I put my hand on the wall for support, the memories racing through my head all at once. It seems like some vivid dream, but I know this was my home until I was nine. But I was told it was demolished... what was it doing here?

I look around. When I lived here, my mom hadn't left me and because she was drunk and in her own world all the time, I was free to do whatever I had wanted. Just as long as I didn't come here. I know it's silly now, but when I was younger, I believed that there was some sort of demon or spectre who roamed this corridor, and and anyone who entered could never escape.

So I never went there. There was reason to my beliefs though. When I was six, I had wondered out of my bedroom in search of some water and had ended up here. Just as I was about to leave, I heard a horrible humming noise that started of quietly, then gradually became louder, and soon it was almost deafening.

I had put my hands over my ears and my mouth was open in a sielnt scream, but before I could say anything, a fierce smoke of some sort pervaded the air, and whispers echoed off the walls. The smoke suffocaated me and slowly, I had collapsed, and succumbed to the darkess that had consumed my body with its ghost-like arms...

The next day, I had woken up in my own bed. It was all a dream, I had told myself at the time. But I could never really believe it. And here I am now- back in the haunted corridor.

Despite my brain telling me not to, I begin to inch my way forward, gently running my hand against the marble wall, as if that will somehow stop the memories that threatened to consume me.

Across the floor are scattered weapons and piece of paper. I crouch down slightly to pick one up, wondering where it came from and who left it there. It feels crumpled and old, but something gives me the feeling it has been made recently. I turn it over with trembling hands. Someone has hastily drawn a wierd symbol on the back. It is shaped like an hourglass, only that the tips curve over the edged and cross on either side.

"What the..?" I mumble under my breath.

I have never seen it before, nor dreamt of it, but every inch of m body is telling me this symbol means something important. I just do not know what. I have never seen it before at camp, so it probably is not something good. When I get back, I will have to tell Chiron about it.

If I get back, that is.

Suddenly, I hear a low growl behind me. I spin around, my heart hammering underneath my armour. My sword is drawn in front of me, ready to kill whatever was about to come for me. But when my eyes focuses on the figure, my sword falls to the side and all fear I once had now turns into confusion.

In front of me is a boy of around my age (possibly younger) and the poor guy looks downright terrified. His lower face is hidden by a black mask, but his brown eyes are wide and uncertain. He is dressed in a dark, old-fashioned cloak and boots, but what I can make out of his body is painfully thin.

"Who are you?" I demand, not wanting to let my guard down.

He steps backwards and stammers, "C-Cadmus- I am Cadmus. I go by Cad, though. P-please do not kill me; I come in peace!"

Now I just feel more confused than ever. "O..kay. Won't kill you. But... why are you here then?"

He looks away, and I catch a glimps of his expression- pure fear. "I-It is hard to say. But please, beware of my father! He... he.... he is someone bad. It is complicated. But just prepare!"

I raise my eyebrows at him. "And.. who is your father, may I ask?"

Suddenly, his eyes roll up into his head and he stumbles backards. I rush over to him and catch his shoulders before he hits his head on the ground. He gains conciousness for about a few seconds, and stares at me, his lips moving wordlessly. After few tries, he gets the words out.

"Stop...him...please."

Out of nowhere, he gives a pain-riddled scream disappeares into this air. The only remnants of his existence is the sound of his scream, still echoing against the walls. I stand up, and a sudden tiredness runs through me.

Why couldn't the universe give me a break?