Hey guys! So sorry this took sooooooo long, but here it is and after I finish my AP tests, I will hopefully be posting more often. Which should be at the end of May. Thank you for understanding. Enjoy!

Chapter 4:

Percy:

As Annabeth and I settled down to work again, I couldn't help but watch her as she thought. Her golden ringlets would occasionally fall in front of her eyes, and she wouldn't notice for a while. Then she'd frustratedly tuck the strand behind her ear. Her light grey eyes twinkled and shimmered as her mind connected dots and analyzed the poetry.

She was beginning to relax a bit more, so I decided it would be okay to talk. "Hey, Annabeth?"

Her piercing eyes locked on me. "What?"

This was the normal Annabeth. Calm, collected, determined. I almost wanted the lost and broken Annabeth back. "Umm, I kind of have to leave now."

"You can't. We have to finish this." Yep. Definitely would like the other Annabeth back. But this was Annabeth, take it or leave it, and if I wanted a good grade on this project, I'd better take it.

Did I really want that grade that bad, though?

"You, my friend, can finish this. I shall go home before my step-father starts asking why I didn't take the trash out." I smiled at her, pulling my normal self back on.

Annabeth glared at me. "What do you think you're doing? Sit back down!"

I had stood up and was now gathering my books. "No, that's okay, Annie."

As I exited the room, she shouted, "I'm telling Mr. Brunner that I did all the work!"

I smirked and yelled back. "No you won't! I have a great idea for how to end the analysis!" I knew that would shut her up

Silence greeted me until the librarian humphed in my direction and told me, "Get a hold of yourself or you won't see a job any time soon." With another dramatic and disappointed sigh, she slumped back into her seat and resumed her clicking on the computer while she stared absentmindedly at the monitor. Some job she had.

On my way home, I walked deliberately slow. I did not want to go home to Smelly Gabe. I spat on the side of the walkway in disgust. But I kept placing one foot in front of the other, making my way towards my mom.

I knocked on the door lightly, not wanting to wake Gabe if he was sleeping. I heard a rough yell. "I don't want whatever you have to sell!" I sighed.

I heard my mom's voice. "It could be Percy. I'll go check." Her voice was soft and submissive, but a sharp edge let me know that she was okay.

"You'll do nothing of the sort, woman."

My head yanked toward the door. I knew that tone. I sprinted down the stairs of the small apartment building and ran into the alleyway at the side of the building. I climbed on top of a dumpster that was directly under the fire-escape ladder. I grabbed the ladder and pulled myself onto the stairs. I leaped up the staircases, two steps at a time. Reaching my window, I crawled in and tore open my door to find a drunk, angry Gabe approaching my mom.

"Stop!" I stood my ground, eyes unwavering, as Gabe turned his short-attention-span to me.

"Argh, kid, leave your mom and me alone." He snickered and turned back to my mom.

I looked around frantically. There was a book on the nightstand near the couch. That wouldn't do enough. A picture frame….no. There. A pen. It sat on my mom's desk against the wall. She had always wanted a nice office to write; she loved writing. Instead, Gabe shoved her desk against the hallway wall. He told her that her imagination should be left to recipe ideas for him and his poker buddies.

With a trembling hand, I grabbed the pen. My breathing came in short gasps as I uncapped the pen. This was it. Gabe was about to hit my mom. I lunged at him, my unsteady state vanishing. Unconsciously, I stabbed at Gabe's neck. My heart rose into my throat as the pen sunk into his thick, scaly skin. As if in slow motion, I suddenly became aware of the blood pumping through my veins. I closed my eyes as my heart thumped faster and faster with adrenaline. My eyes opened as I took a deep breath.

That's when Gabe hit. I hadn't noticed. I swear to all the gods out there that I did not see what was in his hand. Pushing through the last bit of energy Gabe had, he pulled the trigger. The noise from the gun made me jump back, the pen coming with me. Blood squirted everywhere. But I only cared about one thing. My mom.

She lay against the fridge, a blood stain on her shoulder. I frantically rushed over to her in tears. After grabbing a towel that was hanging on the edge of the counter, I pressed against the bullet wound. "Mom! Oh gods, Mom! Can you hear me? Mom!?"

"Shhh," my mom managed. "Percy, call 911 and get this bastard out of my apartment."

Leaving one hand pressed against her shoulder, I pulled out my phone with the other. My hand was covered in blood and my screen wasn't reacting well to my touch. My mom's eyes were beginning to flutter open and closed. I dropped my phone and quickly wiped my hand on my jeans. I grabbed my phone and this time, I was able to dial 911.

The dispatcher answered almost immediately. "Hello, 911, what is your emergency?"

I stared at my mom as the words tumbled out. "Um, my mom is - well, I might have killed someone, first of all, second of all my mom was shot."

The dispatcher, a woman who sounded young "Okay, so-"

"No, switch the order. Mom got shot, I stabbed my step-dad. There."

"Um, yes, okay," the woman continued. "What's your address?"

I mumbled my address to her.

"Okay, we're sending an ambulance now, it should be there within fifteen minutes. Keep pressure on the wound. Goodbye."

"Wait! Help!" It was too late. The woman had hung up. I let my phone fall as I placed my hand back on my mom's shoulder, adding more pressure.

I heard a deep voice behind me that made me jump. "Hello, Perseus."

Annabeth:

Damn Perseus Jackson. I rolled my eyes as I stared at the poem, trying to figure out what possible conclusion Percy might have found. I checked the beautiful black watch on my wrist and saw that it was ten past six. Cassy would have my head when I got home. Dinner was at 6:45 exactly because it left fifteen minutes for my dad to get his stuff together after getting home at 6:30, and she hated people being late. Especially me. I mean, she just flat out hated me. Anyway.

I finished the analysis project by 6:30 and slammed my book shut, grabbed my pile of other books, and sprinted out the library. I heard the librarian call out after me "No running!" But I needed to get to my car. I had a light blue T-bird convertible, but it was beat up and slightly rusted around the edges. I hopped into the driver's seat before I remembered that I had told Cassy that I was sleeping over at someone's house. I stared at the dashboard with my hands on the wheel, trying to think of someone to go to. Shifting awkwardly, I got my phone out of my back pocket and called Thalia.

After six rings, she answered. "Hey, what's up?"

"Um, I love you, is there any way I could sleep at your house tonight?"

I felt a stiff pause. "No, sorry, Annabeth." She paused again and I heard hushed conversations in the background. "I have company over."

"Oh, okay. That's fine, no problem, haha." Good gods, how awkward can I be?

I could almost hear her pitying smile. "Alrighty. See you tomorrow."

"See you." I pressed the cruel red button and ended the call.

Next, I called Piper. Her phone went straight to voicemail, though.

I hit Hazel's number last. "Please pick up," I whispered to my steering wheel as I thumped my head against it with every ring.

Finally, Hazel picked up. "Hello?"

"Hazel!" I threw my free hand up and sat up straight with it.

"Yes, Annabeth?"

"Could I please sleep at your house tonight?" I crossed my fingers, hoping she would say yes.

"Why? Is something wrong?"

"No, not exactly. I just got into another fight with my stepmom and I told her I was sleeping at a friend's house."

I heard Frank's gruff voice on the other end. "What's wrong?"

Hazel hushed him. "Sorry, Annabeth. I'm kinda on a date with Frank."

My breath stopped short. "Oh," I finally managed, "that's cool. Have fun!"

"Are you sure?" Hazel asked intently.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay, bye."

I let my head plop back onto my steering wheel. "This sucks."

"What does?"

My head snapped up. A tall, blond haired, blue eyed boy stood in front of me. I didn't recognize him from anywhere. "Who are you?"

The boy turned his head to the side, showing off his flawless jawline. My eyes narrowed in suspicion. "No one of importance."

I squinted at him, trying to figure out his move. "Okay, No One of Importance. I have to go now." I put the keys in the ignition and started my car. "Bye." I backed out of the spot and drove out of the parking lot as fast as I could. I had no idea who that guy was, but he looked shady, and I was too tired to deal with him at the moment.

After a couple blocks, I pulled off to the side. I grabbed my poetry notes and flipped to the page I had been working on. I knew it. I pulled out my phone again and dialed a new number. After two and a half rings, he picked up.

"Hi, who is this?" Percy's voice sounded frantic, almost.

"I-It's Annabeth." I heard a sigh of relief on the other line. "I was wondering if you possibly had a place for me to sleep tonight?" I closed my eyes, praying that he wouldn't make a dirty joke.

"Of course, as long as you're willing to help with some, um, issues I'm having right now." Nothing. No innuendos. No smart remarks.

I hesitated. "Yeah, sure. Where do you live?"

He told me his address and I drove to his apartment. I parked outside and rang the buzzer. I had to ring it four times and I texted Percy. Finally, he buzzed me up. I ran up the stairs two at a time, scared for what I might find. The door was slightly ajar and I pushed it open.

My jaw dropped. There was blood everywhere. A man lay on the ground next to a blood-covered pen and a gun. He was clearly dead.

"I'm over here!" Percy's voice squeaked from the kitchen area. I cautiously walked over to him. Percy was covered in blood. I saw his mom laying on the ground with blood seeping out of her shoulder.

"Oh my gods."