She's Lost Inside
I wanted to upload this straight away so anyone who decided to continue reading from the prologue (thank you!) can get a good feel for the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson or the Heroes of Olympus Series.
Summary
Annabeth Chase had admired Luke, looked up to him … until she learned who he really was. For the past 6 years she has been held captive and used as a personal slave to the gang leader of New York, until one day Annabeth is sent to Goode High School on a little "business" on behalf of Luke and his gang. Once there she discovers the truth about her past and who the boy with sea green eyes is she has been dreaming about.
Chapter One
Annabeth POV
As I finally manage to stand and stretch out my limbs, I feel the repetitive throb of dull pain in the left side of my head as a result of my painful dream. I push it to the back of my mind and set about getting ready for my long day. I walk all of two steps over to my small Dora the Explorer backpack coated with dust. It is the one of the only objects I have that belongs to me.
I remember the day very clearly, that day I met him. Not all the details, but I remember him. I had my Dora backpack on, and I remember him telling me that he had found me, that he would protect me, that he would be my family. And like the naïve 10 year old I was, I believe him. And why wouldn't I? He seemed honest and genuine and kind … but isn't it funny how some people know exactly what you want to hear? Luke Castellan was good at knowing what I wanted to hear.
I open the lid and pull out my uniform: a loose men's button–up suit shirt that has faded to brown over the years and a pair of long black pants. As I pull my only other shirt over my head (my other uniform shirt), I feel tender pain spread across my right cheekbone when my arm makes contact with my face. I am surprised for a second – but only a second – before I remember how I received that bruise. That bruise is the result of when you don't pay enough attention when serving Luke and his friends because you are too busy thinking about the boy with the sea green eyes and you accidently spill wine over one of the most dangerous men you'll ever meet. Oh yes, Luke loves dealing out punishments.
I button my once fitting shirt up before pulling on my baggy pants. Once upon a time these clothes fit me nicely, but when you're hardly given anything to eat and don't get enough sunlight and exercise you end up looking like a sickly, pale, pile of bones with sunken eyes. I reach further into my bag and am comforted by feeling the familiar hardback cover of my favourite book. This is the other object that I own. I pull out the worn book and look at the little blond girl and the Cheshire cat on the cover. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. My mother used to read this to me as a child before I could read it myself, but she would always change Alice to Annabeth, at least I'm pretty sure she did. Ever since I got here when I was 10, I've had trouble remembering what happened before then.
No time to dwell on the past, I cross the room and push open my sad excuse for a door, hoping I won't get splinters, and am greeted by a set of old wooden stairs that look as if they would break at any moment. I hurry up them knowing my moment of nostalgia may have cost me. I push open the door at the top of the stairs, this one nicer and heavier than the other. I am briefly blinded by the light in the hallway but hurry on my way. I reach the kitchen where I immediately put the kettle on and set out busing myself with the cups and coffee beans.
The kitchen is grand. It has white marble bench tops with numerous ovens, sinks and cupboards, and never seems to be low on food. Of course I can never eat anything from here, though. I turn to get the milk from the fridge and catch my reflection on a microwave door. I can't help but stare. I know I'm not allowed to look but I can't help it; my long blonde hair has turned stringy and dirty and lost almost all of its colour, and is reaching my waist. My previous tan skin has stretched along my bones to make me look skeletal, I have deep dark sags under my eyes from exhaustion and stress, and I have a rich purple bruise along my cheekbone. But what makes me saddest about my appearance – what physically hurts me the most – is my eyes. My eyes used to be a calculating and intelligent gray, making me standout among a crowd, always craving knowledge. Now they are lifeless, holding fear and sadness where hope and happiness used to be.
I quickly snap out of my thoughts when I hear the door open and busy myself making coffee. This is the second time this week that I've let my guard down. However it is only the mistress of one of Luke's men; Tethys is her name. I try for a small smile but she avoids my eyes and busies herself with some other task. Why do I even bother, no–one here cares about me. I wonder if she knows what happens to me if I make even the smallest of mistakes, and if it happens to her too. Probably not; I've never seen her with bruises or cuts on her skin, and she has a nicer uniform than I do. I know she saw me looking at my reflection, the question is will she tell.
I place the fine china on the shiniest of platters and make my way very carefully down the corridor and up the stairs into Luke's office. Before knocking I make sure I haven't spilt any coffee then proceed to knock on the door. Hearing a grunt on the other side I take that as my sign to enter. I quickly find Luke sitting at the head of a long mahogany table with two other people standing on either side of him, all facing a third, much smaller and skinnier person standing quietly in the corner, almost unnoticed at first. Without trying to get too good of a look at him, I realise he is shaking, and as I make my way up to Luke, I know something bad is about to happen to him.
"Took you awhile. You gonna let her get away with that, Boss?" I swallow as I place each men's drink on the table in front of them. Of course Gabe, Luke's third in charge would say something; the misogynist man likes to witness pain. I know better than to mutter apologies, so instead I just stand back and stare at the ground. I feel Luke's eyes on me and can't help looking up. Luke … it's funny how some people can be so attractive on the outside but have such as ugly heart. Luke is tall with short-cropped sandy blonde hair and blue eyes. Along with that and his muscular build, it's no wonder people are drawn to him. The only visual un–attractive thing about Luke is a thick, deep pale scar that runs from the bottom of his eye down to his chin. I'm not sure how he got it but looking at it makes me feel better; it makes me feel as though he is not indestructible and that he can be beaten, I just don't know anyone good or brave enough to fight against him.
His gaze lingers on my bruise before he answers, a small smile playing on his lips. "No, I've got something special in store for our little Annie here today." I try to keep my breathing steady as my mind runs through every possible punishment I can think of.
"Annabeth, you're familiar with what happens when a task is not carried out on time or done properly?" Luke lazily asks me. My breathe hitches before I answer.
"Yes, Mr. Kronos" Luke doesn't go by Luke anymore, ever since he came into power he prefers Kronos. If he knew I still thought of him as Luke he might actually kill me. I don't risk looking at the young boy in the corner: I know the look of fear will be on his face.
"And what is the punishment of not carrying out one's task?"
I can barely get the word out. When I do it is barely a whisper. "Death".
"No!" I hear the boy gasp as Luke's second hand man, Atlas, grabs him by the hair and pulls out a knife. At the same time Gabe has grabbed me and is forcing my chin upwards. They are making me watch his execution. In the blink of an eye Atlas jerks his wrist upwards and suddenly there is blood, blood everywhere, and the look of horror frozen on the boy's face forever.
I can't help it. I run. I make it to a spare bathroom before I throw up. There's not much too throw up but I can't help it. He looked like he was only a few years older than me, like he had a full future ahead of him if he had not gotten caught up with Luke and his gang. The kid was missing an eye: I wonder if it had anything to do with what he was involved in.
Straightening up I slowly make my way slowly back into the room, expecting a punishment from my sudden outburst. As I enter I notice there is no body, only a stain. The only thing left of him is a stain of blood on a carpet. What happened to him? Will his family notice his absence? Will his family miss him? Too preoccupied with my thoughts I don't notice what Luke is saying until I see the picture he is holding up. In the photo is a boy my age, with an athletic build, a natural tan, messy raven black hair and sea green eyes. As I stared in awe at the picture, I only heard the last of what Luke was saying:
"We need to kill Perseus Jackson".
Cliffy, kind of. Hopefully you enjoyed my first full chapter! Question: who was the boy that Atlas killed? And do gang leaders drink coffee? Please let me know what you're thinking so far by writing a review and constructive criticism is welcome! Thank you!