Hey guys! I know, some of you guys must be really pissed off at me right now, for not updating in a few months... But, anyways, thanks for the awesome reviews! It really boosted my confidence in this story. Well, without further ado, here is the second chapter in my newest fanfic, SeaBirds...

I woke up with the most painful headache I could possibly imagine. I groaned, slowly opening my eyes and shutting them tight again, wincing as a bright white light imprinted itself into my irises. I slowly opened them again, taking in what seemed to be a hospital room. Was I in an accident or something? That's when I remembered. "Annabeth!" I gasped, making an attempt to sit up but two rough hands pushed me back down.

"Slowly," that familiar voice said behind me.

"Jeb Batcheldar," I said, finally recognizing the voice that had troubled so many nights of my past.

I was five years old at the time. It was the morning, I was eating some blue pancakes with my mom when there was a sudden knock on the door. I followed close behind her to see who it was. It was a man with brown eyes and glasses. His looked like a type man who would be working in the office of a newspaper department. But the stench that came of him was enough to prove that that was not his profession. This man reeked of chemicals and plastic and... animals? That was weird. My mom seemed to have noticed as well. She began fidgeting and she bit her bottom lip, something she always did when she was nervous and worried.

"How may I help you?" she asked politely.

"Hi, I'm Jeb Batcheldar." The man said holding out a hand. My mom reluctantly shook it. "May I come in?"

My mom lead him to the living room, where all three of us sat down on our worn out coach. "Percy, honey, why don't you go to your room so that Mr .Batcheldar and I can have a little chat."

"But mom—"

"Percy..."

"Alright."

I remember hiding behind the wall, listening to the conversation through a plastic cup that I snatched from the kitchen as I walked by.

"—We have been doing a lot of research about you and your son."

"Research?"

"Yes. I know that you are single mother, living a poor, useless life as a candy seller in what is supposed to be "the city of opportunity", New York."

"Excuse me?"

"I also know of your ambitions of becoming a writer. I can help you in fulfilling your dreams for a rather small price."

"And what is that?"

"Your son."

I had to stifle a gasp. Horror drenched me from head to toe. What would my mom say?

"w-what? You want to take my son in exchange for a job?"

"Yes. Without Percy to restrain you, you will be able to blossom to your peak of talent. Of course, with the help of the 10 grand we are offering as well."

"What would happen to my son? Why do you want him?"

"He possesses... qualities, which can be rather useful in our research facility right here in New York called the Institute of Higher Living.

"Well, thank you, for that... kind offer, but I think I'll pass." My mom finished the conversation.

"Are you sure?" Jeb asked, "This is your last chance."

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Very well then, nice meeting you."Jeb concluded as the two adults walked up to the door and shook hands. As soon as the door closed, my mother rushed to my side. "Oh, Percy," my mom sobbed, "don't listen to a word he said. I would never and I mean ever give you away for anything in the entire world, you hear?"

"Yah, mom," I said as I hugged her, "I hear you."

"My mother said no, you can't just kidnap me!" I cried, resisting the urge to moan as my headache throbbed painfully.

"Yes, well, we were actually running out of test subjects so the Institute and I were beginning to become increasingly desperate."

"Test subjects?"

"That's right."

I moaned again as the headache worsened by a hundred times.

"Oh yes, the tranquilizer may have some rather unpleasant side effects, one of them including migraines for... a while. Oh, looks like you have company." Jeb said as another hospital bed was wheeled in. On it was strapped a girl about my age. She had brown cropped hair and must have been wearing a very weird jacket because her back was covered in feathers.

"Why don't you get to know each other." Jeb said as he walked out of the room.

"Screw you, Jeb!" the girl yelled, surprising me.

I winced, my headache not getting much better with the noise.

"Tranquilizer? Yah, I know how that feels..." the girl mutters, "Name?"

"Mine? Oh it's Per- Sawyer." I said. I learned not to trust people, even though they may seem like they're on your side at first glance.

"You don't want to tell me your real name? Fine then, have it your way Sawyer," The girl said, "I'm Max. So, I assume you just arrived here?"

I nodded, wincing again as the headache throbbed.

"Well, let me give you some advice, get out of here, and get out fast. Before they start their tests on you."

"You sound like you've been here before." I replied, turning my head back to stare at the boringly white ceiling.

"Oh yah, the flock and I escaped a few times. No doubt we're gonna do it again." Max said, a strange smile playing on her lips.

Something in my head ticked, "Wait, did you say a flock? Like, a flock of birds?" I asked, utterly confused.

"Yah, flock. I've been here much longer then you have, they've already done their test on me."

"What did they do?" I asked. Max shook her back and the strange feathers on her back extended into, wait, what are those?

"Are those wings?" I cried. At the same moment, two men in surgical costumes came through the door. I struggled against my binds as they began to roll my bed to the door. I turned one last time to see Max looking at me with a sad expression on her face. I've seen that expression in the Titan War. It meant that I probably won't survive what was about to happen next.

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed that, and R&R! Seriously, do it. I promise I'll update sooner if I see that people want me to.

Thx!

Moowashere14