Yay! Second Chapter here… hopefully it is longer Please read & review!
~Moonlight Teardrop
Setting: Chongjin, North Korea
Percy shivered on his sidewalk, his cap pulled down so no one could see his eyes. With only his black hair showing, he found out more people dropped coins into his can.
He loved his little squad of boys, but sometimes, it would be nice to have another American with him. Jun Do often took in more money than Percy, people liked him much better. Sometimes, Jun Do took out his precious harmonica and would play it, much to everyone's enjoyment. He would then hear many clinks in his can.
Finally, the cold was too much for Percy. He stood up, and made a hand motion to Jun Do saying Be Back Later. Percy than started to jog. He glanced over at the restaurant his mom was currently working at, and he saw her, her brown hair draped over her weary face, on her hands and knees, scrubbing away a precariously colored stain. When she glanced up at the window, she saw Percy standing there. Sally gave him a small smile, than went back scrubbing.
Percy kept on walking, glancing wearily at the people around him. For a moment, he thought he saw a flash of curly blond hair in front of him, and then it was gone. He shook his head, thinking it was just a mirage.
It was only a mirage until he crashed into a beautiful blond-haired girl with "princess curls." Those were very hard to find in North Korea. Percy gasped in surprise. He pointed at her hair.
"Y-You're not Korean!" The curly-haired girl rolled her eyes, which were a beautiful stormy gray color. Her clothes were tattered, almost like Percy's.
"No I'm not," she said.
"And neither are you!" she exclaimed, peering into Percy's sea green eyes. He shook his head.
"What are you doing here?" Percy took in her tattered, dirty clothes.
"You don't look so good." The curly blond-haired girl rolled her eyes.
"No duh." Her eyes became sad immediately.
"I uh… live here?" She said, almost as if it was a question. Percy quickly glanced at her tattered clothes, and her tin can that clinked with coins. His eyes figured out what she meant, and she knew that he knew also. It was like a mini conversation- except with only eyes.
"Come with me." Percy said, taking her hand.
"I have a place where you don't have to be so alone anymore."
"Uh…" The blond haired girl started.
"I don't even know your name. How will I know that you won't drag me away so you could just kidnap me?" She said, not straying from her spot on the sidewalk.
"The name is Percy. Percy Jackson." He stuck out his hand. The girl accepted his hand, and started shaking it.
"My name is Annabeth. Annabeth Chase if you must know. Now Percy, where were you going to take me again?" Annabeth smiled, and she and Percy started walking back to Jun Do.
Jun Do looked surprised when Percy came back with a girl in tow. His eyebrows raised, and he gave Percy a slight smirk, taking everything, well, the wrong way.
"Percy, who do we have here?" Jun Do said, eyeing Annabeth.
"Her name is Annabeth, and she is in the ah… same situation as the rest of us. I was hoping she be part of our little group." Jun Do came closer, arms crossed across his chest.
"Where do you come from?" Jun Do asked her. Annabeth looked at him in confusion.
"I've lived here for as long as I can remember." Jun Do realized his mistake.
"I mean, what's your story? How did you end up on the streets like the rest of us?" He made a hand motion gesturing to all the other boys on the sidewalk.
"I mean, you're obviously not Korean, and we all have a story on how we ended up here." Annabeth shrugged.
"My first memory was on a plane… I was with a man, I guess he was my dad. I mean, he sort of looked like me. I think he was on a trip to North Korea, and here I am. He never took me back to where I came from. And, he left me a note in my pocket. It is in English. I can't read it." Annabeth told them, a blush rising into her cheeks. Jun Do reached for her shoulder.
"Do you still have the note Annabeth?" Annabeth nodded, and reached for a yellowing crumpled piece of paper inside her coat pocket. She unfolded it gently and showed it to Jun Do and Percy. An unreadable scrawl was scratched across the paper, written in a blue ink. It was different from Korean, no symbols, just scrawls and shapes.
"I know who can read it," Percy piped up. All three heads turned to him.
"My mother came from America, didn't she? She must still be able to speak English!" He then pointed at the setting sun.
"It's almost dark. She should be almost done."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Jun Do said excitedly. "Let's go!" He waved for the rest of the kids to come along. They ran to the restaurant, where Sally was walking outside. She looked surprised to see them.
"Hello! How was your day?" She smiled at all of them, peering curiously at their tin cans.
"I got a lot today!" One ten year-old boy piped up. He jiggled his tin can, and the sound of coins moving around brought a smile to Sally's face. She then noticed Annabeth.
"Hello dear,'' she said, a smile in her voice.
"I invited her to join our clan!" Percy said. "She's in the same situation as us. Can she join, please, please?"
"Well of course. But, what is your name first?" Sally peered down at Annabeth.
"Annabeth, miss." Sally laughed. It was like dozens of bells twinkling. Annabeth immediately loved Sally's laugh.
"Oh, please call me Sally. Now boys, you seem excited today. What happened?" Jun Do immediately stuck out his hand with the unreadable note inside.
"This is Annabeth's. Her dad left her this when he abandoned her here. It's written in English and since you came from America, well, I was wondering if you could, I don't know, read it?" Sally seemed shocked for a second. Then she smiled.
"I'm a bit rusty on my English." She started. "But I think I can manage. First, let's go somewhere warm." Sally led the children to the abandoned garage they lived in. She motioned for everyone to sit in a circle. Percy then started the fire. Its warm comfortable flames warmed everybody up on the cold, winter day. Sally glanced at the paper, studied it almost.
"This is in English, but I'll translate it the best I can. Is that good enough for you Annabeth?" Annabeth nodded solemnly. Sally then began,
"Dear Annabeth,
I don't know when you will finally be able to read this letter. I just hope you can forgive me for my sins. Please, let me begin at the beginning. Your biological mother and I's love was a mistake- she was a successful architect and I was just playing with planes, my career had barely started. Her name was Athena, just a regal and beautiful as the Greek god. When she found out that you were lodged in her stomach, she wasn't ready. Her work was simply too busy. We had broken up months before. She just left you on my doorstep with a note saying, 'this is your child, please take care of her.' I simply didn't know what to do. My career had just started and I was single. Now, fast forward four years. You are only four. I have a new wife, a beautiful woman named Susan, and she has twins in her stomach. She forced me to do this. I suppose she didn't want Athena's blood in our house. I am dropping you off at the Orphan House in North Korea- a place where Susan will never harm you. Please forgive me Annabeth. And when you read this and find out the real truth of why you are in Korea, please, I am begging you to find your real mother, Athena Chase. She will take care of you, even if I cannot. I love you.
Your sorry + loving father,
Frederick P. Chase"
Sally stopped reading. Annabeth eyes were open wide.
"He was the one that dropped me off at the Orphan House? I got kicked out of there simply because I was too old, and was forced to be a beggar on the streets! He is not my 'loving and caring father.' What kind of father would do that to his child?" Annabeth burst out, angry and upset. She started sobbing onto Sally's shoulder.
"Now, now, dear, don't be upset. I'm sure Frederick had his more detailed reasons on why he left you here." Annabeth started crying even harder.
"How am I going to find my real mother than? She's obviously not in North Korea!" Sally looked down at Annabeth sadly.
"I'm sure you'll find your mother someday Annabeth. Matter of fact, I promise you you will find your mother. But for now, please, sit down with us and have some dinner." Sally offered Annabeth a small bowl filled halfway with rice. Annabeth smiled.
"You guys are the best family I could ever ask for." Then, she started digging in.
Well, how do you like it? For you information, this chapter was FIVE word pages. So, BE THANKFUL! Also, make sure to review your thoughts!
Peace out,
~Moonlight Teardrop
