The Lamp Is Haunted!

Disclaimer: If you recognize it, it's not mine. :D

Long story short, Percy was having a very, very bad day. He was fired from his job at Starbucks for accidentally spilling coffee on a customer, he was splashed with muddy water from a passing truck, and his car was towed which meant he had to walk the entire way back to his dorm. So, yeah. He was in a sour mood. It also didn't help that his roomate, Jason, had called him about getting a lamp "so that we don't have to live in perpetual darkness, even though Nico likes it that way."

"Dude, my car got towed. How do you expect me to go to a lighting store?"

"I dunno... Maybe there's one next to your job!?"

"..."

"Yeah, I thought so. Anyways, I got to go! Pipes is calling me." BEEP!

"Jerk," Percy muttered under his breath as he headed toward the shop next door. It was a slightly run down place, but it did have most of the newer light fixtures. He entered the store and began searching for the lamp aisle.

"Hello there, young man," said a warm, brown-eyed woman, as she stepped out from behind the lightbulbs.

"Oh! Hi. Do you work here?" Percy asked.

"Yes. I'm the manager of this establishment. Are you looking for something? Wait, you need a lamp, don't you? Very well. Come along then. You remind me of-" the woman continued to ramble on as Percy stared at her incredulously. He followed her nonetheless.

"Here we are! Pick carefully! Each one has their own interesting backstory," she explained.

"Wha-" Percy turned around to ask, but the manager was already gone.

"Okay then..," He looked around warily before exploring the different options. There were multi-colored lamps, shaped ones, even the old-fashioned ones from Aladdin. He grabbed one of the Aladdin ones and rubbed it. Nothing happened. Percy sighed and put it back.

"No magic for me," Percy snorted before picking up a silver and blue owl lamp. Apparently, he could turn it by pulling the beak up and down, but it required batteries. Other than that, it was just a ceramic owl that glowed. Percy decided he'd buy that one. Jason liked birds and Percy liked the color blue.

Percy went to the counter, lamp in hand.

"Um... Hello?" he called out. He looked at the cash register. Taped on it was a sign that read: If you are Perseus Jackson, you can take the lamp for free. Just remember this. Once used, you can not return the lamp. Do not break it or their will be consequences. Don't think you can hide.

Percy stared at the paper. What in the name of Hades!?, he thought. Percy slowly inched toward the door. He then bolted out like Death himself was chasing him.

"Jeez Percy. What's got your tail in a twist?" chuckled Jason as he pulled up. Piper raised an eyebrow from the front seat.

Percy exhaled. Where had that woman gotten his name? Was she a stalker?

"Nah. It's nothing."

"Alright then. Me and Piper are gonna grab a bite. Do you want to come with us or should I just drop you off at home?" asked Jason, eyeing Percy.

Percy jumped into the backseat ,"Just take me home."

10 minutes later...

Percy sat at his desk, studying for his midterms, under the owl lamp light. He just started reading and he was already sick of it.

"URGH!" Percy complained, throwing up his arms, and falling face-first onto the textbook ,"I wish I didn't have to take stupid mid-terms! I wish school doesn't need to have you study all these stupid textbo-" Percy paused when he heard a peculiar sound outside his window. He carefully approached the glass, warily creeping forward, pencil at the ready. He looked out the window and-

Nothing was there. Percy turned around and listened for any other noises.

"Why is today so mysterious and boring?! My life is usually filled with a bunch of random crap!" he tentatively looked around ,"I wish something interesting would happen today."

"..."

"IfanyoneislisteningIwishforagirlfriend!" he inhaled.

"No? Fine then, I'm going to go get myself a snack." Percy exited the room.

~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~

While Percy had left, a blonde-haired, grey-eyed girl had come tumbling through window. She dusted her self off and scanned the room.

"This place is a pigsty; how does he get anything done in here?" she snapped her fingers and everything flew back into shelves, drawers and hampers. She moved to sit on the bed.

"What else can I fix up here? His love life and studying patterns...," she mumbled to herself, mentally planning what she would do.

"Holy Hera..."

The girl turned around quickly ,"Uhhh... Hey? I'm your genie." She smiled awkwardly.

Percy dropped his blue chips.

"..."

"Oh shoot, sorry," she swept her hand and the chips flew into the trash. Then, she jumped off the bed and kneeled. "I was supposed to start with a formal greeting first. I started recently so, I kinda forgot. Anyways... Hello Perseus Jackson. I'm Annabeth Chase daughter of Wisdom. I will be your personal genie for as long as you don't break my lamp. I am a 'Modern' genie so to speak. That means I can grant as many wishes as you want as long they're not unreasonable, like ruling the world, or make your WiFi work. These rules are further explained in the genie guidelines, Article 2, Section 3.C."

"..."

"I see I may have shocked you. Um, do you need something?"

Percy felt his knees give way as he started to fall to the floor.