I hated my mother then. I mean, she’d ruined my life. I had to move to New York because of her, and I had to go to a brand new school. I lived with my mom, because my father was probably a jerk since he left her when I was, like, a one year old. I never met him, thank goodness. My phone wasn’t working, the computer wasn’t working and I wasn’t working either. School started the next day, unfortunately for me. I tried to sleep all night long, but I just couldn’t help thinking about how ruined I would be for the rest of my life. I just couldn’t live without my friends back in California. The next morning dawned bright and sunny, but I was dark and painful in the inside, though I really tried hard not to show it. I hated to see my mother worried, even if she’d separated me from my friends. I probably didn’t try hard enough, because my mom suddenly got wide-eyed and said, “Chica, is something wrong? You seem so depressed.” I shook my head. “No, mama, I just miss my friends.” My mom immediately released the frown from her face and started whistling as she made my breakfast. I quietly ate, up till the moment I had most dreaded. School. Brand new , starting over with no friends. I slowly stood up, praying that I wouldn’t be teased (though I used to be teased a lot about having no father).
When I got to school, I finally understood why my mom decided I should attend Tompkins Square Middle School. The school was made of smooth, polished bricks, and the doors were smooth wood. It was packed with kids dressed in posh clothes, and the school itself seemed kind and welcoming to me. It wasn’t till later that I saw the school’s inner self. The school was a prison. Whenever a student said something incorrect, or talked during class time, the teacher would assign them a thirty minute detention after school. The students never seemed surprised if they got detention. I tried my hardest, and to my luck, the teacher, as well as the classmates, never paid the slightest attention to me. During recess though, Ms Keane, our grumpy, fat, teacher, told me to stay in. I nervously sat down on the hard, wooden floor, my heart about to pound straight out of my chest. “Stand up, you idiot. I’m no lecturer, and I’m certainly not patient!” Ms Keane had a strange laugh. “Confused? Easy way to put it: You’re dead meat!” I had never felt so frightened in my life. What was Ms Keane talking about? Surely she knew I had a mom who would be waiting for me after school. I couldn’t have detention on my first day of school! That would make my mom take me out of that school immediately! I stood up awkwardly.
I still did not understand what was happening. My mind was puzzled. I could only hear her cackling voice and my own heartbeat. I knew I was saying something, but despite my loud voice, I couldn’t hear anything. Then suddenly Ms Keane sprouted wings from behind her back. Red, gold, and green wings. They seemed to be made from leather that had been used before. I was one-hundred percent sure that her eyes would burst while transforming. Ms Keane’s body became bony and pale, turning her chubby, pink hands into 10 centimetre long claws, black as ebony. She had a grey dress, ragged and filthy, and her feet were made of long wriggly snakes. I was really freaked out. Her hair was even worse. Ms Keane (Monster, Alert! Alert!) had hair fully made out of black worms (at least that’s what it looked like). “You say that I’m only a fat, grumpy teacher, totally useless? How dare you! Now you will see!”she shrieked. I was confused. A moment later I realised I probably said that before she transformed. You know, when I couldn’t hear what I was saying. Right then, Ms Keane the humanbutterfly, seized the opportunity and lunged at me.
That was the first time I ever paid any attention to my reactions towards freak monsters. I ducked, rolled over and stood up to face her. “Impressive, but it’s not good enough!”Ms Keane, shrieked, laughing. She faked a pounce, but to her surprise, I didn’t jump back in fear. Her creepy smile faded from her dry, purple lips. She opened her mouth in attempt to show me her long fangs, probably with poison. I was still so shocked by my reaction towards Ms Keane that I just stood there. Then the monster lunged at me once more. And yet again, despite all my fears, I had incredibly quick reactions. Ms Keane must have understood that I was fast at ducking and rolling over. She made a quick dash for my feet, but I was ready for it. I jumped as high as I could, then landed, picked up a book and held it before my face, just before her claws reached out for my face. She ripped my shield to pieces. Pages flying everywhere, the book no longer worked as my protector. I had to find something else. And quickly. I knew Ms Keane was preparing for another terrifying attack. I couldn’t hold on much longer. Ms Keane suddenly jumped from a table, and for the first time, I just wasn’t prepared. That’s when I received my first ever broken bone. My arm, my arm…
Pain throbbed through my whole arm. It ached so much. I knew that I wouldn’t be very prepared for the next few attacks. Unfortunately for me, the next attack came straight away. But by that time I did not have time to worry about pain, I had to let adrenaline get me through. She pounced from overhead, I rolled, stood up, and then picked up a metal ruler and whacked Ms Keane in the back. She doubled over in pain, screaming. “How dare you hit a nakamurai!” I had no idea what a nakamurai was, but I figured it was a monster like her. “You will see!”she screamed until I couldn’t be more certain that my ears would pop. A sudden crash sounded as two other monsters just like her, probably nakamuries too, swooped into the classroom. That’s when I really got scared. There were more Ms Keane butterfly-monsters? I knew I would be defeated. I could already imagine the newspaper cover “GIRL 13 YEARS OLD DIES FROM FIGHTING BUTTERFLY-MONSTERS (SORRY, NAKAMURIES): IN SCHOOL!”
Just then, a person materialised next to me. He was wearing a cloak as black as a shadow in the woods. He said in a distant voice “Daughter, fight with me. We will defeat these monsters.” The man (apparently my father) handed me a piece of smooth, green glass. “Rub your hand against it, it is your weapon. ” It sounded seriously silly, but I did it anyway. Immediately a dagger made of Stygian iron sprang out. The glass was gone. Disappeared and only the Stygian dagger lay in my hands. My arm also had been miraculously healed by the mysterious dagger. I lashed out blindly,only testing my sword strength, but to my luck it hit one of Ms Keane’s sister’s square in the chest. Immediately she turned to dust. Now that was shocking. I was afraid that if that happened to me, I would never form again. Again I used my dagger to attack the butterfly-monsters. This time I missed. My father stood in front of me. Around twenty more nakamuries flew in. Suddenly a few ghosts dressed in cloaks like my father rose from the floor in front of my dad, knocking out seven nakamuries. I was so happy that there were more of us than them, but it was terrifying even so. I stood beside my father, feeling as confident as ever. I hated him, but I needed him if we were to win.
He only said one thing before he left, to meet at Olympus tomorrow. I had no idea what Olympus was, but I pushed that thought aside. I could hear the bell ringing, and kids shouting to get to class. It was amazing how nobody had heard the battle. I quickly ran out, right through the school gates and all the way to my modern apartment. I burst through the door, and my mom gave a slight scream. It was probably surprising for her, since school should have ended at four pm, and it was only ten fifteen in the morning. It had felt like so much more time had passed. I hugged her and told her that something bad had happened in school. Together we sat down on the super soft couch, and I explained the whole story while she listened all the time.
When I finally finished, there was silence. My mom nearly cried, “Sorry, I was afraid that would happen.”, and I could tell by her concerned face that she was worried about me, though she hadn’t seemed surprised about the event. Maybe she already knew my dad did weird stuff like that. She explained how she met my father and how she knew he was a god, and that gods weren’t allowed to speak with their children. I needed to be alone to gather my thoughts and process what had happened today. I went to my bedroom, wanting to think about it. I ended up reading until bedtime, though I ate dinner. Then, of course, I went to bed, still thinking about the exhausting events of today and still thinking of how I would find Olympus. The next morning, I woke with a start. Those monsters were ingrained in my head. I spent that Saturday morning at home like an average Californian girl. I talked with my mom and asked more questions that I had, cleaned my bedroom, and simply read a greek book, propped up in my bed. I didn't know how I understood the words, though. I guess it came naturally.Time flew by that late summer morning. During lunchtime, I had a surprise. As soon as I sat down at the table, a sudden breeze blew through the kitchen. I felt myself moving and being stood up and my eyes being forced shut. I opened my eyes and in front of me stood massive golden gates. I watched as they slowly opened, smooth as oil, with no sound at all. A hallway appeared behind the doors. I suddenly understood that this was probably Olympus, as my father had said that I would meet him in Olympus.
Walking into Olympus was like walking into paradise to me. I slowly walked forward. At that moment I bumped into an invisible wall. A giant person materialised in front of me. And then my dad was standing next to me. My dad took my hand. A second later, I was in a huge throne room, and all around me were giant people sitting in giant thrones. My jaw dropped. This was more surprising than those nakamuries. Everything, absolutely everything, was made of pure gold. “Welcome to Olympus, Lia Gonzalez. You are on the top of the Burj Khalifa, in Dubai. I am Hades your father.�he said in his usual distant voice. I jumped in surprise, as his quiet voice sounded like a trumpet in a small studio room. Even my feet made a large echo, which made this room feel very empty, despite the amount of people in it.
Even though I was still super angry and confused that he had abandoned my mum and I at such a young age, I couldn’t believe he had transferred me here as a treat.
It was so nice of him, though he didn’t seem very pleasant as a person. He was completely covered in a long black cloak. His hidden face made me feel suspicious, as if he was hiding from me. Then I realised that I was still wearing my comfy, blue pyjamas when I went to the kitchen. My face turned bright red with embarrassment. I looked down to make sure I was at least wearing slippers. My eyes widened with surprise. My pajamas were gone and now I was wearing armor, actual greek armor! This had all happened so fast that I was still amazed.
When I finally found my voice, I thanked my dad so many times for bringing me here. I took the opportunity when he was not focused on me, and I slapped him. “That’s for abandoning me!” I shouted. I couldn’t help it. I was just so mad at him. Then I decided that I’d better say sorry, but my dad just laughed. “Well, goodbye. I’ll see you soon enough.” he whispered. He turned his head. I got a peek of his grey, wrinkly face before he blew stinky air in my face.
Suddenly I was back in my living room, sitting down to eat. Sadly I wasn’t wearing my greek armor anymore which had been replaced by my usual pajamas. Every Sunday from then on, my dad came to see us, well, more me than my mom. I don’t think my mom ever noticed he was there as she just went about her day. I had hoped he would come to live with us, but I guess not everything turns out the way you want it to.