Have you ever experienced the strange sensation of running in a dream? Like you're exerting the effort but you're still not running fast enough? Well now you know how i feel. The hellhound had seemingly come out of no where, but where it came from wasn't important. Only that it wouldn't go back. I know what you're thinking. Why aren't I fighting it? well, I had so stupidly forgotten my knife on my wardrobe when I left to get some milk for my stepmother after I'd gotten home from school. You'd think a daughter of Athena would know better than to put herself in this situation, but it seems Seaweed Brain is rubbing off on me.

Looking around, I noticed a small alleyway a little further down the street. The street was far from civilization, me having chose this spot to lead the hellhound so nobody got hurt. I picked up the pace and turned left into it. Quickly, I scaled the tower of filled garbage bags and leaped over the brick fence separating it from the other half of the alley, and continued running. After five minutes I looked back and realized the hellhound was no longer behind me. either it had lost me in the alley, or had thought i wasn't worth the effort. I also realized I had no idea where I was. It probably would've been smart to call someone for help, but guess what else I forgot. Yup, my phone. So I set off to try and find the main road. From there I could take a cab.

I took courses in navigation, self protection, and trained to increase my stamina. But nothing could've trained me for getting lost in the maze that is new york. I had been walking for at least an hour, and still no sign of life. Yes, I know I'm being melodramatic, but honestly, can you blame me? I navigated the Labyrinth for gods' sake! I was about to sit down and rest when I suddenly heard the sound of footfall in the distance. Alert once again, I inched my way towards the source of noise, fearing that the hellhound had found me. I didn't think I had it in me to outrun it again. The footsteps grew louder and now I could clearly see the outline of a human, a teenage guy specifically, making their way towards me. The closer they got, the stronger the pungent odor of alcohol got.
"Hey babe, wanna have some fun tonight? I'll let you take a ride on my disco stick!" One of them called.
Ugh, pigs.
Turning around, I quickened my pace and tried to find another walkway to escape to. Unfortunately, the pig seemed to have a friend coming from behind and within seconds I was surrounded.
"Don't touch me, douche!" I yelled when one of them tried reaching for my shirt collar.
"Oooh, feisty. I like it. Always more fun." The one closest to me said.
"I'm giving you one more chance. Leave me alone, or I swear to gods I'll gouge your eye balls out and use them as car medallions."
He laughed. "Totally worth it."

Then he did something he'd regret for the rest of his life. He kissed me. And it was singlehandedly the most disgusting kiss imaginable. Unlike Percy's kiss, his was sloppy and drool filled. He tasted like beer, as opposed to Percy and his cookies and chocolates. It was so forceful, my head slammed into the brick wall behind me, leaving me momentarily dazed. Meanwhile, the other guy was reaching for the hem of my shirt. But I quickly regained my train of thought and sprang into action when I felt hands slide below my hips and my shirt had risen to just below my bra. I disengaged thing 1 from me by kicking him where the sun don't shine. Taking advantage of him being down, I immediately turned on thing 2 and punched him square in the jaw. Then I kicked him in the gut and he joined his friend on the ground. Knowing I wouldn't be able to fight much longer (let's face it, I was exhausted) I turned to leave. But not before spitting on the ground next to them and saying
"I warned you."

_LINE BREAK_

It took me another twenty minutes of navigating through alleyways to finally find a populated street and catch a cab home. I didn't tell anyone about the events that took place last night, despite the panic I felt right after my adrenaline rush wore off. Despite the throbbing pain in my head (Gee I wonder why) as soon as I got home, I ran to the shower and scrubbed at my skin, hard enough to leave scratches all over my arms. But I still felt dirty, filthy. Now, at school, i felt a lot calmer than I had last night. But that didn't stop me from wearing a long-sleeved shirt to hide the scratch marks left from my unsuccessful "purifying" bath, despite the warm weather. I was deep in thought when two hands clamped over my eyes.
"Guess who?" they said.
"Could it be Will Solstice?"
"What?"
I laughed and turned around, only to be met by beautiful sea green eyes.
"Aww it's just you."
He gave the most adorable pout and i couldn't help but reach up and give him a small kiss.
"I missed you." He told me.
"It's only been a day."
"Every second without you is agony."
"You're so cheesy Seaweed Brain."
"I try." He told me, smiling.
"Well if it makes you feel better, I missed you too."
"You're right, it does make me feel better."
"Of course I am. I'm always right."
He rolled his eyes and stated sarcastically "And modest too."
we both burst out laughing, as I reached for my biology book. I still had my hand on the book when Percy's laughter abruptly ceased and he let out a gasp. Looking to see what had caused this, I turned to face him and followed his line of vision. Right to where my shirt sleeve had ridden up. To expose my scarred wrist. I extracted my hand and pulled the sleeve down.
"Well, we should get going. Wouldn't want to be late." I started walking but stopped when I noticed percy wasn't following.
"Percy, come one."
After a few seconds of silence Percy finally replied.
"Annabeth, show me your arm."
"We're going to-"
"Show me your wrist." He cut me off, his voice dangerously calm.
Knowing he wouldn't stop until he saw it, I made my way back towards him. By now we were the only ones left in the hall way, which I was grateful for. I didn't want anyone there to witness Percy freaking out when I told him about yesterday.
I pulled back my traitorous sleeve and he grabbed my arm to examine it.
"What happened?" He asked. For a moment, I contemplated lying and telling him a hellhound scratched me. Sure, he would worry, but he wouldn't be upset. Wouldn't make a big deal out of it. I mean, these things happened all the time, as demigods. But telling him two teenage boys were looking for a 'good time' with me. Yeah, that wouldn't settle too well with him. But no, I couldn't lie to him.
"I scrubbed the skin raw yesterday."
His eyebrows scrunched up in confusion, but he motioned for me to go on.
"Well, yesterday I left to get some milk, and on my way there was a hellhound." I saw his posture relax. Lying was starting to sound better and better. "I was gonna fight it but I forgot my knife at home so I ran. I climbed into an alleyway and maneuvered through a few streets until I lost the dog, but I didn't know how to get back."
"Why didn't you call me?" He asked.
"I was getting there. Turns out I also forgot my phone. So I kept on walking but after a while..." I wasn't sure how to continue. It felt so awkward.
"Keep going."
"There were these two guys-"
He immediately tensed up, and his shoulders stiffened.
"What?" He growled.
"Don't worry I took care of them." That didn't seem to calm him at all. His hand tightened around the wrist he still held, to the point where it was actually starting to hurt.
"Did they do this to you?" He asked increduously.
"What? No. No. I- I did this to myself." I told him. I lowered my eyes. I felt so embaraced.
"Why would y-"
"You're going to think it's stupid."
"Annabeth."
"Ugh, fine. I tried to scrub away the disgust. After I got home, I felt really dirty. But no matter how much I tried, it wouldn't go away." I felt tears come to my eyes, but I forced them back. "It still won't."
Percy wouldn't say anything, but he pulled me into his arms, and wrapped me in his warm, safe embrace. I was grateful, not only for the hug, but because it was distracting Percy. I might hate being taken care of, but I'd let him if it meant he'd keep calm.
But it seemed I'd just jinxed myself because suddenly he stiffened.
"They didn't touch you, did they?"
I pulled out of his embrace and thought about how to explain this without it being too humiliated.
"Not really."
"Not really? What do you mean 'not really'? Be more specific."
"Well I..." I couldn't continue, what was I supposed to say?
When Percy saw that I wouldn't continue, he just turned and ran his fingers through his hair. Then he slammed the lockers.
"Shhh. Percy you're gonna attract attention."
"I don't care. All I care about right now is that somebody touched you against their will, and I'm gonna break the arms they used to do that."
"I can take care of myself. Just like I did last night."
"HA! Clearly you aren't doing a good enough job. I mean what kind of demigod forgets their knife? That was a pretty dumb move for a wise girl."
I knew he was just saying this out of stress and worry but I have to admit, that one stung a bit. To another person, there was nothing wrong with the sentence. But to a daughter of Athena, it was insulting. And the worst part, Percy knew that.
"I don't need YOU out of all people lecturing me about dumb moves." I wanted to say it was a mistake, but my pride would not allow me to admit to my mistakes.
"I wasn't the one who almost got raped yesterday!" He yelled. I flinched. I hadn't thought about it that way before, but saying it out loud freaked me out. I think Percy noticed this too.
"Look Annabeth, I'm sorry. I just- I just lost it when you told me, And you weren't making it easy take care of you."
"I told you Seaweed Brain, I'll never ever make things easy for you." And with that he wrapped his arms around my waist the same time I through mine around his neck and he pulled me into a passionate kiss that held only love and care, with a hint of lingering worry.
When we pulled apart he held on to my hand and said "We should get to class."
I smiled and together we headed to first period.