A Percy Jackson Fanfiction

Chapter 4 First Threat

The next day I tried to make myself get up earlier. I succeeded, and managed to get to breakfast on time. I walked out, completely dressed in my trench coat, only to notice everybody still in their pajamas. I got a couple glances, but nobody made fun of me.

I quickly scanned the immense kitchen until I found Delta waving me over to his table. I was sitting down in a matter of moments, greeting him, Sarah, and Jacob. "Sleep well?" Sarah asked politely. "Yeah," I replied, "Only I thought we were supposed to be dressed for the day, not still in our sleepwear." Jacob shook his head quickly and said, "Nah. Percy's cool. So long as we're ready after breakfast, he's fine." I nodded and began to study him. He had short, stubby hair on the top of his head, and from what it looked like he was fairly skinny. His lips were frozen in a tight line and his eyes were an extreme version of dark brown, adding to his intimidation factor.

I decided that we probably wouldn't be enemies, and I focused my thoughts on breakfast. "So, i'm kinda new here. When do we eat?"

"Just after Percy gives the announcements," Delta replied. I nodded, and as if on cue, Percy walked to the center of the kitchen and spoke. "Alright everybody, here it is. We've decided to let all of you take the weekend off from whatever jobs it is you have to do." Everybody cheered, and he waved his hands to try to regain everyone's attention. He smiled brightly

as he continued. "That means Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, but after that you guys, it's back to the daily grind. Now, let's eat!" Everyone cheered again as several people, all in their twenties, walked out carrying hundreds of platters of pancakes, bacon, and eggs. I grinned as my food was set in front of me, and before I ate, I did two things. I decided to ask Delta where they got the began and eggs and everything else. "Oh, we have a farm outside. I think we have ten cows, five goats, a few sheep, roughly eight chickens, some pigs, and other animals. We also have a storage room, by the way, downstairs that's holding a lot of rice, wheat, canned foods, and weapons." I nodded and I turned to my food. I began to pray, and everyone at my table stared at me guiltily because they didn't pray themselves. As I finished, I noticed them, and I smiled sheepishly. "Sorry," I said, "I didn't mean to-" "Nah man," Jacob interrupted me, "It's perfectly fine. Let's just get back to eating, shall we?" I smiled brighter as I tasted the pancakes. Then the eggs, and then the bacon. I was finished in five minutes flat, and everybody in the kitchen was still eating. I laughed and when Sarah asked why, I pointed at my plate. She grinned and shook her head. "We put our plates in the tubs over there," She said pointing to the corner of the kitchen. I got up and carefully placed the chipped plate in one of the tubs.

I sat back down and began to stare off into space. About fifteen minutes later, Delta was snapping in front of my face. "Huh, what's wrong?" I asked. He grinned. "Dude, breakfast was over five minutes ago." I looked around at all of the deserted tables and stood. "None of you told me," I said. He shrugged. "You looked like you didn't want to be disturbed. But, now that that's over with, what do you want to do?" I looked at him with a confused expression, and he elaborated. "I figured that you and I could hang out with Jacob and Sarah, or something like that." I thought about it, and it sounded fun, but I felt like I was forgetting something. "Eh, maybe in a moment. I got something to do." He nodded. "K man, just stop by whenever." I smiled, and before we parted ways, I said, "So Sarah and Jacob. Do they have a thing?" Delta smiled wider. "No. Why? You got something for Sarah?" "No!" I said hastily. "I was just curious." He rolled his eyes. "Whatever man." Before I could protest further, he left and I decided that I needed some air, even hot, dusty air. I quickly went upstairs and retrieved Eli's sword. When it comes to the Wasteland, rule number one is to never go anywhere without a weapon.

As I walked outside, I swung my blade slowly. I could still see red blood stains from Eli and Solara's previous victims, and I wonder if that man's blood was with it.

I started swinging faster and in more unique ways. I added a few spins, and in a minute, I was breathing heavily. I stopped, and wiped the sweat off of my forehead. I glanced around, and my eyes landed on a puff of smoke in the distance.

"What is that?" I asked myself. It was getting closer, and then I could see a figure on a motorcycle. I began walking to the mansion's gate, and I shoved it open. I stopped moving, and I simply waited for whoever was coming to arrive. I then heard a gunshot and the figure on the motorcycle fell off. Multiple trucks circled around the it and then stopped behind it. They were very close, maybe about one-hundred yards from the gate of the mansion. Several men got out of the truck and kicked the person over as he/she was trying to get up. Help, my mind commanded.

I turned my head facing the mansion and I yelled. "PERCY! ANNABETH! GET OUT HERE NOW!" I then turned back towards the trucks and began walking. Then jogging. Then sprinting. I stopped about five yards from the trucks, just as the man who appeared to be the leader pulled out a gun. I glanced back toward the mansion, and saw Percy, Annabeth, Thalia, and about half the residents moving toward us. "Please," I heard the figure, the girl, beg. I looked back. "Stop," I commanded forcefully. The man pointing the gun at the girl's head glared at me. "This ain't your business kid," he said. "Get out of here." Two of his men rushed towards me, obviously trying to restrain me, and my reflexes reacted. I flicked my blade and both men dropped to the floor. The leader looked towards me, and then at his unmoving men, and raised his eyebrows. "Did you not hear me?" He aimed his gun at me this time and I tensed. He moved closer until he was a few feet away. "This little kid thinks he can come in here and do whatever he wants. And he's bringing all these people with him." I figured the man was talking about Percy, so I started to stall. "Why are you harming this girl?" I asked. "I was bringing a messa-" The girl began until one man clamped a hand over her mouth, making me twitch. "She killed my men," the leader said. He's lying, my mind said.

"And I know you're stalling, so I think i'm just gonna finish you off now." He laughed, and looked at one of his nearby men. Attack, my mind commanded once more. I obeyed, and closed the distance between us in a second. I disarmed him before he knew what was happening and I moved back about three feet, pointing his gun at him. He gaped at me, eyes wide. "What do you think you're doing?" He asked venemously. "Protecting the weak," Percy said, coming to a stop next to me along with several other people. "And stopping those who are wicked," Sarah said, raising her knives. I grinned and said, "Give us the girl." The leader, with no room left to argue, raised his hand and gave a signal. They released her, and she scrambled towards me, holding her leg. "Percy," I said. He looked at me, and I tossed him the gun. He immediately pointed it at the leader, who looked like he was about to make a run for it. I turned towards the girl, who looked about my age. Her blonde hair was in clumps and dirt and blood smeared her face. She was in a simple t-shirt and jeans, and her face was filled with fear. I looked at her hand hand which must have been covering the bullet wound. "Delta, come here." I said. He was next to me in a second, and I told him to take the girl to the mansion and tend her wounds. He nodded, and I turned back towards the scene taking place. It was like everyone was frozen in place. Everyone on our side had the weapons raised, and the culprit's men had their hands hovering over their pistols. "Please go," Percy said, breaking the intense silence. "You have no idea what you've done, boy," the leader replied. "He told you to leave," Annabeth said, raising her voice. The man laughed loudly. "And a screaming priss is gonna make me want to run for the hills? Yeah right, not after what you've done." The leader pointed a finger at me. "You nearly killed two of my finest men." I noticed that both of the men I had cut were gone now, and that two red spots were right in front of one of the black hummers. "You're outmanned and outgunned," Thalia pointed out. There's no way this could end nicely for you." The leader stayed silent, as if he just realized this. "Hell's coming to you, I swear it." He turned, and walked back to his hummer. The rest of his men followed, and soon, all of the trucks were dots in the distance.

Percy swore and began to pace back and forth. "Why? Why would you bring trouble to us?" He asked me. "Percy, he was going to kill her," I said, trying to defend myself. "It wasn't our business to help her!" Percy yelled. Everybody except for me took a step back. I was not going to back down. "Percy, you need to stop and think about this. They were obviously armed and trying to stop someone friendly. That girl said she was bringing a message to us." Percy breathed deeply. "What makes you think she wasn't lying?" He asked. "Just trust me," I said. He calmed down and said, "I'm sorry. Look, we didn't need the trouble, but you did the right thing." He turned towards the group. "Everybody, i'm sorry but for the next couple weeks, we have to go under lockdown. Nobody goes outside of the mansion grounds, and only certain people come in. We have to go back on our daily duties as well. When this is over, I promise you'll all have a week off. Connor and Travis, you guys have first watch. Retrieve a sniper from the storage. We'll get you when lunch is ready." They both nodded and rushed off. Everybody followed, quickly jogging back to the mansion. I decided to walk with Sarah, Percy, and Annabeth. Annabeth and Percy strayed behind, and I could hear Annabeth trying to soothe Percy. I felt guilty now because Percy has to deal with the repercussions of what I had done. As if she read my thoughts, Sarah said, "Don't worry, Jack. You did the right thing. Percy was just kinda shocked. Why do you think he still backed you whenever we all showed up?" I shook my head. "But now everyone has to suffer because of what I did."

"Is anyone complaining?" Sarah asked. I stayed silent and she continued. "Jack, we're a family. No matter what happens, it stays that way. And it's better to save someone's life and have trouble than to let that person die and stay out of trouble." I looked at her and she smiled sweetly. Her light gray eyes inspected me, and I frowned. "Do your eyes change color?" I asked. She laughed. "Your quick to change subject, but in answer to your question, yes. They're usually gray, but sometimes they turn green." She looked at me again, and asked, "Are you going to be alright?" I grinned. "Yeah, but i'm still sorry." Just before she could yell at me again, we reached the mansion and had to immediately part ways. Percy put his hand on my shoulder and said, "I need you to go and see what that girl needed to tell us, and then I want you to start barricading the windows. Leave enough space for the barrel of a gun to fit. Oh, and after dinner, you're taking the watch with Delta. You two work well together." I nodded, and I figured that I should follow Percy's orders. After all, he is the boss.