The Missing Demigod [ HOCHB 1 ]

Chapter 1 || Adrian

Even before the day started, Adrian was having a horrible time. It was around four in the morning. He was having a peaceful sleep - that was, until something in his head told him to get up.

He rubbed his eyes, reached over to the lamp, and turned it on with two clicks. He blinked a couple of times as he adjusted to the brightness. He stumbled out of bed, figuring a nice cup of water would do the trick.

He was wrong.

He felt uneasy in the darkness of the apartment, like there was a presence there. He felt like he was sweating, in the seeming cold of the night. He gazed around the dark halls, walked into the bathroom, and turned on the sink. He didn't like tap water, but he didn't seem to mind at the moment.

He heard a step in the dark. He shuddered and raced into the hallway. He reached for something, anything in his pocket, but ended up pulling out a plastic fork. The figure took a few steps forward, approaching quicker and quicker. He broke the fork in desperation for something sharp, but when the fork snapped, a sea-green trident emerged, the three-tipped spear, in a way, resembling a fork. He didn't know how he knew to do that, but apparently, he did now.

"Who are you?" Adrian's voice called into the darkness.

A couple more steps were taken, and the intruder stepped into the light. It would look like a normal old woman... except for the scales and the long wings on her. Alecto, Adrian thought, from Greek Mythology...?

"Did you think we wouldn't find out about you?" Alecto said, her voice piercing his soul. Adrian thought of something smart to say but didn't say it.

"A child of the big three. Hmm...yet another. Beware, Son of Poseidon. Your life is about to get difficult."

What the hell is this lady talking about.

Adrian's vocal cords froze. He didn't say a word when finally, Alecto lunged, breaking the two through the window next to them, and quickly falling five stories.

Adrian instinctively stabbed Alecto with the gleaming trident, and she disintegrated to dust in the air. Adrian looked down at the fall down below. Even if his limbs could do anything, the wind was disabling them. They dangled through the air.

At that point, he realized there was nothing that could be done.

That was, until a Pegasus caught him.

Adrian blinked a couple of times. Yes. He was riding a Pegasus.

"Yo!" A voice said in his head. "I'm Blackjack, nice to meetcha." Adrian thought for a second before actually realizing the Pegasus was talking to him.

"Uhm... nice to meet you, Blackjack...?" He croaked, clearly overstimulated.

"Don't worry. You're in safe hands now," Blackjack said. "But we'll hafta make two pit stops first. Hang on, boss!"

Adrian clenched Blackjack's fur as he went full-speed ahead. To Adrian's surprise, they actually flew to his friend's house. "Uh... Blackjack? You know who this is... right?"

"Of course, boss. You're not the only one discovering who you are," Blackjack said strangely.

"What about the fact that it's a school night... on the last day of school, no less?" Adrian said, slumpt. His dangling long braids dragged along his face. His eyelids felt heavy.

"Oh, don't worry. I've done this before."

"Oh, well, that's fun." Suddenly, out the door wandered a girl in pink pajamas. Her hair was a messy black mass reaching down to her chest. Her brown eyes gleamed. She exited the house and slumpt against the door. "Suba!" Adrian called. His friend's name. He slipped off of Blackjack and raced over to her. "Are you okay?"

"AHH!" Suba screeched. "A... Adrian? Why the hell are you here, and what is..." Her eyes widened upon spotting Blackjack. "Out of nowhere, I felt really sick to my stomach, so I came out for some fresh air, and now..."

Blackjack called to Adrian, "She can't understand me, tell her she's gotta come with us."

"Uh... you have to... come with me," Adrian explained awkwardly. Suba stared at him like he was eating a brick. "N... no?"

"You're not safe here, trust me!" Blackjack said, which Adrian repeated. After some convincing, Suba agreed to tag along, noticing Adrian's seemingly serious demeanor.

Adrian climbed on to Blackjack and reached out his hand for Suba to hop on. "Hold on," Blackjack said, and they zoomed off to yet another house Adrian recognized.

"Christian's house...?" Adrian mumbled.

"Christian?" Suba said. "As in, your best friend?" Adrian nodded. And, wouldn't you know, Christian, a screaming Caucasian boy with dirty blond curly hair, glasses, and a mahogany T-Shirt and shorts barrel rolled out of his house, to be followed by yet another fury.

"HELP, IT’S TRYING TO KILL ME!" Christian yelled, his words slurring.

"Hop on!" Adrian yelled, reaching out his hand. He grabbed it and hopped on, yelling, "ANYWHERE BUT HERE." The fury screeched as they escaped.

"To Camp Half-Blood!" Blackjack called, zooming away.