Without Her: Chapter One

It was surreal. To be recovering from the battle without her by his side. When he saw her fall, his mind couldn't even process it. But when he did, he was so heartbroken and angry that the Earth split, all their foes falling into the fault to Tartarus. Gaea was forced back to sleep from the splitting headache it caused her.

After that, he was practically dead to the world. Life without her wasn't even life at all. He barely ate and only when ordered to. It was like he had become a robot. He only ever spoke with everyone called a 'dead voice.' Even then it was no more than a monotone answer to a direct question.

So they did the only thing they could think to do. They sent him home. His mother was happy enough to see him. However, she was nervous. She didn't know how to deal with this person her son had turned into. Paul was even more at a loss. But he was determined to help because Percy meant a lot to his wife.

Percy spent a few weeks at home, showing no emotion before his mother had him start school before he got too far behind. Missing nearly an entire year probably wouldn't have helped his IQ. Luckily she had thought of that and in their free time on the Argo Two, before she died, had given him private tutoring and taught him more than needed to catch up.( Of course, then she said that it was what everyone was learning. The sneak.) She'd even given him this cool scanner invention that translated English to Ancient Greek and vice versa.

He had forgotten his mortal friends though. They seemed so insignificant now. They and the rest of the rest of the school were immensely confused when Percy arrived back at school with two people on either side of him

On one side was a girl with black hair wearing black and turquoise make-up and highlights in her dark hair. She wore black clothing including her skinny jeans that had chins in the pockets. Black combat foots and an icy blue stare completed the don't-mess-with-me-effect.

His other side was occupied by a pale, stereotypical Goth boy. All his attire was black; right down to his jeans to an array of leather bands and chains on his wrists. Raven-black hair nearly obstructed the boy's haunted obsidian eyes that appeared haunted, as if they could see into your very soul.

Percy himself was wearing a simple black shirt with dark skinny jeans. His hair was unkempt as ever, but still attained a handsome quality that had the girls swooning. His eyes, on the other hand , were dull, missing their usual glint of life and spirit. As the trio walked by, there were many stares and pondering faces. 'What happened to Percy Jackson?' was on everyone's minds. After all, he had been gone for nearly an entire year and they wanted answers.

Classes were a blur. Everyone was of course bewildered by his apparent increased in intelligence. His shadows also seemed to be smart. Throughout the classes, not one of the three had spoken anything but answers to deliberate questions except to each other. At least the girl and boy did. Percy just sat there quietly, spacing out often. The teachers decided they would ask Paul about it during lunch. Of course, if he wouldn't talk, then they could always gossip among themselves and come up with some crazy explanation.

The two people next to him never left his side. The three of them looked like they might be related. Dark hair, Grecian tinged features, same accent-as though they weren't used to speaking English. From what they could figure, they had known Percy for a long time. However, no one knew their names yet. It turned out that their names weren't on the roster.

Then suddenly, it was lunch. Everyone was too nervous to approach the intimidating trio. Except Percy's old friends that is. His four friends Ally, Ben, Neal, and Alice all cautiously walked up to the table together. The girl on Percy's right spoke first and everyone in the cafeteria turned to hear what she would say. "How might we be of assistance to you?" She was obviously deliberately speaking deliberately to Ally and Alice.

Ignoring this, Neal answered instead. "We want to talk to Percy."

Immediately, both the girl and boy stiffened. "She was speaking to the young ladies. Not you." The boy replied testily. The girl turned her icy stare to him and sneered. "Besides, Percy won't talk to you. I doubt he even remembers who you are." Though a scarce amount of people actually heard it, there was an underlying sadness in her words. It was almost as if the same had happened to others she knew.

Just them, Mr. Blofis came up. No one had seen him walk over to them since they had their full attention on the strange group and their conversation. "Here's his meds. If you need the sedative, just come get me, I'll be in my office." He placed a few containers of yellow pill bottles on the lunch table. With a nod, he walked away to his own lunch, oblivious to the water he had poured on the grapevine. What had happened that the Percy Jackson needed medicine and sedatives?

"What was that about?" Ben asked foolishly, unaware of the verbal beating he was about to receive. The air seemed to crackle and shadows appeared to creep further.

"Did you just speak without permission male?" The girl asked dangerously. "If you did I would suggest you apologize because otherwise I don't care if you were Percy's friend. Even Octavion wouldn't dare show that amount of disrespect.

Ben had no idea who this Octavion was. Instead of apologizing, he said something else. And that something else revealed a whole other side of Percy had never seen before. "Sorry! I didn't know you were a feminist!" He said with sarcastic hastiness. Of course, he had respect for females. His own mother was in the military and was a force to be reckoned with. However, he did believe males and females alike were equals. Not like this girl who seemed to believe men were dirt beneath her feet.

Unfortunately, even though they used to be friends, Percy did not appreciate his cousin addressed in that manner. He seemed to come out of his stupor. The audience blinked and by the time they opened their eyes, Percy had a hand around Ben's neck, his dead eyes glaring."Do not ever disrespect my cousin again." He tightened his grip on Ben's throat, starting to make it hard for him to breathe.

Thalia sensed danger. Percy wasn't the same since he had lost Annabeth. For all she knew, he actually would kill the boy. Furthermore, she had a feeling that the boy used to be a good friend of Percy. The Hunter looked pointedly at Nico, and then tipped her head at Percy.

Luckily, he got the message. "Percy, bro, I'm sure the dude was just kiddin', right Ben?" Nico laughed nervously. He knew what Percy was like when he was angry; especially if it was because his family and friends had been hurt. Although, now that he had thought about it, Ben seemed to be a friend of Percy's…agh! stupid ADHD!

While Nico's thoughts had gone off track, Percy loosened his grip on Ben slightly, so he could confirm his cousin's words. "Yeah, man. Just kidding. That's right. Always need a bit of humor in your life right?" Ben gulped nervously. His mind still reeled from having his best friend since freshman year have a hand around his throat. What the hell had happened to him?!

Percy's eyes narrowed. Ben shuddered. It seemed as if the pair of them were in limbo, each waiting for the other. Finally, Percy released his hold on Ben, leaving him to kneel over, gasping for breath. When he looked up, Percy was already seated, staring off into an unknown distance.