AN: I apologize for the late update. I didn't expect to take so long to upload the next chapter, but it is a week before AP exams so I hope you'll cut me some slack. This chapter doesn't have too much action, but the next one will. I hope you enjoy.

I do not own Percy Jackson

Percy

Percy stared into vicious fire red eyes of two large hounds, the blood dripping from their snouts onto his chest. He was pinned to the floor, trapped. They had smelled of decaying meat, while flesh could be seen stuck in between their teeth. It's coat of fur was sleek and black, stains of red and gold blood could be seen, embedded into the side of the animals. Dried blood coated their claws. A gleaming red mane traveled down the spine of the beasts, each with a tail that was lit on fire. Percy tried to move back, but the weight of the claw was too much. The hounds grinned with amusement as the slashed Percy's chest over and again. When Percy thought the pain couldn't get any worse, the head of the animal changed. In it's place was the face of Sally Jackson.

"Mom" Percy choked out with a bit of relief. Even if it was on the body of a monster, the face of his mother was always comforting to see.

Sally's face contorted to an evil smirk that Percy had never seen on his mother. The beast started to slash again.

"Don't you DARE call me mom you worthless child. Your COWARDICE lead to my demise. You shall suffer" the beast roared at Percy.

"Mom I'm sorry, please. I didn't know what to do. Please. Come back"

The beast with Sally's face looked at Percy with a tinge of sympathy. It raised it's claws, ready to slit the child's throat.

" I will never come back"

The claws fell onto Percy's throat.

Percy awoke screaming, and found himself immediately comforted by the heat of a gentle fire that he lay next to. He closed his eyes and cried. He had another nightmare. This one was worse than any of the others. The pain that was inflicted on him felt real. Percy felt his chest to make sure that there were no scars. Once Percy was able to calm down he gazed at the ceiling of what appeared to be a barn. Wait. A barn? Memories of the past week came crashing in. Running and hiding from those big dogs that tried to kill him. Just like in his nightmare.

He realized he was still alive, which was a nice surprise. His muscles still burned from three days of continuous running, but his hunger had been satiated. Percy shifted his position from the ground to the barn wall, placing some hay behind his head, using it as a pillow. The barn seemed to be deserted besides him. No animals, no people, not even a mouse or insect was scurrying about. Percy felt truly alone.

Percy faintly remembered seeing a man and woman before passing out. he wondered if they were the ones who saved him from those dog things. Where were they now? If they had saved him, he needed to give them his thanks. Even if they didn't save him, maybe they could help him find a place to go next. What would he do next? Percy had no family other than his mother. She was an only child, and her parents ( Percy's grandparents) had died in a plane crash before Percy was born. He never knew his father, and didn't want to. Percy had deep suited hatred for his father. His mother always told him that it wasn't his father's fault for never coming, not marrying her. But Percy couldn't help but hate him. His so called "father" had left Percy and his mother to deal with Gabe, bankruptcy, abuse , etc. His entire life was his father's fault. Percy shook his head, clearing himself of those depressing and angry thoughts. He needed to get out of here.

Percy tried to get up, wincing as he put weight on his previously sprained ankle. It had healed, but it still hurt. He leaned heavily on the wall, his legs still unable to support him by themselves.

He grit his teeth and inched slowly towards the barn door, still putting most of his weight on the wall. He needed to get out. He didn't know where he could go, but he had to go somewhere. Those monster dogs could be back at any time, and in his present condition, he definitely

needed as large a head start as he could get. After 20 painful minutes of slowly making his way towards the door, a heavily sweating Percy could see the outside. There were no signs of the struggle that took place, except for a small patch of dirt that had been kicked up when Percy fell. The weather outside was wonderful, clear blue filled the sky while the sun shone upon Percy, giving him comforting heat. The cattle still grazed happily in the distance. Percy sighed. Leave it to fate to have to him running away when there was weather like this. Percy turned to the left side of the barn wall to leave. He thought he would back track to the nearest city and find his way to the next one from there. As he was about to turn the corner, he heard voices coming from the right side of the barn. He walked slowly over to find the source of the voice, praying it wasn't another person that wanted him dead. His prayers weren't heard.

There were two people, a male and a female, around the female seemed to be infuriated, yelling at the man, while the man just calmly stood, waiting for her rant to be over. Percy's eyes widened. These people were the ones who had been there when he passed out yesterday. Percy assumed they had saved him, but he wasn't sure. Before going up to them, Percy decided it would be a good idea for him to take a close look at them. The man was dressed in a dark black shroud that covered his back and torso. Who wears that kind of clothing in this weather? Percy knew the man had to be hiding something. No one in their right mind would be wearing a large cloak unless they had planned on hiding themselves. Even with the cloak on, Percy could see well developed muscles on the man. They weren't overly done, like a body builders, but rather seemed to be the perfect balance between strength and agility. The man's skin was deathly pale, as if his skin was bleached. The man's wavy black hair complimented the midnight black irises he carried on his face. He couldn't have been older than 20, but his eyes contradicted that. Percy could see eon's of loneliness in his eyes. Percy could tell those were the eyes of the misunderstood, someone seen as a monster even though he was nothing but a friend. Percy had the same loneliness in eyes, Even with the empathy that Percy felt, he couldn't help but shiver when he looked at the man. He seemed to send layers of fear from his body, as if the essence of fear oozed from his pores. Percy did not want this man as his enemy, but could see him as a great friend. Percy shifted his gaze to the lady yelling at the man. He couldn't understand what she was saying, it wasn't English. She had a thin frame, but not so thin as to be sick. Her skin was a fair white, not as pale as her companion, but not very dark either. He took a look at the lady's face and gasped in shock. Tears streaming down his face, he ignored the pain in his body as he bolted from his hiding spot in the corner and tackled the lady in a tight hug.

"Mom" he screamed, sobbing into her dress.

AN: Well, can anyone guess who the male and female are? Please review and let me know what you guys think about the story. Also would you rather have a PercyxZoe story or a PercyxArtemis? I enjoy both a lot. Once again I apologize for the abysmal update time. Thanks to all those who who favorited and followed this story. Thanks for reading as well.

Buh bye now.