Hi :)

So...people ask me why I write about such dark topics, like abuse and torture...honestly I dunno...I was born a creeper haha

Warning: Mentions of Abuse, Abuse memories, blood, violence, and all that nice junk

NOTE: Takes place when Annabeth and Percy are 14ish

Annabeth twirled her dagger between her fingers impatiently. Percy had promised to teach her how to properly dive into water. She felt like a idiot sitting on the Poseidon porch, wearing a pair of gray swim shorts and light blue half swim top. She had a large thin white t-shirt over the swim suit, along with light blue flip flops and her hair in a tight ponytail, but sitting in your swim suit twirling her knife was not exactly her number one option.

One of the pegasus freaked out and flew away when it saw a snake, carrying a screaming demigod on its back. It took Percy forever to convince the horse to come down.

So she sat, waiting for her friend. Friend. Annabeth didn't know what it was about the word 'friend' she didn't like. She didn't seem to mind when other people called her friends, but she hated the word to be used to describe the relationship between her and Percy. No. There is no relationship...just friendship. Annabeth sighed, she had never felt so flustered around a guy. Never. That is, before she met Percy. That stupid boy, his uncombed black messy hair, his mischievous smile, the daring look in his deep green eyes, his tanned skin...Stop! Annabeth shook her head. She hated being a fourteen year old girl.

Suddenly Percy popped out of his cabin. He had only really been inside for about three minutes, but it felt like a eternity to Annabeth.

Annabeth snorted when she saw him.

"Whats so funny?!" Percy huffed, seeing her scoff.

"Oh n-nothing...Just...What are you wearing?!" Annabeth giggled.

Percy looked down. He had a black diving suit on, the sleeves going to his wrists and the pants ending at his ankles.

"What about it?" Percy asked.

"Its June!" Annabeth laughed.

"So what?" Percy rolled his eyes.

"So...why are you wearing a full body swim suit made to keep you warm? You wouldn't even need it during the winter! You can't get cold in water." Annabeth said.

Percy fidgeted a little. "I-I dunno."

"Alright come on Seaweed Brain." Annabeth smirked.

Percy snorted and followed her.

After two hours of diving practice, Annabeth finally mastered the dive.

The two sat on the dock looking at the water's reflection.

"How do you organize a space party?"

"How?"

"You planet!" Percy laughed.

"That was bad." Annabeth snorted.

Percy rolled his eyes. "Fine, Miss Funny, please do tell me another joke then."

"I will! How do you kill a vegan vampire?" Annabeth smirked.

"I have no clue." Percy admitted.

"With a steak to the heart!" Annabeth giggled.

Percy thought about for a second before cracking a smile.

"I get, I get it. Ok, uhhh, oh! What did the sea cow saw?"

"I don't know...What did the sea cow say?"

"Moo." Percy answered.

"That was awful! It wasn't even funny!" Annabeth laughed, falling onto her back.

Percy was already rolled on his stomach, absolutely dieing from laughter.

"You suck Seaweed Brain." Annabeth rolled her eyes.

As Percy caught his breath, Annabeth looked over. His back caught her eye.

Annabeth could clearly see long marks across his back through the tight swim suit sticking to his back from the water. They almost looked like...whipping marks. No. Percy was never whipped by any monster they had fought before...unless something...or someone whipped him before she met him.

"Percy?" Annabeth said gently.

Percy sat up, a smile still on his face. "Yeah?"

"W-What are those marks on your back?" Annabeth asked timidly.

The smile melted completely off his face, a serious and worried look replacing it. "What marks?" He asked nervously.

"Are they whip marks?" Annabeth asked. "From a monster or-"

"Nothing!" Percy interrupted. His face was paler than usual and he was slightly shaking.

"Percy? Are you okay?" Annabeth asked, now concerned. She reached to touch his shoulder but he flinched and pulled away stumbling back.

He stood up quickly, tripping over his own feet. "I-I gotta-I gotta g-go."

Percy began to run. Annabeth stood up, a deep frown etched on her face.

"Percy?!" She called out.

But Percy didn't look back. The fourteen year old boy kept running until he was in his cabin, shutting the door behind him. Annabeth stood up, shoving her feet into her flip flops and pulling her swim cover over herself. She mentally scolded herself, "Way to go Annabeth, you freaked him out, made him run away, and you ruined a perfectly good day!"

Annabeth took a quick shower, washing off the water and sand clinging to her body. She put on a camp t-shirt and light blue jean shorts to her knee on, pulling her gray sneakers on as well. Her hair was in a pony tail and she had her beads around her neck.

She made her way up the large hill until she reached the big house. She found Chiron sitting on the porch, a cup of ice tea at his side, a sudoku puzzle and pencil in his hand.

When he saw her come up the steps he smiled.

"Annabeth, nice seeing you. Please sit." He smiled.

Annabeth sat down across from him, a worried look still plastered on her face.

Chiron frowned when he saw she was unhappy. "Annabeth? Whats wrong?"

"I-I'm just worried about Percy." Annabeth admitted.

Chiron raised a eyebrow. "Why?"

Annabeth sighed. "He was teaching me how to dive properly, and I saw a bunch of old scars through his swim suit, and they looked like, well they looked like whip slashes. But the only monster I can think of who has a whip is the Furies, but when we encountered them he didn't get hit."

Chiron put down his book and pencil. "The Fury in disguise teaching him in sixth grade never hurt him either."

Annabeth frowned, looking into Chiron's eyes. "I-I asked him about them, and he got all panicky and serious and he just freaked out and shut himself in his cabin."

Chiron nodded. "It is possible he was abused as a child."

Annabeth's eyes widened. "But Sally is so sweet! She would never hurt him! She put up with that bum Gabe just to keep...him safe."

Annabeth and Chiron seemed to have a silent agreement.

"I think it might be good for you to go and talk to him. But beware, people who have had experiences like this happen to often be...rather touchy on the subject or memories." Chiron said.

Annabeth nodded, running off towards Percy's cabin.

-MW