Not a Hero

chapter two

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐔𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐃𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐋𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄.

Not exactly the middle of nowhere but in the middle of a desert. Right in front of a red stucco complex which looked a bit a like museum. He didn't know where he was but he knew that it was cold. His clothes, a black windbreaker, a purple t-shirt and jeans, were not nearly warm enough. 

It made him grateful for the girl - she said her name was Hale or something - holding his hand. Her hand was warm and made him feel all fluttery inside. He tried not think too much about that though. It would just make things weird. 

"Um," said Jason, "you still haven't told me where we are." She turned to look at him, smiling slightly. He noticed that she had a pretty smile. It made her look friendly and approachable. It was quite misleading in Jason's opinion. He wished she wouldn't smile like that. 

"We're on a field trip," she said. She released Jason's hands and suddenly his hand felt cold. "We, or at least I, go to Wilderness School. It's a school for all of the troublemakers of the state." She looked at Jason. "You following so far?" 

He nodded, opening his mouth to ask what she had done to be sent here but changed his mind, deciding that maybe it would be in his best interest to keep his mouth shut. 

"Okay then," she said, continuing, "most of the kids have been sent here against their will, either by their family or the court of Social Services in my case." She rolled her eyes. "Shipped off to this lovely boarding school in Armpit, Nevada. Here they teach us useless nature skills and make us run five miles every morning." She looked at Jason, her blue eyes shining. "If you've been really good, then you're allowed to go 'educational'," she mimed air quotes, "field trips with Coach Hedge. It's the only time they really let us out of the school."

Then it clicked for Jason. 

"You're trying to escape."

"Bingo." She looked at him, blue eyes bright. "And you're going to help me." 

"I'm guessing that isn't up for discussion?" Hale grinned. 

"You catch on quick." She glanced at Coach Hedge, who was at the front, leading the group. Jason noticed the coach looking at him, scowling when their eyes met. "But we need to be careful." 

"Careful?" repeated Jason. "Of what?"

"Don't worry about it." Then, before Jason even had a chance to open his mouth, Hale had bolted away. Jason, knowing no one else except for Hale, followed after her. 

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𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐔𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐄 𝐊𝐄𝐏𝐓 𝐀 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐌 𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐏 𝐎𝐍 𝐉𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍.

She did trust him, to some extent, but still found something extremely suspicious about a random amnesiac kid appearing on the bus with everyone else having fake memories of him. There was also the matter of him being a demigod. She hadn't noticed at first, a bit distracted by his looks, but now she was certain. He was a demigod and a powerful one at that. 

Hale was determined to ditch him the first chance she got. She had already spotted a few monsters at the school and didn't need Jason attracting more. Once he had fulfilled his purpose - she would leave. He might die, yes, but that wasn't really her problem. 

"So... these exhibits are cool, aren't they?" Jason asked, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. He seemed very uncomfortable as most people were when they were near her. "Or are you not looking at the exhibits."