Chapter Text
Growing up, I knew I wasn’t normal. My life wasn’t really perfect. Maybe it was my ADHD, or perhaps because I’m gay, or that my aunt and I have lived in 4 states since I was 12 (which I’m 16 now). But I think it’s because I don’t have a dad…or a mom. Tragic, I know. You see, my mom died soon after childbirth, so I never really had a chance to know her. As for my dad, well, I never met him. He didn’t show up. Never called or showed a sign of where he was or why he left. My Aunt Tess raised me. She made me feel normal. She didn’t care that I would daydream or that I blasted loud music, loved fashion, liked guys, as long as I was there and safe. She’d encourage me to keep dreaming, to work hard, and always to speak my mind. I tried my best to be what she needed me to be. However, that wasn’t easy either. I struggled in school, especially with bullies. I spoke my mind a bit too much, naturally leading to fights and being kicked out. Which didn’t matter in the long run; ultimately, we’d move to another state.
Aunt Tess loved to teach me about Greek Mythology, take me to museums, and read me books. I always loved it. Made me view the world through a different lens in a way. I never really thought anything about her teaching me all of it, that was, until December 14th.
It started like any other day would, mostly normal for my life at least. I was asleep peacefully. Until my Aunt banged on my door to wake me.
“Amias….” She knocked once, then twice. I groaned, turning in my bed slowly. Then the door burst open with a bang as it hit the wall. “Amias!”
I sat up slowly with a groan, yawning as I rubbed my forehead. “…what?”
“It’s time to go to school…I don’t want you to be late to class again.” With that, she left my door open and walked away.
Once again, I groaned (who wouldn’t), but I forced myself out of bed and got ready for the day. I chose my favorite outfit: Red crewneck, baggy-ish jeans, and my favorite red Converse to match the crewneck, obviously. Of course, I made sure to grab my necklace. A standard silver chain and a red heart with a little bow through it. Apparently, it was a gift from my father to my mother. Aunt Tess says Mom would’ve wanted me to have it. It’s the only thing I have left from either of my parents.
I grabbed my headphones, put on music (Olivia Rodrigo to be exact), as I made my way to the front door.
“Have a good day, love you…and tell Arlo I said hey!” Aunt Tess called out
“I will…love you too.”
I walked out the door and started making my way down the street.
***
Riding the bus to school wasn’t my favorite thing; it was cramped, loud, and smelled like BO with a hint of Axe body spray. It’s also the middle of December, so it was freezing.
Eventually, I got to school. I wasn’t really fond of my school either. I moved to Connecticut in September. I’d been going to the new school since October, and people still liked to give me stares sometimes.
I walked past this guy, Austin, and his repulsive group of friends. They all looked about the same, except for Austin, who was the most hideous. Messy brown hair that always managed to look greasy. Ever since I moved here, they have been teasing and judging me. They always made an effort to point me out.
“Gaywad,” Austin muttered under his breath with a laugh. His friends laughed along with him, annoyingly punching each other on the arm as if it were the funniest joke ever. Almost any time they looked at me, they laughed. How original, right?
I ignored them and kept walking. I didn’t need to get into fights I couldn’t win just to get kicked out of another school. Plus, I didn't really need to threaten Austin, dude is like 6ft.
I got to my locker, and that’s when Arlo came up to me.
“I like the shirt.” She said as she leaned against the locker, smiling at me.
Arlo is my only real friend at this school. She was basically a living Pinterest aesthetic board, in a good way, of course. Her black hair fell to her shoulders, and she dressed rather simply yet so perfectly. A button-down long-sleeve dark blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and dark jeans. She’s the most artistic, amazing, poetic, elegant, and aesthetically pleasing person you could ever know.
“You good?” She asked
I nodded and smiled, “Yeah, I mean, other than being stared at by…that” I looked over at where Austin and his friends were laughing with each other..
Arlo rolled her eyes but smiled softly, “Don’t let it get to you, they’ll back off eventually. And you actually pay attention in class…”
“Try to pay attention in class.” I corrected. I closed my locker and took my books. “ADHD kind of keeps me from being able to focus.”
Arlo started walking beside me. “Well, you are passing your classes, and you haven't gotten into a fight. So not that bad, right?”
I looked at her, basically telling her, ‘it's only a matter of time’.
We got to English class and sat down. We talked for a few minutes before Mrs. Cain, our English teacher, walked in. She was what you expect from a regular English teacher. Blond hair, glasses, sweater, and mom jeans. She started rambling about what we were gonna be doing today. Something about reading The Alchemist, and the hero's journey, but I zoned out completely.
My focus drifted to the trees outside or Brendon tapping his pencil on his desk beside me. I wish I were like Arlo; she could focus so easily and still draw perfect doodles on her paper. I really tried to listen to my teachers' lectures, but my focus always drifted.
“Amias,” Mrs. Cain said.
I looked up. “Hm?”
“Do you know the answer?” She asked, smiling. She knew I wasn't paying attention.
“Sure, I do.” I smiled and looked at the board behind her. ACT, The Alchemist, and other stuff about our book. Think, Amias, what was the question?
But before I could get anything out, Mrs. Cain spoke. “The answer,” Mrs. Cain said, looking around the classroom. “Is it that Santiago, the shepherd boy, has started his journey to find his personal Legend?”
She walked past my desk and tapped it with her marker. Which, if you didn't know, is a teacher's way of saying “Pay attention.”
The rest of English went how you would expect. Boring. By the time the bell rang, I practically sprinted to PE. Not because I liked it (I hated it) but because it meant the day was halfway over.
When I got to the locker room, it smelled of sweat and chlorine. I started changing into my gym clothes. Unfortunately, Austin and his friends were there, laughing about something I didn't care to know about. I focused on tying my Converse much tighter.
“Alright, People,” Coach Raymond called out, clapping his hands. "Today, we are doing a two-legged race, to the back and front of the gym. Winners get candy out of the box.”
I started walking over to Arlo, but that was until Coach called out again.“No, you don't, Everette!” He put his hands on his hips. “I choose your partners, you're with Austin.”
At this point, I thought the universe was just trying to fail me. Not only was I paired with Austin, but I was also bound to lose. I mean, seriously?
“Don't make me fall on my face,” Austin sneered with a crooked smile. “Or I will break yours.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yours could use some breaking,” I muttered under my breath.
“What was that?” Austin looked at me, his smile widening with amusement.
I didn't answer. Austin tied the rope super tight around our legs. I just faced forward, waiting for the coach to start this dumb race.
Coach Raymond held up his hand. “On your mark!”
I got ready.
“Get set!”
Austin smiled. “Maybe I'll make you eat dirt, freak.” He muttered.
“GO!” He blew his whistle.
For the first 5 seconds, we were doing okay. We stumbled our way to the front of the gym. That was until Austin jerked forward, almost yanking me off my feet. He gripped my arm, super tight.
“Dude, what the–Relax,” I said, trying to pull away.
When I looked back at Austin, I was shook. He looked taller, and his eyes...He had one eye? I blinked, and there were two and then one.
“What the–”
He growled, low and guttural, and I swear I saw a sharp tooth when he smiled. He then breathed in very sharply. “Hello, Demigod.”
My first thought was “OH HELL NO”, my first sentence was. “LET GO OF ME!” I pushed him away, forgetting our legs were tied together. I was yanked forward and fell on top of him. He looked at me for a moment, confused. I stumbled off of him and untied the rope around my ankle.
Then, the second I stood, he did too. The coach blew his whistle. Austin let out a roar. I didn't waste a second before I started running. Arlo ran toward me, and from under her shirt, a weird-looking flute emerged. She played a very high note that made Austin cover his ears with a roar.
“AMIAS!” Arlo yelled and grabbed my arm. “We're getting out of here, NOW!”
Arlo rushed us to the gym doors, leading us outside to the courtyard. We ran till we were three blocks away from the school.
“What the HELL is happening?!” I asked her in panic.
“I’ll explain later, but we need to go….”
“Yeah, no kidding, but go WHERE?!“ I asked
“I said, I’ll explain later, but first I need you to call your aunt, she'll pick us up,” Arlo said
“Ok, yeah, I will,” I pulled out my phone,
As soon as the phone started ringing, Arlo snatched it. I didn’t really feel like questioning it at this point. I kept looking around us, hoping not to see a one-eyed demon. Luckily, I didn't see one, but it didn't help with my anxiety.
Arlo had the phone to her ear. “Hey, Ms. Everette…Yeah, yeah, I'm good, but um, it’s definitely time... No, no, he's ok, but we need you to get us NOW...A cyclopse…Just come get us, we're on Thompson Street ....”