Getting Help From Uncle Aaron

We snuck out into the dark city of Manhatten. It was silent except for the howling wind and occasional dog barking and a crow cawing. Most of the houses were dark one or two lamps were on after we passed at least twenty houses. A street cat hissed at us as we passed an alley.

"Those street cats really are terrible," August grumbled.

"They're better than monsters." I grinned.

"So, Mr. Harrelson wasn't too nice to you I'd take it?" August asked.

"How'd you know?" My grin disappeared.

"The way he stormed out of the room before I fell asleep and how you just answered."

"Yeah he's a big jerk, he caught on Juniper and I were together and was clearly upset about it. I don't really want to talk about it, ok August?"

"Got it, sorry."

We passed a familiar street and I quickened the pace until I stopped at an apartment building. Few lights were on in the apartment building except for the lobby. I took a deep breath and pushed open the door into the lobby. A young man about fourteen looked up from a book

"Hello, how may I help you?" He asked. He wore a purple and black plaid shirt and black jeans. He had short chestnut hair, tanned skin and soft green eyes.

"We just need to see Mr. Glen, Aaron Glen," I responded.

"Are you a family member or something?" He blinked at me.

"Yes, I'm his niece now can you give him a call so he knows we're here or not?" I snapped.

"Sure thing." He picked up the phone and dialled a number. Someone picked up. "Sorry to bother you Mr. Glen but your niece is here... I'll send them up." He hung up.

I walked to the elevator and pressed the button. We waited for a few moments then the elevator reached the lobby floor. August and I stepped in and I pressed the button for floor four, the elevator doors shut and it started moving up.

"What will we tell him when we see him?" August asked.

"I don't know, but I'll ask him for help," I said.

"Do you think he'll help?"

"He's my uncle, he'll help."

August stayed silent as we reached the fourth floor. The elevator stopped and the doors opened. We stepped out and walked down the hall to my Uncles' house, I banged on the door several times till he opened the door. His dog barked happily as I entered and licked my hand. I scratched her behind her ear.

"Peck, what happened to you?" My uncle asked.

"Surviving happened to me," I responded grimly.

"What do you mean "surviving" happened to you?" My uncle asked with a serious expression.

"Monsters trying to kill me, getting claimed by dad, who by the way is Hades, a lot has happened in the past, what? Four months?" I said.

"Those rips in your sweater, are those... scars?" My uncle exclaimed checking my back and arm.

"I'm fine uncle Aaron!" I growled. "Now listen to me."

My uncle stepped back and rubbed his forehead. "Peck, oh my gosh, Peck, how many times have you nearly died?"

"Doesn't matter, lots of Demigods nearly die a lot. What matters is if you can help get me, August, a Demigod named Juan and my girlfriend back to camp." I realized too late what I'd just said.

My uncle froze and looked at me. "Girlfriend?" He echoed, "Peck, do you mean a close friend or more than a friend."

"I- I mean more than a friend, Mom knows already and she's fine with it, I hope you are too." I couldn't meet his eyes.

"Of course I am Woodpecker." My uncle pulled me into a hug. "And I can get all of you to camp."

"Thank you, Uncle Aaron!" I smiled.

***

We arrived back at Juniper's house in a matter of minutes when my uncle drove us back. I banged on the door and Katherine opened the door.

"You're back, Juniper and Juan have been taken care of like you asked. Will you be off soon?" She asked.

"Yes, can you go get them? We must leave now before any other monsters show up." I said.

Katherine nodded and stepped back in to get them. After a few moments, Juniper came rushing out the door into my arms tackling me with a hug. I fell onto the ground as her arms wrapped around me. Juniper wore her jean jacket over a camp shirt and black jeans.

"Thank the gods you're safe." Juniper kissed my cheek.

"Of course I'd be safe." I chuckled.

Ronan stepped out of the door with Juan and narrowed his eyes at us.

"Ahem, I'm Aaron Glen, Pecks uncle and I'll make sure they get back to camp." My uncle held out his hand to Juniper's parents.

"I'm Katherine Harrelson and this is my husband Ronan Harrelson. Thank you for helping them." Katherine shook his hand.

"If Peck needs help, I'm always ready to lend a hand. Plus the Mist doesn't get in the way so it's easier to help the Demigods." My uncle smiled.

"Now we should go before any monsters show up." I stood up brushing the dirt from my clothes.

"I'll sit up front to help Mr. Glen," August said and hopped back into the car.

"Juan, come on." I snapped my fingers.

"Thanks," Juan said quickly to Katherine then quickly climbed into the car.

"I need a word with you two first," Ronan said.

Juniper gulped and we walked over to him.

"Just keep each other safe, for both of your family's sake." He said.

"Surprising words from you, but thanks... dad," Juniper said.

Shock spread over Ronan's face as we walked back to my uncles' small yellow car. I climbed into the car before Juniper and then she climbed in.

"Never thought I'd call him that," Juniper said quietly resting her head on my shoulder.

"Don't worry about it, Sunshine, maybe he's not as bad as he used to be," I said.

I noticed my uncle smiling in the front view mirror.

"Hey, can you tell me what this camp is for?" Juan asked.

"Sure, Camp Half-Blood is for Demigods like us-" I gestured to the three of us in the back. "- Our parents are the Greek Olympian Gods, well most of them anyway. This is the kind of camp where we train to fight monsters and anyone or anything that wants to wipe us out."

"Olympian Gods?" Juan echoed confused.

"Yes, Hera, Zeus, Hermes, Apollo, Dionysus, Poseidon, Athena, Persephone, Demeter, Ares, Hephaestus and Artemis. Don't worry Juan you'll learn more about them all." Juniper gave him a soft smile.

"Will I meet any of these gods?" Juan asked.

"Yes, Mr. D is actually Dionysus. And Chiron is a centaur training the Demigods at camp." I explained. "You'll also meet a lot of nymphs, dryads and satyrs. August here is actually a satyr."

"Yep," August removed his hat to reveal small twisted horns.

"That's cool, but who are your parents?" Juan blinked at us.

"My dad is Apollo," Juniper replied.

"Hades is my dad," I said.

"Hey Peck, you three should get some sleep. It's late almost eleven-thirty." My uncle said from the front seat.

Juan didn't argue, he just rested his head against the car door and quickly fell asleep.

"Your uncles right, we should get some rest," Juniper said quietly.

"Fine, I'll rest." I sighed.

Juniper patted her shoulder and I rested my head on her shoulder closing my eyes. Juniper gave me a small kiss on my head as I slowly fell asleep.

I woke up again in a dream, but this time it was in a dark cavern.

"The gods don't deserve your praise." A voice whispered.

"Yes, they do!" My voice rose as I stumbled around.

"They don't even have a cabin for your father, how is that fair?" They whispered as if they were right beside me.

"Shut up! The gods deserve the praise I give them!" I swatted from beside me. I looked around for anything and saw a small light ahead.

"The gods have never been fair to children like you. If they could they'd destroy every last one of you." The voice was getting fainter as I got closer to the light.

My foot got caught on something and I fell scraping my knees. I quickly got up again and ran. I finally reached the light and saw camp being destroyed by some huge being. A titan held a scythe in his hands as he swung it at the Zeus cabin.

A sob escaped from me as I fell onto my knees. "No, not camp, it's not destroyed, it can't be." My voice shook.

I saw Demigods laying on the ground, their weapons lay by them. The Demigods were as still as statues. I noticed a familiar girl laying on the ground gasping as a stab wound bled out. She had tanned skin, hazel hair and yellow eyes. She wore a camp shirt and blue jeans.

"Juniper." I got to my feet and ran to her.

"Peck," Juniper whispered when I kneeled beside her.

"Don't talk, I need to fix this, I have to fix this." I pulled her close to me.

"This is the end, Peck," Juniper whispered.

"No, not yet, Sunshine, we're supposed to grow old together. Please, Sunshine, don't leave me." I moved the hair from her face as tears streamed down my face.

"I'm sorry." Juniper went limp in my arms, her yellow eyes went blank.

I woke up whimpering for Juniper. I shot up and tears started streaming down my face.

"Peck? What's wrong?" My uncle asked. We were parked near the forest of camp, Juan and August were looking around outside.

"Camp, oh, gods no! Juniper and camp and everyone all gone, no!" I sobbed.

"What are you talking about? I'm right here, silly and camps fine." Juniper stroked my hair.

"B-but the dream, it was so real." My voice shook.

"It was a dream, all just a dream. Everyone is safe." Juniper wrapped her arms around me and pulled me close.

"What kind of dreams are these?" My uncle asked.

"All Demigods get them. Sometimes its warnings, it's our biggest fear and sometimes it's just a dream." Juniper explained as she stroked my hair.

"Will she be ok?" My uncle asked.

"Yes, I think so. She might have more dreams like these in the next few years but I don't know." Juniper said.

"I'm sorry, it was just so real," I said quietly.

"Hey Peck, Juniper we need to get to camp, now." August popped his head in.

"Why?" Juniper asked.

"Monsters," August responded.