm just helping out.¨ He answered as the man murmured something to him, causing him to nod. ¨ I'm Floyd Clein.¨ Floyd said.
¨…Marcie Elliot.¨ I paused for a moment. ¨ALSO GET OUT! I NEED TO GET CHANGED¨ I yelled, causing him to nod, and walk out. Woah. Do people respect my privacy here? Shocker.
I have a dead stare on my face as I silently change into the orange t-shirt that reads ‘CAMP HALF BLOOD’ in big bold letters and the gray sweatpants of mine that were washed to a pulp making me wonder more on what happened, thoughts race through my head and they are not good or happy ones.. Then the half horse half man and the boy named Floyd and then it finally clicks. Where the hell am I?
I exit the infirmary and immediately speak to Floyd again, who was waiting at the door for me, how kind... ¨What the hell is this place?¨ I ask, a firm annoyance in my tone. He tensed at my expression but answered. ¨Camp Half Blood. It's like… A safe haven for demigods.¨
¨… This isn't a joke. Is it..?¨ I manage to ask, sighing slightly. ¨You thought this was a joke?! Dude your mom´s dead and you thought we were joking?!¨ Floyd exclaimed a little too loudly for my comfort.
¨Not so loud, you're gonna rupture my ear drum.¨ I scoff in annoyance. ¨Look. Chiron wanted me to give you a tour of the camp. So I'm going to.¨ Floyd answered, a hand on his hip as if trying to seem sassy, but he looked more stupid than anything.
As we began walking he talked about things. Cabins, activities, Capture the flag… I MEAN WHO LIKES CAPTURE THE FLAG?!?! I find it entirely stupid, more stupid than the word stupid, and that's quite literally the stupidest word ever. Take a shot every time I say stupid in that sentence, but only if you are an adult. Please don't underage drink, I can't be held accountable.
¨You´re staying in the Hermes Cabin because you´re unclaimed.¨ Floyd explained. ¨Do I even have to be here? Can I just go home?¨ I asked, causing him to turn.
¨You're like… fourteen? And your mom is dead! Who are you going to stay with? Your extended family?¨ He commented, causing me to cross my arms and frown but it's more of a scowl. ¨Shut your mouth emo boy…¨ I comment bitterly.
“WHO ARE YOU CALLING EMO YOU-” Floyd exclaimed, only for someone to put a hand over his mouth. The boy had blonde hair, tan skin, yellowish green eyes. He was wearing a light blue fanny pack and sun earrings. ¨She did, lol~!¨ The boy commented before pulling away. He seemed to shine when he talked like he was the star of the show.
¨My name´s Arki Castro, I'm Floyd´s friend! Also one of Apollo's children! And a musical theater expert and—¨ ¨You´re annoying.¨ I cut the blonde off, annoyed by his rambling.
¨Marcie.¨ Floyd´s voice was filled with an attempt to warn me, but he was about as intimidating as a newborn baby. I understood he was mainly just trying to defend Arki.
¨No… It's okay… She's right.¨ Arki mumbled, looking down at the ground. His obvious sadness only lasted for a second as he jolted upward and went back to smiling. ¨But that's okay! I take no offense to it!¨ He added, clapping his hands excitedly.
¨I'm not gonna stand here and let someone disrespect you dude, you´re my bo— best friend.¨ Floyd asserted, giving me a ´Shut your mouth´ kind of stare as Arki simply nodded. ¨It's okay! Seriously! Please don't fight her… You never win any fights… Like that time with—¨ Arki was cut off by Floyd covering his mouth.
¨SH! We don't talk about the Mitchell incident.¨ Floyd exclaimed, his face red with embarrassment. I was about to make a comment, probably a snarky one, but then I realized the fact I didn't know who the hell Mitchell was.
¨Who´s Mitchell?¨ I ask. ¨One of Ares' cabin kids who died during the Battle Of Manhattan. People are just too scared to say they hated him after he died protecting the camp.¨ Arki declared, a little too loud because I heard an angry comment, something about… Not to be disrespectful of him… or something.
¨… Cool…¨ I murmured. We began walking, talking about really anything to get our mind off of the boy. ¨Sooo… Have you listened to any good musicals recently?¨ Floyd asked Arki. ¨Nah… None have peaked my interest.¨ Arki answered, pulling fruit snacks out his fanny pack.
¨Want some?¨ He asked, extending the bag to me. I shook my head. ¨Nah. Welch fruit snacks aren't my thing.¨ I answered. ¨Same…¨ Floyd commented. ¨More for me, I guess¨ Arki dumped the fruit snacks in his mouth and tossed the trash into a bin.
I guess they´ve forced me into their friend group because next thing I know, Floyd and Arki are editing their planner for the next year to include me in it. ¨When´s your birthday?¨ Floyd asked, clicking a Kuromi themed ball point pen. ¨July 16th.¨ I answered, glaring at the pen. Why the hell am I suddenly a part of this former duo?! ¨ Nice.¨ Arki added as Floyd scrambled through the planner.
¨So what's next for today? Like… What activity are we doing?¨ I asked, my arms crossed. ¨Capture the flag. Floyd isn't on our side. Or the other side… I don't think the Aphrodite cabin participates in capture the flag anymore.¨ Arki rejoined, smiling at me. I gagged audibly, I DESPISE capture the flag with my whole heart
¨Do I have to play..?¨ I back talked, obviously upset at the idea. ¨If you don't want Chiron to get on your a– ehem… y’know then yes.¨ Floyd spoke, refraining from swearing in front of the blonde boy.
¨Whatever…¨ I scoffed. ¨Don't be so sad, Marcie!¨ Arki exclaimed, putting a hand on my shoulder. ¨First of all, don't touch me. Second of all, I never told you my name, why do you know it?¨ I ask, shoving the son of Apollo away.
¨Of course I know your name! You´re the talk of the camp! A new camper crying and being pulled into camp, Who wouldn't know your name?¨ Arki answered, smiling at me.
I sighed, less annoyed by Arki grabbing my shoulder and me having to play capture the flag then the fact I'm known for the pain I felt when my mother was getting torn apart by the Harpies.
Next thing I knew, I was being pulled to play capture the flag. Gods. I hated it at the time and I still do. Floyd was on the same team as me and Arki, at least they said that.