Bruises
Chapter 8
Back then Gone
It was one month after the "incident".
One month since they realized that they loved each other.
Not much had changed.
Yet somehow everything was different.
Percy had become more like the person Annabeth had known in sixth grade.
He was beginning to find himself again.
It made Annabeth happy to see him smile.
Made her glad to feel the tingles that ran down her back, and the flush that crept up her cheeks whenever Percy brushed against her, or slipped up.
She liked this version of him.
But, she still couldn't forget that the dark part of him, the part of him that had been in control since 9th grade was still there.
It showed sometimes.
But not as often anymore.
Today, she sat on the steps of the school building, staring up at the warm sky.
It was spring in New York City.
And yet, it was unnaturally warm.
Gods, it was stifling, and her jumper wasn't helping at all.
She stared up at the sky, which was a marvelous robin's-egg blue. Then a shadow blotted her vision, and Annabeth scowled.
"Aww, c'mon Annie, don't scowl. You look much prettier without a scowl."
This just made her scowl deeper.
Lately, Luke had been acting like a grade A class ass.
He'd pick on Percy whenever she wasn't around.
How she knew?
At least one of her friends was in Percy's class at a time.
Pretty convenient for spying, yeah?
Maybe.
Sighing agitatedly, Annabeth rolled her eyes.
"Buzz off Luke. And, don't call me Annie. It's Annabeth. Anna-beth." The shadow reeled back, and retreated, leaving Annabeth to her musings.
Percy fingered the necklace case in his pocket.
Should he give it to her?
Maybe he should-
No. He had put this off for too long.
Now, or never.
Here he went.
In the shadows, a hand wavered and steadied on the trigger of a gun.
He had orders.
If he disobeyed, what would happen?
But, he wanted to shoot.
Shoot the kid before he could recover fully.
He pulled the trigger.
A gunshot pierced through the air.
The deed was done.
Yet he felt sick to his stomach.
It wasn't the kid's fault that the Olympians had troubles with Kronos.
Nor was it his fault, or in his knowledge that he was currently the sole heir to the entire Olympian Industries.
Gloved hands threw down the gun.
Hands trembled as he watched blood seep into the ground.
Luke Castellan had just shot Percy Jackson.
"...We're losing him!"
"Hold on!"
"Get the defibrillator pads, STAT!"
"Marisa, hurry!"
"Apollo, it's not stabilizing!"
"No...no...Perce, you'd better hang on.
Hear me? HANG ON!"
"Who shot him?"
"NOT NOW! HE'S ALMOST GONE!"
"But sir...the damage-"
"DOES IT LOOK LIKE I CURRENTLY GIVE A SHIT ABOUT THE DAMAGE PAPERWORK THAT WE HAVE TO FILL OUT?"
"Sir we're almost at the hospital. Operations to remove the bullet are to be started immediately. Life support is ready for his arrival."
"...Alright then."
"Sir..."
"What?"
"There's something in his hand."
"Wait-what? Something in his...what's this?"
Oh Percy.
Please pull through.
Sirens wailed as an ambulance tore up the streets of the city, and into a hospital.
Unloading him, all the people could spot was a hand that was clenched over something, and a whole lot of blood.
The stretcher was rushed into the hospital, and into an operating room.
Life support. Check.
Now all that they could hope for was that the operation would succeed.
When Percy opened his eyes, he was sitting.
Well, honestly, it was more like lying down.
He was underneath a cherry blossom tree, its spring petals blowing across the forest that he was in.
It seemed empty except for bunches of fireflies that dipped and danced, despite the broad daylight.
Where was he?
The last thing that he could remember was hearing a gunshot, then a piercing pain in his chest, and a wail floating in the air.
No...he'd been shot?
W-why?
Who'd want to shoot him?
Why was HE so important that he had to be shot?
Did this mean that he was dead?
"No, not quite. You're not dead yet my dear." A voice answered his question.
Turning around, Percy unsteadily rose to his feet, looking around the forest.
"Ah-ah-ah. Over her Mr. Jackson."
The voice came from his left, and he saw her.
She wasn't here right?
Wasn't this just a dream?
A woman with chocolate colored hair and eyes smiled at him from a tree limb, her smile crinkling the skin around her eyes.
"In a way, I suppose that this is a dream. But, I'm not here to keep you company. I'm here to ask you why you should be allowed another chance.
What unfinished business could you possibly have left on Earth?"
"So this isn't the Underworld?"
"No. Quite the contrary. We are currently in a space between life and death, time and space, and so on. But never mind that. What business do you have left on Earth? What are you trying to live for?"
"I really don't want to tell you unless I know your name."
"Well, Percy, my name is Melody Pond. I am an angel. Now, are you able to tell me why we should either pass you onto the next life, or allow you back to Earth?"
"I have no idea what qualifies as an acceptable answer for this kind of question, but I guess-no I know that I want-no need to go back. I need to see Annabeth. I know this may sound weird to you, but I never...told her that I loved her. I don't know if she feels the same way, but I'd like at least to say that to her before I...well, y'know. Pass on to the next life." He finished, a pink blush dusting his cheeks.
"Well, Mr. Jackson, I will have you know that that-that is a very good reason. If you love Annabeth so much-so much that you'd try and delay your passing just to say that you love her before you're gone for good-well, I think that qualifies. Take this." She pressed a pink sakura blossom into his hand, and said,
"Just hold onto this, and imagine your soul reappearing into your body. Imagine going home. Think about your life. If you think hard enough, the blossom will take you there."
A glow enveloped the glade.
He was gone.
In the hospital room, the support equipment was going crazy.
Heart-rate monitors flat-lined, then picked up a beat again.
The ventilator stopped filtering air.
Life support was losing touch with him.
But then-
Eyes snapped open.
How long had he been out?
A day or two?
A week?
A month?
'Thank you Melody Pond.
I wouldn't be alive right now without your help.'
The wooden door burst open, revealing two nurses, and Apollo.
Seeing the black haired boy's amused expression, Apollo sighed with relief, and began to unhook the ventilation mask from Percy's face.
"Y'know what? It's good to see you up and alive 'cuz. You get into way too many close calls."
Percy laughed.
"Trust me, I know."
Hello all!
Wow, checking my comments section, I realized that you all are probably pissed at me for the excerpt.
Whoopie. I shot Percy.
Hah.
I got a total of 12 death threats.
Woohooo!
Heh. Shoutouts go to all who reviewed, and favorited and followed, including the death threats.
My dear guest, please, you're going to catch flies.
I hope none of you died.
Keep shining,
Ren, AKA, HuntingStarlight
Sayonara!
