AN: Hello guys! Update on Thursday? What? I know. BUT I decided to give you guys all a little Thanksgiving present in honor of all us Americans! Woo hoo! So this chapter is pretty short, buy don't worry; I'll update one or two more times before Monday. So I had people say that Nico shouldn't go all dark so you get some cute Nico in here. THANK YOU SOOOO much to The Song of the Felines for her awesome OC that is here in this chapter.
SO! Voting is now closed for couples, but I might have another one late for Nico because I'm not sure I want to bring Nina into this story. Soooooo results!
We have Nico/Nina (not set on this yet so... yah), Thalia single, Jason/Piper, Travis/Katie, Frank/Hazel, and Leo/Calypso!
Thank you to all that voted! Keep up the good reviews! I take and constructive criticism or requests so feel free to ask. PM's are also always accepted!
QUESTION:
What are you thankful for?
I'm thankful for all you guys here on fanfiction for liking my stories. You guys make me smile when I feel like crying! I love when the little message comes up on my computer saying I got an e-mail about a new review! Thank you guys so much! Enjoy your turkey!
ENJOY:
Annabeth POV:
Two weeks had passed since Percy's beating and he had only gotten worse. His lash marks were swollen and would often bleed when he moved around a lot. Nobody had any medical history though, so all we could do was tell him that he'd get better soon.
Nico stayed away from other people mostly. Everybody except Percy. The kid would always come up and hold Percy's hand or give him a hug. (AN: Not romantic people! He's only six now...) Percy didn't mind. Nico was cute and PErcy was glad Nico was attached to somebody. They would often talk in private. I had no idea what they would talk about, but they always seemed happy afterwards.
I was glad Percy was mentally better for the most part. But then there was him and I.
I couldn't forget what I had seen in my dream or the way Percy had reacted when I had told him about it. I knew he was hurting, but he wouldn't let me or anybody else help him. Every time he and I made eye contact, I could see him mentally cringe and then quickly look away. He wouldn't even talk to me.
I had cried quite often in fear that I would never get Percy back.
Today, I had tried to talk to Percy again, but he had ignored me and pretended that I wasn't there. This was the final straw.
Right when he did this, I scream, "PERCY!" and yanked his arm towards me, forgetting about what pain he was in. I dragged him behind me into the basement. Once we were down there, I whirled around.
"We need to talk, Percy! We haven't spoken for two weeks and it's getting ridiculous. I know you are upset and embarrassed that I know about Gabe, but I thought that that was the thing about us. I thought that we could tell each other anything!" With that, I burst into tears. I sat down on the floor heavily. Percy sat down next to me, and I didn't even notice the blood stains that were spotting his shirt.
"Annie! I didn't want you to know because I live with it every day and I don't want you to have to too. You're only nine years old! You don't need my pain."
"You're nine too!"
"I know, but I've always had it. You haven't."
I bit my lip and squeezed my eyes shut. He didn't deserve this alone. Nobody did. Especially two nine year olds. We really were too old for our age. As I thought about this, I suddenly wrapped my arms around Percy and rested my head against his shoulder. Percy was surprised at first, but eventually returned the hug. "I'm so sorry, Percy."
He rubbed my back comfortingly and gave me a sad look. We stayed that way for a long time, just enjoying being with the other after having no contact for two weeks. I had my Percy back and I couldn't help but smile a bit.
After a while, Percy gently pulled back and we stared at each other for a while longer, not cringing away this time. We both grinned and stood up, walking up the basement stairs hand-in-hand.
Once we reached the top, Thalia came over to us and said, "Awwwww! The two love birds have stopped fighting!"
Percy and I blushed and looked away from each other, our hands dropping to our sides. Thalia reached over and ruffled our hair with an added, "Awwwww!"
Just then, we heard the noise of the front door opening and we all scattered into the kitchen to avoid being in his sight. Percy winced as we rushed over and that's when I realized that his wounds were bleeding. I mouthed, are you all right? But he just shook me off.
The front door slammed shut and I heard scuffling from the living room. There was a muffled yelp and Kronos stepped into view with a girl that was struggling against his grip. She looked to be about 16 years old, pretty with long, silky, straight, black hair. She was tall and thin. She wore a long, burgundy eggplant skirt and a white blouse. Her eyes were hazel and had a determined look about them, but there was something else too. Fear? No not fear. Something else.
Kronos had her arms pinned behind her back and he looked murderous. "You'll learn in time, brat. They all do." He pushed her away and stomped up the stairs after locking the front door so that we couldn't leave.
Thalia immediately rushed over to the girl, followed by Percy and I.
"Hi, I'm Thalia."
"Aine," the girl replied with a smirk. I could tell that they would be great friends. "Where am I?"
"You've been kidnapped by Kronos. Looks like you were a difficult one though, judging by his reaction."
Aine got an angry look on her face and looked like she was going to punch somebody, but it disintegrated and she looked down at Percy and I. "Hello!"
I replied, "Hi. I'm Annabeth." She smiled and then looked at Percy.
He winced slightly and said, "Percy."
"And who's that?" She asked Percy. I noticed Nico was peeking out from behind Percy, looking curious, but fearful at the same time.
Percy glanced at Nico and smiled. "That's Nico."
"I'm six!" Nico said, but immediately hid behind Percy again.
Aine bent down and reached out her hand. "I won't hurt you, Nico. Do you want a caramel?" She reached into a pocket on her skirt and took out a wrapped caramel. My mouth watered. I hadn't seen such delectable food since before I was kidnapped.
Nico peered out again and took the carefully unwrapped it and stuck it in his mouth. He gave the wrapper to Aine which she took and stuck in her pocket as she stood up. Nico usually didn't trust anybody other than Percy so this very weird.
Aine stared at Percy and asked, "What happened to you?"
"Kronos," he answered simply.
"Well you need help."
"I'm fine."
"And I'm not stuck in a creepy man's house that is filled with kids," she said sarcastically. "Come on. I need to fix you up."
"Fine then," he said. He led her to the basement, Nico in tow, and disappeared.
Thalia and I looked at each other. "I'm glad you two are talking again," she said.
"Me too."
"Listen, I know you know something about Percy's past and I feel like a horrible big sister that I can't figure anything out about him. I want to help him, just like you, and I need you to help me by telling me what you know."
"I can't! He'd get mad and stop talking to me again!"
"If he does that, I will slap him and tell him he needs to get over himself. Not really, but you know what I mean."
"Fine. But you have to promise that you'll be gentle with him about it?"
"I pinkie promise, Annie." We locked our pinkies together and I delved into the story of Gabe and Percy's abuse.
Percy POV:
I led the new girl, Aine, into the basement with Nico still holding my hand. I went and sat down on the blanket I had been sleeping on since my beating and she sat down next to me. Nico's hand was still clutching my fingers.
"Take off your shirt," Aine said. I hesitated before lifting the hem of my shirt and pulling it over my head.
Aine gasped at the sight of my chest, littered with wounds both new and old.
"Kronos did all of this to you?"
I shook my head no.
"Then who?!" She said this angrily, her temper rising.
I mumbled something incoherent. She gave me a look that said, "Really now?" so I said louder, "My stepdad."
"That's horrible, Percy. Let's get you cleaned up."
She took a bottle of water out of her pocket, making me wonder what else she had in there. She ripped a long piece of fabric off of her skirt and drizzled some water on it. She took the rag and gently began to wipe away blood from my chest.
"So," I said, "how did Kronos get you?"
"Well, I was stealing some more caramel from a drug store when he walked in. He kept looking over at me and I thought he was a cop or something, so I ran out. He followed me out, so I ran as hard as I could. I ran for about three blocks before I ran into this huge dude. He tried to grab me, but all he did was slow me down. Kronos had caught up and was gaining on me. I tried to run faster, but I was hungry and out of breath, so I stopped running and decided to fight instead. I held them off for a few minutes, gave them some bruises before they got me and gassed me. I woke up in front of this house and met you guys and yeah. That's it."
I nodded my head at her. That was similar to most kids' stories that are here. Two guys, stalking, and fight. "No family?"
"Nope. They all died when I was young, so I've always been on my own Just stealing stuff and looking after some other kids with a similar situation. You? I know you have your stepdad, but anybody else?"
I smiled and said, "My mother. Sally Jackson. The best lady in the world. She wasn't around much, but she's still the best mom ever."
Aine looked a bit shocked when I said this. "S-sally Jackson did you say?"
"Yeah..."
"Oh god. Oh Percy! I'm so sorry!"
"What!"
"Last week, there was this news story. It was about a woman named Sally Jackson. She had recently lost her son and was depressed. She, um, went to the top of a building and committed suicide. I'm so sorry."
I sat there in shock as realization set in. My only reason for living and for escaping. Gone. After one simple sentence.
She went to the top of a building and committed suicide.
With that, I completely broke.
AN: Poor, sad Percy. I'm too main. Leaving you guys with a little cliffhanger! Hope you liked Aine!
REVIEW RESPONSES!
ADayWithNoLaughterIsADayWasted: Awwwww thanks!
.water: Don't cry now (waggles a finger back). I'm updating early today! Yay! Hope you enjoyed!
Puckabrina Percabeth Rules: Don't die! :)
ravenwolf24: Thanks for the votes! Thanks!
Mathematical-candy-panda: NOW YOU DON"T HAVE TO!(well you kind of have to wait for the one AFTER this one now)
The Song of the Felines: Thanks so much for the OC! She adds a lot to the story! It'll be a bit before they get out, but they will eventually. Wondering- how did you come up with the name for Aine? It's unique and I love that!
Elmlea:Thanks! I'm planning on bringing in Heroes of Olympus Characters. Maybe in like 2 chapters there will be some there. I agree that Leo would be adorable. I'm updating! I swear!
THANK YOU EVERYBODY! GO EAT TURKEY! :)
