"No please!" A soft and fragile voice called out. A girl cried out as she watched the events unfold out in front of her.
A jagged smirk was seen on another person at the scene. "Awe, is this the little girl's puppy? What are you going to do about it, huh punk?" The smirk soon turned sinister as he watched the helpless girl's reaction.
A light yelp was heard crying out as the dog was in pain. Uncaringly the man still swung the dog back and forth, holding it by its neck. The man couldn't help but let out a dark chuckle watching the teenager.
"P-Please! She's all I have!" The teenage girl fell to her knees and pleaded to make the man let the dog go. She would do anything to save her best friend. Anything.
The man rolled his eyes at the patheticness of the scene. "Really? You expect me to believe that. I mean it's just a dog." The man held out a hand as if portraying a piece of art. "I mean look around you. We're in a dark alleyway that you entered by free will. Who's going to save you or your pup.
The girl turned around nervously to the sidewalk that seemed so far away. It was true, she should have never taken this route home. It seemed like the faster way home at the time and now she was regretting every moment of it. "Please just give me Jessica back and we will be on our way." The puppy let out a yelp as if agreeing with the statement.
Bringing the hand that wasn't currently being used up to his chin, the man seemed to ponder it for a moment. "Well you see I could. But the thing here is I own this alleyway and the thing is if I do you a favor, then I have to give everyone favors." The man explained as if it was the simplest thing on the planet. "So whatcha going to give me if I give your puppy back?"
The girl opened her mouth but nothing came out, she knew what the man wanted. She had no cash on her at the moment and she had left her phone at her house not thinking she needed it. "Look, I have my wallet on me I can go get some cash if that's what you-"
"Ah, Ah, Ah! See I have plenty of money, I was looking for something. Well something a little different." The hairs on the back of the girls neck stood up. Every fiber dreaded what was happening. She had never expected this to happen to her in her lifetime and at the age of fifteen years old she was more than nervous for her first time to be taken in such a way. "So? What say you girl. I mean your dogs life is on the line after all."
Unknown to both the girl and the man. Two violet eyes were carefully watching from the shadows, ready to make a move when it was needed. The eyes watched with a mild boredom, it was something the person had witnessed once before and was ready to act on it once the man touched her.
So, the person patiently waited, watching carefully with what the next statement to be made that came from the girl. Would she bow her head in defeat or would she try to fight her way out and save her puppy? The figure wondered with mild curiosity.
Violet eyes would soon be filled with disappointment however as the girl bowed her head with slight tears coming out of her eyes. "V-Very well."
Sighing to themselves, the violet eyed figure began to reach from behind the man with the lecherous grin until a loud stomp was heard coming from the other side of the alleyway. Quickly withdrawing the pale hand. The figure watched with slight interest at seeing a new person enter the fray. It happened so rarely that the figure decided just to watch.
Both the girl and the man halted in their movements. The girl filled with shock and hope while the man was filled with slight anger at being denied the reward he had sought. "What is it boy. Can't you tell we are busy?" The man's tongue lashed out like a viper at the new person. The girl watched with hope filled eyes, wondering if the boy that came was her rescuer.
The boy that made the stomp looked impassively at the man. Having jet black hair and bright sea green eyes that looked slightly mad at the man, he asked, "What do you believe you are doing with her?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?" The man asked rhetorically.
Bright sea green eyes flashed with a tinge of anger. "You have ten seconds to give the girl her puppy and let her be on her way."
The man let out a barking laugh and flipped out a knife. Spinning it around a few times he held it to the puppy. "I suggest you go on your way boy. Otherwise it'll be the puppy, then the girl and finally you. This doesn't concern you. Leave with your life while you have the chance." He smiled grimly at the boy.
"No! Please!" The girl whalled as she ran towards the man with the knife, intending to protect her puppy at all costs.
Grabbing her by the throat, the man shoved the girl away roughly to the otherside of the ally. "Stay there Bitch. I'll be dealing with you momentarily." The man snarled at her so she wouldn't move any time soon and it did the trick. The girl was frozen in place with shock and fear.
Turning back around to where the boy was, the man let out a slight chuckle, "Trying to play the hero now, aren't you boy? Just know that heroes always end up dying." Twirling his knife around, the man beckoned the boy forward. His hand still clutching onto the dog so that he would have his prize soon after.
"You'd be surprised by how often I've heard something similar to those words you just said." The boy commented, bringing his fists into a relaxed position that were ready to strike.
The two stared down one another in a waiting position. The scene almost looked to be an old western showdown to see who was going to draw the gun first. On one side the boy wanted to hurry it up so the girl could get home safe and sound while on the other hand the man wanted to hurry so that he would be able to claim his prize as soon as possible.
Finally after what seemed like an eternity, the man swayed forward towards the boy. Shifting side to side so it would be hard for the boy to hit him. No doubt it was just some young man that had seen a movie once and thought he could protect the girl. The man let out a wild grin he had been containing the entire time as he waved the knife through his hand. The dog whining in pain seemed to be a melochy to his ears as it only ensured that the prize was so close.
The boy however stayed calm. Steading breathing as he watched the maniac come closer and closer waving the knife around like it was no one else's business. His eyes were sharped already having gotten used to the pattern that the man moved in. In the eyes of most he moved like a viper but in reality he moved like a sloth to the boy. The boy had dealt with much scarier things in life.
When the man came close to the boy, the boys breath slowed to a steady beat. As the man reached the boy a flurry of events happened.
The first was that the man slashed wildly with his right hand at the boy. The boy held his arm in a ninety degree angle to block the knife before launching a quick jab at the man's kidney. The punch was hard enough to make some blood come out of the man's mouth as he doubled over, dropping the dog in the process.
Not giving the man any breaks, the boy walked up to the man and grabbed his head. Slamming the man's head on the boys kneecap and watching the man fall limp. The man laid there like a rag doll, unmoving from the brutal fate that had just befallen on him.
The girl watched with wide eyes at what she had just seen. She had only seen things like that in the movies and none were as smooth as she had seen. Before she could come to the realization of what had just happened, her puppy attacked her with kisses.
The boy couldn't stop the smile that slowly etched on his face. It had felt good to save the girl. Walking over to the girl he got on his knee in front of the girl. "Are you okay ma'am?"
She was speechless for a moment, wide eyes and an open mouth. Stuttering for just a moment she soon brought herself together. "Y-Yeah, call me Carly Roberts and this is Jessica." The girl blurted out as she petted her puppy lovingly. Shakingly she grabbed the puppies leash and tried to put it on Jessica. Her hands were beginning to shake too much as a sudden dawn of realization fell on her as what was about to happen. "I-I…"
Comfortingly the boy grabbed onto the girls hand and guided her hand to the collar's buckle till the familiar click happened. "That's a beautiful name Carly Roberts. My name is Percy Jackson. Do you think you can get home if I guide you back to the road?" Percy asked the girl. Mustering the most comforting smile he could muster for the girl.
Unable to respond, Carly nodded her head almost frantically. "W-What about him?" A hesitant finger pointed at the unmoving body.
"Ah don't worry about that. I'll make sure to take him to the police." Percy gave her a promise and a light smile. "Now come on, I think your family may be looking for you." He said with a smoothing voice as he gently lifted her up to her feet. The girl gave a smile of gratitude but was unable to respawn.
Quietly the two of them walked down the long and dark alleyway towards the road. Percy silently rubbing her shoulder in comfort as they walked. No words were needed for the amount that she wanted to thank him and yet she had no idea how she could have thanked him for what he did. "Percy?"
"Yes Carly?"
The fifteen year old bit her lip. "Um thanks. Thanks alot."
Percy gave her a light smile as he gently patted her back one last time as they reached the road. "Will you be alright from here Carly?" He asked.
Carly took one last look at the road and saw her house in the distance. "Yeah, I should be fine." What she didn't add was that she was slightly scared to go all the way home but with the bright city lights and multiple people walking on the sidewalks there was no doubt she would be alright from here on out.
"Well have a good night Carly and remember not to take the alleyways in the darks, who knows what evil lurks." With one more slight smile, Percy headed back the way they had came.
Carly's eyes were on Percy's back until a loud scream was heard from down the road. "Carly!" The yell of her name brought her out from her trance as she turned back to the road to see her dad running into her and giving her a flying hug. "Are you alright? Where have you been! I was looking all over! You were supposed to be home an hour ago!"
Had it really been that long? "Look dad I'm fine. Just got into something I wasn't supposed to is all." Carly told her father as she turned back one more time to see Percy before he disappeared from the alleyway.
Only to see nothing but the dark road that seemed endless.
Percy went back to the body that he had left in the dark alleyway. The once normal rag doll of a body that had been there was now torn to shreds. The only proof that there had been a body before was clothes that were all over they alleyway with blood and limbs. There was no shortage of blood that was in the alleyway. It was as if an artist had came and decided to test his new paintball gun in his art studio. Not even the monsters that Percy had faced in the past had been this messy.
Now at full alert, Percy brought out a ballpoint pen out from his pocket and uncapped it. The pen turned into a long one-handed sword. The sword seemed to gleam with excitement under the flickering light in the alleyway.
"Well aren't you quite the hero Percy Jackson. Saving the damsel in distress before the big bad wolf got to her." The feminine like voice seemed to echo through the alleyway making it impossible for Percy to pinpoint its location. Percy glanced from side to side trying to decipher where the voice was coming from and wondering if he had heard the voice before.
"I was going to hand that man over to the authorities. He had no right to die." Percy argued with the voice as he turned to the bloodied clothes.
There was a small giggle that once more, echoed through the room. "Ah my bad young Percy. I was unable to contain my hunger and well… Seeing such a light and tasty dish just waiting there made it seem like a supreme meal. After all, filth like that deserves to die." There was a bitter taste at the end of what the voice said.
Percy hesitated in his next statement. It was clear to him that he wasn't dealing with the normal run of the mill monster that he normally faced. There were only a few monsters that devoured their prey as quick as the voice had and they weren't nearly as intelligent as this voice talked. "Who are you?" Percy finally asked, his curiosity finally getting the bed of him.
He could practically feel the grin that rolled off of the voice. "Why I'm glad that you asked." The flickering light that had been Percy's solace in all of this began to flicker more and more before it bursted out and the bulb shattered into a million pieces. There was nothing Percy could see now other than the street that seemed to be far down the road. "I am Lady Death. A pleasure to meet the one who has killed so many. I have been waiting to meet you for a long time. Luke Castellan sends his regards." The voice gave out a mocking yet seductive laughter.
"That's a bold claim." Percy took note about how there was no doubt in her voice. She either was or truly believed that she was Death herself.
"It is not a claim young Perseus. It is the truth." As she spoke this a hand found its way up Percy's arm and followed up to his shoulder. Percy could feel the Death's breath on his ear as she spoke her next lines. "You have intrigued me Perseus. Let's see if you can continue to do so." A chaste kiss was placed on his cheek. "See you soon Perseus."
At the end of her statement the alleyway seemed to light back up. The torn clothes and blood that was splattered all over the ground had seemingly disappeared and Percy was left all alone.
All alone with a flickering light and thoughts that began to disturb him.