It was dark and cold as usual, it was so quiet I could hear my heart beat. Minutes turn to what seemed like hours of me standing around. Usually the painful test would begin as soon as I fell asleep. " Maybe something's coming after me? " I thought preparing myself for whatever was in here. I listened for footstep,but only heard the sound of my heart. A new idea forced itself into my thoughts, "What if you're stuck here?" I felt my blood run cold at the thought. My mind flashed back to a documentary I watched on a room that was so quiet and dark that a person could go mad from being in there for an hour. My heart beat sped up, it almost popped when I hear a sudden loud echoy laugh.

" Are you kidding? " it said "That would be boring! "

My eyes darted around looking every which way, "It's to dark to see numb nuts." it said, my face got hot and so did my temper.

"Over here kiddo" said the voice followed by a bright light in the distance, it's like someone had turned on a lamp.

I began walking towards the light which turned out to be a room that was completely in white, literally. It was like a a unfinished page in a coloring book even the fire in the fireplace was white, It reminded me of that room from the Matrix but a little fancier.

"Percy" said the voice, This time the voice was right in front of me a tall man that I swear wasn't sitting in front of me rose from his chair, he look pretty pleased to see me. He took a step toward me.

I tried my best to not show fear, but stepped back. I hit something solid, the vast black void that I just came from was now replaced with a white wall.

The man's smile widened, with every step he took toward the room began to gain color and the lighting became darker, to give you an idea of the room, picture a stereotypical room where there place is chocked full of books and theres a British guy sitting in a chair next to a fire place reading to you, sipping tea. Now remove the British guy.

The tall man was now standing directly in front of me, I looked him directly in the eyes. He had dark, neatly trimmed hair and stubbly beard, his eyes blue and I could tell by the wrinkles on his face that he smiled a lot.

Slowly he took his hands and cupped them gently around my face, "Perfect." he mouthed gently rubbing his thumb against my cheek.

Beginning to feel uncomfortable I pulled away, " Can I help you?" I asked

He seemed to snap back to reality when I spoke,

"Oh sorry about that." he said, walking back to his chair "This is the first time I've seen you in a long time. "

I gave him a weird look, he continued to smile at me

"Well maybe we should reintroduce yourself." I said

"Good idea, My name is Christstopher"

"Christopher?" I repeated

"No No, CHRISTstopher; you really got pronounce that Christ part."

"That's a stupid name. "

"Well I didn't bring you here to discuss names. "Christstopher crossed over from his seat to the fireplace, he rested on hand on the and the other hand he put behind his back, he deeply gazed into the fire.

"What is here" I asked cautiously stepping toward him. Christstopher was no longer smiling his gazed his eyes were fixed on the flickering flames. "What you think it should be." he said distantly. Christstopher raised his hand and waved for me to come closer.

Without my consent, my legs began to walk toward till I was standing right next to him.

"What do you see?" he asked I as looked into the fire I saw nothing out of the ordinary, I looked from Christstopher to the fire over and over again; confused on what I am suppose to see. "I don't see any-' Christstopher placed a hand on the back of my head and forced my head closer to the flames. My blood ran cold, but he stopped an inch or two before the flames, that's when I realized that the fire wasn't hot at all. "What do you see" he asked again.

I squinted and this time saw something it was a flickering silvery blueish-white line, like there was a there was rip in the world. My hand reached out my finger passed through the rip and disappeared on the other side. The edges felt pretty solid and it seemed like it could rip the slit even more.

So I did, I gripped both sides of the tear and in one quick motion pulled it open. the rip split easily and it continued to quickly expand till it was a large circle that filled up the wall the fireplace, mantle, and bookshelves that were in front of was now replaced with a different scene. The rip seemed to open a "portal" to another area that looked like a doctor's office in a hospital. A young brown hair woman with blue eyes sat on a metal table with one hand on laid gently over her stomach, Her facial expression looked worried; a lumped formed in my throat when I realized who she was. The doctor tapped the clip board in his hands.

"Well were a little bit pass your due date there, but theirs no reason to worry remember the due date is just an estimate."

"But is it normal to go past 40 weeks?" said my mother

"Oh defiantly!" the doctor confirmed opening a cabinet " Many women that go past their expectancy date aren't always post term-post term."

"And will he be okay."

"There could be some health risk."

She bit her lip and he face went pale

"Well we can always try induce labor, how about next week?" The doctor took down a small clear bottle and syringe

"I think that will be best."

"Oh" he said, turning around her and smiling "How have you've been since I gave you the injection."

My mom let out a slight laugh and smiled "When ever I take it he gets pretty lively and I can feel him kicking for a long period of time, there won't be any complication when the time comes right?"

"Not at all and before we end," he began to fill the syringe with the clear liquid I think it would be best that I give you one final dosage."

My mother seemed to hesitate at the idea, but she slowly extended her arm and accepted the dosage. Just as the large needle touched her skin the tear closed. I turned to Christstopher, he was now standing behind me in the far back corner of the room.

"What the hell was that, Christstopher?" I demanded

"You tell me." he answered, I took a step in preparation to punch him but stopped when heard muffled sob.

In the corner of my eye I caught another tear and quickly walked up to it and repeated the action I did before to open it. This time my mother was in a hospital bed, different wires were connected to her. she had one hand over her mouth and the other on her stomach, her face was wet with tears.

"There is another way to save him , the drug is very new but it's made for problems like this, and their is a 50-50 chance of him either living or dying."

My mom wiped her tears "I want to go through with it."

"Are you sure?"

"I'll try anything at the moment."

The doctor stood and made his way over to a cart, he pulled out a key and grab a syringe filled with a dark thick looking liquid. Walking back over to my mother, he asked her to sit up the best she could and he proceeded to put the needle in her side and inject the liquid. My mother leaned back and began to breath heavily and let out a slight yell she held her stomach. As the doctor began calling for a nurse the tear closed.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, I looked up to find Christstopher, "Who are you?" I whispered

"I saved you Percy, if it wasn't for me you wouldn't be here."

"That was you?" I asked

"No, it was one of my" he paused, looking for the right word "workers."

I backed away till my back touched a wall "What did you do?"

"It's simple, I made you a part of me. You should be thanking me Percy I've opened a perspective of life, not even those so call gods could understand."

"What do you have against them?" I said

"Don't you see their using you, locking you away keeping secrets about you. You know the truth don't you?"

"They wouldn't do that."

"No?" he said, stepping toward me, " To them your only purpose is to die for them, their cowards but I would never do that to you. Do me one simple thing and you can control them, all of them."

I didn't say anything this time, "See this room, what have you've noticed is missing?"

I scanned the room carefully, "A door." I answered

"Exactly." he said " I want out Percy and you're the only one who can get me out."

"And how did you do that?"

"Things like this are touchy, but it shouldn't be to hard for you, all you need to do is get a sacrifice."

"A sacrifice." I repeated, my heart was pounding at this point " Bullshit, I'm not killing especially for you."

"A LIFE FOR A LIFE" he boomed the lights when out and a icy blast of wind hit me, it was dark like I was in the void again, "Okay," I called out "That's enough I want out!"

"Don't you see." said Christstopher, he was nowhere in sight " This is fate there is no out." in the distance I could whispers they were getting closer and louder till it was just shouting "Fate!" they shouted "A Life for a life!"

I turned to move but the wall was there, I pressed against the wall, and squeezed my eyes shut "Let me out!" I screamed "I want out!" the screams rose higher.

When I opened my eyes again I was in my room, from here I could hear the distant shouting of the monsters from below in the Agora, I rolled over and did something I haven't done in months. I slipped my hand out from underneath the covers and held out my hand toward the window and then slowly lowered it, the window follow my action and closed.

[2 Months Later]

"Wait, run that by me again." said June for 3rd time as she adjusted the strings on her hoodie, I stopped backing my backpack to once again explain my plan.

"Okay," I picked up a magazine from the floor and showed her the ad in the back cover, "See this ad for this toy store?"

She nodded but still had a look that said "What the hell are you thinking."

"Look I'm just gonna be gone for a few hours." I said as slung my backpack over my shoulder, June caught my arm.

"You can't just leave, your not even allowed out of your room."

"I don't see how a satyr's death has to do with me." I retorted shaking my arm loose

"They just want to make sure you safe."

"I can take care of myself." I stuck my hand under my pillow fished out Riptide, a sword my dad gave me that's conveniently disguised as a pen, stuck it in my pocket, and crawled over my bed to the window.

"Just cover for me in case anyone comes into check on me."

"Percy, I already told you about Camp Half blood, which by the way Hera didn't want you hearing about, I'm not going to cover for a stupid stunt like this, have you even though about how your going to get there?" she ranted

"I have a map." I said simply

"I meant transportation wise doofus, it all the way on the other side of Central Park."

"I'll think of something." I mumbled, I opened up the window and swung one leg out, but before I could get the other one out June grabbed me and pulled me back in and closed the window.

"I'm not letting you leave and if you do I'll tell Hera and father." she threatened

"Come one June, nothings going to happen."

She squinted at me and but her hand on her hips, after a couple seconds of us staring each other down I spoke up.

"I'll tell ever one about you Apollo X Hermes fan-fictions."

"Pff, who are you going to tell your stuck in here."

Immediately I went to the window and opened it, below was the hustle and bustling Agora. I shot her a warning look, June crossed her arms and I took that as a challenge.

I sucked in some air and the loudest "Hey." we've ever heard from a shy, emotional scarred boy came out. June fearfully body slammed me to the ground, and slapped a hand over mouth. " No one one must know." she growled.

"Then can I go?" I pushed her off of me and again I went to the window and opened it.

"Sure, just go." this time she had a different tone in her voice

I swung both legs out and began my decent down the rocky hillside. "Wait," called June's voice from above as I looked up she dropped something silver from above, I caught the object behind my hand and my knee. "Be careful okay, don't talk to strangers okay?" I examined the object, it was my shield watch. I looked up and mouthed a thank you and continued down.

Get to the elevator doors was easy, a couple feet below the rock cliff is an Aqueduct I dropped down into the canal and then follow it till I got to where the water empties into a large pool, then I took the long way through the grove to get to the elevator. When I get to the lobby, the door man was as expected, reading, but just to be safe I exited through the back doors of the building. As I pushed open the doors a cold blast of air hit my face, I pulled up my hood and stared at the snow dusted streets of Manhattan. Every pole was decorated with lights, men and women hustled with children holding large packages and bags. I felt an uncontrollable smile find its way to my face as I made my way to the corner. I remembered every twist and turn Apollo and I took to get to Central Park [1] and in no time I found myself at the entrance of the park.

After walking at good distance I stopped and pulled out the map from my pocket, after staring and filling over a bunch of times, I soon realized that I had no clue how to read a map. "Think." said the little voice in my head "use land marks! " I pick out a orange triangle from the map and spun around looking for a larger orange triangle. I of course found nothing.

A sudden hand on my shoulder made my blood run cold, my brain automatic thought of a very upset Hera or Zeus. I turned around and my cold blood ran colder.

"Percy!" said the young blonde peppy woman, she greeted me with a unwanted hug, I hoped she couldn't feel my pounding heart. "you remember me don't you?"

I sure as hell did, her name was Sugar, Gabe's girlfriend while he was married to my mother, I never knew what a pretty woman like her saw in Gabe. "Oh sweet heart!" she said hold my shoulders look at me "you grown so much!" I shook her off me knowing that was a utter lie.

"What are doing out her here, its freezing come on!" she continued, she invited me to take her hand, "Gabriel has missed you so much!"

My heart beat began to speed up, and my eyes water as I had flashes of painful memories began sprouting up one by one by one, I backed away from her."and your mother as been worried sick!"

This time I hesitated, " Don't even think about giving into a lie like that." the voice in my head made me come to my senses, and took of running ."Percy!" she yelled, I ignored her, I weaved in and out between crowds of people, and went squeezed between some bushes to quickly get to the other path, but my effort was completely useless. Before I could part the last section of bushes a hand grabbed my wrist and pulled me through, the hand belonged to Sugar. Her strength was surprisingly bone crushing I twisted my wrist in her hand trying to escape. I angrily looked up at her a met another gut wrenching surprise.

Her eyes were fully black

"A life for a life sweet hea-"Sugar suddenly doubled over coughing, her face twist in pain, I saw my chance to escape and took it, I glance back once to look at Sugar. She was laying on the ground and people were starting to gather around her a few pointing in my direction. I kept run till I reached exit to the busy roads. A wave of deja vu hit me, and feeling exhausted I sat on a bench, I began thinking that leaving was a mistake and the Hera was right. I looked up searching for the Empire State building to get an idea of how far I ran, I tightly squeezed my eye shut trying to clear the fuzzy vision in my left eye. I felt tap on my shoulder, shoved my hand in my pocket and grab riptide this time ready for who ever or what ever. This time it wasn't Sugar, it was a boy. He was around my age, he had blonde hair and blue eyes.

"Hey, sorry to bother you but haven't I seen you somewhere before?" he said

I got up from the shaking my head, I wasn't in the mood to talk to someone after Sugar

"Yeah" he said " Your that kid from the observation deck."

I started walking toward the exit that led out to the streets, but he followed "Are you lost?" he asked

"No why would I be?" I snapped

"Because that guy isn't with you and I've never seen you other than around the building."

"Well that doesn't mean I'm lost."

"Then where are you going?" he asked

"That's none of you business and stop following me."

"I'll have a guilty conscious if I left you alone and you ended up on 'Have you seen this boy' list"

To distract myself from him I pulled out my map and I tried my best to look busy I put my finger on where I circled the FAO Schwarz store, "Your going there?" he said from over my shoulder.

Annoyed I shoved my map back into my pocket "Knock off." I growled

"Well I think you should know that they closed that store."

I didn't say anything this time, "If you want" he continued " I can show you where they opened the bigger new one."

I brought out my map "Show me." I said

He studied it for awhile he took it from my hand and unfolded it so it showed more than just Central Park "Right around here." he point to an area that was completely foreign to me.

"I can show a fast way to get there, want me to show you?"

I bit my lip and thought about the consequences, I decided that I could handle it "Lead the way." I said

"Awsome," he said smiling " and my name's Dean by the way, you?

"Percy"

After walking a couple blocks and we decided taking a train would be quicker, we didn't have to worry about money because, Dean had a year round pass thing. I learned a lot about Dean while were on the train, his father worked at the Empire state building, he was a only child, and he's favorite ice cream topping are gummy bears. He also learned a lot about me to, I told him my dad owned a large successful business in the Empire State, I'm home schooled and I had two older brothers.

"You two don't look a like." he said when I told him, I told him he should just take my word for it. The train cart was extremely packed, we squeeze between the people till we found a seat near a window, and for most of the ride we stared out the window watching the city zoom past us. When we got into a tunnel Dean started speaking, "Can I ask your a question?."

"You technically just did, but I will allow you another."

He let out a slight laugh, "Well at Central Park, I kinda saw what happen with you and that lady."

"You did?" I said

"Yeah, did you, you know..." he made a stabbing motion with his hand

"I hope not," I answered " I mean, I didn't even look back and I didn't try to fight back really."

"So," he said " What do you think happen some kind of heat attack?"

"Heart Attack" I confirmed

The train slowed down and stopped at a station, "Come on." Dean said, he stood up and put his jacket, "this is our stop."

We got off with a crowd of people and followed the flow up the stairs to a large lobby, it was bigger and more grand then the Empire State's. Projectors projected a wintry landscape on the high marble walls and ceiling making the illusion that it was snowing indoors, on the second floor a large tree decorated in white lights stood and in thee middle of all of everything was a beautiful clock. "Where are we?" I said

"Grand Central," he said, he noticed my amazement "You've never been here?"

"Nope" I said as we started moving toward the exit

"Your missing out, Percy!" I pulled up me hoodie again once we got once outside, for the first time no matter what direction I turned I couldn't see any sign of the Empire State building.

"Isn't that cool?" said Dean pointing up, I followed his finger to a statue of Hermes that hung above the entrance. "Sure." I said not really impressed

"Who do you think that is?" he asked

"How should I know?"

We walked for a few more block and we finally reached the toy store excitedly we ran to a the entrance, a man dressed as a Toy solider happily opened the door for us. We explored every shelf and every room for the place. "Look it." said Dean, I abandoned the robotic dinosaur I was playing with and joined him near a large large line up of kids and adult. "What are they waiting on line for?"

"Santa Claus." said Dean, he stood on his tip toes trying to see the the end of the line

"Santa Claus isn't real." as soon I said that 5 horrified mother covered the ears of their now, hysterically crying children. "Yes he is." Dean protested

"Dean we past 5 getting here." I pointed out

"Maybe has superpowers."

"Or maybe he just doesn't existent." more screams of terror followed my sentence

"Your like 8 years old how can you not believe."

"What?!" I said shocked " I'm not 8, I'm 10 you ass!"

"Oh, then your just really really small." he laughed

I felt heat build up in my cheeks, " Come on lets go."

"Okay, " he said still giggling " What are you getting."

"That." I pointed to the blue smiling remote control dinosaur on the floor

"That stupid thing?"

I nodded, "Why not?"

"That's for babies, I'll show a real toy." and before I could protest, he grabbed my sleeve and drag me out the store across the street and into another store, "Welcome to Nintendo World!" he exclaimed

The store was large and screens were place every where, kids gathered arrow different stations playing with different devices. Dean dragged me over to a station "Mario Kart is my favorite." he said

In the beginning I though that I wouldn't enjoy the game to much but by the time I finish playing with that game and all the others, I knew almost all the names of the Pokemon, Yoshi was my favorite Mario character, and my new life motto was "Good things come to those who break clay pots"[2]

"I really want one of these" I said as I kick Browser's ass for the 3rd time

"I'd look at the price tag if I were you."

When my eye caught the the $200.00 price tag my heart sank a little

"I definitely can't afford that, I only have $20 bucks." I said

"Sorry about that maybe we can head back to-" my watch beeping cut him off, I pulled up my sleeve and the clock flashed 12:00 noon "Dean I really have to get back to the Empire State building."

"So soon?" he said

"Yeah come on." we started heading for the exit, as I placed my had on the door Dean asked that I waited outside for him, I pushed open the door and watched from the outside as he vanished into a crowd of people. About 10 mins later Dean came out the store running full speed, and didn't stop when he got to me, he grabbed my sleeve and dragged me along behind him.

The train ride back was going to be long but for most of it I slept, when I woke up my head was against Dean's shoulder, "Sorry." I said

"No problem." the red mark mark on his cheek indicated that he feel asleep too.

We groggly stepped of the train and made our way to our way through Central park, "Hey Percy?" said Dean "Do you think we go to the top of the Empire State building, you know, where you and your brother were."

I really didn't want to go back just yet, and I was really enjoying Dean's company. "Alright but there is a small problem."

I explained to Dean that I there were people who worked for my dad on the observation level so we would need a distraction. We devised a plan that would hope fully get the attention of the worker so I could slip past. When we got to the floor I waited behind a pillar while Dean got the guard to leave his post with a sob story about dropping he's mom phone in a the bathroom toilet.

I quickly zipped up the stare to the 103 floor, Dean joined me a few minutes later. "Your pretty good at this." I said

"So are you." he panted stepping up on the ledge

"Careful." I warned

"I'll be fine." he smiled as he looked at the view

"If you fall I'll make absolutely no effort to catch you."

"Okay now I'm scared" he careful step down, we continued to talk as we watched the snow decorate the town. "Okay if Santa was real what would you ask for?"

I though about it for a little while, "My mom I guess I haven't really seen her in a long time."

"Oh, I'm sorry." he said, we sat on the ledge on silence for a short while after that "Hey I got you something."

I shot him a weird look, from his jacket he pulled out a white box with a picture of Nintendo DS on it

"No way." I gasped, he hand the box over to me, a smile slowly crept across my face "how did you get this?"

"I took it out of some ladies bag, she was to busy with he bratty kid to notice me."

"Thanks." I tried to control the smile on my face but gave up

"I have to go now but maybe if you bring we can play co-op." he stood up and began heading for the exit " It was nice meeting you."

I nodded "Nice meeting you too, are you sure can get back down won't the guard be looking for you?"

"I'll be fine," He smiled "Bye."

"Bye." I decided not to automatically go back up, I wanted to see if I could see Dean leaving, that is if he didn't go through the back exit. My little game was interrupted when someone suddenly wrapped one arm around me and with the other hand they pulled at my ear.

"Found you." said the voice that I recognized as Hermes "Jeez hide and seek is hard."

"What?" I said bitterly rubbing my ear

"Don't you remember we were playing hide and seek, it was your turn."

"Hermes that was 3 months ago."

"I know I'm just using that excuse so I don't half to deliver any packages." he confessed rubbing his arm, "What are you doing out here any way aren't you on lock down or something."

"I got bored."

"Wait let me guess, you climb out the window, met a mortal and he fell deeply in love with you."

"No, w-well y-yeah." I clutched my DS as my cheek began to burn

"Aw I was how that fan-fiction I read went, except he turn totally evil in the end and there was all this-." he pouted

"Your weird."

"Your the weird one, how can you stand this cold weather?"

"Don't tell Apollo but I've been using him for his above average body heat."

"Don't we all." he began nudging me toward the exit

"Did Hera find out I left?" I asked

"No, not yet but I would get up there if I were you, that weird nymph is in your room hyperventilating."

We made our way to the elevator and I did the usual task of inserting the key card and hitting the button.

"Hey can I ask you something." said Hermes

"Go ahead."

"Have you seen Apollo lately?"

"I haven't seen him in months, you?"

He stared at the floor as though he was deciding whether or not he should answer the question "Same."

I was about to ask him another question, but was stopped when his cellphone began buzzing in his pocket. "Hello?" he answered, a grave look crossed his face. He hung up and I watched as his cell slow turned into a revolver. "Get your sword out," He told me "somethings wrong."

[1] "But V Central park and the Empire State Building are no where near each other!" Well... MAKE BELIEVE

[2] -Eyebrow wiggle-