A Dream of Memories

I pressed the button on my bracelet and it transformed into a sword. The Stygian iron reflected me as I got into a fighting stance. A small wind blew past the arena and blew my hair behind me.

Clarrise took the first attack by swinging her spear at me. I shifted my feet and blocked it. Clarrise narrowed her eyes at me then took a step back.

"Is that all you've got? Are you just going to block my attacks?" Clarrise scoffed.

I gritted my teeth and went in with my sword. I used a trick Alex had taught me, a feint. I fell towards the ground as I lunged. At the last moment, Clarrise took the mistake of taking a step back instead of blocking. I used the flat side of my sword to trip her, it hit her ankles and she fell back on the ground.

I then shifted how I was falling to land on my feet. I landed on my feet and stood, I pressed the button on my sword and it transformed back into a bracelet. I looked down at Clarrise with a bored expression as the ground around my feet started to darken with death.

"That was fun, want to go again?" I held out my hand as a smile escaped to the corners of my mouth.

Clarrise slapped my hand away and stood up. "Go find someone else." She snarled and stormed off.

"I'll just leave." I turned and walked off pulling my hood above my head. I felt sick to the stomach for some reason, my head pounded and I felt dizzy. By the time I was near the hill with a willow tree, my head was pounding so much I could hardly hear any of my thoughts. I fell sideways as my vision went dark.

Memories swirled around my brain as I hit the snow on the ground.

Juniper and me under the willow tree. August and I running from that in Manhattan. Me facing that monster in the forest. Even memories from when I was young.

My mom pushing me on a swing when I was about three at a public park as a man that looked oddly familiar smiling at me. He wore a purple suit, he had black hair like mine and black eyes that flared with purple.

I saw myself a few months later asking my mom where the man went, calling him dad. Tears stung my mothers' eyes as she pulled me close and whispered something to me.

"He had to leave," She whispered to me.

I saw myself when I was six, sitting by myself outside at lunch playing with a small ball. I saw two boys walk over to me and demand the ball. I had shaken my head which the boys responded by pulling it from my hands. I cried and snapped at them to give it back all they did was laugh and mock me.

I saw myself lose my temper and the ground dying around my feet. The two boys screamed in terror and run away.

I saw myself in the early sixth grade in the principles office with my mom. The principle was explaining to my mother how I'd beat up a kid because they'd made fun of me for not having a dad.

"I didn't mean to! I just zoned out and attacked him!" I had raised my voice jumping to my feet.

"Ms. Glen if your daughter keeps up this attitude she will be expelled." The principle had glared at my mother.

My mother was silent as she read the paper I'd given her the day before. I had broken the boy's nose and had given him a black eye.

"Ms. Glen!" The principal had banged his desk.

My mother flinched and looked up. "I understand."

"Mom! It was-"

"We're going home." My mother stood up and grabbed my wrist.

"Mom, I didn't mean to hurt him!" I said when we were in the car.

"I know, but if you keep this up we'll need to find another school for you." My mother had looked back at me.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled.

"Peck? Hey, wake up." I heard someone calling me distantly.

My eyes fluttered open slowly, once my vision became clear I saw Juniper holding me in her arms.

"Hey," I murmured.

"What happened?" Juniper asked.

"I was dizzy and passed out," I looked around and recognized the willow tree. "I passed out here."

"Have you been eating often? Getting enough sleep? Drinking enough water?"

"No, no and no?"

"Peck, if you're not eating, not sleeping and not drinking water Chiron will never let you go on a quest with me."

"Sorry, I'll try harder."

"You'd better or I'm keeping you in the infirmary for the next week."

"Sorry." I sat up.

"Don't be sorry, just keep yourself in check or you'll become bones and skin."

"Yeah, got it."

"Thank you." Juniper kissed me on the cheek.

"Let's get back to camp, it's almost time for dinner." I stood up weakly.

"I'll help you." Juniper put her arms around me when she stood up.

"Thanks but I'll be fine." I walked down the hill.

"Alright." Juniper walked beside me.

We made it to the Dining Pavillion and sat down at our separate tables. When my table was called I scraped most of my food into the fire for Hades. I knew Juniper was watching because when I saw her frowning at me. I sat back down at my table and took a few bites. I finished the small piece of chicken and mashed potatoes quickly and sat in silence looking out at the horizon.

After two months of being stuck at this camp, I didn't find anything interesting anymore. The sunset quickly and I sighed. I stood up, put my dishes away and walked back to the hill with the willow tree. I sat down and heard some nymphs giggling in the forest, they had soft feminine voices.