(Mace's POV)

I walked into the convenience store with my cap held low to cover my eyes.

Just the beef jerky, just the beef jerky. I thought.  My eyes searched around the shelves full of unorganized goodies and junk the owners put out for sale.

I wouldn't be doing this if I had something to eat.  Maybe I should just go to a friends house and ask them, but then again, it would seem I would be begging, and weak.

I walked through each isle and found the beef jerky.  I searched my eyes around if there was anyone else by me. Nope. No one. So then, I went for the door. 

"I'd like, hmm.  Do you have any glaze?"   Someone spoke at the front. I stopped in my tracks and looked above the shelves to see who it was. 

"Ah, sure man. Right here. How many?"  The clerk replied.   The clerk was talking to a middle-aged man  in blue police uniform. He had a big round belly that seemed too big to be real. He had a tiny, but spiky beard, and his head was completely bald. He scratched his beard and said, "Three is fine."  But then, his nosed twitched and his head perked up and he turned around.  

I dropped down so he wouldn't see me.  Just wait for him to go. It'll be fine.  I heard a grumble and heavy foot steps going for the door.

"Hey man! You didn't get you doh- oh forget it."  The clerk yelled as the policemen went out the door.  

I waited a few moments to make sure he was gone,  and I sped for the door. A tiny bell rang as I opened the door.

I quickly looked left and right and crossed the street.  But as soon as I took one step, I was soon tripped and fell.

"Ow." I groaned.  Nothing really felt scraped or broken.  

"Hello, boy."  Someone spoke above me.  I got up but almost immediately got pushed over.  

"Hey!  What the crap dude?!"  I said.  I heard a tsk-tsk noise from the person that pushed me.  "Now that's not a way to greet someone.  I see you have beef jerky.  May I have some?"

What?! I screamed in my head.  "Hey, this is mine. I bought it so it's all mine." I lied.

"Well, I find that hard to believe.  You looked like you've been dumpster diving.  I couldn't believe that you would have any money. Where's your parents?"

"Well, one. I have not been dumpster diving... lately, and two, I- I don't have parents."

It's true. My Mom left me to the streets years ago and I never met my Father. I've been basically been living on the streets or in my friends homes.

"Aw. That's to bad. Well, you might as well come with me then."  The officer offered.  I shook my head. "No way. I can take care of myself." I replied.  "It's also very hard to believe your a real man-in-uniform kind of guy."

The officer grunted. "Shut it, you."  Suddenly, he leaped into the air, and grabbed for my beef jerky. Though, I pulled it close me, he still got his beefy hands on it.

"Hey! Let go!"  I yelled. He didn't respond, and he pulled harder.  I lifted my foot and kicked him in the groin.  The officer bellowed and let go.

"See ya."  I said while running the other direction.  The only place I new that was safe was my tiny camp in the woods a few blocks away. 

I started breathing hard when I ran two blocks. Off in the distance, I heard the officer yell, "COME BACK HERE MACE! I CAN SMELL YOU!!"

Smell me? And how did he know my name?  Stalker alert. I laughed to myself.  But, as I did, I heard cars and things being smashed. Explosions irrupted on that street. 

I ran faster.

"You can't run, boy!" the officer bellowed.  A flying car on fire flew right by me and landed in front of me. I dodged it and kept running.

What's happening? I just stool some jerky, is this some super sumo guy?  I thought.

I turned left as the street ended. In front of me, I saw tall trees with no leaves meaning that was my destination. The forest.

As I went past the first few trees, I heard big heavy foot steps behind me.  I look behind my shoulder to see what it was only to know it was my worst mistake I have ever made.

The so-called-officer had somehow changed into a ten foot, thing.  His blubbery fat swished up and down as he ran towards me. Where should have been two eyes, he only had one big eye.  his ripped blue uniform only covered his bottom half of his body.

This can't be happening. 

I can't go to my camp. He'll find it and possibly kill me. I wonder if I go deeper into the woods, and the more dense the trees get, the-thing will give up.

It didn't seem to be working. As I wove through the thick dense trees, the monster caught up and ripped the trees from the ground only as if they were little delicate dandelions.

"Come here boy! I won't hurt you." The monster said.

I ran past my camp but kept going.  I heard a crashing sound meaning the monster had destroyed it. Well, that's the end of living there. I thought. 

As the more I went through the trees, the more difficult it became to move around.  The trees branches smacked into my face and gave scratches on my face.

"There's nowhere to run! Just give up!"  The monster was breathing hard now.  His words were becoming sluggish.

How much farther am I going to go? I thought.

I closed my eyes to cry out in frustration.  But before I could, a huge branch smacked me in the gut and I doubled over.

I gasped and saw the monster come closer.  So this is it. How I die. I thought.

I looked in front of me so I didn't need to face my killer.  But instead of trees, I saw a fence.  An arch in the middle was the passage and read,  Camp Half Blood.  I looked back at the monster who was only a few meters away now.  I got up, and ran for the entrance.

"NO!"  The monster yelled as I passed through it.  I looked over my shoulder as it slowed to a stop and bellowed.

That works I guess. I thought. I didn't really read my surroundings because all the exhaustion hit me at once. I gasped for air and fell over, and passed out.

Thanks for reading this long chapter!  Sorry I haven't updated sense, forever, but I hope you liked the first chapter!  Please vote and comment on what you think about it! Thanks!