Cassandra Jackson: The Lightning Thief

Three Old Ladies Knit the Socks of Death.

I woke up to a throbbing head and a bright light. I sighed. Exam day. A seven year old shouldn't be worried about an exam. Or gods trying to kill them, but you know, I'm worrying about both. Three hour Latin exam. I swear, the only reason I passed was because I was practically raised by Chiron, and Reyna really knows how to pound information into anyone's head. I was rechecking my exam, to make myself not look smart, and to not get another lecture from Annabeth, I saw Percy get called back in. 

"Percy," Chiron said. "Don't be discouraged about leaving Yancy. It's ... it's for the best." His tone was kind, but the words Were still embarrassing. I mentally facepalmed. Even though he was speaking quietly, the other kids finishing the test could hear. 

Percy mumbled, "Okay, sir." "I mean ..." Chiron wheeled his chair back and forth, like he wasn't sure what to say. "HERES A TIP," I thought to myself, "JUST STOP TALKING!" He didn't take my mental warning. "This isn't the right place for you. It was only a matter of time."

"Right," Percy said, trembling. "No, no," Chiron said. "Oh, confound it all. What I'm trying to say ... you're not normal, Percy. That's nothing to be-"

"Thanks," Percy blurted. "Thanks a lot, sir, for reminding me. "Percy-" But he was already gone.

I did possibly the loudest and most needed facepalm of history. Chiron just stared at me. Oops?

Grover and I got on the bus to Manhattan (me, because I live with Percy (long story explained later), Grover, because well, Grover is Grover, also there was a monster on the bus) on the same Greyhound as Percy had. Grover kept glancing nervously around. I sensed the monster too, but I just laid my head down onto Percy's shoulder to get some well deserved beauty sleep. 

I woke to the smell of rotten eggs. That's not good. Clanking was also going on. Also probably not good. I've learned enough from Charlie that, that usually means an engine is messing up or something. I was shifted and started bouncing up and down. Percy must have been carrying me. I cracked my eyes open, I internally gasp, it the fates? What are they doing here? I was paralyzed with fear, they were looking right at me. I heard the whispers like I did before, "You time will come soon child. It is destiny." 

"Grover?" Percy said. "Hey, man-" "Tell me they're not looking at you. They are, aren't they?" "Yeah. Weird, huh? You think those socks would fit me?" "Not funny, Percy. Not funny at all." The old lady in the middle took out a huge pair of scissors-gold and silver, long-bladed, like shears. I heard Grover catch his breath.

"We're getting on the bus," he told Percy. "Come on." "What?" Percy said. "It's a thousand degrees in there." "Come on!'" He pried open the door and climbed inside, but Percy and I stayed back. Across the road, the old ladies were still watching me. The middle one cut the yarn, electric blue, the same color as my eyes, and I swear I could hear that snip across four lanes of traffic. 

At the rear of the bus, the driver wrenched a big chunk of smoking metal out of the engine compartment. The bus shuddered, and the engine roared back to life.

The passengers cheered. "Darn right!" yelled the driver. He slapped the bus with his hat. "Everybody back on board!" Percy shifted me once again and sat me down. Once we got going, I started to fall asleep, or hopefully, wake up.

 "Grover?" Percy said

 "Yeah?"

 "What are you not telling me?".

"Percy, what did you see back at the fruit stand?"

 "You mean the old ladies? What is it about them, man? They're not like ... Mrs. Dodds, are they?" 

"Just tell me what you saw."

"The middle one took out her scissors, and she cut the yarn."

"You saw her snip the cord."

 "Yeah. So?"

I was freaking out. It wasn't Percy who was going to die, it was me. But I couldn't tell them that, they thought that I was asleep.

"I don't want this to be like the last time." Last time, Thalia?

"What last time?"

 "Always sixth grade. They never get past sixth."

 "Grover, what are you talking about?" 

"Let me walk you home from the bus station. Promise me."

"Okay? I promise." 

"Is this like a superstition or something?" Percy asked. "Grover-that snipping of the yarn. Does that mean somebody is going to die?" Bingo, he learned something from this.