Hi, peoples! Thanks for the reviews – I was really pleased that you all liked the first chapter! I will try to update faster, and luckily tomorrow I'm off school for a whole week, so I will spend most of that time working on this story. Oh, and I forgot to mention this in the previous chapter, but New York is the St. Petersburg of the story, Olympus is Paris, and Greece is Russia. Anyway, here's Chapter Two!
P.S., for the singing bits, they will be in italics, okay?
Chapter Two: Journey To The Past
(10 years later, 1916, New York City)
The busy, snowy streets of New York were crowded as usual, everyone going on about their daily business, carts selling goods and whatnot. But off course, there was always something to talk about…
Townspeople: 'New York City is gloomy,
New York City is bleak,
We're all getting frozen from standing here for weeks,
Since the revolution, our lives have been so grey,
But thank goodness for the gossip that gets us through the day
Have you heard?
There's a rumour in New York City,
Have you heard what they're saying on the streets?
Newspaper-seller: Our old tsar did not survive,
One daughter may be still alive,
Townspeople: The Princess Annabeth,
Newspaper-seller: But please do not repeat!
Townspeople: It's our rumour, our legend, our history,
Something whispered in an alleyway,
Or through a crack,
It's a rumour,
That's part of our history,
They say her royal grandmamma,
Will pay a royal sum,
To someone who can bring the princess back!
Grover Underwood hurried through the streets, looking carefully for his fellow con-man and best friend, the infamous Percy Jackson. He walked up the steps, scanning the area. What he didn't notice was Percy was behind him, leaning casually against a pillar. He whistled at Grover to get his attention, but Grover didn't hear.
Percy sighed. Can't even hear me, he thought, shaking his head. He tapped Grover on the shoulder. 'Grover!'
Grover turned around, surprised. 'Oh, Perce! Didn't see you there.'
They looked around, making sure they were out of earshot, then started muttering about something. Finishing their conversation, they started walking back along the streets.
Merchant: A ruble for this painting!
It's from the palace, I swear!
Count Yusopov's pyjamas!
Comrades, buy the pair!
I got this from the palace,
It's lined with real fur!
Grover & Percy: It could be worth a fortune,
If it belonged to her!
They went into an old building, stuffed with old clothes, jars and other items. There was an oval-shaped window at one end of the room, the ledge covered with snow.
'Well, I booked us the theatre for the auditions,' said Grover.
Percy grabbed a battered old suitcase, threw a few things in and turned to face Grover, feeling great. 'Everything's going according to plan – now all we need is the girl! Just think, Grover, no more forging papers, no more stolen goods. We'll have three tickets out of here – one for you, one for me and one for Annabeth!'
'It's the rumour, the legend, the mystery,
It's the Princess Annabeth who will help us fly,
You and I, friend,
We'll go down in history,
We'll find a girl to play the part,
Teach her what to say,
Dress her up and take her to Olympus,
Imagine the reward her dear old grandmamma will pay!
Who else could pull it off but you and me?
We'll be rich!
Grover: We'll be rich!
Percy: We'll be out!
Grover: We'll be out!
Both: And New York City will have some more to talk about!
Townspeople: Have you heard?
There's a rumour in New York City,
Have you heard?
What they're saying on the streets?
Have you heard?
There's a rumour in New York City,
Have you heard?
Comrades, what do you suppose?
A fascinating history,
Percy: The biggest con in history!
Townspeople: The Princess Annabeth!
Alive or dead?
Who knows? Shh!
Annabeth's POV:
'Bye, guys!' I called to my friends, who were still inside the orphanage, waving at the windows. 'Bye!'
'I got you a job at the fish factory,' the owner, Mr. D, was saying. He was a lazy old drunk, stuck in his job running the orphanage. 'You go straight down the path till you get to the fork in the road. Go left-'
'Bye!' I yelled yet again, enjoying the fact that it was starting to irritate Mr. D. 'Bye, everybody!'
'Are you listening?!' he snapped, wagging a finger at me.
I sighed. Fun over. 'I'm listening, Mr. D.'
Mr. D's eyes turned hard and cold. 'You've been a thorn in my side since you were brought here, acting like some sort of royal queen, instead of the nameless nobody you really are! For the last ten years, I've fed you, I've clothed you-'
'…kept a roof over my head,' I finished in a bored tone.
Mr. D, who was unlocking the front gates, whirled around, looking extra grumpier than usual. 'How is it you don't have a clue to who you were before you came to us, but you can remember all that?!'
I looked down at the necklace around my neck. 'I do have a clue to my past!' I argued. 'Look, right there-'
'Yes, yes, I know,' he interrupted, grabbing the pendant hanging from my necklace. 'Together in Olympus. So, you want to go to Olympus to find your family, ah?'
I nodded awkwardly, just wanting to get out of there.
Mr. D laughed. 'Little Miss Annie-'
'Anya,' I corrected, feeling annoyed. Mr. D always gets my name wrong on purpose.
'Whatever. It is time to get your head out of the clouds, girl, and take your place in life. And when life ends in line, be grateful!' And it was then that I was shoved out of gates and into the cold, wintry unknown.
'Together in Olympus!' Mr. D laughed, slamming the gates closed and turning back towards the orphanage.
I walked down the snowy path for about ten minutes, and soon I came to the fork in the road. There was a signpost in the middle of it, with two wooden arrows nailed to it. The one on the left read: FISHING TOWN, and the one on the right read: New York City.
I remembered Mr. D's instructions. 'Go left, he said,' I said, studying the signs. 'But I know what's to the left – I'll be Anya the orphan forever. But if I go right, maybe I could find…?' I sat down on a rounded rock, confused, and looked up at the grey sky. I looked at the pendant on my necklace. I'd had it ever since I could remember, and I knew the words engraved on it meant something important – something about my past. 'Whoever gave me this necklace must have loved me. This is crazy! Me, go to Olympus?' I looked at the grey sky. 'Give me a sign, a message! Anything!'
I closed my eyes for a few moments, even though now was probably the most ridiculous moment to think of sleep. Soon I got lost in my thoughts, but they were interrupted by the sound of feet – no, hooves – moving down the road. When I opened my eyes, I was so startled my heart nearly stopped beating. Right in front of me, staring intently, was a pure black stallion with bright, intelligent eyes.
The stallion started whinnying, and, without warning, took my scarf in his teeth and dragged it away, trotting round in circles.
'Hey, give that back!' I protested, getting up and reaching for my scarf. 'Stop that! Would you please just-' I tripped over myself and fell into the snow, real professionally. Perfect.
I sat up, dusting snow off my coat, when I noticed something – the stallion had stopped. He was standing behind the wooden arrows on the signpost, nudging the one on the right with his nose. New York City…
'Oh, great, a horse wants me to New York,' I muttered. It was mad. But then again… was this the sign? I looked at the horse, who was neighing expectantly, then at the road ahead. I took a deep breath. 'Okay… I can take a hint.'
I carefully climbed onto the horse's back, feeling slightly excited, slightly terrified and slightly crazy all at the same time. Well, I thought, This is it. No turning back, Anya.
The horse started off down the road, and I urged myself not to look back, but forward. I didn't know what was out there, but sometimes, I figured, you've just got to take the risk.
Anya: Heart, don't fail me now,
Courage, don't desert me,
Don't turn back, now that we're here,
People always say, 'life is full of choices',
No one ever mentions fear.
Or how the world can seem so vast,
On a journey,
To the past…
Somewhere down this road,
I know someone's waiting,
Years of dreams just can't be wrong,
Arms will open wide,
I'll be safe and wanted,
Finally home, where I belong…
Well, starting now I'm learning fast,
On this journey,
To the past….
Home, love, family,
There was once a time I must've had them, too,
Home, love, family,
I will never be complete until I find you…
One step at a time,
One hope, then another,
Who knows where this road may go?
Back to who I was,
On to find my future,
Things my heart still needs to know…..
Yes, let this be a sign,
Let this road be mine,
Let it lead me to my past…
And bring me home,
AT LAAAAAAAAAST….!
