3. No Fairytale World

A tall, muscular guy with dark skin and hair was standing at a table in the laundry unpacking a box of new pillowcases that had just been delivered to the prison. As he was unpacking, he cut his eyes around to ensure none of the satyrs were looking as he pulled a folded paper sack from the box of pillowcases and stuffed it inside his orange jumpsuit.

Later, when Annabeth was standing in line to pick up her fresh bed linens, the same guy got her attention.

"Hey, AB," he motioned her over to the table where he was passing out linens.

He picked up a folded stack of bed sheets and blankets from the bottom rack of a shelf behind him and laid it on the table for Annabeth. She laid a pack of cigarettes on the table for him. She picked up her linens, and he picked up the pack of cigarettes.

"Thanks, Beckendorf," she said, and he nodded to her.

Annabeth walked casually to her cell and laid the linens on her bed. She looked around to make sure no one was watching as she pulled out a small, brown paper sack that was wedged between the folded sheets. Inside the sack was a beautiful crystal prism.

Later that evening, when everyone was locked in their cells for the night, Luke, who was the prison librarian, pushed a cart of books through the cell block. He passed by each cell asking the inmates if they would like a book off his cart.

When he got to Annabeth's cell, she whispered to him, "Hey, Luke. Delivery for Jackson."

She reached between the cell bars and grabbed a book form the cart while putting the paper sack in the slot where the book was then she slipped a condom into Luke's jumpsuit pocket as payment for the delivery. Luke continued through the cell block, and when he reached Percy's cell, he stopped.

"Jackson," he said handing Percy a book and the paper sack through the bars. "Here's your book."

"Thanks," Percy said, and Luke continued on with his cart of books.

The next morning, Percy was in the laundry pulling sheets from one of the many driers when one of the inmates came up to him.

"Jackson, we're running low on detergent. Go on back and fetch us up some," he told Percy.

Percy walked into a supply room to grab a barrel of detergent and noticed he wasn't alone in the room. Clarisse and three other Hunters walked out of the shadows and surrounded him. Percy knocked the lid of a barrel of detergent and grabbed a fistful.

"You get this in your eyes it blinds you," Percy said trying to act like he knew want he was talking about.

Clarisse just grinned and said, "Honey, hush."

A Hunter grabbed him from behind pulling his arms back. Another Hunter ran toward him, and he kicked her in the gut knocking her to the ground. He struggled with the Hunter who had him from behind. They knocked over lockers and barrels of detergent as they struggled. The Hunter swung him around into the fist of another, and Percy gasped as he took a hit to the gut. Now, two Hunters had him from behind, and he continued to struggle. He was able to free one arm and elbow one of the Hunters in the face. The other girl threw him to the floor as Clarisse began walking toward them. Percy kicked at the Hunter's legs and tried to get up, but it was no use. They had him on the ground and outnumbered. They began kicking him furiously as he lay helpless on the floor, and they didn't stop until he was unconscious.

I wish I could tell you that Percy fought the good fight, and the Hunters let him be. I wish I could tell you that, but prison is no fairytale world. He never said who did it, but we all knew. Things went on like that for a while. Prison life consists of routine and then more routine. Every so often, Percy would show up with fresh bruises, and the Hunters kept at him. Sometimes he was able to fight them off, sometimes not. And that's how it went for Percy; that was his routine. I do believe those first seven months were the worst for him. And I also believe if things had gone on that way, this place would've gotten the best of him, but on one cold January day that all changed.

Percy was walking down the hallway toward the cafeteria. The hallway was empty except for himself and the captain of the guards, Grover. Grover was standing at the water fountain about to take a drink. He pressed the button, but nothing happened, no water came out of the fountain. He pressed the button a few more times and still nothing.

"Shitty plumbing around here," Grover grumbled.

Grover slammed his hand down on the button, and the fountain erupted with a spray of water that doused Grover.

"Son of a bitch!" Grover gurgled as water sprayed into his face.

The water didn't stop either. It continued to spray all over Grover and threatened to flood the hallway. Percy sprinted down the hallway toward the fountain and did a baseball slide on the floor under the fountain. He quickly pulled the cover off the fountain and twisted and pulled on some of the pipes. Instantly, the spray of water ceased.

Percy couldn't use his powers to stop the water, but he could use his experience. Percy had lived in a rat-hole apartment with his mother, and apparently he learned to be a pretty decent maintenance man.

Grover stared at Percy. They were both soaking wet and freezing.

Percy got up off the floor and said, "Mr. Grover, the pipes have frozen from the cold."

"You think I need you to tell me that, wise ass?" Grover snapped.

"They really need to be insulated to prevent it from happening again," Percy said.

Grover pulled his baton from his side, put it to Percy's throat, and pushed him against the wall.

"You're that son of Poseidon. You think you can fix this shit, water boy?" Grover snapped again.

"Possibly, sir," Percy gagged as Grover's baton was pressing against his throat.

Grover turned and noticed they had an audience staring out the cafeteria doors.

"What are you jimmies staring at!" Grover yelled to them, and everyone ducked back inside the cafeteria.

Grover released Percy and said, "Go get a mop and clean this mess up then go change into some dry clothes."

Percy could've stood idly by and watched Grover continue to get doused and watch the hallway flood, but he didn't. You might argue Percy did it to carry favor with the guards, but me, I think he did it just to feel normal again…if only for a short while.

Percy and Annabeth were in the prison library sitting at a table playing checkers.

Percy moved a piece on the board and said, "King me."

"Chess, now there's a game of kings," Annabeth smiled.

"What?"

"Civilized, strategic…" Annabeth continued.

"And a total freaking mystery, I hate it," Percy said.

"Maybe you'll let me teach you someday."

Percy laughed, "Sure."

They continued the game then Annabeth asked, "Percy, we're getting to be kind of friends, aren't we?"

"Yeah, I guess," Percy said.

"Can I ask you a question? How'd you do it?"

"Do what?" Percy asked.

"Make it so long on the outside without being found?"

"To be honest with you, Annabeth, I have no idea," Percy told her. "How old were you when they found you?"

"Seven, I was seven," Annabeth sighed. "This place…five years here changes a person. Don't let it change who you are, Percy."