This is Who I Am

Chapter Thirty-One

Madusa gripped my hair, causing me to let out a cry of pain. Memories flood my senses.

~Flashback~

Ms. Haddy snatched my hair tightly as she pulled me into the attic. Cursing and hollering as we made our way up the steep stairs. All I did was drop the broom. I didn't break anything, I didn't knock anything over. I went to pick up my cleaning rag, and the broom slipped from its resting spot. I was so stupid for not making sure it was secure, I was stupid enough to let my rag fall from my pocket. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Ms.Haddy is really mad. I don't understand. Yesterday Chloe dropped her mop, Mr. Haddy didn't do anything about it. She told the girl to pick it up and continue cleaning. But me? I get punished. My entire head felt like it was gong to split open, that it I was gong to be bald soon. I wish she would shut up.

"WHY YOU LITTLE PEICE OF SCUM! YOU HAVE JUST EARED THE WHIPPING OF A LIFE TIME!"

I froze. I said that out loud. I'm dead. Goodbye cruel world. I won't miss ya. Ms. Haddy gripped my hair harder, if that was even possible, and drug me the rest of the way up. That was the whipping of a lifetime indeed.

~Flashback Over~

I snapped out of my thoughts. Shivering as the scars from that night burned. I looked around to see what everyone was doing. Anna was no where to be seen, Grover was flying while waving a tree branch in the air. And Percy was 'hiding' behind a statue. Madusa pulled my hair back, exposing my face; instantly I closed my eyes. I felt her snakes cool skin brushing over my face, leaving bites. Her icy voice hissed my my ear.

"Daughter of Artemis... I remember you. Years ago, you and that boy! Destroy my sisters! You are such a beautiful girl. Artemis has such beautiful eyes. You will make a good pile of rubble. Let me have a peak. It will only take a moment. If you won't open, my babies will have to do it for you." I felt the snakes crawl over my eyelids, their tongues danced over the delicate skin. Before I could open my mouth, Grover finally became useful with his flying skills and his tree branch. The down side is, well, I went down with her. The good news, she let go of my hair. Bad news, she landed on me, and I landed on my already bad shoulder, messing it up even more. Ignoring the pain, with a grunt I stood up and activated my sword. I turned around and used my sword as a mirror to look at Madusa's reflection. I had an idea. I quickly ducked and hid behind a massive statue. When Anna and I first got to camp we made up moves and battle strategies, we then gave them numbers. We had a strategy for nearly everything. We made one for if we ever came face to face with Madusa, but I can't remember the number. 290... no that's the underground attack...475... no, that's the flying chariot. 720! Yes! That's it!

"Anna! 720! Do battle strategy 720!" Instantly I called on a few woodland creatures that was willing to help. I'm so sorry little guys. I willed them to go after Madusa. Anna only had a few minutes to cut off snake lady's head. I dashed out of my hiding spot, only to see Grover dazed in the corner of the room and Anna in the grasp of Madusa. I growled. Where the Hades is Percy. Out the corner of my eye I seen a flash of black hair. I ran over to him.

"Jackson! Go help Anna, cut off snake lady's head. I'll go help Grover. Hurry." With out waiting for his response I ran to Grover. I did a little Apollo magic and told him to be quiet. Marching over to see if Percy needed help, I was met with a ear piercing screech. Madusa's head rolled to the ground while the rest of her body turned to dust. Well at lest I don't have to do anything. Catching sight of the head wrap Madusa used I walked over to it and went back to the head. Carefully I wrapped the entire head. Percy looked at me like is was absolutely insane. Well... he isn't wrong.

"The head still works. If we keep it then it might be use- Hey! What are you doing?" I hollered as Percy took the head from me and put it in a... box? Confused I waked I've to him. On the closed flaps he wrote: