Today was rough, guys. I literally just wrote over twenty pages of US History notes, a synthesis essay for English, and did forty Algebra 2 homework questions. This chapter is the only good thing in my life.

Eight Years Later

There must have been millions of them, skittering across the ground, their eyes red, and their minds thirsting for blood. It was just the two of them, back to back in their small fort, with only the feeble walls to protect them. His hair was plastered to his face with sweat, and her hair was a tangled mess, falling into her face.

His voice was desperate. "It's too small. There's no way out. We're trapped. Please, I don't like this."

She clung to his arm, her breath coming too quickly, and in a similar state. "Come on, we have to at least get rid of them. I'm scared."

He hardened at her voice. "Then that's what we do," he said, gripping the hilt of his sword tighter, "I'll lead. You watch my back."

Her eyes narrow in kind. "I'll protect you," she promised, "We protect each other."

He pushed through the door, which was already straining with the pressure of the monsters and swung the blade with little regard for technique or aim.

Still, he felt better. The open air was much more comfortable. His eyes closed and his mouth opened, letting out a series of screams as he kept on swinging.

Thwack

"Ryker," his father yelled over his screaming, "What are you doing?"

The boy's eyes opened. Their living room was a mess, their pillow fort in tatters and his wooden sword caught in his father's hands, which were red from the impact.

Milli peeked out from behind him, a similar sword in her hand. She pointed it at the ground, where the monsters ran around in a frenzy. "Spiders."

The man's eyes softened. "Ah. Here, this will work better." He grabbed the fly swatter from the top of their mantle quickly disposed of the creatures.

She let out a breath of relief, brushing her blonde hair out of her eyes. "I'm sorry that fort was a little small, Ryker," she said, "But dad says we can't use our bed pillows anymore."

"Let's make a deal," Ryker offered, his sea green eyes sparkling, "I don't let the spiders get you, and you don't let me get stuck in small spaces like that."

She wrapped her pinky around his. "Deal."

He grabbed her by the wrist, dragging her to the door. "Now come on, I want to go to the ocean before dinner."

They were only eight, but their parents trusted them to go out by themselves. They lived on a small private property on an island off of Hawaii. From the beach they could see a neighboring island complete with a town and school district, but both children were homeschooled by Milli's father.

Ryker grabbed his board and sat down in the sand next to his best friend. He didn't surf because that was just the Hawaiian stereotype. He liked to surf because of the irreplaceable feeling of the spray in his face, the wind in his hair, and the freedom that came with being in the middle of the ocean.

"Why do you think we live away from them?" Ryker asked. "Why do you think we go over there to play with everyone else and then come back here and everyone else stays there?"

Milli only shrugged. "Because this is where our houses are. What if we lived over there and my house wasn't right next to your house? What if you couldn't climb through the window at night to play sword fight without falling on your butt? Or maybe you would let someone else climb through the window? I don't think I would like that. Boys are yucky."

Ryker furrowed his eyebrows. "I'm a boy!"

Milli smiled. "But you don't count. You're like a puppy. No one cares if you're a boy or a girl. Everyone likes you anyway."

The boy nodded before the words processed in his head. "Hey!"

His friend giggled, not worried. "Aren't you gonna go surf?"

Ryker smiled brightly, completely forgetting their conversation. "Yeah! You wanna come with me this time?"

She frowned. "Into the ocean?" Milli asked worriedly, "I'm not gonna be Shark Bait. But you go ahead." She let a grin surface on her face. "I'm calling you Shark Bait from now on."

"What? No fair," Ryker pouted, "I need to make one for you."

She tilted her head, waiting as his eyes narrowed in thought. "Ugh! I can't think of anything."

Milli couldn't help but smile. "Maybe I should change it to dum dum."

The boy frowned. "Why? Because I'm not as good at your dad's homework as you?"

Milli's smile widened. "No. Like the lollipop. 'Cuz you're a sucker!"

Ryker laughed with her, tackling her into the sand. "Come on! Help me?"

She shook her head. "No way! That's not as fun."

Ryker was about to protest when he heard a sound coming from the woods surrounding their house. "Do you hear that, Milli?" He asked, starting to wander past the tree line, "Let's go see what it is."

His parents promised him it was safe. They built him a treehouse that they played in together and told him it was a gift from the gods. That we wouldn't see such beauty in nature in many other places. He thought there were way more trees here than on the other island.

Milli got up to go follow him. "Remember our deal," she reminded him, "You take the spiders."

Ryker nodded, "And you free me from small spaces. Got it."

They followed the sound, a small whimpering, through the trees. They came to the clearing under the treehouse, looking in surprise at the basket that was left there.

Milli's face split into a grin. "Do you think your mom is made us brownies again? Or do you think it's an early birthday present? Yours is in, like, five months!"

Ryker perked up at that, "Or maybe my dad got us another fighting set! Wouldn't it be so cool to have a sword in each hand? Or a shield?"

As they approached it, lacking the caution that should be applied to a random basket in the middle of the woods, Ryker noticed that he could easily fit inside of it. He shuddered. Big for basket, but way too small for a room.

There were small golden z's engraved on the sides, which upon closer inspection were lightning bolts. Ryker prodded the basket with a single finger, recoiling as it shook.

There was an angry growl and a black blur as a dog burst out of it, landing atop Milli, who let out a squeal of surprise. One of its claws raked across the inside of her forearm, but she didn't seem to notice.

"A puppy!" She yelled, laughing, "It's so cute!"

"I think it's a boy," Ryker mentioned thoughtfully.

Milli turned a pointed stare at him, "What did I tell you?"

Ryker grinned, "I get it, Milli. Jeez."

The dog wriggled out of the girl's arms, growling again and placing itself between them and the basket. It was clearly a baby, smaller than either of the eight year olds and not matured enough to be frightening in the least.

Neither one of them had taken an actual look inside of the basket, and when Milli realized that, she took a step forward, being turned away by the threat of the dog's bite. Despite its age, its teeth were razor sharp.

Milli dropped her arms in a sign of surrender, brushing against her white shirt. It was at that moment that Ryker noticed the blood, and he glared at the dog, which stared back at him defiantly.

"That's my best friend. You hurt her again and I'll... I'll..." The boy trailed off, not able to think of anything suitable enough for the circumstances, "I'll hit you with my sword!"

The puppy backed off a little, recognizing the venom in his voice. A whimper came again, and for the first time, it struck the pair that it was not the puppy at all.

Ryker jerked his head to the side, and Milli nodded in return. She crossed to the other side of the basket, drawing the dog with her. While it was turned, Ryker crept over to the basket and peeked over the top.

It was a girl. Four years old, at most. Her straight black hair splayed out against the white blankets that covered the bottom. Her skin was pale, a sickly shade of white that Ryker had never seen before.

Her breathing was labored, but that wasn't what worried Ryker the most. An ugly purple bruise was spread over her arm and chin, and small splatters of blood dotted the sheets.

"Milli," he called, suddenly forgetting about the potential danger of the dog, "There's a little girl. Go get Mom or Dad or your Dad and I'll watch her. She looks hurt."

The girl's gray eyes widened and she darted off into the shadows of the trees. Ryker could only look up at the setting sun, completely helpless as he awaited her return.

________________

Ryker must have been waiting for hours. There was no other way to explain how bored he was getting, sitting on the ground in a silent faceoff with the dog.

The girl was still curled up in the bottom of her basket, and Ryker got up to make sure she wasn't, you know, never gonna wake up.

The dog growled another warning, and leaped into the basket itself to wrap itself around her.

Ryker's eyes widened. He leaned against the side of the basket, whispering. "She's your best friend, too, isn't she? You would do anything for her. Even hurt another guy's best friend. You aren't so bad, huh?"

He met the dog's blood red eyes and he reached into the basket warily, pressing a hand against the matted fur. He stroked the fur a couple of times, watching in awe as its tail wagged back and forth in pure bliss, before his parents came barging into the clearing, followed by an exhausted Milli.

They ran up to the basket, paying no mind to the now agitated puppy within it. Without speaking, they took one look at the girl, whose breath was coming in short gasps now, and came to the same conclusion. His father picked up the basket and sprinted back home, his mother hot on his trail.

"Is that weird?" Ryker asked, now alone with Milli, "Do you think they know there's a dog in that basket?"

Milli shrugged, "I don't think so. But it isn't that weird. I see people find stray dogs and take them in all the time."

"What about the girl? Mom and Dad always said not to talk to strangers."

"Maybe she's not a stranger," Milli suggested, shrugging again, "Or maybe it's because she can't talk, so it doesn't count."

Ryker took one last look at his friend before running after his parents, knowing that Milli would run with him.

When they got back to the house, the girl was bandaged and sleeping on the couch, her guard dog sitting beside her, watching the rest of the residents. He got up to lick at Ryker for a second before resuming his position.

Ryker watched his mother turn to his father, neither having noticed the children's arrival, whispering worriedly and animatedly. He only caught parts of her speech. "Hellhound... What kind of... Poor kid... -god?"

"Is she going to be okay?" Milli asked, startling the couple.

Ryker's mom placed a soothing hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "Of course she is. She'll wake up by tomorrow and we'll take care of her."

"Is she gonna be our new sister?" Milli wondered aloud, excited at the prospect, "I've always wanted a sister. Daddy said no, though."

"And the dog?" Ryker asked, "Can we keep him? I don't think he'll want to leave her. Let's give him a name."

His father ran a hand over his black hair. "I don't know, guys. The girl has to have another family. But you're right. That," he paused to cough awkwardly, "Dog. He loves her. Anyone can tell."

"Another family, huh?" Ryker's mother mused, pulling out a note from the basket, "I'm not so sure about that." She handed the piece of paper to Ryker's father, whose eyes widened in surprise.

Ryker snatched it from his hands before he could say anything and handed it to Milli, who scanned the paper quicker than a child with dyslexia should have been able to. From her mutterings, Ryker could make out the contents.

The Caretakers of the Sea,
   
This is my daughter. When she awakes you will know exactly who she is. I trust that you will find her and take care of her, as I am no longer in a condition where I am able to. I am sorry for any danger that may come your way.

She is a demigod.

Her name is Allison.

I hope she finds a family that loves her.

Her Guardian Nymph

"What's a demigod?" He and Milli asked at the same time. "Is Nymph a name? Do you really take care of the ocean?"

His mother reached down lovingly and ruffled his hair. "How 'bout I make you a deal? One day, when the time is right, someone will tell you everything you would ever need to know. I promise."

Ryker crossed his arms. "Okay, but if the time's not right in two weeks I'm jumping on your head."

They heard a stir from the couch. The boy ran and slid on his knees across the wooden floor until he was right beside Allison. Her eyes opened.

And they were a bright electric blue.