Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Chapter 10

"Look Percy, we need to talk." That was the first thing Annabeth said firmly to Percy in the afternoon at school.

Percy stared off into space as if nothing had happened. It wasn't that he was afraid of Annabeth. It wasn't like that at all. Would she tell anyone? Was the question he had in his mind this entire time she had been bothering him about it. And then when she said it the tenth time and got annoyed, the question slipped out.

"Are you going to tell anyone?" Percy asked her without meaning to.

And just like that, Annabeth knew she had won the battle. She shook her head and didn't smile even though she won. It was actual curiosity, and may actually become pity if it was what she thinks it is...

"You know what? Fine. After school. Just come with me after school." Percy said finally after giving it a lot of thought.

"How about we do it right now?" Annabeth wasn't usually one who skipped school, but her curiosity was at its highest peak.

Percy looked surprised, but then nodded slowly. Its easier if I just say it. The faster the better, he thought.

Seconds later, they were both walking to the beach in silence, none of them talking. Or trying not to. Annabeth wanted to ask him right now, but she already bothered him too much. If she bothered him any more then he might not want to talk anymore. They didn't arrive till 30 minutes had passed, and when they did, her eyes widened at the sight in front of her.

It was a beach. Not any beach, but one of the most beautiful one Annabeth had ever seen. The water was sparkling blue, as if glitter had been poured over it, but this was natural, which made it all the more beautiful. The sun was high up in the clear blue sky, and seagulls were flying around, swooping in once or twice for food. Not that it was the ultimate best beach there was, but if she knew that a beach existed here, she would have come here everyday. She didn't even notice when they had sat down and laid down on their backs.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Percy asked her.

And that was when Annabeth knew that this was the real Percy. Not a player, a person who gets detention almost everyday. No. The real him was relaxed, the laid-back kind of person. The person that everyone likes to be with. She could only nod at his question, as she laid there being a bit dazed.

"Pinky-swear not to tell anyone?" Percy asked her.

Annabeth personally felt that it was like she was back in kindergarten but she did it anyway. And she meant it. She wouldn't in any way reveal his secret.

Percy sighed, and hoped he was doing the right thing as he started:

"I guess it all started when I was about 3? Yeah that's it. I was 3 when my dad left, he didn't die. He just left. No note, no money, no nothing. My mom said he was "lost at sea" but I don't believe that crap. It's just some bullshit, but since it was my mom, I tried to be strong and tried to believe her. It was hard, but it was way harder for me to cope with a stepdad. He was nice for the first ten seconds we knew him. I don't think I need to describe him to you since you already saw him.

Anyway, going back to what I was saying, the guy made our life hell. Mine, and my mom's, which I was really angry about. He hit us, mostly my mom since she protects me from most big hits. And she couldn't go to the hospital when her arm was dislocated. She fixed it by herself. But she couldn't defend all big hits. I got a huge bruise in the eye when I was 4. That hurt like hell.

And the sad part was, my mom didn't separate or dump him. No. She married him! That was when things got out of control. You would expect him to be like the others, partying all night and getting drunk. But if you ever thought that, then you're wrong. We always had a routine. My mom usually stayed home, but she had a job too. At first she stayed only part time because she knew that he would do something bad while she was gone but, when I was about 10 or 11, she started working late at night. And it was partly my fault. I wanted her to stay safe of him and told her that I could cope. I said that, thinking that I could handle it but it turned out I was wrong.

While she was working at midnight, he hit me more than ever, abused me, and got so drunk he would collapse on the couch. That was how I was wrong. I couldn't take it anymore, but my mom was more important than me. He uses me as a slave most of the time, so I know that I won't be killed by him. He's too lazy to get his own beer. But then again, I also thought he wouldn't kill my mom because of the money she earned.

It happens to be that he earns a check every month from one of his buddies that were alive and as stupid and ugly as him. I think he threatened that guy with something. A gun maybe? I don't know. Anyway, he didn't need my mom's money. One day, my mom didn't listen and said no to his orders. He got really angry. H-he had her in a choke mode and I think he was about to release her, but I made a whimpering noise, and he looked at me and something clicked in his mind. He started being an insane crazy person and choked my mom till she was dead. She didn't die in my arms. She died in his.

After my mom died, I kept on blaming myself. I knew it was my fault she died. I didn't tell anyone that she died. I kept quiet about it. He must have hired a spy to look at me when I was at school, and that was when he knew I kept up a facade. He knew I was too weak to tell anyone of what he was about to do to me. He knew I wouldn't tell. So he started our routine of beating me up every time I came late from school. Or whenever he felt like it. That was when I was in a rush to go back home. I got beaten by his special belt. And that's basically what happened. What you wanted to know." Percy finished his life story in a hurry but slow enough do Annabeth could understand.

By the time Percy had finished, Annabeth had her head in her knees and a few tears brimming at her eyes that trickled down her cheek.

"I never knew," Annabeth whispered. "I would never have asked if I knew it would be that bad."

Percy laughed bitterly that held no humor. "Well now you know."

Annabeth wiped the tears away with her sleeve. She waited a few minutes before asking a question that was on her mind. She looked at her watch before- The time! It was late. Four o'clock. Such a story took so long! She had to ask the question hastily before Percy got in trouble.

"Can I ask you a question?" Annabeth asked hastily.

"I would like too. But..." Percy looked shocked at what was behind him. "Too late..."

No. He never came out. He always stayed home! Percy argued with his mind at what he was seeing. Smelly Gabe was right behind them. And he had a gun.

"What do you mean?" Annabeth asked him.

Annabeth didn't actually understand what Percy meant when he said beating up. She didn't understand the full extent to the story. She tried hard to make it make sense.

"I mean that." Percy pointed a shaky finger to what was behind her.

Annabeth whipped around and gasped in shock. He. Had. A. Gun. Was her life going to end now? Was he going to kill her? No. She was going to be tough. For Percy. For herself.

"I thought I'd find you here." Gabe sneered.

And that was when Annabeth saw Percy go in shutdown mode: fearful expression on his face, and head drooped down on his knees. She never used to do thus to anyone, but he needed the support. And just like that, she hugged him.

Percy stiffened a bit at first but then relaxed, and then stiffened again when Gabe came closer. Annabeth also stiffened, and shut her eyes.

A bullet went up in the air. The gun had gone off. Percy also shut his eyes tightly, but opened them again when he felt Annabeth shiver in what could possibly a bit of fright. She had a right to be. No one else was on the beach, no witnesses to report evidence to the police.

"I walked all this way," Gabe continued talking and walking toward them. "To finish the job. Or rather, finish the entire Jackson family. And I don't know who you are girlie, but if you don't go now in five seconds I'll shoot you too."

Annabeth's eyes shot open. She had a chance. A chance! She would live!

"Five... Four..."

The seconds were counting but is this what she really wanted. To live and allow Percy to die? She could faintly hear him telling her to go.

"Two..."

Two seconds left, and she found herself find the same situation at the apartment.

Stay.

Leave.

Stay.

Leave.

Stay...

Except this time she chose to stay.

"One. Your time is up. Death it is."

Annabeth faintly heard those words and was about to dodge if she got shot first as he was about to do but she didn't need to. At the last seconds at the bullet went off, Percy moved in front of her quickly, and took her hit.

The bullet didn't graze his leg, or his arm. It went right inside his shoulder. Percy screamed in agony, clutching his right shoulder while blood was flowing like a waterfall. Gabe laughed like a psychopath, and drank three cans of beers in a row before he got drunk, and before he fell...

"You're a bastard." Were the last words Gabe heard from Annabeth before he collapsed on the sand.

Annabeth didn't care about Gabe. She never had when she saw him first. But she did care about Percy. She turned around again, and looked at him.

"B-Bring my two cousins." Percy managed to stutter.

"I need to bring you to the hospital!" Annabeth cried.

"No don't. Please."

"But why?"

"Promise?"

"They'll fix you up better! Just please-"

"Please Annabeth. Bring my cousins and promise you won't bring me to the hospital?"

"Promise."

Percy smiled a real smile, before shutting his eyes.

"Percy!" Annabeth cried.

Annabeth didn't want to promise. But she did, and this was what happened. She had to bring him to the hospital, but couldn't. They promised, she couldn't break a promise. But is this going to be the first time she broke one. No. She was going to do exactly what he asked her to do. Call Thalia and Nico. But right now, she had to bring him somewhere safe.

A/N: I really am sorry for the long wait, but I hope this chapter makes up for it. Thank you so much for making this story have over 50 reviews. I know you guys are thinking that you did that and all you get is a thank you but it really means so much to me.