Author's note; Hey everyone, just to let you know, this story is based on the movie Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. I've kind of done things backwards. I saw the film recently and as a result, have started reading the books but I want to portray Percy as being older. I hope that is ok with everyone.

Warning; later chapters will contain scenes of rape. If any reader is offended by this subject, I have given you all fair warning.

Disclaimer; the characters featured in this story do not belong to me; I'm just playing with them.

CHAPTER ONE

It had been a long day at Yancy Academy. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Just the same old classes, same old teachers and same old boredom. The mundane repetition of the school day grated on everyone, tedious tasks forced upon reluctant students, that would rather be anywhere but in the classroom. Percy Jackson never was much of an academic, but Grover was always there to push him when he needed pushing. Being Percy's best friend, Grover Underwood was by his side, enduring the same monotonous six hours, Monday to Friday without fail. If it was left to Percy, he would sit at the back of class listening to his I-Pod all day. School just didn't come naturally to him, it never had. ADHD doesn't fit well in a classroom, even though Yancy was specially equipped for teenagers with that particular attribute. The day seemed to drag on and on, with the exception of lunch which had been way to short for anyone's liking, but all in all, it had been as uneventful as usual.

The bell finally rang, announcing the end of the school day and Percy was glad to get out of the place. His dyslexia had been playing up big time and his head was now pounding from the strain.

"Hey Percy, wait up!" Grover shouted over the crowd that was quickly gathering in the halls. It was hard trying to manoeuvre through the hoard of teenagers flooding the building. His crutches often striking his fellow students shins or stabbing into their feet, but he caught up to Percy just as he was exiting the front door of the academy.

"Hey, hey Perce, didn't you hear me calling?" Grover said as he grabbed Percy by the shoulder, effectively stopping him in his tracks. Percy spun around to greet his best friend. He had an almost unreadable expression on his face. If Grover hadn't known Percy for as long as he had, he never would have noticed the slightest glint of dread lurking behind his eyes.

"Oh...um...sorry Grover. I just didn't see ya...I...."

"What's wrong?" Grover asked before allowing Percy to finish speaking. Whatever it was had his friend worried and it bothered him.

Grover had always looked out for Percy. He was always there for him, no matter what the problem, and he knew when his friend needed someone to talk to. Ever since Percy had started at Yancy, Grover had all but attached himself to the boy. Percy had thought it a little strange at first but as time went on, he found himself relying on Grover. Probably more than he should, but he was having quite a hard time at home since his mom had married his step-dad Gabe.

The man was a pig. Dirty, rude, lazy and intimidating. Percy hated him and Gabe hated Percy. Whenever Percy was alone with him, it was unbearable. Sometimes it would be silent, just the odd piercing look of hatred from Gabe, directed purely at his wife's son. Other times there would be violence. An elbow in the ribs or an unexpected leg jutting out from under the table as Percy would walk by. An act of malice, often resulting in Percy sprawled out on the ground, sporting a cut of bruise as he hit the odd piece of furniture on his way down. Of Course Gabe would instantly apologise, claiming it was accidental. Always with an unnerving undertone of sarcasm thrown in for good measure, but they both knew the truth. Unfortunately the same couldn't be said for Sally. Whenever she questioned the fresh injuries marring her son's body, Percy would always give her an excuse. Whether it be falling down the stairs or walking into the cupboard door, she was never entirely convinced.

The only reason Sally kept quiet about it all was that she knew Percy would be in greater danger if Gabe wasn't around. Percy was oblivious to the fact that he was a demigod. A secret truth that only a handful of people knew about, Percy's best friend Grover being one of the few. To be the child of an Olympian God is extremely hazardous. Said child often attracting the unwanted attentions of some of the most fearsome creatures known to man. Sally would endure anything to keep her child safe, even if it meant tolerating the disgusting man she had married. She would never have lowered herself to being with Gabe if she didn't need his repulsive odour to mask Percy's scent from the monsters waiting to attack. It was the awful fact of the matter, something Sally was never fully comfortable with. But she knew it was for the best, even if Percy could never know himself.

As for Percy lying about his injuries, well that was all in aid of protecting his mother. He knew she had a hard time of things. What with Percy's ADHD and dyslexia proving a lot to handle, she also had to contend with Gabe's mood swings. He treated her like a slave, ordering her about as if her only purpose in life was to serve him. Time and time again Percy would have heated arguments with her. Always centring around Gabe. He just couldn't understand why she was with him. Why she allowed herself to be treated so poorly. The only answer Percy ever got from his mother was that Gabe had done a lot for them and he just wouldn't understand.

She was right about one thing. He didn't understand. He gave up arguing his point a long time ago. Mainly for the simple fact that he couldn't bear upsetting his mother any more. She had so much on her plate that most of the time he would just grin and bear it, unwilling to cause any more conflict at home than there already was between him and his step-father.

"Percy, talk to me man. What's the matter?" Grover said, instantly shaking Percy from his thoughts.

"Oh, my mom's working late tonight. Inventory, ya know. Gabe's having a poker night." And that's all Grover needed to know.

Poker nights were bad for Percy. Gabe used them as a chance to show off to his buddies, prove to them that he was the master of the house. They all took great pleasure out of humiliating Percy. Sometimes that was worse than the violence.

"Right, you go home and grab your bathing suit. Meet me at the pool in an hour. You won't have to spend too much time at home tonight if we do that. Makes things a little more bearable." Grover looked at Percy, waiting for a response.

"Thanks Grover, you're a good friend." Percy replied, the tension in his voice slowly disappearing. He didn't want to go home at all, but he had to drop his school books off and he wanted to see his mom before she left for work. It felt like they never spent any time together anymore. She always seemed to be working or running around after Gabe, so Percy was left to his own devices. Grover was his safety net and Percy was grateful for that. He didn't like being alone, especially now that he was becoming more and more separated from Sally.

The boys parted ways, Grover heading towards the hotdog stand at the end of the street, Percy anxiously making his way back to his apartment. Every step he took seemed to get heavier as he grew closer to his building. He had knots in his stomach, but he wasn't quite sure why. He had the nagging feeling that something wasn't right. He just couldn't put his finger on it.

Pushing those thoughts out of his mind, he decided to focus on going to the pool. Everything was better when he was in the water. For some unknown reason, he felt safe.

Percy reached his apartment building and slowly began climbing the stairs to the third floor. He put his key in the lock and opened the door, half expecting to see Gabe's ugly face staring at him from the couch but all h saw was his mother. She was dressed in her uniform ready to head out the door.

"Hey Mom, I didn't think you were going in this early." Sally could hear a slight quiver in her son's voice. She immediately walked over to Percy and put her warm arms around him. Percy leaned into the hug, breathing in his mother's scent and trying desperately to soak her warmth into his body. He missed her and it was these moments when he realised it the most.

"I wish I didn't have to go, you know that don't you?" She asked Percy, gently kissing his dark hair. "What are you gonna do with yourself tonight?"

Percy reluctantly broke away from the hug. He looked at his mother's face, her expression seemed pained, worried.

"I'm meeting Grover at the pool. Gonna try and stay out of Gabe's way."

"Good idea honey, I'll be back as soon as I can. I love you."

"Love ya too mom." Percy watched his mother leave with a lump in his throat. He wanted to be strong but it was hard. Swallowing down his anxiety, Percy headed to his bedroom, threw his school bag on his bed and set about finding his trunks. He was meeting Grover at 5:00pm but Percy planned on getting out of the house before his step father got home. He wanted to be in the water, he always did.