Annabeth Chase and the Lighting Thief

My life is filled with death, sadness and betrayal, not in that order.

I’m a demigod. Or half-blood, whichever you prefer.

If you’re reading this because you think you might be a half-blood, my advice is: close this book right now.

Believe whatever lie your mom or dad told you about your birth, and try to lead a normal life.

Being a half-blood is dangerous. It’s scary. Most of the time, it gets you killed in painful, nasty ways.

If you’re a normal kid, reading this because you think it’s fiction, great. Read on. I envy you for being able to believe that none of this ever happened.

But if you recognize yourself in these pages – if you feel something stirring inside – stop reading immediately. You might be one of us. And once you know that, it’s only a matter of time before they sense it too, and they’ll come for you.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

My name is Annabeth Chase.

I’m twelve years old, and my life is... different from your average one. I’ve lived at a summer camp for five years now. Camp Half-Blood isn’t your average summer camp, let me tell you that. Does your summer camp have a lava wall? I didn’t think so.

You might be wondering where my parents are, or why they’d let me live at a summer camp, the truth is they don’t care about me. And I don’t care about them either.

You could say my life is messed up, but it’s the same with every other half-blood, so I shouldn’t complain. It’s hard being half-mortal and half god.

I should probably back up. My mom is Athena. Yes, the Greek goddess of war strategy fell in love with my mortal dad and then poof, I showed up at my dad’s house. Anyway, my life was pretty boring until today.

I did the same routine I always did, I woke up with my siblings, sat on the dock, shoeless, reading. Well, trying to read at least. I have dyslexia and ADHD, another thing that comes with being a half-blood. Demigods have dyslexia because our minds are hardwired for ancient Greek, and ADHD, which are our battle reflexes. In a fight, they keep us alive.

After my failed reading session I’d go to whatever activity my cabin is stationed for, and today it was sword-fighting. I didn’t participate much due to the fact that I couldn’t focus at all today.

I disarmed Malcolm, my brother, with my dagger pointing at his throat in a few short seconds. Usually fighting with swords would be better, but I preferred my dagger. It was special.

The rest of the day passed in a blur, we finished sword fighting, moved onto the next activity and before I knew it, I was getting ready for bed. Before I went back to my cabin I decided to try my luck, though I already knew how it was going to end.

I walked up to the Big House, a big, bright blue house with four stories, where Chiron and Mr. D stayed and walked inside. Unfortunately, Mr. D was the one there.

He squinted and rubbed his eyes, “Annabell? What are you doing here?”

“Actually, sir, as I’ve told you a bunch of times it’s, Annabeth.”

“And as I’ve told you a thousand times, I don’t care, Annabell.” He looked me up and down, “Why are you here anyway?”

I shifted on my feet. “I was hoping I could talk to Chiron about... my quest.”

Mr. D groaned. “You’re still going on about that? Let’s look at the facts, ever since Luke almost got killed by that Lagdog-”

“-Ladon.”

Mr. D looked at me. “Do you want me to turn you into a grape bowl? Because I won’t hesitate to.”

Did I forget to mention that Mr. D was Dionysus, the god of wine and loved to threaten us? I think I might’ve. Well, Mr. D chased a nymph Zeus had declared off-limits and his punishment is to work at camp for a century. If I’m being honest, it’s more of a punishment on us than it is on him.

“Mr. D, what are you rambling on about?” A voice said behind Mr. D, and he turned to look at the invader.

“Chiron! I wanted to talk to you.” Relief flooded my voice. I hadn’t seen Chiron since he left to go find some kid. I missed him.

“The usual I presume?”

Mr. D waved his hand. “You’re wasting your time Chiron, you’ve told her like, a bazillion times that her time will come when someone new comes to camp, that’s why she hangs out with every new kid that comes.”

Heat rose to my face. “At least I want to do something! All you do is drink diet coke and play pinochle!”

I know, I know. I shouldn’t have insulted Mr. D and now I’m going to be a fruit bowl, a nice addition to the Big House’s decorations. If we’re being honest I was right. He does barely anything for our camp. The least he could do was learn our names. Correctly.

Mr. D stood but Chiron stopped him. “Annabeth, we’ve had this conversation too many times to count. You know what I’m going to say, and I think it’d be best if you stopped asking.”

I started to protest but then I heard something.

“Someone’s outside.”

I flew open the door and ran into the rain with Chiron on my heels.

A few feet away was a satyr sprawled funny in the grass and lying on the porch was a boy, about the same age I was, who had messy black hair, with blood and dirt smeared on his face.

I couldn’t help myself, I blurted out, “He’s the one. He must be.”

“Silence, Annabeth,” Chiron said. “He’s still conscious. Bring him inside.”

A/N: thank you for everyone who read this story! I hope you guys enjoyed it! Chapters later on will be a lot longer, around 1-2k words or more! I’m super excited to write this for you guys!!

(I think there might be a few that are 4k words)