People seem to be nervous.
It was a week until Halloween, but some aren't in the festive, scrary mood. Nico seems freaked out by the ground, like he's afraid something's going to come up and attack him. Hazel has been distant and barely talking. Leo hasn't cracked a smile in a few weeks. Even the Stolls haven't pranked anyone since the beginning of the month. I wasn't sure what was their problem but I've been seeing things.
Well, a monkey. I would look around in my cabin or the arena or even at the bonfire and that monkey would. be there. When I looked directly at it, it ran off, but I thought I saw a gun on its little pirate clothes.
Maybe people don't like monkeys.
It was October nineteenth and now I'm thinking something's up. As I walked out if my cabin, I swore I saw the weirdest thing ever, and that's saying something. Two cats were walking into the woods, each having a gigantic bag- about the size of a person- dragging them along. Before I could do anything, I saw something flash at the corner of my vision.
On impulse, I pulled out Riptide, pulling the cap off, and pointed it to the object that moved. It was an eagle. It screeched, flapping its wings in a sign of defense. I then realized a few things and put my sword away.
"Sorry, Frank." I apologized as the bird morphed into the son of Mars. "Just not sneak up on me."
"It's ok. At least your better than Piper, she almost stabbed me in the face." Frank shifted nervously. "Can I... ask you something?"
"Sure, man. What's up?"
"I've been... hearing things." The answer took me by surprise. Hearing things..... like monkeys or something else???
"Monkeys? Have you been seeing things too?" Then I realized I said my thoughts aloud. I nodded, looking from the corner of my eye to see if the monkey was going to come out of nowhere.
"It's laughter." He said as if he was waiting for me to start rolling on the floor. When I didn't he continued. "Like, really annoying and high pitched laughter. It starts soft and gets louder and louder and louder until it's all I hear and it makes me want to scream!!!!" His voice made it clear he was angry over the matter. He closed his eyes, sighing deeply, counting to ten under his breath.
"I've been seeing a monkey with a gun." I said, trying to relate with him in some way. He stared at me.
"That's weird. You think the others are seeing or hearing stuff too???" We looked at the campers. Most looked normal, it was only the ones I knew that were acting weird. Piper seemed to be more into fashion lately, wearing more of the stuff Drew would and the same amount of makeup. Clarrise seemed more violent than usual, punching anyone in her vision, which also included Chiron and a tree a few times. Jason seemed to just walk and disappear for a second before appearing twenty yards ahead, still in deep thought, like he never noticed. Will Solace stared at some of the campers like a child of Ares would, that he was better than them. Nico seemed nervous every moment, staring at the ground as if he was expecting something to grab his ankles and drag him into Tartarus.
"If they're seeing a monkey with a pistol or hearing crazy laughter, they aren't showing it." I commented, making Frank laugh a bit.
"It's nothing, probably just in our heads. Stress, maybe? We did have the weight of the world on our shoulders. Our minds might just be wired to seeing and hearing weird stuff and it trying to make up for it." He thought aloud. He did have a good point on that.
Then, a conch sounded. Campers began making their way to the dining pavilion for lunch. Frank and I followed suit, separating to our tables once we got there. The seating for the Greek and Roman kids were the same: sit at your godly parent's table, they are one. We all got our food, but as I started eating, I noticed whispers passing around the room.
