Ikenna's heart raced as he followed the strange man through the labyrinth of hallways, the distant growls growing louder with every step. Students screamed and scattered around them, but it was clear to Ikenna that the monster—or monsters—were focused on one thing: him.
"Who are you?" Ikenna demanded again as they burst through a side door and into the blinding Texas sunlight.
The man turned briefly, his expression serious. "Name's Marcus. I'm a satyr—well, half satyr. Think of me as your guide. Now keep moving!"
"Satyr?" Ikenna asked, stumbling slightly as he tried to keep up. "Like the goat guys from mythology?"
Marcus grunted. "Yeah, yeah. Save your questions for later. Right now, we need to get you to safety."
The duo darted across the school's parking lot, weaving between parked cars. Ikenna's mind raced almost as fast as his feet. None of this made sense. Monsters, glowing hands, and now a mythological creature claiming to be his guide? It felt like a fever dream.
"Where are we going?" he panted, his legs burning from the sprint.
"To the woods," Marcus said, pointing toward a tree line that bordered the far end of the lot. "There's a safe path if we—"
A deafening roar cut him off, and Ikenna glanced over his shoulder. The monster he had shocked earlier was back, its fur singed and smoking but its yellow eyes blazing with fury. And it wasn't alone. Two more creatures, each just as terrifying, flanked it. They moved with an unnatural speed, closing the distance faster than Ikenna thought possible.
Marcus cursed under his breath. "Change of plans." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a set of reed pipes. "Hold them off!"
"Hold them off?" Ikenna shouted, his voice cracking. "With what? My charm?"
"No, with that!" Marcus pointed at Ikenna's hands, which still tingled with residual energy from the earlier attack. "You're a son of Zeus. Act like it!"
The words hit Ikenna like a freight train. Son of Zeus? The king of the gods? He didn't have time to process it before the first monster lunged. Its claws swiped at him, and he barely managed to duck. Instinct took over. Ikenna raised his hands, and this time the lightning came willingly. A bolt arced from his palms, striking the monster in the chest and sending it flying into a parked car. The impact dented the vehicle's frame, and the creature slumped to the ground, motionless.
"Nice shot!" Marcus called, his fingers flying over the pipes. A strange, lilting melody filled the air, and the two remaining monsters hesitated, their glowing eyes darting around as if they were confused.
"What are you doing?" Ikenna asked, backing toward Marcus while keeping his eyes on the creatures.
"Buying us time," Marcus said, not breaking his rhythm. "But it won't last long. Let's move!"
They sprinted for the woods, the monsters snarling as they shook off the effects of Marcus's song. Ikenna could hear them crashing through the underbrush behind him, their pursuit relentless. The trees closed in around them, the shadows growing deeper with each step.
"There!" Marcus shouted, pointing to a cluster of large rocks ahead. "Through the gap!"
Ikenna didn't question it. He followed Marcus into the narrow opening, the rocks pressing close on either side. The passage twisted and turned before opening into a small clearing. At its center was a large pine tree, its branches swaying gently despite the lack of wind. The air around it felt...different, like it was charged with the same energy that had been buzzing in Ikenna's veins all day.
"What is this place?" Ikenna asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Safe," Marcus replied, leaning against a rock to catch his breath. "For now, anyway."
The monsters didn't follow. They paced at the edge of the clearing, snarling and snapping but refusing to cross an invisible boundary. Ikenna stared at them, his chest heaving.
"Why aren't they coming in?" he asked.
"Because this tree marks the boundary of Camp Half-Blood," Marcus said. "They can't enter without serious consequences. You, however, are about to step into your new home."
"Camp Half-Blood?" Ikenna repeated, the name unfamiliar but oddly comforting.
"A sanctuary for demigods like you," Marcus explained. "We'll get you sorted, but first..." He glanced at the monsters, then back at Ikenna. "You need to understand something. Your life is never going to be the same. The monsters, the lightning—it's all part of who you are."
Ikenna looked down at his hands, the faintest sparks still dancing across his fingertips. "Son of Zeus," he murmured, the weight of the revelation finally sinking in.
Marcus nodded. "Big shoes to fill, kid. But you've got potential. Now, let's get you inside before anything else decides to show up."
With one last glance at the snarling monsters, Ikenna stepped forward, crossing the threshold into a world he never knew existed—a world where he belonged, for better or worse.