Thanks everyone for all the reviews! Loved 'em all! \_/ - that's a boat for Percy's favorite sister haha
Percy's POV
I parked Nico's truck at his house and walk to mine. I stare at the ground, not thinking about anything. I sit down on the steps outside my apartment and hold my head in my hands. I'm not sure how long I've been sitting out here, but a girl, with wet blonde hair that goes down to her elbows, was leaning on the railing staring at me with wary, blue eyes.
"What the hell do ya think you're doin here?" She questioned.
"What? I… uh… I'm just… uh"
"Well? We aren't getting any younger."
Who was this girl? Who did she think she was? I'm just sitting on my steps in front of …. My … apartment... oh
"Hey, I'm sorry…." I say, waiting for her name.
"Hannah."
"Hey Hannah, I'm Percy. I thought this was my place. Sorry."
"Hey it's cool; I'm just givin you a hard time." She says, waving her hand dismissively. Well, alrighty then.
"K, well I gotta be goin, Hannah, so…" I wave goodbye, and start to head to my apartment.
"What's your rush? I don't bite." She shouts to me through the crowd. I turn around and get back to her. Hannah's hair is curling as it dries and I have a feeling that if it were completely dry, it would be shoulder length.
"Look, ah, I'm all for meeting pretty girls on the street and chatting, but I gotta go have dinner."
"At least give me your number."
I laugh and agree. Don't get me wrong about my intentions or anything. I am not one to give random strangers my number. She's cool and reminds me a bit of Thalia with her "I don't take crap" attitude. So at the most she could be my sister.
I say goodbye to Hannah and walk back to my apartment, hands in my jacket pockets. I lope up the steps and swing the door open. My mother is sitting on the stairs, waiting for me I suppose.
"Percy, Annabeth just called." She says her face ashen.
"What's wrong?"
"It's Casey, he's, uh, he's taken a turn for the worst. Well it's…it doesn't look like he'll make it."
If I had cared or even really knew that guy, I would be devastated. Really, I am sad. He is a human. He just rubs me the wrong way.
"Where is she?" I ask, calmly.
"At the hospital again. I think you should go to her."
"How? Can you drive me? I don't have money for a taxi."
"I'm sorry, honey, I have to go to work. Could you get a friend to take you?"
I call up Nico, but he said he's grounded. Thalia's at the hospital with Annabeth already. I have two choices left: I could walk or I could be an annoying jerk and ask Hannah to give me a ride.
I guess I'm gonna walk. The problem with walking is that there is the risk I could get mugged. People can see I'm fairly new to New York City. I'm an easy target. I start to head to the hospital. I keep my head down and try not to look at people in the eye.
I'm about half-way to the hospital, when I hear a gun click next to my ear and a hand grabs my elbow. I hear a gruff voice whisper urgently in my ear," The money, punk." I'm about to reach into my back pocket when I change my mind.
Okay, I'm not stupid, just stubborn.
"No." I choke out.
The mugger slams the gun into my temple and yells," Are you tryin to be a freakin hero or somethin? I said give me the money." I don't have a game plan, maybe just to get someone to actually notice what's going on or just to beat the guy senseless.
I pretend to reach for my wallet, but I'm really reaching for his other hand. Try to grab his arm but I miss by an inch and he smacks his gun against my face. By now, people have noticed and a circle of people have crowded around us.
I'm on my knees now; the only thing keeping me up is the mugger, holding my arm behind my back. I should be terrified, but I'm not. I realized as I fell to my knees, He doesn't want to kill me. He doesn't have the guts.
I have cut on my cheek, from the gun, that's bleeding down my face. I look up in the crowd and I see several people on their phone screaming for the police. Cowards. They can stand there and yell for help all they want, but no one will help. No one will even try. I'm feeling a bit weak and I don't think I can try to fight. I could give him the wallet, but I'm not the kind of person to give up like that.
I'm about to get up and try to fight, when I see curly blonde hair and blue eyes. Hannah. She gives me a knowing look and a wink. Now is not the time to flirt Hannah! You gotta help… Oh
I see her push through the crowds and get behind us in the crowd. I don't know what to brace for so I just take my time and pretend to reach for my wallet.
I hear a wild battle cry from behind and I rip free from my mugger. I look up just in time to see the gun skid away and Hannah tackle him. She bolts for the gun, but he grabs her leg and she falls on her face. I run towards the gun, but he gets there first. He's on his stomach and he aims the gun at Hannah. I shove her out of the way, the bullet missing both of us.
I see the police lights in the distance, but we may not make it that long. I lunge at the mugger, and grapple for the gun. He shoves me away and aims. Everything happens in slow motion. I see him wipe sweat and blood from his face and I see him aim his gun at my head. Then I see Hannah lunge at the gun trying to steal it again. It's too late, he fires the gun. I hear two shots.
Hannah must have thrown him off, because the bullet doesn't hit my head. I look down and blood is staining my shirt. I see the blood trickle down my side and onto the pavement that I just fell on. People are screaming and I see Hannah on the ground, her shirt covered in her own blood. I stand up, and stumble over to her. She's alive, but going unconscious.
"Hey, you're a little hurt." She says, her eyes glazed. The mugger is standing up and trying to run but the police arrive and catch him. They see us and yell urgently into their walkie-talkies.
I lie down and stare up at a building before everything goes black.
