Finding Leo

Chapter 7: Ally the Ally

Leo's POV

Let's just say that things didn't go so well after I lit myself on fire.

Wow. That sentence would've sounded really weird if I wasn't a demigod.

First off, Brent immediately squealed like a girl and dropped me, cradling his burnt hands. "GAHHH! WHY DO WE KEEP FINDING WITCH KIDS?!?! WHY CANT I JUST HAVE A NORMAL STREET GANG?!?! ITS ALWAYS ME!"

I had no idea what he meant, but I didn't want to stick around to find out. I was just thankful that the Hecate kids had been able to create those fireproof clothes, or else I wouldn't have much on by now. I grabbed my backpack out of Wesley's hands (it was also fireproof) and ran down the alley.

When I had gotten to the sidewalk, I turned around to see what I had created. The entire gang was horrified. In fact, I was having an internal debate about who looked more terrified; those Athena kids earlier today, or these guys. Brent had Wesley in his arms, fireman style. The other guy that I still didn't know his name was hugging the wall with his back, looking at me like I had just murdered someone.

On the other hand, the girl didn't look scared at all. In fact, if I didn't know any better, she looked... Curious. Almost as if she was thinking, hey, that was cool! Can I see it again, how you burnt up those thugs?

I put on my backpack and mock saluted them, keeping my hair on fire for effect. "You asked for it. Leo Valdez, over and out!" Then I ran down the street, the sounds of Brent cursing this city behind me.

Ally's POV

So, his name was Leo Valdez...

I internally thanked this kid. Cause he was my ticket away from Brent and these other bozos. While they were still yelling about witchcraft and other stuff I'd heard a million times before, I slipped away, climbed up a fire escape, and searched for the kid known as Leo Valdez.

I wasn't scared, by the way, about... Whatever he just did. Besides, I could do weirder. Thanks, dad, I thought to myself.

And when I say I searched for him, I don't mean physically. When I got to the roof, I closed my eyes and put my fingertips on the side of my head, focusing my energy. After a few moments, an image appeared in my head, like I was watching a blurry movie. A teenager with curly brown hair under a strange cap with a 9 on it was sprinting down the sidewalk, constantly looking over his shoulder. "Ok," I mumbled. "Let's get some Intel on Leo."

I forced myself to go deeper into his mind, to see what he was seeing now, and what he's seen before. What I saw shocked me so much, I nearly fell of the roof. I was flooded with memories of hurt, abuse, suffering. Loneliness. Fear. Uncertainty. Running, lots of running.

And fire. Yeah. There was a big one with fire.

But then, I saw a little bit of hope, like the slightest bit of light at the end of a tunnel. I saw a gigantic bronze dragon carrying Leo and two other teenagers on its back. I saw a giant flying warship, first as a crayon drawing, then as a real structure. I saw Leo in a picture with six other kids, three girls and three boys. But there was something I noticed about this picture.

Each of the other teenagers had their arms wrapped around someone else. A buff Chinese guy was next to a shorter girl with curly brown hair and mahogany skin. A boy with black hair and sea green eyes snuggled up against a girl with blonde hair. A muscular teenager dude with blonde hair and blue eyes had his arm wrapped around a Cherokee girl. And then there was Leo. Looking happy, but definitely cast out, off to the side.

I opened my eyes, ready to try what I had practiced for months now. Ok, just breathe. I concentrated, focusing on Leo, a little speck in a sea of other people in the city. I focused, focused, focused.

POP.

Leo's POV

I had been running for a good five minutes. I figured it was safe to stop now, being those guys in Brent's gang were still screaming their heads off back in that alley. I crossed a street, then jumped into the first shop I came to. A little bell above the door rang when I walked in. From what was left on the shelves, it used to be some sort of department store or machine shop. I silently cursed the Fates. Of all places, it just had to be a machine shop. Just my luck, right?

Now the place was abandoned, nothing more than a few loose screws and a hammer or two left on display. I sat behind the counter, took of my backpack, and took a breath.

Then of course everything just had to go wrong.

I heard a sound like a gunshot, and something exploded into existence three feet in front of me. I covered my face with my hands, all high and mighty and terrifying. When I saw who was standing there, I could've sworn on the River Styx that my lower jaw had fallen to the floor.

The girl from the gang was standing in front of me, dazed but excited. When she looked around and saw me, she smiled. "Yes! It worked!" She pumped her fist in the air and did something that could be close to a victory dance.

"Ok." I stood up and brushed myself off. "Alright. You successfully zapped yourself into existence in front of me. Congrats. And you're here because...?"

The girl looked back at me, seemingly annoyed that I had interrupted her celebration. She crossed her arms. "Well, I kindddddd of looked through a few of your memories after you left." She smiled sheepishly, like rifling through someone's past was as normal as reading their diary.

I crossed my arms as well, mocking her. "You went through my head to find things out about me. Sweet. Don't worry, kid, I've seen some pretty strange stuff, on the streets and at Camp." I shushed her when she opened her mouth, no doubt to ask what Camp was. "Anyway, that's cool, I guess. But I'll ask again. And you're here because...?"

"I want to come with you. My name's Ally. Wherever you're going, it's better than having to hang out with those idiots back there. And what's Camp?"

"First of all, there's no use arguing with you, so welcome aboard the Runaway Leo Train. Second of all, about the Camp," I sighed. Here we go. "Well, um, it's kind of hard to explain."

Ally raised her eyebrows. "So is my teleportation. And ability to read minds. Whatever you tell me, I'll believe it."

I ran my hand through my hair. "Ever heard of the Greek and Roman gods?"