The End of Tartarus: A Short Story (Part One)

by Nate R

Chapter I

It was a snowy, frigid December day in Michigan. Jack was out ice fishing on Lake Superior. He had brown hair and brown eyes. He loved to fish and play soccer. He wasn’t that tall but was very muscular. Then out of nowhere, the light, fluffy snow became a raging blizzard. Out of the snow, six creatures emerged and surrounded Jack. He ran, his footprints muffled by the snow, but ended up right back where he had been surrounded. This time the creatures were gone, and two girls stood there both holding swords. They introduced themselves as Sarah and Meghan. Then Jack asked quizzically, “What were those things?” “They were Blemmyae,” said Sarah. “Ok, I guess,” said Jack. “Who are you?” asked Meghan. “I am Jack,” said Jack, “Why are you here?” “To find you,” said Sarah, “You are a Greek demigod.” “Have you ever heard of Camp Half-Blood or Camp Jupiter?” asked Meghan. “No,” Jack answered. “How old are you?” asked Sarah. “Fourteen,” Jack replied. “Uh-Oh,” said Meghan, “Let’s get him to camp.”

Two Hours Later…

Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ

After two treacherous hours of walking, Jack, Meghan, and Sarah reach a green island. It looked small from where they were standing, but once he was on it, he noticed it was massive. People welcomed Jack with open arms like he was a king. He realized these were all demigods, like himself. In the far corner of the camp were a coliseum, archery range, and a battlefield. In the other corner was a line of cabins, each for a god. Some of them looked weird, but he didn’t pay that much attention. He was told to go to a hospital-looking building in the center of camp for a checkup. He went in and right as he walked in. He whacked his head on a big statue of Apollo, the god of healing. He went to a room with what seemed to be a child of Apollo, who gave him a checkup. He then went to a cabin with other kids that didn’t know who their godly parents were. Jack had a mom but never had a dad. He found out there was going to be a game of capture the flag later in the day.

Five hours later…

Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ

It was time for Capture the Flag. Jack proved worthy in combat but met his match in a demigod named Anthony. He was a son of Zeus, the king of the gods.

“You cannot defeat me,” said Anthony. Jack felt a rush of anger.

That is when it happened, Jack was claimed. A twenty-foot tall man arose from the ground and said that Jack was his son. The man was Zalos, the god of shape and form. He was carrying a staff with a coil on top that made him invisible. He blabbered on about how Tartarus was going to break free and destroy the world. After that, he gave Jack and three other people a quest to kill Tartarus. He said he would help Jack when they made it to Tartarus, then he would help them take Tartarus down. When he disappeared, a sword appeared in his place. Jack ran over and picked it up. Jack picked Sarah, Meghan, and Anthony to go with him on the quest.

“That is wrong,” Jack sais as a rock hand formed from the Earth and hurled Anthony into the camp pool, which wasn’t frozen.

Chapter II

It was the morning, and they were ready to go. They went to the camp director because he said he would give them transportation. He made a few phone calls, and then a son of Hermes, the god of transportation, showed up. He was driving a solid, imperial gold, tricked-out Ferrari. He introduced himself as Lukas. They hopped in, and the Ferrari took flight. It was that tricked out. They took off to find Thanatos, the god of death.

Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ

They searched for weeks and never found Thanatos. The last anyone saw him was when three demigods freed him in Alaska. They even searched Alaska where they were attacked. They stopped at the Waystation in Indianapolis. They rested there for a few days and then set off again. They kept searching and searching but never found him. They were about to give up, but Meghan thought of an idea. They were going to the Berkeley Hills.

Chapter III

They arrived at Camp Jupiter on a nice day, though it was a little windy. They went over the hills and the Little Tiber. Then they were attacked. The Romans shot with all of their ballistae. None of the shots hit the Ferrari or anyone because they were protected by a wall of Earth.

“We come in peace!” screamed Jack.

“We are from Camp Olympus,” replied Sarah.

“Who are you?” asked a girl.

“Bring them to the New Rome,” said the boy.

“Stand down,” screamed the girl as a boy joined her.

He introduced himself as Frank, and she introduced herself as Reyna. Then a girl named Hazel walked in. She seemed nice and turned out to be, but she still gave Jack the creeps. Sadly, this is who they were looking for.

Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ

“Hazel, we must find Thanatos,” said Anthony.

“Let me guess,” she said, “You want me to ask my dad.”

“Why?” she asked.

“To get to Tartarus,” replied Meghan.

“Exactly,” said Lukas.

“I’ll ask and until I can talk to you make yourselves at home,” she said.

Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ Þ

They did that and went to a barracks to rest. When they woke up, they were greeted by Hazel. She told them that her dad told her Thanatos was in The Infinite Den in North Carolina. After two weeks they arrived in North Carolina.

To Be Continued...