Chapter 1
Winnie Fletcher was not afraid of death. Not in that weird movie trope, hot, self destructive, way though, she just knew what came after, at least for her. She didn’t really know about everyone else, probably singing kumbaya and doing the macarena from dawn till dawn or some bullshit like that. She’d wake up somewhere in someone’s body and restart her life. And yeah, it was annoying.
2004-
Winnie was in a small petite woman’s body, about 19 with short black hair cut in a shag. She’d been in it for about two years and was starting to get used to the way it moved. Which is why when a hellhound decided to attack a nearby demigod, she’d cursed out the sky.
“Fuck you, at least let me get him to Camp,” she mumbled as she ran towards Tyler and shouted, “Fucking run!” The boy had frozen in fear, he was only 6. Winnie sprinted and tackled him just as the hound lunged.
He’d asked to use the restroom while they were eating and was on his way when the hound appeared and charged.
“What did I tell you, Tyler? Listen to me.” She got him up and dodged the tables outside the restaurant as they ran away, “You know where to go right?”
“Long Island, Camp Halfblood, ask for Chiron.” The boy recited breathily as he ran. He looked terrified. She pitied him, a hell hound was not a pretty looking creature especially as your first. She didn’t have time to comfort him, they’d be dead before then.
“Good, you go ahead. Catch doggy.” She stopped and turned back to the hound. She threw a bottle of perfume at it and it shattered leaving small cuts on its face.
She slid a knife from her sleeve and took several steps back, ready to bolt if it freaked. It didn’t, the hound was scratching at its nose and sneezing. She was about to charge it when she hesitated. She bit her lip and ran in the direction Tyler went.
She caught up with the boy as they ran past a woman staring at them with glassy eyes.
“What do you want?” They slowed to a fast walk as Winnie pocketed the knife. The woman didn’t look human and with the way the air was electrified, Zeus wanted her killed.
“Miss Fletcher?” The woman walked with them, “I just wanted to warn you about the child.” She was robotic, as if possessed.
“Who? What do you mean?” Winnie looked at the woman with searching eyes.
“Oh, you haven’t been back," The woman spoke as if surprised, though her expression didn't change, "never mind then. Good day, Gwendolyn.” The woman then shook her head in a look of pain, “What happened?”
“You said something about a warning?” Fuck, it was just like the gods to send some cryptic message to freak her out. Guess this body hasn’t been entertaining enough.
“I was at my son’s graduation.” The woman muttered as they walked away. She looked completely baffled.
“I’m sorry ma’am. You seem to have hit your head.” Winnie said back to her as they made their way to the car.
“Winnie, is she gonna be okay?”
“Of course, honey. Now, let's get you to Camp.” They got into the old, beat up car and started the hour drive.
While in traffic, Tyler piped up, “How come that lady didn’t remember what she said?”
“I don’t think she was feeling like herself.”
“How come you know so much about these things?”
“I’ve been doing this for a long time. Why don’t we find something to listen to on the radio, yeah?” She pointed at the dash.
“Okay,” Tyler flipped through the stations, all of which were static, “that’s weird.” He pulled the radio out and started messing with the wiring.
“Tyler, we’re driving. That’s really, really not safe, sweetie.”
“It’ll be fine, I know what I’m doing.”
“I’m worried about you getting electrocuted. Put it back.”
“Okay.” He reassembled the radio and slid it back into the dash.
“Thank you. You can mess with my phone if you want.” His face lit up as he messed with the flip phone keeping him entertained for the rest of the drive.
As they pulled into Long Island the car gave up and they sputtered onto the side of the road. There were storm clouds gathering and Winnie was starting to get jittery.