The bitter cold wind nipped at my exposed skin as I waved at my best friend, Thalia from the steps of the school. Her spikey short hair stuck up even more, failing around in short black strands. Her striking blue eyes sparkled as she ran, holding her black leather jacket tighter around her small torso to keep her body warm.
Thalia has always been there for me. She was there when my father died when I was 10. She was there for me when I had to leave home to escape my mother's vicious words. She was there when he left. She was my sister as far as I was concerned.
I wrapped my long black coat tighter around my body, trying to keep out the chill. My hands had grey mittens, but they weren't doing any good as they were freezing.
I passed the bustling part of the city. Cars and taxis were honking at each other, creating a cacophony. The sun had gone down about an hour ago leaving New York City to do what it does best; light up the sky.
Broadway was advertising a new musical and I thought of buying Thalia and I some tickets when my phone rang. I took it out of my purse and the screen lit up saying it was my mom calling.
I ignored it, but hurried up. Last time I was late she nearly scalped me. I shuddered at the thought of her fingers yanking my hair and yelling that I was worthless and pathetic. I had sworn to myself that night that I was going to leave and never come back, but I couldn't bring myself to and ended up sleeping at Thalia's for a night.
It was already dark and I had a class early in the morning the next day so I decided to take a short cut. New York City was like a giant maze to me. Ever since I was little I would always find these short cuts that always lead me where I wanted to go. So this time instead of walking that next block or so I turned right into an ally way that would take me straight to the road I usually took to get home.
My blond curls whipped around like wild snakes in the breeze. My scarf flew off my neck and I noticed I wasn't alone anymore. I turned and heard male voices talking loud behind me. I turned and watched them warily as three guys joked and shoved each other playfully. Each one was wearing a dark hoodie and jeans. One of them looked up and locked eyes with me. I half smiled and ducked my head, breaking eye contact.
I walked faster through the alley and heard their pace quickening as well. I was starting to think of ways to lose them when one of the men started to talk to me.
"Hey Beautiful! Where you off to?" a gruff voice said.
I ignored them and kept walking.
"Oh you're going to be like that, uh? Hey Luke! What we going to do?" he said.
I heard laughter, but this time it didn't sound so playful… it sounded sinister. I took deep breaths to try and calm myself down, I needed to think. I wasn't that far away from the end of the alley, if I ran fast enough I would make it to at least a street light. So that is exactly what I did, I ran.
The laughter turned into shouting behind me. I heard the thumping of their feet as they chased me. I turned the corner and kept running. THERE WAS NO STREET LIGHT I yelled in my head. I screamed as loud as I could for somebody to help me, but nothing.
I stopped and hid behind another corner. I put my hands on my knees and gasped for air. I saw them rounding the corner and I started sprinting all over again.
"Annabeth! Stop running and come and see your best friend!" he yelled.
I stopped cold in my tracks as I recognized the voice. I knew that voice better than my own parents'. Flashbacks hit me like a brick.
There we were, a little blond haired, blue eyed boy and I sitting under a tree. We laughed and climbed it, thinking there were no worries in the world.
Another came; the day we first kissed. I was fourteen and we were at a school dance. He dragged me outside in the snow and kissed me under the mistletoe.
The last one was of the day he was hauled off to jail for attempted murder, he killed his mom. The police took him out of his house kicking and screaming when he was 16. I knew he did it, he had told me how much better his life would be without his sickly mother.
He graphed out ways he would do it and burned the evidence. The police had him in for six years, but that was just for petty crimes. He was never caught for that murder.
"Luke?" I said an utter look of horror I bet was expressed on my face.
He smiled his bright blue eyes glittered. He had a new scar, it started from the top of his right eyebrow and went down to the middle of his cheek, right over his eye. The new mark rippled as he smiled wider at my expression.
"The one and only, baby. Come and give me some sugar." He said laughing, opening his arms. His friends smiling wickedly at his side.
I backed up another step and the smile melted off his face. He dropped his arms and turned slightly before he lunged at me. I screamed and struggled, trying to get out of his iron grip.
He dragged me back into another abandoned alley and pinned me up against the brick wall. I cringed away when he leaned his head into my neck, breathing in my scent.
"Luke…Luke please…stop." I pleaded. He ignored me and kissed my neck until he softly bit my earlobe.
"Luke…why are you doing this?" I asked,
He lifted his head and glared at me.
"If you had just kept your mouth shut. You blabbed to someone and I was caught. You think stealing will get you six years in jail? Sorry missy, but I can't let you go anywhere. You saw me and you are a liability." He spat.
"You escaped!?" I yelled. He silenced me with a flick of a knife. He brought it out of his pocket and to my face. He made a small line, cutting skin as he pushed the blade down my cheek. I cried out in pain and tried to move away, but he pinned me right back where I started. I could feel the blood dripping down my cheek.
He laughed as I cried. My tears falling down in small streams. I thought of all the things we did together as kids and my sadness turned into anger when I remembered the day we found his mom.
She was lying in the bathtub, the water was stained red. She was old and a little bit crazy, but everyone loved her. To see her like that brought up bile.
I glared at Luke with such hatred that even he backed up. I took my opportunity and kneed him right where it hurt. He groaned and dropped his knife. I scooped it up and kept running. I had to get away…anywhere but there. I heard his friends running up behind me and I kept on screaming for someone to help me. I looked around for an escape and I saw one; a fire escape.
I pulled the ladder down and scaled it as quick as I could. I sat on the very top of someone's balcony and gasped regaining my breath once again.
I saw Luke's goons looking around some trash cans. Luke came running and he started yelling at his friends to find me at whatever costs. In the shadows I saw another hooded figure walk out. The only thing I could think of was another one?! But this one yelled something unintelligible and the other three spun around to face him.
Luke yelled something like "Where is she?"
The other guy said something, but I couldn't hear with all the noise the guys and the city were making. I started to climb down slowly to try and get a better look.
I made it to some trash cans and hid behind there. The mystery man laughed and Luke threw the first punch. The dude dodged it easily and threw one himself, aiming at Luke's jaw.
Luke stumbled back, confused on what had just happened. He ordered his friends to help him and they charged at "Robin Hood." Each one ran to him from different sides and he just spun around kicking both of them sending them flying backwards.
He walked up to them and I covered my eyes hearing the grunts and smacks that came from the group of boys on the ground. When their intense beating was over he threw them another time and yelled at them.
"If you ever come near her again I will personally see you bastards cut into pieces and fed to the sewer rats." He yelled.
Luke glared at him and got up and ran away saying "This isn't over."
When they were gone I watched the hooded man stand there in the eerie light of the street lamp. He was breathing heavily and I slowly made my way out of my hiding spot.
I coughed a little to make my presence noticed and it worked. He turned around slowly and I could barely see his face, the light shadowing it further.
He stood still and I made my way to him, warning him with my eyes. I put my hands on his chest and with one hand I slid the hood off his head. The first thing I saw was green. Those green eyes that I knew so well. The green eyes that I could get lost in forever.
I gasped a little as I saw his messy black hair fall on his face. It was him…it was really him. I stuttered a bit before he smiled lightly.
"Percy Jackson?" I said….right before I slapped him.