Disclaimer: I only own the plot, everything from the PJO and HOO series do not belong to me.

The Train Ride From Hell

Percy

I had an inkling that my genius plan might fail, I had been prepared that it might do so, I had expected some sort of punishment form my mother. I had never however thought that it would backfire so spectacularly as it did. Never mind getting further involved in the war effort by signing up to the army, instead I was being evacuated.

I slumped back on the seat of my chair groaning. It was embarrassing being evacuated, the majority of children evacuated are a lot younger than me, simply because they refused to go, but I can't say no to my mum, I never have been able to. Call me a mummas boy all you want but it's the truth. So the plan had backfired, yes I had got out of Bethnal Green at last but rather than heading to an army training camp I was off to rural Shropshire. Not the way I wanted things to go.

Jason got off relatively easily on his punishment, well if you consider living with Thalia easy, what with her membership of the ATS and the fact she was just genuinely scary. He wasn't being evacuated, he was grounded for the duration of the summer but he got to stay at home. I groaned again, this would be so much easier if he was coming with me, at least then I would know someone up there. This way I would know no one.

I was dragged out of my self-pity session by a sniffling noise I could here coming from the train corridor. Curiosity getting the better of me and I opened the compartment door to see a child no older than 7 crying outside it. Immediately forgetting my own worried I knelt down in front of him.

"Hi little man, what are you doing here?"

He looked up at me with big brown eyes that where swimming with tears.

"My mummy didn't want me anymore" he sniffled, "So she sent me on this train so that a new mummy can look after me." He started to cry harder and I couldn't help but sweep him up in a hug.

"I'm sure that's not true" I assured him as I picked him up and brought him into my compartment, "She just wants to keep you safe, that's why she put you on this train."

"Then why didn't she come with me?"

I sighed "She wasn't allowed to squirt, I'm sure she would have done all she could to stay with you."

"Do you really believe that?"

"I do"

"I'm scared the people up there are going to be really mean though."

I smiled down at him, "Just think of it as an adventure, your going to have loads of fun out there, I know it."

He returned my smile with a toothy grin. "Thanks Mister"

"I'm not a Mister, my names Percy."

"Mines Tyson" the boy said proudly pointing at himself.

"Well then Tyson, do you want to spend the rest of the train ride with me."

He grinned and hopped off my lap and onto the seat opposite.

We spent the rest of the journey playing silly childish games to pass the time, to keep up my reputation as a teenager I would have to say I hated every minute, but in reality I loved it, I had always wanted a younger brother and here I was able to act like I had one, if only for a little while.

"So Tyson, what do you want to do when you grow up?"

He looked at me and said "I want to be like Daddy and work on the trains but I also want to be you to be with me."

I sat there shocked for a couple of moments before Tyson flung himself at me.

"Percy are you alright?" He looked up at me with concern in his eyes and I nodded.

"Why would you want me to be with you?"

"Because I always wanted an older brother."

I swept him up in another hug "You can be anything you want Tyson, and I'm sure we will see each other when were there"

"Maybe we will see each other at school"

"Maybe" I didn't want to disappoint him and say I wasn't planning on going to school.

Our heart to heart ended as the train shuddered to a halt and everyone began packing up their belongings. Tyson looked up at me again and mouthed 'I'm scared'. I took his hand in mine and gave him a reassuring smile as we stepped off the train.

Considering the small size of the station the place was packed. Families swarmed the place looking at children's labels attempting to find the ones that they had been assigned. A fairly young lady with a little boy around Tyson's age came up to us and looked a his label.

"Hello Sweetie, you're going to come live with me" she said to him. Tyson turned to look at me and in nodded, wondering what I did to earn that child's trust so quickly. The woman looked up to me and questioned me.

"Are you his older brother, I didn't want to split up a family I can go check if I can allocate you to me as well, I don't really have the room but-"

I interrupted her, "No he's not my brother, I just looked after him on the train as he was upset, I don't want you to be put out of your way."

She smiled gratefully at me and we turned towards Tyson who was now in deep conversation with the other child. He looked up at me and quickly ran over to give me a hug.

"Bye Percy" he whispered to me.

"Bye Tyson, everything will work out fine, you'll see".

He smiled at me and walked off with his new family. I turned round and saw a plump middle-aged lady walking towards me she glanced at my label." Yes your with me" she stated in a very strong country accent before shaking my hand and telling me to follow her. We walked down the platform, off the station and slightly down the road. She stopped in front of a horse harnessed up to a farmer's trailer. Sitting in the trailer, looking at me was a girl with bright blond hair. She was sitting on two pilled haystacks. My heart fell. I may have told Tyson that everything would work out fine but why couldn't I convince myself. Probably because I had the worst luck in the world.

I hated farms.