Penny

Even though it was early in the morning,I was wide awake. I felt sick but excitment roll in my body all at once. I was going to see my mom. I wondered if she would even remember me. Would she be angry that I never contacted? My accent had faded away because of New York,but it was still lightly there. Would she be surprised that I had blue streaks in my hair? Pierced my ears twice?

"Penny?" My dad asked,his rough hand clasped over mine. I looked at him. Although he was smiling,there was a wall that refused to show how scared and anxious he was. I smiled at him and leaned against his shoulder. The ride to the hospital was silent and when I got out,the cold hair pierced my skin,goosebumps all over my arms. I pulled my cardigan around me more firmly.

"Cold,dearie?"

I spun around. Sitting by the sidewalk was an old frail women,who was bent down with age,her hair pure white. Her eyes were lined and wrinkled but her irises were brighter than any child's. A shade of forget-me-not blue.

"I-a little bit." I looked down. A blanket had been laid before her,with beautiful necklaces,bracelets and rings.

"They're beautiful." I mused. She gave me a wise smile.

"Handmade."

"Wow." Her wares were no joke. "They look so much more amazing then the other stuff I see in stores." I was about to ask my dad if we could buy some,when she reached up,her palm outstretched. "Your hand,dear."

My hand? Something in me told me not too,but I stared into her perfect eyes. They weren't human,they couldn't be. But before I knew it,my hand was in hers. I was shocked. Despite the state of her skin,her hand was as soft as a baby's. Her eyes closed for a few seconds,before she let go and scooped something from the blanket into her hands.

"You have a dark past," she stated,calmly straightening her jewels "and yet you're soul is still pure and simple. You do not know how much people around you truly need you. Do not push away those you love,for that is your fatal flaw."

I shivered,and it wasn't from the cold wind.

"I've indulged myself in these crafts for ten years," she continued "and I'm very used to being called a fraud. But you have a good soul and heart. Here." she placed two rings into my palm. Two perfect,silver bands. My eyes went wide.

"I-these much cost a fortune."

She chuckled "In our world,everything costs a fortune. Family. Sacrifice. Love. Fate has a way of bringing people together,but only for a reason. Fate,karma,destiny..it's all tied up. Things don't happen without a reason."

I opened my mouth,unsure of what to say. All I knew it that these rings are not to be given for free "I-I'm paying. Wait." I rushed to the other side of the car,totally forgetting about my dad. He was standing there,just staring at the hospital.

"Dad?" I asked. He turned to me,his eyes misty.

"I-shall we go?" he asked,as if nothing was wrong. I was about to tell him about the kind old lady,when my jaw dropped. I had to pace back to the same spot where I met her.

She was gone. Vanished into thin air.

"No way." I muttered,wondering if I had ever even met her. I glanced at the beautiful rings. I had. And a part of me knew that I would never see her again. Pocketing them,I nodded to my dad as we set off.

Nurses and doctors everywhere,some with clipboards and some rushing by so quickly I couldn't even look at their faces. My dad told me to wait for a minute as he walked up to the receptionist,saying something in french. I took the time to look around. There were patients sitting quietly,as they were being called one by one. There was a little girl who seemed to be facinated by my hair. Worried that her mother would probably be prejudiced and pull her daughter away,the elderly woman simply chided her daughter not to stare like that. The little girl looked up at me shyly as I smiled at her.

"Let's go." My dad nodded at me,his palms sweaty. I didn't feel so confident myself. We took the elevator to whichever floor my dad pressed. (I hardly even noticed) A pleasant robotic female voice's words echoed in my ears as the doors opened. I took my dad's hand as we walked out. A doctor was waiting for us outside,wearing a white coat. He gave us a smile.

"Bonjour." he said politely "Mr Jackson?"

I was startled. My mom had kept her maiden name even after she had married my dad. He didn't mind at all though,instead encouraged her to do so. The fact that my dad used her maiden name was also endearing. I glanced around as my dad and the doctor exchanged words. Only one room was open,nurses coming and going. Not glancing at my dad, I walked towards the room as if I was in a trance. I peeked inside. A few nurses were blocking the view of the bed.

"Mom?" I asked,my voice coming up more high pitched than usual. The nurses turned,both of them with kind faces and hair up in buns. Judging by their warm smiles,they knew who I was. They moved aside and I almost burst into tears.

"Mon cheri!" My mom cried out,her lips breaking into the most perfect grin I'd ever seen. I rushed forward and hugged her. I felt her frail,petite body shake against mine. Her hair was still brown and wavy,but there were a few grey strands. She was so much thinner than I was,but so much more strong. She pulled back and took my face in her hands,crying with happiness.

"Look at you!" she whimpered,her french accent still there "you're so beautiful!"

"Mum." was all I could say. Her soft brown eyes stared into mine with so much love,not even comparing to how my dad or even Apollo ever looked at me. She kissed my forehead as I wrapped my hands around her wrists.

"Comment ça va,maman?" I asked,her thumbs caressing my face as if she was drinking it all in and never wanting to forget.

"Perfect sweetheart,now that you're here." she smiled,her face lined with wrinkles and stress. It just made her look more beautiful.

"Mom,I-"

"Sally." I heard my dad say from the door. He stared at my mom,his eyes wide and lips apart. My mom's cheeks went pink as she tried to fix her hair. Those two.

"Poseidon." she said breathlessly. My dad seemed to be looking for some sign that my mom hated him,but there was none. My mom was always better than any of us,she knew how to forgive anyone. But me and Percy were stubborn,just like our father. My father came foreward and sat on the other side of the bed,my parents holding hands. I wondered whether to go out and let them talk,but they seemed to speak through their eyes. They always seemed so in love. After a few seconds (I won't lie,it was kind of awkward) my mom turned to me.

"I'm sorry that you couldn't bring your brother Penny," my mom frowned "but that's mostly because your father is a stubborn mule."

I burst out laughing,unable to contain myself. My father grumbled "Just as fiesty as before Sally." but even he was smiling. The doctor who we met earlier in the corridor came in,looking at us with content. My mom nodded at him and sat upwards.

"I made a decision," My mom started "to move on from this whole incident. I've been healing perfectly-" she smiled at the nurses "-your father's business has been blooming-" my dad looked like he regretted it "-and you and Percy have learnt to fend for yourselves at such a young age. Our family was torn apart but maybe,it was meant to be. It's like I always say-"

"Tout arrive toujours pour une raison." me and my dad said in unison,knowing perfectly well what she was going to say. She smiled. [Everything always happens for a reason]

"But today is the day that we let go. And so we're going to watch something." My mom gestured towards the small portable TV right opposite to my mother's bed.

"Watch what mom?" I asked,frowning. My mom's left hand grasped mine tightly,the other my father's.

"My accident," she said calmly "The footage from when and where it happened."

"No." My dad said sharply,looking scared and worried "Sally,my darling-"

"Didn't I tell you that he was a stubborn mule?' My mother turned to me with an exasperated face,snorting. Fucking Badass. But I fought the urge to laugh.

"Mom..I-are you sure?"

"Yes. I want you all to watch it. Not to think about it all the time,but to accept it and move on. Or else,you two will later on be asking me to talk about it,and I will simply refuse."

Well,my mom could be adamant when she wants "Okay...okay we'll watch it." I nodded,giving my dad a look. He sighed,shrugging in defeat. The doctor took a remote and pressed it. Judging by the angle,the camera was from the top of a traffic stoplight. At first,nothing but normal traffic,cars coming and going,when I noticed a little boy run across the street,a cab moving right towards him. The boy jumped with fear as the cab swerved,twisting and hitting the sidewalk. Smoke steamed from the engine as people began piling up,police men rushing towards the scene. I could see my mother's body being pulled from the wreckage (I noticed my dad gripping her hand too tightly) and another police man questioning Percy,who was crying. The little boy turned,looking scared. I frowned.

"Huh." I muttered. Probably my imagination. I was about to let it go but then something hit with with the force of a bullet. Before the doctor could switch off the TV,I muttered,"Wait."

Everyone turned towards me. "Play it again,the part where the boy came in."

"Penny,I dont think we should be watching it again." My dad said,his voice a little shaky. Ignoring him,I looked expectantly at the doctor,who reluctantly played it again. I told him to pause and zoom in where the little boy turned. My heart almost stopped.

I could recognize that army jacket anywhere. My thoughts ran to the little doll he had once given me,the jokes he had made which captured my childish heart and the innocent,sweet kiss we had shared before we bade each other goodbye forever. It couldn't be,because a boy who I was so smitten with (even if we had only met and talked for such little time) could never do this to me and keep it a secret.

No..." I choked,feeling my head spin. I moved away from the screen,grasping the doctor's arm for support. They all exchanged glanced,not expecting this reaction from me. My mom reached out and touched me.

"Honey? What-what's wrong?" she asked,her brown eyes confused. My mother,small,frail,innocent and sweet. My poor mother who didn't deserve anything. At that moment I truly understood what that lady on the street truly said.

'Fate has a way of bringing people together,but only for a reason. Fate,karma,destiny..it's all tied up. Things don't happen without a reason.'

My mother believed in the same thing.

"Penny? Penny? Get some water." My dad ordered one of the nurses,who nodded and rushed out quickly. The doctor began saying something in French and made me sit down,but I wasn't listening. I felt something rising in my chest. Fear. The nurse came running in,holding a tall glass of water. My dad made me drink it. I drank it. My head was still spinning.

"I-I know-" I pointed at the screen,the screen displaying my mother's accident several years ago. Percy,badly shaken,just a small little boy. My mom laying there helpless,blood seeping the ground.

And the reason why the whole accident happened.

I pulled out my phone,hands jittery. It was night time back in New York but I didn't care. Ignoring the other doctors and my parents,I scanned through my contacts,searching. Suddenly a call. Angrily,I picked up.

"What?" I spat,not knowing nor caring who it was. Then I heard it. Muffled sobs. An ambulance. Police sirens.

"Penny.." someone whispered. Someone was crying. My heartbeat accelerated.

"What? Who?" I looked at the caller ID. "Annabeth? What happened? Why do I hear sirens?"

She took a shaky breath "Penny...I'm so sorry."

"Annabeth? Annie,what happened?!" I cried. She began to sob and I heard someone else.

"Annabeth-GO! Penny,it's me,Piper." I heard her familiar voice,now woven with fear.

"Pipes? What happened to Annabeth? What's going on?" I was abot to strangle someone out of frustration. Piper's voice broke.

"There was an accident. Well..not really an accident. Luke-Luke is dead."

I fell to the floor. I heard my mom cry out,my dad calling my name. "I-what?"

"It was a shooting. Thalia,Annabeth,Percy and Luke were there. Luke...he was shot right in the heart."

"Oh-Oh my god." I began to choke. Luke Castallen. The tall,handsome blue eyed guy,my first friend in New York. Gone. "What-who-are the other three alright?"

"Penny.." Her voice cracked,as if about to soothe me. A chill ran down my spine.

"Tell me. Pipes,what happened?! Who else got hurt?"

She took a shaky breath. "It's Percy. I think...I think he's dead."