ATTACK OF LIGHT
"I learnt that courage wasn't the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who doesn't feel afraid but the one who conquers that fear."
- Nelson Mandela
Percy groaned tiredly when he woke up by the irritating sound of the alarm clock resting on the table beside his bed. He quickly used his right hand to hit the button on top of the clock and the sound slowly subsided. He rubbed his eyes and opened them slowly adjusting them to the bright sunlight falling on his room from the large window.
After waking up from his bed, he started walking towards the bathroom to freshen up. He always liked to spend more time in bathroom than other people usually do as, though it may sound weird, he liked being in the presence of water regardless of it being in ocean, river or even the shower. He changed from his pyjamas and went downstairs.
"Good morning honey!" His mother greeted him while drenching freshly made 'blue pancakes' with syrup in kitchen.
"Good morning mom." Percy said in a dull tone but his mood lightened up a soon as he saw the pancakes.
His mother grinned "Yeah, your favourite blue coloured pancakes for your first day of school"
"I will just get kicked out of this school in a couple of weeks just like before."
"Don't say that Percy, you won't, I believe in you."
He sighed "But I don't believe in myself."
Percy always got permanently suspended from all the schools he got went just in a couple of days after he joined. He was also not a bright student mainly because of his dyslexia which made reading difficult for him. He also had had ADHD which made him hyperactive that always welcomed trouble for him.
"Come on, you only have 10 minutes left before the bus comes. Quickly eat your pancakes. You also have to pack your bag" She said and started pouring milk in a glass and handed it over to Percy. He shoved the pancakes into his mouth and drunk his milk. When his breakfast finished, he stuffed all the books into his blue coloured bag, slung it over his shoulder and sat on the couch, waiting for the bus. After a few minutes, he could hear the honking horn sound at his doorsteps. Probably the bus, he thought and started walking out. He opened the door only to find a large yellow coloured bus waiting for him.
"Come hop in kiddo, we don't have much time left" The driver shouted from his seat. Percy came running to the bus and climbed in. The driver must be in a hurry as the bus started even before he got completely in. He looked around hoping to find some decent place to sit on. He looked around and found only one empty seat beside a guy with curly brownish black hair and a growing goatee. Interestingly, Percy was reminded of a goat as soon as he saw him.
He slowly went to the empty seat and sat beside him.
"Hello, my name is Percy, Percy Jackson." He said and shot his hand forward.
The boy looked shocked at first but snapped out of it and shook his hand. "Grover Underwood, nice to meet you."
"Likewise"
"As you can see, I am new here, do you mind showing me around the school when you are free?"
"Yeah sure!"
And they started talking. Percy found Grover quite nice and friendly. Percy was amused that someone was interested in talking to him. According to him, Grover also sounded quite happy when talking to him as he said that he was usually bullied in school and was teased due to certain kind of disease he had which made him look weird while walking and people always ignored him.
. . .
"We almost have same classes!" Grover exclaimed when he checked Percy's' schedule.
"That's great" Percy smiled while leaning against his locker.
But Grover's excited face changed into a frown. "Our first lecture is Maths by Mrs. Dodds. That teacher is very annoying. She doesn't even know how to teach."
"It's not the first time I have to adjust to a grumpy teacher. I am used to it. We cannot do anything. Life isn't fair." Percy patted on Grover's shoulder and said "C'mon, lets go to our class before we are late."
Grover smiled lightly and they started walking to their class. Percy had to say he was impressed with the school. His mother had enrolled him in a private school instead of public school which his mother usually preferred. She thought private school would spoil him.
His father was a successful businessman who had a relationship with her mother. Unfortunately, his parents didn't accept his mother as their daughter in law but it was too late. Perry's mother was already pregnant with him. Though his father married some other girl, he still was in contact with Sally and paid money to her for all of Percy's expenses for education. Percy assumed that his father must've insisted her to make him join a private school.
"This is the mathematics classroom" Grover said and opened the door for Percy, treating him like a very precious thing which Percy liked a lot.
The classroom was almost filled with students who were throwing paper balls and aeroplanes on each other. A small paper ball landed exactly on Grover's mouth which was open. From the corner of his, Percy saw him chew and swallow the paper ball.
"You eat paper" Percy said rather than asking.
"Ummmm...yeah" Grover replied nervously, embarrassed that Percy saw him eating paper.
"Hey, there is nothing to be embarrassed of. You know I also like eating blue coloured pancakes."
Even before Percy could say anything a creaky feminine voice shouted from the door. " Silence all of you!"
Everyone's attention turned towards the entrance where a thin and pale petite woman was standing. She had a very ugly face and was wearing triangular spectacles. She had a thick book in her hand which she banged on the table facing the students.
"Stop talking and start removing your books. Today we will start learning about the basics of Algebraic expressions"
Percy removed his book from his bag and placed it on the table though he was staring at the scenery from the window. Everything seemed to be so normal for him, which he didn't like at all. Just like always, he would be kicked out of this school like just like any other school.
"Grover, can you tell me the result of this equation?" Mrs. Dodds asked raising her eyebrow.
"I-I d-don't know ma'am"
Hmph you should try to study more and concentrate on class."
"Sorry ma'am" She turned her gaze to Percy "And you, what is you name?
Percy stood up as soon as her felt her eyes on him "My name is Percy Jackson, Mrs. Dodds"
"Can you tell me the answer of this question Mr. Jackson?" she asked.
"The answer is x+2" Grover muttered silently, making it only audible to Percy.
"The answer is x+2 ma'am" Percy repeated Grover's words.
"Correct answer Mr. Jackson. I am impressed, you made a first good first impression for me." Mrs. Dodds smiled enlarging her wrinkles at the corner of her face making her look more uglier.
Percy sat down and nudged his elbow to Grover "You knew the answer! Why didn't you tell?"
"I have my own reasons" Grover simply said.
"What reasons?"
"Confidential"
"Seriously?"
"Seriously"
Percy felt suspicious about Grover's behaviour but hesitated to ask him. He observed that whenever Percy asked about Grover's parents and his home, he would stutter to answer or spontaneously changed the topic of discussion.
Someone knocked the door continuously with urgency acquiring Percy's attention. From the transparent portion of the door, he could see a figure of a well built man who was wearing a grey coloured hood slung over his head significantly covering his face. Though Percy couldn't have a good look of give face, he seemed to be vaguely familiar.
"You can come in" Mrs. Dodds said. Percy noticed that her voice was different than usual. It sounded as If three women were speaking at once. Others didn't seem to notice the change though Grover, sitting besides was sweating profusely and muttering something to himself.
The man slowly entered to the classroom and looked around. Now everyone's face started becoming curious about what was going on in the class. But, Mrs. Dodds seemed to stay cool. According to her looks, Percy felt that she was oblivious to the events going in the classroom.
He slowly raised his arm and pointed his palm to a random student.
"What the neck is going on?" one the boys asked.
"Shut up you human!" The man said in a huff. His arm gradually started to glow into a bright light. The next Percy knew, a bright beam of light ejected from his palm directing to the boy who spoke, causing a massive explosion. The blast caused was effective enough to damage the whole Everyone were knocked unconscious. Most of them bleeding from the attack caused or due to the building debris falling on them.
The only people who were still unconscious were the hooded man, Mrs. Dodds, and Percy.
Percy was trapped under three gigantic prices of debris, making him unable to move at all. He could here the voices of conversation between his teacher and the man who attacked.
"I told you shouldn't come. Krios was better. Your attack has destroyed the complete building. Media would give full attention to this incident. I would be in trouble just because of you." A feminine voice said, probably of Mrs. Dodds.
"I am better for the job. Besides, we got more time. The proximity of the building has also been affected. We have ten to fifteen minutes at the most. Start searching quickly." The man replied. Percy's mind was filled with questions. Who were the searching for? What will they do once they find what they wanted? How can a man shoot laser from his hand? Why did they need to destroy the place for finding someone they wanted? Who was Krios? Was his teacher also a human? Was this a dream?
He listened to his instincts. The first thing he needed to do was escape from this place. Suddenly he felt someone grab his leg. He turned behind and saw excessively bleeding Grover.
"Grover, you are hurt!" Percy said making sure to be quite.
"We need to escape from here. Hyperion is here." He whispered while clutching the wound on his head with his hand.
"We can't they are still here."
"I know what to do. Don't worry about my wound." He said and pelted a nearby fallen pencil at the exit which gained the attention of the teacher and the hooded man.
"The sound came from the exit, I think it is outside. Come on." Mrs. Dodds and they both headed outside. Grover peeked his head "They are out.". He tentatively removed his pants out exposing the furry legs with hooves to Percy's horror.
"What are you?" Percy asked with his widened eyes.
"I am a mutant and so are you. I will explain everything once we reach a safe place." He muttered whole helping Percy in removing the Debris clustered over him.
"The fury's hearing senses are sharp, we need to go out without making any noises."
"What is it?"
"What is what is it?"
"Fury"
"Our maths teacher"
"Seriously?"
"Seriously"
Percy sighed and climbed out of the pile of concrete clustered over him after grabbing Grover's hand. The one thing Percy couldn't do while running was dropping his gaze from Grover's butt which was covered with fur. The clomping of his hooves made it more irritating for him. None of this made sense.
When they reached few feet away from the school. Grover looked around finding something which Percy didn't knew.
"What are you looking for?" Percy asked.
"A vehicle" Grover muttered.
"There is one" Percy pointed out at a brown coloured pick up truck which was only mildly damaged from the explosion. They ran towards it and found the driver unconscious though the key of the vehicle was still inserted in it's place.
"Help me remove him" Grover said and started dragging the man out of his place. They somehow managed to pull him out of the truck and laid him gently in the ground.
"Hop in, we need to leave now before it's too late." Grover said and hopped in the Driver's seat. Percy took the shotgun and Grover started the engine.
"Where are we going?" Percy asked. Though he hand just saved Percy, he still didn't find it assuring to trust a boy whose legs are covered in fur.
"What are you?" Percy asked again.
"I am a mutant, just like you. How many times will you ask that?" He said in a irritating tone, not removing his gaze from the road.
"I don't have legs like a goat covered with fur along with hooves"
"Look, I am not in a state of giving you an explanation. Just believe me, you will all your answers once we reach to the institution."
"What institution? And why should I even trust you?"
He stopped the vehicle, making it slightly skid over the road and reach the edge of the 'currently vehicle-less' road. He pierced his eyes into Percy's and asked "Okay, you won't believe me right?" Grover removed a damaged phone from his pocket and dialed a number and handed it to Percy.
"Who is it?" Percy asked.
"Hear it yourself"
Percy placed the phone on his ear and asked "Who is it?"
"Persues?" a soft but deep male voice spoke from the other side. Only one person called Percy like that. Realization hit him. "Father, is that you?" Percy muttered in disbelief.
"Child, I am aware of the events that took place in school. As you are talking in Grover's phone, I expect you are safe with him. Listen to me Persues, this may be very bizarre to you, but you have to keep patience. Everything will be explained to you once you reach half blood institution. The resistance to the attack caused by Hyperion might've drained your powers. I advice you to take rest. From your current location, you will be able to reach there in a couple of hours. I have some urgent work. Your mother knows where you are going. Take care of your self"
There was a momentary silence on the other side and then Percy could hear a small beep indications the end of the call, much to Percy's disappointment. His father was correct. He felt quite tired after what had happened in school. He eyes burned and he knew he had to close his eyelids for relief. Before he know, he was engulfed in a deep and peaceful slumber.