When I opened my eyes, sunlight filtered softly through the curtains around me. The warm light contrasted with the sharp coldness of panic clawing at my chest as I sat up. Nothing about the room was familiar.
A cot. White walls. A small wooden nightstand with a pitcher of water and a glass. It wasn't a hospital; the space felt too cozy, too personal, almost like a room in someone's house.
And that was worse.
Where had those two taken me?
Heart pounding, I slipped out of the cot, every movement deliberate as I pressed my ear against the door.
"She was having a panic attack, Nico," said a voice from the other side. My stomach dropped at the name. Nico—one of my kidnappers. I clenched my fists, trying to steady my breathing.
"Yeah, well, I got her here, didn't I?" Nico replied, his voice laced with irritation.
"Yes, but according to Grover, you weren't exactly... gentle," said the other voice, light and kind. It sounded older, less biting than Nico's. "You probably put her in a state of shock, you might have given her some PTSD or something. Did you think about that?"
There was a pause before Nico grumbled, "Grover's overreacting, as usual. Either way, shouldn't you be checking on her instead of lecturing me?"
"Maybe. But we still need to talk about your approach to, I don't know, basic human decency. Treating strangers with kindness"
I didn't stick around to hear more. Every fibre of my being screamed at me to leave.
I turned and spotted a window on the other side of the room. A thrill of relief coursed through me when I realized we were on the ground floor—no daring leaps from high places were required.
Carefully, I unlatched the window and pushed it open. The cool air hit my face as I climbed out, landing in a bush that thankfully cushioned my fall. I straightened up, brushed leaves off myself, and glanced back toward the house.
No sign of them.
Good.
I took off in the direction of a sprawling field of strawberries, the bright red fruit glinting in the sun. It was surreal, almost peaceful, but I didn't have time to appreciate the scenery.
"Where did she go?"
The sharp voice behind me made my stomach lurch. I glanced back and saw someone leaning out of the window. He had short blonde hair, freckles, and a look of exasperation.
"There she is!" he shouted.
I heard the thud of feet hitting the ground as both he and Nico jumped out after me. My legs moved faster, but panic clouded my focus. I didn't notice the figure sprinting toward me from the side.
Before I could react, something—no, someone—slammed into me, arms wrapping tightly around my legs as though they football tackled me. The impact knocked me flat on the ground, my head hitting the dirt hard enough to make me see stars.
I looked up to find a boy with curly brown hair and striking blue eyes smirking down at me.
"Are you a child of Aphrodite?" he asked, his tone playful. "Because you look absolutely divine."
For a second, I just stared at him in disbelief. Then my vision blurred, and everything went black again.
When I woke up, I was back in the same cot. This time, though, the blonde boy from before sat nearby, reading a book.
He glanced up as I stirred, closing the book with a smile. "You're awake! Hope you don't feel like running away again," he said with a chuckle, getting up and walking over to me.
I sat up slowly, my head still aching. "What's going on? Why am I here? Why did Nico and Grover bring me here? Am I really a demigod? Gods don't exist, do they? And if they do, which one is my parent?"
He raised his hands in mock surrender, laughing softly. "Wow. That's a lot of questions."
"Of course it is!" I snapped. "I got kidnapped and dragged here—wherever here is—and I feel like I'm losing my mind. Do you blame me?"
"Fair point." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Most of your questions are usually answered during a tour of camp, but since I'm not sure if you're up for that yet, I'll fill you in now. This is Camp Half-Blood, a safe haven for demigods like you. You wouldn't have been able to enter if you weren't one. Greek gods exist, and your godly parent will claim you eventually. Until then, we can narrow it down a bit."
"Narrow it down how?"
"Well, do you know your parents? Was one of them... absent?"
I nodded hesitantly. "I never knew my dad."
"That helps," he said thoughtfully. "What kinds of things did you like to do back home?"
"I was in my school's choir," I replied. "And I've always loved art and music. Painting, too."
He grinned, his expression brightening. "I think I know who your dad might be, but we won't know for sure until you're claimed."
"Who do you think it is?"
"Apollo," he said confidently. "Looks like I might have a new sister."
"You're a child of Apollo?" I asked, curiosity starting to replace my fear.
"I am," he said, offering me his hand. "I'm Will, by the way."
I shook it cautiously. "Julia."
"Well, Julia," he said, smiling warmly, "I think you've earned a proper tour of the camp—if you promise not to jump out any more windows."
"Deal," I said, managing a small smile in return.
He handed me an orange shirt that read Camp Half-Blood, Long Island Sound .
"Wait... Long Island?" I asked, stunned. "How did I get from Maine to New York so fast?"
"Shadow travel," Will said, shrugging. "Don't worry about it for now. Just put the shirt on and meet me outside. Use the door this time, please."
I couldn't help but laugh softly as he left the room. For the first time since this whole mess started, I felt like maybe—just maybe—things would be okay.