The Runaway

A/N: Hey people! I'm back with a one-shot of Leo when he'd run away from all his foster homes before the Wilderness School, I always thought there was a lot of mystery shrouded in that, so here you go!

Leo's stomach rumbled like a lion, desperate for food. He hadn't eaten for almost 2 days, and he'd barely found a place to sleep, and to hide from the police. His most recent foster home had been in Chicago, and he hated it just as much as the one before it. Leo had turned 10 just the day before, and he was hoping for some mercy on his birthday. Scavenging through the large dustbin, he hated the smell, but he had no inclination to care. The bright lights of Chicago didn't faze him, but trapped him in their clean and shining embrace, ready to swallow him if he had a moment of weakness.

His hands passed something soft, and he immediately backtracked. His fingers clasped around a half-eaten sandwhich from Subway, recognizable from the little wrapping left on it. Leo took a whiff, making sure it wasn't stale (a lesson he had learnt a few weeks ago).The aromatic scent of the sandwhich frazzled his brain, and his teeth chomped down the remnants of a still-good sandwhich.

his stomach content, but not satisfied, Leo further ventured the dark alleys of Chicago, the lit-up skyscrapers prominently proud of their shimmering skyline. Cars whizzed by on the road, the drivers set to reach home quickly .He wasn't sure what the exact time was, but he guessed it to be around 10, and he'd have to find a place to sleep, before the gangsters came out. Leo had only been in the city for a week or so, but he knew the way things ran. His eyes luckily spotted an old box with a rusty old mattress, and ran towards the box.

Just as he was about to sleep, something reflected the little light penetrating inside the box, near the edge. His hands shakily went to it, and were met a cold, hard knife. Its bronze blade shone lightly as he brought it into the light. The handle seemed so worn out and weary, but still held well, as Leo's fingers rounded the handle. He had never seen such a knife before, and it befuddled him to no end. Looking close to the handle, he saw the word "Beckendorf" etched into it, and surprisingly, found a string attached to it. A letter was strung up to it and Leo knew it was bad manners to read something that wasn't yours, but his curiosity won out. Carefully lifting the envelope, he unfolded the paper and started reading, admittedly, with lots of difficulty, but eventually, he did finish it:

Dear Charlie,

I know you probably hate me now, and I understand that, I really do. I didn't tell you earlier, because that would've put you in danger, and I couldn't bear the thought of losing you. Get to camp as soon as you can, and I hope you're happy there. All I want is for you to be happy, sweetie.

Love,

Your mother, Monique

P.S You can always come back home, honey. The doors will forever be open to you.

Leo's eyes watered, remembering his own mom. How ungrateful could this kid be? He threw the letter away, and kept the dagger where he found it. He laid his head on the mattress and slept soundly, dreaming of the times when his mom was alive.

A/N: Well, I hope you guys liked it! Credit help to an amazing classmate and fellow percy fan, without whom I would not have written this so well! She knows who she is ;). Read and review, please!