A Prophecy with No Riddle
We had finally reached Camp Half-Blood after three road trip songs — well, three songs and a whole lot of off-key singing. By the time we pulled through the tree line, my excitement was buzzing so hard I could barely sit still.
As soon as we parked, Annabeth went straight to talk to Chiron. I hung back by the Big House porch, pretending not to listen... but obviously, I was eavesdropping.
“I just think it’s better if she stays in the Poseidon cabin until she’s claimed,” Annabeth said. “She has to sleep somewhere.”
I held my breath.
Chiron nodded thoughtfully. "Of course. She’ll be welcome there."
I let out a sigh of relief. Honestly, I thought they were going to stuff me in the Hermes cabin with the other unclaimed kids — not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I wasn’t in the mood to fight for bed space.
The second Annabeth turned to leave, we bolted. Everyone scattered to their cabins, and I ran to mine — well, Poseidon's — like my life depended on it. The place was amazing. Sea-green walls, ocean breeze drifting through the windows… it smelled like saltwater and summer.
I threw my stuff on the nearest bunk and unpacked as fast as I could. I didn’t want to miss anything. My first night at camp — this was supposed to be it. The start of something great.
When I was done, I headed outside to find the other campers. The campfire was still crackling in the distance, the stars blinking lazily overhead. I smiled, ready to finally meet some people… except everyone was staring at me.
Like, full-on, wide-eyed staring.
I froze. "Uh… what? Do I have something on my face?"
No one answered. I glanced down at myself — same clothes, no weird monster goo, no magical glowing marks. So why were they looking at me like I’d just sprouted horns?
That’s when I noticed Rachel Dare walking toward me. The Oracle.
At first, I thought she was just coming over to say hi. I even managed a small smile. But then she touched my shoulder — and immediately stiffened. Her eyes glazed over, turning bright green, like twin searchlights boring right into me.
And then she started to speak.
But this wasn’t a normal prophecy. It wasn’t a riddle or a poem. It was… something else. Something worse.
And I was at the center of it.