CHAPTER TWO ━━ WHERE ART THOU FATHER?

THERE WAS LOUD THUNDER outside as soon as Eurydice stepped into her apartment complex. It seemed like the gods were not on her side today if the weather was going to confuse like this. Not that she even believed in the gods in the first place, but she knows for a fact that they wouldn't like her. She sighed to herself as she watched the rain patter on the windows as walked towards the elevator to take her to her floor. She breathed in shakily as she held her backpack over her shoulders tightly.

She still wasn't really sure exactly what had happened that day. But all she knew was that she believed Percy, she knew that he didn't touch Nancy. Yet Grover told on him anyways, which accidentally got Eurydice involved as well. But Yancy wasn't a good school anyways if they let bullies like Nancy get away with tormenting others. In a way she was kind of glad that she had gotten kicked out, even if it wasn't what she had wanted. It wasn't Percy's fault, he shouldn't feel bad for what he couldn't control.

Eurydice would follow Percy to the ends of the earths because he was her best friend in the entire world. And now that they'll never see Grover again, he's all she has left. She doesn't think she'll ever understand why Grover did that to them. She clenched her fists at the thought of the dark haired boy, he was their friend! She trusted him! And she just- she can't stop thinking about it no matter how hard she tries.

Could she have done anything that he would have chosen not to tell on them? She doubts it but she hates that she can't stop thinking of all the possibilities in which she could have stopped all of this from happening. If she had done anything right her and Percy would probably still be at Yancy happily playing another game of Mythomagic with Grover. She unclenched her fists suddenly, feeling the pain in her hand when she pressed too hard. Eurydice never liked being angry, but her anger would always vanish too soon and then doubt comes in.

She heard the slight ding of the elevator opening up as she walked out towards her floor. The ding had shaken her out of her erratic thoughts, her mother had always said that she had a tendency to overthink every little thing that only made her feel worse in the end. She tried her best to try and stop it, but for some godawful reason she found no way to turn it off no matter how hard she tried. Her thoughts always overpowered her in someway, even when she tried the hardest she could to push them down.

She slowly stepped out of the elevator as she made her way towards her floor. Her duffel bag was slumped over her other shoulder as she stepped down the hallway. Her steps echoed in the completely empty hallway as her eyes scanned the numbers on each and every apartment door. Her bags were heavy but that didn't matter much to her at all, she wouldn't be going back to a boarding school anytime soon. Maybe her mom would let her go to the same school as Percy if Sally was able to find some other school in the area who hadn't blacklisted him from coming to their school.

Her thoughts were interrupted as she walked down another one of the various hallways on her floor. It took one a few hallways to get to hers, but it was quieter than usual. She found it odd, when usually there'd be younger kids playing out in there attempting to play tag in the long hallways. As soon as she had gotten closer to her apartment she heard loud screaming matches from down the hall. She winced slightly as she quietly crept down the hallway into her apartment.

There was always a loud screaming fight on the other side of their apartment. Their next door neighbours... well they weren't very pleasant people. They had a daughter too, she thinks her name was Michelle. She wasn't sure if there was a father in the picture but all she knew was that she wasn't treated too well by her family. Her mom had always babysat the younger girl whenever she could, to keep her away from her family at least for a little while longer. Her mother always seemed to hold a special kind of care somberness whenever she spoke about the girl.

Eurydice had never truly met the girl herself, but she hoped that she would get out of there someday. She wasn't around enough at home since she was at Yancy, but she bets that she would have liked the girl even if she was considerably younger than her. She didn't know a lot about her situation but it seemed bad enough that her mom was concerned, and she trusted her mom's judgment. She carefully crept towards their apartment door, wincing as she rummaged through her pockets to find her keys.

She saw a glimpse of the girl in the doorway, she waved at her with a smile as the girl stared at her and went back inside of the apartment. Eurydice sighed in relief as the door to her apartment swung open

As soon as she entered the apartment all she could smell was the aroma of homemade cookies. She perked up in excitement as she locked the door behind her as she walked into their apartment. As soon as she got to their kitchen table, her mother passed her a plate full of sugar cookies. Her eyes widened in excitement. "Mom, are these for me?" She whispered in surprise, she really would have thought she'd have been in trouble for what happened at Yancy.

Her mother just smiled at her, her eyes crinkling at the sides with warm laughter. "Of course they are, honey. Who else would they be for?" She chuckled at the shocked look on her face. "The school called me you know, they told me that you helped Percy stand up to a bully. And I told them that there wouldn't be any punishment for you doing the right thing." She looked at her with pride, though Eurydice didn't feel like she deserved it. She took a bite out of one of the sugar cookies with a small smile.

Her mom sat down at the stool beside her. "And, your headmaster was saying that you should be punished, and you know what I told him?" She asked her with a smirk. She had a twinkle in her eyes that couldn't be shaken. Eurydice shook her head at her mom, her mouth full with pieces of cookie crumbs. "Uh.. no?" She responded in confusion. Her eyes moving to look at her mother's face questioningly. "I told him to go fuck himself." She immediately gasped. "Mom!" She cried softly, shocked and a little impressed. "Are you serious?" She asked her, eyes wide in shock.

One thing about Alison Ramirez, she was a formidable woman. She had no issue with letting her daughter hear her swear and always pushed her be confident in everything that she did. Unfortunately Eurydice hadn't inherited much of her mother's traits, but her mother's sense of morality and kindness had stuck with her daughter. One thing her mother and her also had in common, was that neither of them had a filter. Whenever Eurydice wasn't overthinking she had no filter whatsoever, which had come from her mother herself.

Her mom was also brave, where Eurydice was not. She was comfortable with staying as things were, at least until what had happened at Yancy. Things were forcibly changed, but she can't help but think that maybe it was the right idea after all. It wouldn't hurt for her to be braver, instead of being scared all the time of things that couldn't touch her. She liked to be careful, but maybe she had to be a different kind of brave.

Her mother smiled that kind of smile that she knew she was smug about it. "Yes, I am serious. That guy was an asshole anyways." She muttered as she took a piece the cookie in Eurydice's hand. "Hey, Mom!" She complained with a slight whine, as the older woman laughed at her. "Hey, I'm your mother. I'm allowed to take things from you." She laughed, smiling at her softly. It was only a second that she saw her mother's once happy smile flicker into a conflicted one.

She looked like she was in thought before she started smiling down at her daughter again. "Mom? Are you okay..?" Eurydice's voice went soft in concern for her mother. Her frown deepening as she saw her mother's eyes flicker with some deep conflict. Her mother was almost never upset, which made her feel sick. Suddenly all of her worries were back right in a flash.

She watched her mother's hands shake slightly as she put her hands onto her shoulders. Her eyes drifted towards her face in concern, her eyes looking back and forth at her in worry. Her mother sighed deeply, hugging her tightly over her chair. "I'm alright honey, I'm fine. Okay?" She stared at her in worry. "You don't look fine." She muttered bluntly at her mother, who just looked at her with a bitter sadness.

Her mother's gaze flickered down to Eurydice's face again as she pulled away. "There's... something I need to tell you, Edie." Her voice was soft as her mother used the nickname she only called her when she was a baby. Her frown only deepened into even more confusion. "..Mom?" She muttered out softly in worry, feeling like she could fall apart at any moment. Her mother was never sad, ever. That must mean whatever she's going to tell her is bad.

Are they moving? Did mom loose her job again so they had to move to the sketchy part of town and she'd have to stop going to school? All of these possibilities went through her head as her mother struggled to come up with a way to tell her. "Do... you remember when you were younger and you used to have imaginary friends?" Her mother asked her, her voice shaking significantly. Her eyes narrowed at her in concern. "Yes...? But what does that have to do with anything- mom?" She muttered in concern.

She only sighed deeply in response. "What if... these imaginary friends were real. And.. that you really weren't hearing things." She murmured to her so earnestly and real, that she couldn't help but believe that she was telling the truth. Even though what she was saying made no absolute sense at all. "What?" She stared at her mother in confusion. She looked like she was struggling to string her words together as she stared at her.

The rain pattered on outside as she watched her mother in worry. She wasn't sure whether or not to believe her, even if she wanted to so badly. These past few days have been weird, and she feels like she's slowly going insane and that no one understands her expect the one person who isn't here right now, Percy. Now even her mom was making her feel like she was going crazy. What was all of this? Was she trying to make her feel better about what happened at Yancy? The storm had seemed to be getting angrier as they spoke.

Her mother sighed shakily. "What if... I told you that some of your imaginary friends worked with your father." Her eyes narrowed slightly at her mother's face in disbelief as she heard her say that. "I'm sorry, what?" She didn't mask her shock. Just staring at her mother in concern. "Mom— are you sure you're okay?" She whispered to her worriedly, trying to reach out for her hand. Her mother shakily took her hand in hers, her eyes showing clear emotion in them.

She cleared her throat awkwardly. "Mom, how would that even be possible? My dad? We're talking about my dad who ran out on us?" Her mother shook her head at her softly. "No, he didn't abandon us, Edie." She said this so softly and earnestly that it hurt to see the obvious love her mother still had for that man. She scoffed. "Mom. he left us. Sure, he left me an unholy amount of money for college but that doesn't mean anything!" She insisted in frustration.

She had never met her father. She only remembered a dark haired man who was there for the first six years of her life and as soon as he came, he left it. Leaving them a large amount of money that she couldn't even access until she was eighteen, and leaving her mother with a broken heart. That was who she remembered her father as. She couldn't even remember his face if she even tried. There were days that she hated him more than she hated herself.

Her mother frantically looked at her. "He didn't want to leave us. Believe me, Edie. Please. I want to tell you everything right now but I can't. Not now. Until we get to Sally." Her eyebrows narrowed at her in confusion. "What? Mom, what are you talking about? Sally and Percy?" She stared at her, was this some kind of punishment for what she and Percy did?

For once, her mother wasn't making sense to her. When sometimes she was the only thing in her life that did. "Mom! What is going on?" She shouted at her desperately in hysterics, she needed to know what was going on. She didn't understand any of this! How could she when her mom wasn't telling her anything! Something seemed to be holding her back, like a huge secret that she had been holding in for so long. "Your father... he isn't just a man." She breathed in shakily as she finished her sentence.

Her eyes flickered towards her mom's in concern. "What?" She sat there in absolute shock. "He.... is something else entirely." Her mother muttered vaguely, her voice coming out as a painful whisper. "What-" Eurydice murmured in confusion, not putting the pieces of the puzzle together. If there was a puzzle she had to solve her, she had clearly not even opened the box yet.

Her mother repressed another sigh. "But we can't talk about this here. We have to see Sally and Percy. Pack your things, please Edie. This is important." She said to her shakily, the cookies on their kitchen table left largely forgotten. There was a haunting look in her mother's eyes that she couldn't ignore. "Okay." She muttered out softly. "I'll pack..." She muttered in uncertainty, although she knew she hadn't really unpacked.

She had no clue whatsoever about what Sally and Percy had to do with this. It just didn't make sense. She carefully walked towards her bedroom as her mother sat down in the corner, looking like she needed to regain her composure. Her mother had always been her biggest protector, and now..for once she was afraid of something. And that.. scared her.

She shut the door to her bedroom behind her as she chose other things to pack in her bags. She grabbed the Mythomagic manual she had gotten for her birthday last year. There were little notes written by Percy and Grover throughout the manual, it might have sounded stupid to anyone else. But the game comforted her on some other level she couldn't explain, it was fun to play the hero and kill monsters. Even if she wasn't the violent type, it was still fun.

She threw the manual into her backpack along with three extra changes of clothes. She wasn't sure why her mom needed her to pack, but it was better to be prepared than take nothing at all. She shoved her wireless headphones into her backpack as well, she could not survive without music. She had only managed to survive at Yancy without them because she had managed to borrow old airpods from a girl in an older grade.

Don't ask her how she managed to get the girl to agree to give them to her free of charge, she guessed that just has really good negotiating skills. She still isn't sure where she got those skills from though... Well anyways she rugged through one of her drawers to find it, she sighed in relief where she found it right where she had left it. It was her lucky charm, a pearl pomegranate necklace her mother had gotten her for her birthday this year.

She wasn't allowed to have taken it to Yancy with her because they don't allow jewelry at school, but it was one of her most prized possessions. Her mother had told her the jeweller she had gotten it from made a special discount just for them. She wasn't sure how they had managed to get the discount, but she loved the necklace.

It also served as her good luck charm, and thinking about the look on her mother's face told her that she would need a lot of luck for what was to come. She didn't know how or why her mother was trying to get her to Sally and Percy so badly. But she trusted her mom, above everything else.

────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──────────

They were on the road for a while as Eurydice watched her mother grip onto steering wheel tightly. She seemed tense. Meanwhile she sat in the backseat with her headphones on. The ride was relatively quiet as she listened to the music onto her mother's old walkman she had remanufactured to connect to her headphones and download new music on it. Her mom was pretty crafty as well, which was a good thing for her.

She did have a phone, but it was pretty old. So this was her next best option. She yawned slightly as the bumps in the road became more infrequent the closer they got to the beach. Her mother still hadn't explained where they were going, she knew Sally and Percy would be there. She didn't even know what to expect. She rubbed her eyes tiredly and wondered if they were going to go home after this. Her assumption was interrupted but her mom stopping the car immediately as they parked right in front of an old looking cabin overlooking the beach.

It was raining hard as she watched her mom silently step out of the car. Eurydice swallowed hard as she carefully pulled her jacket's hood up and pulled her backpack on. Her mother had a hard look on her face, looking like she was a woman on a mission. She faintly wondered what all of her actions so far even meant. She hadn't even properly explained anything to her.

Other than the fact that her father wasn't a man. She still had no idea what that meant. Was she trying to tell her that her father was a monster, or something else entirely? Judging on the way their night was progressing, she would know soon.

They entered the cabin with a swing of the door. She swallowed slightly, unsure if it was such a good idea to just walk in. And it turned out she was right and as soon as she walked in she heard Mrs. Jackson speak. "Because... he- he wasn't a man at all. He was a god." She could faintly see Percy staring at his mother in confusion as he muttered, sounding completely lost. "You fell in love with God? Like... jesus?" She would have laughed if she wasn't so mortified at the thought.

She immediately turned to her mother with her eyes wide open. "Wait. Oh god, is my dad jesus too??" She muttered in absolute hysterics, looking very mortified. She sounded like she was going to freak out, way too mortified at that thought to process what was going on. Sally immediately turned over to them, looking over apologetically at her mother. They had really barged in at a bad time.

Percy staring at her in absolute confusion. "Eurydice?" She muttered softly in confusion, almost looking relieved to see her. She stood there in the entrance of the cabin awkwardly. "Hi." She tried to wave, but it turned out more awkward than she had wanted it to be. Percy's mother sighed and ask. "Not God. A god. Percy." She sighed deeply, meanwhile Percy looked like he didn't believe her.

Her mother cleared her throat awkwardly. "To be clear, you don't have the same dad." She patted her on the shoulder. She slumped her shoulders. "Oh thank god. I thought we were the second comings of jesus for a second..." She muttered quietly to herself. Her mother gave her a exasperated look as she looked at Sally apologetically. 

The other woman sighed deeply. "Alison, you're early." Sally told her with a sigh. Her mother blanked out for a second. "Oh! Right. I'm sorry. Let's just— go into the other room, sweetheart." She ushered Eurydice out of the room quickly. While Percy's eyes never left hers as she was ushered out of the room.

She could barely make out Percy questioning his mother on why she and her mom were here as they left the room. She stared at her mother in confusion as they stepped into a hallway. "Mom, seriously. What is going on!" She whispered to her, tired of being completely kept in the dark about all of this. It was getting frustrating that she had no idea how or why Percy and her were involved in all of this. Not to mention what Sally had mentioned to her mother about being early.

Alison sighed, a deeply conflicting look on her face. "Eurydice. Honey, you are a half-blood. Half god, half man." She stared at her in confusion, but before she could say anything her mother stopped her. "The stories I've taught you. About greek myths and the demigods. They are real. And half-bloods are not safe in this world. This world isn't safe for you." She wanted to make it clear to her how serious she was being. She was still in complete shock, attempting to even process everything she was being told.

It was all too overwhelming that it felt like it was choking her. She didn't understand any of this! Her mother continued with tears in her eyes. "Once half-bloods reach a certain age they begin to understand what they are, terrible forces. Monsters, are drawn to them. Driven to harm you before you can become strong enough to fight back." There was a grief stricken look on her mother's face as she said this.

In all of her shock and confusion, she watched her mother break down right in front of her. Her voice broke as she spoke the next few words. "I'm scared that I haven't prepared you enough. That I haven't done enough for you." She sounded so terrified that she was pulled out of her shock, for that feeling to be turned into a horrifying sense of mortality. If what she was saying was true... her life would never be back to how it was ever again. And she wanted to believe her mom, but nothing about any of this made sense.

Despite her doubt, she believed her. "What? Mom, you've done your best-" Her voice shook slightly as she spoke, she felt sick at the thought of her mother being right about all of this. Maybe her dad really was a god. If he was, then who would he be? If he was truly a god, why didn't he do anything to stay with them? If he was a god, high and mighty he should be able to do anything he wanted.

Then why didn't he stay? That thought haunted her. Apart of her wants to believe that he did it for a reason, but she knows that's not true. He left on his own no matter how much her brain wants to make excuses for him, she just can't bring herself to accept that it was for the better. What was the reason of leaving her without a father? Her mother was quiet then, as if she knew what she was thinking. She always has been able to see right through her like it was nothing.

Her mother looked like she wanted to say more, but they were interrupted by a loud knock at the door. She curiously walked down the hallway, her mother following her worriedly as they heard the knocks grow louder. Her eyes went wide as she saw a familiar face through the window. "Grover?" She whispered in surprise, before it was replaced with her crossing her arms. What was he doing here? Seriously, how far is she out of the loop?

Sally called out towards the knocker. "Who's there?" She sounded a little worried. Grover yelled from the outside. "Mrs. Jackson? It's Grover." He sounded anxious for some reason. But she couldn't come up with a reason why he would be. She heard Percy mutter just as confused as she has been. "Grover?" She saw Grover waving at her mother. "Oh, also hi Mrs. Ramirez. This is a little time sensitive, could someone maybe open the door?" He asked nervously.

Percy frowned. "What is he doing here. I don't wanna see him." He said stubbornly. Sally sighed and went to go open the door. "Wait— Mom-" Percy tried to protest Eurydice walked over to him while his mom opened the door. Sally looked like she was stressed out as she stared at Grover. "We asked to have the night, you said we could all leave in the morning." She muttered stressfully. Grover winced apologetically. "Sorry, I'm early, but I didn't have any choice. Things have changed. This is all developing a lot faster than we anticipated." He rambled slightly. 

Grover stepped into the cabin as Percy sounded like he was about to rant. "You should have asked me before you— Whatever it is you're gonna say. I don't wanna... hear it—" He looked down at Grover's feet. "Grover?" He muttered in confusion. Eurydice's eyes went wide as she stared at Grover's bottom torso. "Grover?!" She muttered in disbelief, staring at his feet in shock. She thought she was done freaking out, but maybe she isn't.

Grover nodded at her and Percy. "Eurydice, Percy." She and Percy exchanged stunned looks. "Grover." Percy repeated again. "Okay, so something's coming.." Grover started to explain to their parents. "Grover." Eurydice repeated this time, freaking out while Grover didn't seem to notice them spiralling. "And I know that sounds really bad..." The curly haired boy tried to continue. "But the important thing is to not panic!" He nervously reassured the parents.

"Grover!" Percy yelled at the boy again. Sally looked done with him at this point. "I'm not panicking." She muttered to Grover. "I am." Her mother whispered under her breath shakily. Grover laughed nervously. "Great! I am also not definitely not panicking. I feel very good about how we're doing so far—" Percy yelled at him one last time. "Grover!" This time he finally answered. "What?" He said in confusion as he stamped on of his... goat feet.

Percy shouted in confusion. "Grover, why is there half a goat in your pants?" Eurydice who stared down at his feet stunned. "Who turned you into a goat Grover?!" She yelled in confusion. Grover looked down at his feet. "Oh. it's—" He trailed off. "Oh! Oh, boy. They didn't tell you about.. You didn't tell them about me?" He turned over to their two parents.

Sally looked tired. "You're early." She repeated. Alison crossed her arms at the boy. "I was getting there, until you came in." She muttered as Grover turned to look at the two of them. Grover smiled at them nervously. "So the important thing is not to panic." Eurydice ran her fingers through her hair stressfully. "I am panicking Grover!" She yelled at him, sounding completely overwhelmed.  "I'm sorry!" Grover yelled back at her, freaking out as much as she was.

Percy just kept the shocked expression on his face as his mother looked at the two of them. "We'll continue this in the car. Let's go." She commanded the group as she walked out the door. Grover shrugged at them as her mother followed behind Sally. "Oh my god.." She whispered to herself shakily as she walked outside with Percy and Grover in tow.

────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──────────

THERE WERE A LOT OF things that Eurydice was prepared for in life. And this was not one of them. She sat in Sally Jackson's car beside Grover and Percy in the backseat with her bags clutched tightly in her hands. Grover ended the silence with an explanation about what he was. "My job has been to guide you two towards this moment. It's always an emotional rollercoaster for a young demigod so providing a support system is really—" His words were interrupted by a very conflicted looking Percy. "Who are you?" He asked him in confusion.

Grover swallowed. "I'm Grover. One of your best friends." Percy shook his head at him. "What are you." He corrected himself. Grover then took his hat off. "I'm a satyr. And I'm the protector of the two of you." Once he took his hat off, he revealed two tiny horns on his head.

She gasped in shock. A excited look on her face.  "Those are so cute! Grover, can I touch them?" She reached out her hand over to him impulsively. Grover laughed nervously. "Uhm, maybe some other time Eurydice..." He muttered out awkwardly to her as he pushed her hand away gently. Percy narrowed his eyes at Grover. "You're our protector." He said with a look of suspicion on his face. Grover held in a sigh. "If I hadn't gotten you two kicked out of school you would have never survived the night." He defended himself.

Eurydice stared at Grover curiously as he continued. "And what's causing us now would have found you there easily." He finished. Percy shot him a glare, moving closer to Eurydice's side of the car. Grover saw his actions and looked down into his lap. "I'm sorry." He apologized quickly at Percy's rejection. She frowned in sympathy for the two of them. Now that they were together again, she didn't want them to waste it by fighting.

Grover cleared his throat. "Usually, I can sense danger coming smile away, but this time..." He trailed off. "Well, none of us saw Dodds coming." Eurydice's head shot up in confusion. "Wait, so what I saw happen. That was real?" She muttered in complete shock. "Mrs. Dodds really did turn into a gargoyle and get stabbed by Percy?" She gaped in shock, still trying to process that information.

Percy looked even more upset at Grover now. "So you knew. That thing that Mrs. Dodds turned into you saw it happen? Why didn't you say anything!" He glared even more intensely at Grover. The other boy winced. "I saw some of it." He corrected him. "The Mist kept her hidden even from us. Until it was too late." She stared at Grover in confusion. "The Mist? That sounds like a bathroom spray commercial..." She muttered in thought. "Mist? What's a mist?" Percy asked in confusion.  

Grover shook his head at the two of them. "The Mist. It's the veil that hides the magical world from the human world." He explained. "My legs, Dodds' wings. Even Dodds' absence." She smiled at Percy. "So we weren't crazy after all." She looked at him relieved, she saw him let out a small smile before it was replaced with a frown.

Grover continued. "But it isn't supposed to hide things from me. That never happens. Something powerful is at work here." He informed them, and she couldn't help but feel more nervous at that. "The sooner we get you to camp, the better of you're—" Grover started, before he stopped speaking when the two of them stared at him in confusion. "You told them about camp, right?" He looked at the two adults in the front seat.

Sally looked distracted by the wheel. "Not yet, no." Grover looked over at her mother next. "Sorry, I didn't either. I was trying to get her to understand the whole god thing first.." She went quiet. Grover sighed slightly. "Camp is a sanctuary for half-bloods." He began to explain. "A safe place where you can learn who you are and what the world is like on the other side of the mist." He finished explaining.

This was way too much information at once, and Eurydice looked just as overwhelmed as Percy did. It was daunting to think that neither of them had known about this but everyone else in the car had. How could any of this had come up in normal conversation though? It arguably could have been worse than the current situation they are in right now. Grover pointed at the road ahead. "Uh. it's not far actually. Just a little ways past the bend up there." He informed Sally.

Percy looked at his mom. "Mom, what else haven't we talked about?" Sally's silence was louder than words. "What else haven't you told me?" He stared at her. Before they could talk anymore, there was a large gust of wind coming from out behind them. Right in a burst of light  the greek Minotaur appeared, a loud rumbling noise was heard as the monster thumped hard onto the ground.

Eurydice poked her head out to look at the monster. "HOLY SH—" Grover covered her yell with his hand. Percy's eyes went wide in disbelief. "Is that the Minotaur?" His voice cracked fearfully. The monster started to run after them as Sally shakily attempted to drive faster. This version of the Minotaur looked exactly like the one she'd seen in Mythomagic. Right down to his underpants, which was probably the weirdest thing she had ever seen in her entire life.

Maybe she'd have to get used to these weird things. Grover shakily spoke as fast as he could to warn them of the monster's power. "Once the attacks start, they never let up. Okay? Dodds was just the beginning." He looked back at them and then at the Minotaur again. "He is next! He- he is brutal. He is relentless." Percy interrupted him. "He is still wearing underpants." He blurted out.

Grover turned to them again as the monster started to gain on them. "The Mythomagic cards were training. Everything has been grinding for what's still ahead of you." He explained nervously. "What's ahead of me?" Percy muttered in confusion. "Oh god, are you telling me there's more of these guys?" She asked Grover her eyes looking at him and Percy wide and terrified.

Sally interrupted them. "Kids-" She started to say. "Yeah?" Percy asked. "I'm actually twenty-four." Grover muttered casually. "WHAT?" Eurydice yelled in utter shock. Percy glanced over at the apparently older boy, a silent look of confusion on his face. Sally winced. "Hold on, please." She told the three of them desperately.

Her mom yelled at them. "Seatbelts! Please, and hurry!" She quickly put her seatbelt on, her hands fumbling around for the buckle. She tried to ignore Percy's hand brushing hers as they clicked their seatbelts in at the same time. That thought was forgotten as the Minotaur's roar had gotten louder.

Her heart sank when she realized that the monster was getting closer. She wasn't sure how close exactly, but horrifying close. She heard Grover scream loudly as the monster's roars began to her louder. Eurydice breathed in shakily as she watched the Monster continue to run after them. There were a million thoughts in her head all at the same time, it was horrifying to think that this could be the way that she died.

Sometimes she didn't think that death would be so bad. It was strangely familiar in a way to her that she couldn't explain. It was like the company of death comforted her. But now was the first time that it hadn't. This would be a horrible way to die! He barely processed Percy's shaking hands grabbing onto hers tightly, like either of them could be dead any second.

Her breathing quickened as the roars only got louder and closer. All she felt was panic in her heart, clutching harder onto Percy's hand like a lifeline. The Minotaur had crashed into them as Sally pushed the car up against the huge monster in an attempt to temporarily weaken it. Sally grunted as she swerved around to hit the monster. But as soon as she did so, in a second the glass in all of the car windows had shattered. Leaving glass flying everywhere as the car began to trip over itself.

All she could hear was the screams of her two best friends as she tensed up in pain as she felt some of the glass hit her skin. In the battle against the monster, the car wouldn't survive. By some miracle Sally had managed to continued to attempt to get the monster off them. But as soon as she got the monster off, there was a bright light of another vehicle blinding them as the car crashed.

All she could register was the stabbing pain of glass in her skin and the hand holding onto hers for dear life. There was the loud sound of a horn as the world crumbled around them. It was like she was watching it all happen in slow motion, thinking about everything that had ever happened in her life up until now. The relief she felt when it stopped was gratifying.

Her happiness was stopped by the pain she felt in her body as she attempted to move. Grover had managed to get out the car first, pulling Percy out as he forced the other side of the door open. She breathed in shakily as the two boys helped her out of the car. She had to hold onto the two of them to stand up straight. Her mother and Sally had gotten out of the car holding onto each other to keep themselves steady. "Is everyone okay?" Sally asked the group in worry.

Percy nodded. "Yeah. I'm okay. But—" He looked over at Eurydice who was slightly limping. She shook her head at him, standing up straight even if it hurt her to. "I'm fine." She insisted. Her mother let out a sigh of relief as she walked over to hug her tightly. Sally winced in pain as she stood up without the help of her mother. The group quickly walked out of the ditch and into the forest as fast as they could.

The car lights were still visible as they all slowly limped towards the forest. "This way!" Sally yelled as they walked closer to the forest. Grover walked up ahead and stared out at the forest in front of them. "We're here." He muttered, her gaze going to the large forest in the middle of the storm. "We're here. That's the boundary. No monsters can cross it." Grover told them as she stared up out into the distance to see a large tree off in the distance. That must have been the boundary he was talking about.

Grover turned to Sally and her mom. "They'll be safe on the other side." He told them, like they wouldn't be coming with them. She raised her eyebrow in confusion. "We?" She muttered out softly, still in pain from the car crash. "We'll be safe... But won't all of us be safe?" Percy asked the two adults in confusion. Sally didn't answer him as she walked towards Grover.

The two mother's shared a look. "Grover, we are entrusting you to protect our children. My son, my only child." Her mother chimed in shakily. "My little girl." She said softly, like it was a goodbye. She stared at her mom in worry. "Mom? Her voice sounded shaky as she looked at her, trying to blink away the tears building up in her eyes.

Grover looked at the two mothers with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. Ramirez. Percy and Eurydice will be totally safe at camp-" Sally interrupted him. "Swear it." She muttered to him. "What's happening?" Percy blurted out in confusion. She swallowed down the lump in her throat as she stared at the two mothers. She knew what was happening.

Sally only ignored her son's confusion. "Keep him safe from anyone or anything that comes for him, that wants to do harm. That looks at him the wrong way. Do you understand me?" She said intensely to Grover. He turned to look at Alison who shakily murmured. "Please. Just take care of her. All I want is for her to come back to me in one piece by the end of the summer. I can't loose my little girl." She sounded like she was holding back tears as she said this. Grover nodded at the two women in solidarity. "I swear."

She almost wanted to cry as she saw the look on her mother's face. Sally finally turned to look at Percy. "We have to go now sweetheart." Sally tried to look reassuringly, but Percy only looked even more upset. "Why can't you?" He asked her in confusion. "She's human. They both are." Grover muttered to them as she swallows the bile building up in her throat. "So I was right..." She muttered as she stared at her mother.

She saw tears running down her mother's face as she looked at her. She kissed the top of her head softly. "I'm so sorry I can't come with you Edie. I wish I could." She holds the side of her face comfortingly. Eurydice breaths in shakily as she stares at her mother. "Mama—" She whispers softly, water drips down her face. But she isn't sure if it's her tears or the storm. "I believe in you. So much. I believe you can do great things. Even if you don't. I'll always believe in you because you're my little girl, Eurydice." She cried softly, trying to look strong for her but failing.

She hugged her tightly, pulling away and mumbling softly to her. "Eurydice. Have faith, go get that happy ending. Okay?" She asked her, her last request to her daughter. Only the gods know when they might see each other again. Maybe it wouldn't be at the end of the summer, maybe it would. She wasn't sure. She sniffled quietly as she smiled at her mother as much as she was able too. "Okay, mama. I promise." She muttered as the Minotaur's roar echoed off into the distance.

Grover yelled out as the roaring got louder. "We need to move!" He announced, cutting their goodbyes off short. "Give me your coat." Sally asked Percy quickly. "Why, what are you gonna do?" He asked his mother in confusion. She took the cost quickly. "He smells half-blood, that's what he's tracking, yeah? So if he smells you in two directions at once. And Eurydice in the other. Maybe I can confuse him while Alison runs to get us a ride home." She told him.

She smiled slightly. "That's smart." She nodded at the older woman. "Mom, please don't-" Percy tried to get her to not risk her life for them. "Hey, it'll be okay." She reassured him as they heard the monsters growls become closer as he finally comes into view. Her mom quickly looks at her, her hands shaking. "I'll see you on the other side, okay? When this is all over. You'll be back at home and I'll make you as many cookies as you want. I promise." She smiled at her daughter with a bittersweet smile on her face.

Sally looked at them one last time. "Go now!" She yelled at them as she started running with the boys while Sally ran in the opposite direction. Her mother ran out of the forest, luckily avoided the monster. She stopped looking behind her and forced herself to look up ahead to the tree off in the distance. As soon as they got to the tree, it would mean that they were safe. She coughed slightly as the three of them limped together up the hill.

They're halfway there, until a few seconds later all of a sudden Percy is running back down the hill. As they hear the roar of the Minotaur they see Sally Jackson fighting off the Minotaur. "Percy no!" She yells out to the boy as he runs towards his mother. She heard him scream for his mom as they watched her disappear into dust. She gasped in shock as she held onto the limping Grover. She held her other hand over her mouth in shock.

Her and Grover watch as Percy's pen turns into a sword. Her eyes widen when she remembered who gave it to him, Mr. Brunner. She stared at the golden sword in Percy's hands curiously as the monster growls again. Angrily Percy starts to go towards the monster. "Per- Percy! Percy, no!" Grover yelled at the other boy in concern. "Percy!" She screamed, horrified at the thought of him getting killed by that monster. She watched horrified as Percy lunged at the monster.

She gasped as he fell to the ground with the monster as he had narrowly managed to get him down. She tried to look away but she couldn't. He stabbed at the monster, who pushed him down onto the ground, his sword falling inches away from him. The Minotaur tried to crush him with a rock that he narrowly avoided by rolling out of the way, when he had managed to her his sword back he climbed onto the monster's back.

And like magic, all of sudden just as he had appeared. The Minotaur had disappeared into dust. Leaving Percy to fall onto the ground, as nothing was holding him up anymore. She screamed as she watched her best friend fall to the ground. She ran out to him, shaking as she pulled him up. She frantically tried to shake him awake, but he couldn't.

She breathed in shakily as tears started to build up in her eyes. Grover limped towards her as she held the unconscious Percy carefully. Grover looked at her gravely. "We have to get him to Camp." She nodded in agreement, breathing in shakily. "I know. I know." Together the two of them pulled the unconscious Percy up the hill. The two were silent as they walked up the hill slowly. She blinked her tears away, breathing in through her nose.

Grover stared at her in concern. "Are you okay?" He asked her softly in worry. She sighed. "I'm fine..." She told him. "Just a few cuts and bruises. But Percy..." She trailed off, swallowing hard as she stared at the unconscious boy they were holding up. Grover nodded. "Yeah. Beating the Minotaur takes guts." She nodded in agreement. "Yeah. yeah it does." She muttered.

It felt like they had been walking for ages until they had finally reached the Camp's boundary. She almost cried in relief once they reached it. Everything went by in a blur as they made it to the entrance of the camp. Before she could take in all of the sights, other kids in orange shirts had started to gather at the front of the camp.

She shakily held onto Percy as Grover let go of the boy to run up to the other kids. "It's okay! They're with me." He yelled at the other campers as she limped towards him. She stared at all of these other kids, completely overwhelmed. She hadn't expected the gods to have this many kids. Her unfamiliarity was evident as the other campers some older, some looking around the same as her stared at her in pity.

This day, could not get any weirder. Her eyes were wide in shock as she saw Mr. Brunner again for the first time since being expelled. "Mr. Brunner?" She yelled at the man in confusion as she looked down at his legs to see the body of a horse on her former teacher's body. "It is nice to see you again, Eurydice." He smiled at her comfortingly. Okay, yeah it just got weirder.

The old man smiled at her. "Welcome to Camp Half Blood, Eurydice. We have been expecting you." He smiled as the other campers stared at her and the unconscious Percy in awe.

█⠀⠀⠀. ˚◞♡ ⃗ *ೃ༄ RAI SPEAKS!! . . .
◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡ Words: 8117

This is probably the most I've ever written for a chapter ever. And that's saying a lot. It was so fun to write this chapter! I keep coming up with funny chapter names to make this less traumatizing but I think it makes it worse lmao.

I wrote so much oh my god. But hey!!! We're meeting Annabeth and the other campers next chapter 🤭 I hope you are all as excited as I am, because I'm fixating on this fic badly rn. This chapter was literally just Eurydice, Percy and Grover being traumatized for a whole 70 minutes. Episode one is finally done! I'm glad I split it up into chunks so now we can get to the real action. I hope you're all excited for it because I know I am!