LET'S PLAY: DEMIGODS AND MONSTERS
[Chapter 7: Capture the Flag (pt. 2)]
The banner streamed out over his shoulder, a beacon of red shouting for every camper in the forest to chase him. Yet, somehow, Geoff was on his own. He only had to reach the stream, then the game was over, their team would win. Before the game started, Ryan had pulled him aside with a few of the older campers, and created the offensive plan. He recounted how in most games, he was the one that led the charge. That wouldn’t change, but he wouldn’t be the one to collect the flag. “That’s your job Geoff, they won’t expect the new guy.”
Ryan had been right, they didn’t. Armed with only a small dagger and the lightest armor offered, Geoff had lagged behind the rest of the group as they made as much noise as possible. Sure enough that drew out the Ares defense, shouting for blood. Swords and spears flashed and collided in the air, the ground was showered with sparks as the demigods duked it out.
From the shadows, Geoff watched as Ryan charged toward the flag with his sword raised. He was immediately tackled to the ground by the two guards, dragging him away from his prize, kicking and screaming. He was disarmed and quickly bound, but he put up such a stink that the attention of the two defenders was solely focused on him.
As quietly as possible, not that his footsteps could be heard over Ryan’s string of cusses and the fighting just beyond the trees, Geoff crept over to the flag. The two guards were attempting to drag a still thrashing Ryan in the opposite direction as he attempted to bite their hands. Geoff snatched the flag from its spot, crumpling the fine material in his hands.
His heart hammered against his chest, and for a moment he was frozen, only watching as one of the guards finally glanced over his shoulder. However, before it even computed in the kid’s head that their flag was stolen, Geoff was gone in a flash. His feet had never moved faster in his life as he leapt over a bush and into the cover of the woods. There was shouting behind him as several of the Ares team noticed that, holy shit, their flag was gone.
Geoff took the path that Ryan had described before the game started. Running straight for the creek was risky, he would definitely be confronted several times before he reached the safety of the other side. He had only been in camp a week and his skills with any weapon were shaky at best. Geoff had some concept of how to work a knife, but compared to an experienced camper’s sword? Even he didn’t want to take that risk. That meant taking the longest route possible along the edge of the wood.
At first, it was quiet as he lost the other campers. He was alone, trying to walk as quietly as he could, avoiding the twigs and pebbles that threatened to give away his position. He stepped slowly over a root that threatened to trip him, and his eyes scanned the thicket around him in a fit of paranoia. He was so close to winning, he didn’t want to mess this up for Ryan and Ray. Before the game, they had been both been thrilled when Geoff showed up from his day at the beach, ready for the game. They each talked about their first Capture the Flag game in length, assuring Geoff that he would love it as well.
His fingers ached; his knuckles had turned white from the strength in which he used to hold onto the flag. He wasn’t going to let it go for anything.
The woods around him were dark, the thick canopy of leaves and needles blocking out the sun in some patches. However, with a sharp bang to his left, the air around him became thick with smoke, completely blotting out his vision. “What the hell?” He muttered under his breath, heart kicking back into gear, throwing itself against his ribcage.
He was about to run, escape the cloud of smoke, when something collided with his side. Geoff was thrown to the ground, dagger sliding away from his fingers, something much larger than him pinning him to the forest ground. Instinct kicking in, Geoff lashed out with his fists, one of them collided with hair. His fingers buried deep and latched on, tugging at it.
“That is such a dirty move!” A voice howled in response and Geoff recognized it immediately.
“Jack?” Geoff asked through the smoke. Through the thinning smoke, his red hair started to stand out and Geoff felt his hand close around the flag as well, ready to wrestle for it.
All the hair on Geoff’s neck and arms stood up as a shiver passed down his spine. Through the smoke, a light that didn’t belong to the sun caught his eyes. And then, as the smoke blinded him, it changed to a painful white as something came streaking out of the sky. With reflexes he shouldn’t have possessed, Geoff rolled, barely avoiding the searing hot flash of lightning as it struck the ground.
There was a tremendous rumble that shook the Earth beneath them and blinding pain rushed up Geoff’s arms. The flag fell in a red flutter from his hands as he pushed Jack off with surprisingly strength and stumbled away.
“Geoff, what the hell is going on?” His voice was muffled, as Geoff’s vision blurred into black at the corners and everything around him became white noise. Pain, like nothing he had ever felt, rushed up and down his arms. For a moment, all he could do was clutch at his skin, begging for the agony to subside. It pulsed and writhed under his muscles, like a current of electricity searched for an escape from its flesh prison.
With a ragged breath, Geoff stared down at the arms, almost expecting them to be burning. Maybe the heat from the strike had been enough to melt his skin away. It felt that way. However, as he stared, mouth gaping open, his skin was still on his bones. His tattoos were not the same, they glowed a white-blue, blotting out whatever color they had been. The only interruption of the bright pattern was the three thick scars from the harpy attack, which seemed to be disappearing, as his arms grew brighter.
Then, as suddenly as it had started, it was over. The light faded from Geoff’s arms, the pain ebbing away with it, leaving only a dull ache. The scars had completely disappeared from his skin, normal and untouched skin was left in its place. Just a few feet away, the ground was blackened to a crisp from the strike, sending a column of smoke into the sky.
Geoff turned toward a pale-faced Jack, who clutched the red flag close to his chest. At first they stared at each other in silence, neither quite sure what had just happened. The color slowly returned to Jack’s face and a look of realization crossed his face. “You are definitely no son of Hermes.”
The sound of footsteps rapidly approaching finally spurred Geoff into action. “I have to get out of here.” His old instinct of not standing out, blending in with the crowd, started to kick in. His months on the streets had told him being noticed was bad. This would definitely get him noticed.
Jack seemed to recognize Geoff’s panic and nodded. “I’ll come up with an excuse. Go.” He waved Geoff on with the flag, pointing back in the direction of camp.
As the footsteps and voices drew nearer, Geoff dashed into the trees, leaving Jack with the scorching hole in the ground and the flag.
The camp was empty as Geoff ran out of the woods. A group of nymphs stared at him as he tried to walk as calmly past them as he could. His breathing was ragged and he rubbed the skin along his arms, still trying to process what had happened. The lightning, the light along his arms, the electricity running in his veins, every sign pointed toward one thing. However, it was the one thing Geoff didn’t want to accept.
“What the hell are you doing back in camp Kid?”
Geoff whirled around to meet a familiar face. “Hi Burnie,” He muttered breathlessly, hiding his arms behind his back. “I just don’t think I’m cut out for Capture the Flag. Demigods can get a little intense.”
“So can you. I think I remember something about you pinning me up against a wall. I had to kick you to get away.” The satyr pointed out with a frown, not believing a word of Geoff’s lie. “Honestly, I think you have something to do with that smoke in the sky, but I’m not going to ask.” Burnie shook his head, throwing his arms in the air in resignation. “Sometimes, I have just had it up to my horns with you demigods and your talent for wrecking things.”
He started to clomp off, still muttering about demigods, when Geoff cleared his throat. “Hey Burnie, are there are other ways that Gods claim their children?” He managed to squeeze out before he wanted to strangle himself.
Burnie turned his head, arching an eyebrow. “Do you think you were claimed or something? I’m surprised you haven’t yet.”
Geoff shrugged. “I don’t think so,” Well, he hoped so. “I just want to know when it does happen.”
There was a moment of silence as Burnie mulled over his thoughts. “Aphrodite kids get make-overs from their mom, but I don’t see you getting prettier any time soon.” He smirked as he spoke. Geoff wanted to laugh, but it ended up with a half-hearted smile. “And there are times that Gods will directly contact their children, and stuff.” Burnie scratched at his beard. “That’s about all I can give you.” He pat Geoff on the shoulder. “Don’t worry too much about it, the gods are assholes. You’re no better for knowing who your parent is. Anyway, don’t you like it in Hermes cabin?”
Geoff nodded, a lump forming in his throat. He really liked it in Hermes cabin, despite the noise and the chaos; he didn’t want to be in any other cabin. Yeah, occasionally he escaped to Poseidon cabin for peace, but he never wanted to leave for good. Ryan was his best friend in this crazy place. He didn’t want to abandon the little family he had for another cabin.
He wasn’t stupid. Geoff sighed heavily as Burnie told him to head back to Hermes and rest. The satyr headed off, saying he might be needed when the injured campers started to roll in.
Hermes cabin was silent as Geoff flopped down onto his cabin. Outside, the first of the campers had started to return, the Ares kids excitedly whooping as they held the blue team’s flag high above their head. They must have gotten it during the chaos. Geoff turned onto his side as the Hermes kids walked in, muttering amongst themselves, dejected by the loss.
Geoff felt a hand on his shoulder, and he didn’t have to turn to tell it was Ryan. “You disappeared and Jack had the flag. What happened?” When Geoff remained silent, he could practically feel Ryan’s eye roll. “Whatever. We would have won if Jack’s stupid bomb hadn’t malfunction. Distracted the whole team.”
When Ryan walked away, Geoff stared down at his tattoos and rubbed at the skin, the memory of the lights and the pain still remained in the back of his mind. The lightning, the electricity, the heat, Geoff was not an idiot. He definitely was no son of Hermes. There wasn’t a doubt in Geoff’s mind that he was the son of Zeus.
