A/N: Hey, guys. Sorry for the delay – but I actually have good news. After this chapter, the story I had in mind actually starts, and I have a lot of it planned out and I'm very excited to write it out, so the chapters should start coming sooner!

And I'd like to address a Guest who left a review saying that they didn't understand why I said Thalia couldn't control the air – that will be expanded on later chapters. Remember that what's written is not necessarily my point of view, but the characters', and there's still a lot that they don't know. Consequently, there's a lot that you guys don't know.

And last but not least, some of you may have noticed that I edited the last chapters a bit. The actual content is exactly the same, but I decided to turn Prologue II into an actual chapter, since that's where the story really begins. I'm kind of OCD, don't argue with me on this one. Plus, I've decided to try and name the chapters. Probably song lyrics or names, as music is my biggest inspiration.

I need someone to hold my heart again / Like it felt when I was just a kid
Will you take me far away from this fear that pulls me near?

- Trigger, Phillip Phillips

Darkness.

He couldn't see anything, no matter which way he looked. And it was cold... So cold. And then then the cold became wet, and the black became blue, and he realized he was at the bottom of the ocean. Surrounded by water and darkness, only able to see because of his keen senses. He tried to swim, to go up, but his feet were being weighted down.

And then he couldn't breathe.

He couldn't breathe, and he couldn't move, and he felt the pressure every drop of water had on his body. He was locked in place, unable to escape, and the water wasn't haven anymore – it was hell.

Laughter found his ears. When he blinked, he saw a man. Just a tall, dark shadow, with a sickening smile and the glow of metal going left to right, left to right, left—

''Come to me...''

Percy woke with a blood curling scream.

Half-sitting, his head spun, and he allowed himself to fall back. He was lying on something... a little hard. There was a pillow under his head, and a blanket over his lower body. He realized he was sweating. A rapid stream of beeps came from somewhere beside him, and Percy recognized the humming of hospital machines. So that's were he was? A hospital?

Slowly, the beeping evened out. Percy took a deep breath and tried to assess his body. He tried to move his feet, legs, arms and hands. Okay. He craned his neck to both sides, wincing at the 'pop' that followed. Slowly, his head cleared, and after what seemed like hours, he managed to put himself in a sitting position and look at the room he was in.

White. White everywhere, and damn it if it wasn't comforting after the nightmare he'd just had. Percy couldn't even remember what it was about, but he knew it had been dark... And terrifying. He was, indeed, in a hospital room that was like any other, but he wasn't alone. There was another bed to his left, occupied by none less than Thalia Grace.

A blend of emotions crashed through him so hard he almost passed out. His beeping quickened again.

Right then, someone came inside the room. Percy turned to see a short, chubby man walk in. He was wearing a white shirt, green scrubs and black, polished shoes. He had a small face with nonthreatening features, but Percy tensed nonetheless. When his eyes met Percy's, a wide smile came over his face.

''Good morning, Perseus,'' the man said as he grabbed a chair from the corner of the room and sat next to him. ''I'm Doctor Phillips, and I've been taking care of you and your friend over there.''

Percy glanced back at Thalia, asleep on her bed, and his body relaxed. He looked back at the doctor. ''Where are we?''

''You're in the hospital. Your mom brought you both a little over ten hours ago,'' the doctor said softly, checking the machines beside Percy's bed.

Ten hours? They'd been there for ten hours?

And just like that, Percy was brought back to reality.

They couldn't have stopped for this long. They shouldn't have stopped for this long. Now they were vulnerable, the gods could find them so easily—

''Percy? Oh gods!''

Thunder cracked above them, and Sally flung herself at her son's arms. Percy heaved, breathless, as his mother hugged him as hard as she could. Percy closed his eyes and allowed himself to melt in her embrace, recognizing her soft, floral perfume, she shade of her brown-graying hair, her soft murmurs of relief.

I'm home.

Sally pulled back, keeping him at arms length, a teary smile firmly in place. ''I am so glad you're okay, honey.''

Despite himself, Percy blushed, glancing at the doctor – who was watching them with an amused smile. ''Mom...''

''Oh, yes, right. I'm sorry, doctor—'' she started, sitting on the edge of Percy's bed.

The doctor waved her off. ''No problem. I would have called you sooner, Ms. Jackson, but I was just checking Perseus' vitals and making sure he was okay.'' He plucked a pen from his pocket and scribbled something on a notebook lying over the bedside table. ''You've healed exceptionally fast, young boy. Very lucky.''

''Yeah...'' he groaned, adjusting himself. ''That's me... Always lucky.''

His mother rubbed soothing circles on his arm. ''So... He's fine?''

Doctor Phillips closed the notebook, setting it back on the table. ''He broke two ribs, and sprained his right wrist. I've set the bones already, and now all you should need are some pills for the pain, and to keep your wrist bandaged for a week,'' he said. He stood up, straightening his clothes. ''Oh, and bed rest for at least four weeks.''

''What!?'' he yelled. Beside him, his mother jumped. The doctor gave him an odd look.

''I know it sounds boring, but trust me, it sounds worse than it is. If you just—''

The doctor kept going on and on, but Percy wasn't listening anymore. He'd ask his mom later. He was pretty sure he didn't need all that time to heal, anyways. He was a demigod, and all he needed was a bite of ambrosia and a cup of nectar. He'd be good as new with a few hours sleep.

But of course, he couldn't tell the doctor that.

''Is Thalia going to be okay?'' Percy asked, interrupting whatever the doctor had been saying. His mother gave him a stern look, but again, he didn't care.

The doctor sighed. ''Your friend's injuries were more severe, but I believe she will be okay. Her left leg is broken, and she suffered a mild concussion. It might take her some time to wake up, and likely, the only side effect will be minor confusion. A few veins in her ear were ruptured, and she will need to be kept here for observation, otherwise blood clots could form and stop the oxygenation in her brain.''

Percy's head spun, thinking of ambrosia and nectar. That sounded serious as shit. ''Okay,'' he croaked pathetically.

The man gave him a small smile while his mother put a hand on his shoulder. ''Don't worry, that too sounds worse than it is. She'll be fine. She just needs time. I'll leave you both alone now.''

''Thank you, doctor,'' Sally called out and the man nodded before leaving the room.

Percy let himself fall back onto the bed, and pain pulsed through his torso with the movement. He felt tired and anxious all at once, wanting both to sleep and run. He couldn't stop now, could he? He – they – needed to keep running, and even as he thought it, Percy felt hopeless. Was there any place they could go where the gods wouldn't find them?

''Percy, honey,'' his mother's soft croon grabbed his attention. ''Are you alright? What happened? Tell me everything,'' she pleaded.

And so he did. Not that there was much to tell, but still, he choked around the sentences and cried silently in her arms, with nothing but the wet tracks on his cheeks to prove he had done it. Sally herself didn't cry, but her eyes were tinted with a telltale mist, and Percy wanted nothing more than to hold her together the same way she did for him.

But he couldn't even keep himself from falling apart, so he tried not to bite off more than he could chew.

When he felt like he could breathe again, the demigod was restless, itching to move, but a few words from Sally were all it took to convince him to at least wait until Thalia woke up.

Through the glass on the room's door he could occasionally see a nurse or two shuffling around the illuminated hall, immaculate in their white clothing. He looked down at his clothes, a mess of dirt and rips and blood – not his, he figured. ''I need a shower and a change of clothes,'' Percy gasped suddenly, anxiety settling on his stomach. ''I feel disgusting.''

Disgusting, he chanted. Disgusting gods, disgusting prophecy, disgusting, disgusting, disgusting.

Disgusting, his father's eyes sneered back at him.

He kicked off his sheets, but his mother stopped him with a gentle touch to the shoulder.

''Percy, wait. Do you really think it's a good idea for you to go walking around alone? Or for us to leave Thalia alone?''

''You can stay with her, I just need a bathroom and five minutes,'' he proposed.

She frowned. ''I just don't think—''

''Mom, please. I feel...'' like shit. ''...filthy.''

''Percy, you and Thalia—''

''Mom, I don't know okay? I don't want to think about whether or not Thalia is going to be okay, I don't want to think about what I need to do now that my family is trying to kill me; I don't want to deal with any of it! I just want to take a shower so I can think without feeling like trash!'' the boy snapped.

The flash of hurt that crossed his mother's eyes didn't go unnoticed, but neither one of them mentioned it. The beeping of Thalia's heart filled the awkward silence.

Sally spoke first, slow and careful. ''I just think it would be better to stay together. All of us. I... Honestly, I'm still trying to come to terms with what you told me, honey.''

Percy sighed. His shoulders sagged. ''I'm sorry,'' he relented. ''Do you have any ambrosia? I think my body's already healing but I'm, uh. I'm still kinda in pain,'' he tried, not wanting to worry her any more than he already had.

''Yes, actually,'' she answered, some of the light returning to her blue-gray orbs. She dug around in her purse – well, actually, it was more of a bag. Percy saw her browsing through a few pieces of fabric.

''You did bring me clothes, then,'' he drawled, mourning his shower.

His mom chuckled. ''I got Thalia some of my clothes, also. They might be a little big for her, but it's better than what she was wearing when you two arrived home, looking half-dead already,'' Sally shivered. ''I was quite panicked, you know. You were barely awake, and that girl, barely breathing... You passed out while I called the ambulance, and I honestly thought this time...'' she trailed off.

''Ambulance?'' Percy inquired. ''Why didn't you drive here yourself?''

''I needed time to get some things – this included,'' she gestured at the bag, pulling a small flask out of it. ''And honestly, I... I wanted someone to look at the both of you as soon as possible, and if that meant nurses at an ambulance, then...''

She gave Percy the flask. He took it, opening the cap and swallowing down a large gulp. The nectar worked through his body, making him alert and steady in a matter of seconds. It was like waking up from a daydream at class, buzzing with adrenaline. The pain in his chest was a distant ache as the bones healed faster and faster.

His mother settled beside him on the edge of the bed. ''Feeling a little better?''

''I think so. Thanks, mom.''

She ran her fingers through his hair. ''I can't believe they would do that to you, honey,'' she whispered absentmindedly.

Percy didn't need to ask who they were. Instead, he studied her. A sad glint in her eyes, like contained tears, and mouth set in a straight line. She seemed so—

Lightning cracked violently overhead. Percy shuddered. His mother flinched. Thalia came to with a shriek.

''Get away from him!''

The room was suddenly filled with the sound of Thalia's heart monitor, much more audible now that it didn't fall on an even rhythm. Percy wondered if he imagined it of if the device's volume was actually louder, alarming the doctors and nurses.

''Thalia, you're up,'' Sally seemed so tired then, and Percy hated himself a little more for being the one to put that strain on her.

The daughter of Zeus sat up, looking around wildly. Then, brusquely, she started to tear every needle and wire out of her skin. Percy winced. He always hated it when people did that on TV.

''We can't be here, Percy,'' she muttered his name, even though her eyes hadn't landed on him for more than a millisecond. ''This is exactly where they want us...''

Percy and his mom shared a look. Sally stepped a bit closer to Thalia's bed, and Percy finally climbed out of his own. His legs trembled when he stood, but they didn't give.

''Thalia, calm down,'' his mother tried again. ''We're at the hos—''

''We can't be here!'' Thalia screeched. ''They know! And now—'' she cut herself short when another rumble came from the skies and the entire room lit up. Thalia swallowed hard, pushing her covers away. ''We need to leave, and if you don't come with me, then it's your goddamn funeral.''

Outside their window, something exploded, a thousand sparks flying about. His mother jerked, obviously startled, but took another tentative step towards the daughter of Zeus, as if approaching a wild animal. Percy looked at the window, suddenly enraptured – he didn't know what time it was, but the sky was colored in a way that had him suspecting dawn. Maybe a few minutes earlier. He could barely see the outline of a few trees and a skyscraper in the distance.

''Thalia, you're not thinking straight,'' she warned. ''Please, calm down.''

Suddenly, the door snapped open and an icy breeze floated through the room. Percy shivered in his tattered clothes and turned to his mom. ''Let me talk to her,'' he asked. He didn't know if it would make any difference, but he needed to try.

As he approached Thalia – who was now trying to stand on her own, leaning onto her bed – he heard his mother's shoes clicking on the floor and her muttered, ''I'll get the door, then.''

Percy's stomach churned and his heart tightened as dread filled his body. Before he could tell her not to, even before he could understand where the feeling had come from, he heard her scream and something crack. And the world seemed to be in slow motion as he turned around, reaching desperately for Riptide in his front pocket.

His feet froze mid-step, fingers twitching around a pen. ''No,'' he breathed out. ''No. I don't...''

In front of him, his mother fell to the floor. Eyes closed, her head hit the ground with a sickening thud, followed by broken pieces of wood, and Percy raised his eyes from her to the one who had hurt her.

Luke Castellan stared back at him with venom in his eyes and the lower half of a baseball bat in his hands. ''Sorry about the mess, but... Desperate times desperate measures, right?''