And so begins the Labyrinth plotline, I hope you'll all enjoy this just as you've enjoyed the others. I'm updating tonight because I won't be able to update at my usual time tomorrow and I may not be able to update at all I'm afraid, hence the early update. Anyways, I'm looking forward to the changes I plan on making so you guys have some stuff to look forward to as well.
Percy was nervous. That wasn't that unusual really, but still, it was a fairly big day. It was the orientation tour at Goode Highschool. Paul had done some recommendation for her, so she'd gotten in.
She appreciated it, she really did, it was one of the best highschools around- but still it was always nerve wracking starting somewhere new- especially knowing her previous record- even if she had managed to stay at Richmont for two years.
Especially given the fact that Paul was really nice and Percy didn't want to let him down- if a monster attacked it'd be real hard to explain.
Still at least she wasn't going to be alone. As soon as Percy had told Rachel what school she'd be going to Rachel had went to her father- and given the fact that it was a very good school he'd agreed to send her there, which meant Percy would have at least one friend- and a friend who knew everything as well.
As long as the morning went well things would be great- Annabeth was due to arrive that afternoon too- they had a date planned after orientation- a trip to the movies, and then Annabeth would be staying overnight before they headed off to Camp. Sally wouldn't be staying with this year, she was going to drop them off and head home after- she was looking forward to spending time with Paul but Leo would be- and Thalia and Luke had apparently already arrived at Camp a day before.
The only ones who would be missing were Nico, Kayla, Will and Clarisse- Percy hadn't heard from them for over a month- but she'd IM'd Hades one day when the anxiety and worry had gotten too much and he'd assured her that Nico wasn't dead and neither were any of the others- and Nico was 'Handling things as well as could be expected'.
whatever that was supposed to mean.
Hades had seemed somewhat worried but he'd reassured Percy that there was no need for her to rush off to rescue her brother and his friends just yet.
She was drawn out of her thoughts by her moms voice.
"Honey, we're here-"
"Right." Percy shook herself slightly, "Right I know. I think Rachel said she'd meet me outside-"
"Remember Paul said he wants to see you first-"
"Of course." Percy nodded, "I-"
"It'll be fine honey." Sally gave her a reassuring smile, "You lasted two years at Richmont. You'll do well at Goode."
"I know." Percy huffed softly, "I'm just nervous- I really don't wanna screw this up since Paul worked so hard to get me in."
"I know." Sally kissed Percy's cheek, "But Paul wanted to do it honey. And he's already said he'll do the same for Leo next year-"
"I know mom. I guess I'm just more nervous 'cause it'll look bad on him if I screw up."
"Persephone Alethea-Alexandria Jackson." Sally's hand was on Percy's shoulder, squeezing gently, "My beautiful baby girl, look at me." Percy did and Sally smiled softly. "You won't screw up. If anything does go wrong I don't for a second believe it'll be because you did something bad. It's one morning. Now cheer up. Rachel will be there to help you get through the morning, Annabeth is coming later today and having a sleepover and then you two are off to camp tomorrow. Don't get all worked up."
"Right." Percy let out a breath, "Thanks mom." she gave a wide grin, leaning forward before turning to get out of the car, face lighting up when her gaze swung to Paul, mostly because he was stood talking to Rachel, who was clad in a maroon T-shirt and ratty jeans decorated with marker drawings- some of which were from Percy.
"Off with you." Sally laughed, leaning over the teen and pushing the car door open, "Go see your friend."
"Thanks!" and Percy was climbing out of the car, grinning as she closed it with a bump of her hips and she rushed towards the steps leading into the school- Paul noticed her first since Rachel's back was to her, and he smiled widely and gave a small wave.
"Hey Percy, good to see you made it-" and Rachel was whirling around, a huge grin on her face as she darting towards Percy, grinning widely as she hugged her.
"Hey, you didn't manage to convince your mom you were sick then?"
"Nope." Percy laughed, "I tried to recruit Leo but mom knows our tricks-"
"I'm sure she does." Paul was smiling warmly as he moved to join them, his eyes moving towards the car, and he gave Sally a wave before she drove off before he focused on the two girls. "You two should head on inside. But first- how are you both feeling? Percy, Sally told me you were nervous."
"A little bit." Percy flushed, "I just- I don't want to screw up and disappoint you-"
"Percy, you're a great kid, you won't disappoint me." Paul looked amused, "I know you've struggled at some schools but we have some great teachers- we know all about
ADHD and dyslexia, no one's going to be unfair like in some of your old schools-"
"Thank you." Percy gave a soft grateful smile- Paul really was nice, even if they weren't all that she was worried about, "We should head inside now though, right?"
"Of course." Paul nodded, "Have a good time you two."
Then Rachel was grabbing Percy's hand and towing her inside quickly.
"So, Ariel-"
"I told you not to call me that." Percy let out a laugh. "I'm not Ariel, I wouldn't have given up the sea like she did, besides you're the red head. Just because she's my favourite Disney princess-"
"You're right-" Rachel paused, "Oh my gods, I just had an idea?"
"And what would that be?" Percy raised an eyebrow.
"Halloween- you and me. You'd have to genderbend it but role swapped Ariel and Eric-"
"I-" Percy blinked, "That could actually be pretty cool." she admitted, "So I'd be kinda like Eric but the mermaid girl version and you'd be a human Ariel." she paused, "Though
I dunno- Annabeth might want to come and visit over Halloween- it's still a while away."
"We'll just have to wait and see." and Percy didn't notice how Rachel's smile became slightly forced.
Besides they were soon in the gym and all talk of Halloween stopped as they managed to squeeze onto the bleachers.
A marching band was playing an out-of-tune fight song that sounded like somebody hitting a bag of cats with a metal baseball bat. Older kids, probably student council members, stood up front modelling the Goode school uniform- which made Rachel screw up her face with annoyance- she hated uniforms even more than Percy did. Teachers milled around, smiling and shaking hands with students. The walls of the gym were plastered with big purple and-white banners that said WELCOME FUTURE FRESHMEN, GOODE IS GOOD, WE'RE ALL FAMILY, and a bunch of other happy slogans.
Percy glanced at Rachel, snickering as she nodded towards the banners, "Think you could have done a better job?"
"Totally." Rachel giggled, "They're barf worthy right? Way too cliché."
Looking around Percy could easily see that none of the other freshmen looked thrilled to be there either.
Then again, orientation in June, when school didn't even start until September, was not cool. But at Goode, "We prepare to excel early!" At least that's what the brochure said.
The marching band stopped playing. A guy in a pinstripe suit came to the microphone and started talking- but the effect made the sound echo around the room in a way that made it impossible to understand and Percy rolled her eyes as she gave Rachel a sidelong glance.
"Can you understand anything he's saying?"
"Gods no." Rachel snickered, "It's probably all stupid anyway- more 'Goode is Good-"
"Don't." Percy pressed a hand to her mouth to try and stifle her giggles, "It's so bad-"
"Shut up." a boy behind them hissed the words and shoved Percy's shoulder. "The cheerleaders are talking."
And Percy's gaze moved to the microphone again where two girls were stood clad in purple and white uniforms.
One was blond with icy blue eyes. The other was African American with dark curly hair. The blonde was stood in front of the microphone. "Hi guys!" the blonde girl bubbled.
"My name is Tammi and this is like, Kelli." the dark haired girl did a cartwheel and Rachel let out a sharp gasp, suddenly grabbing Percy's hand.
When Percy turned her head to look at her freak she felt her heart sinking at the terrified look on the other girls face.
"Rache-"
"We need to run." Rachel whispered the words, "We need to run now."
"Crap." because if Rachel was this freaked out that could only mean one thing. Monsters. Percy let out a frustrated huff.
"One day. One day that's all I ask for." she muttered as she glanced back down at the cheerleaders- and Kelli caught Percy's gaze, a sly smile flickering across her lips.
Together she and Rachel started to make their way out of the room, ducking through the crowds to the door- and as soon as they were out in the hall they broke into a run.
"Rachel!" Percy resisted the urge to groan, "Rache what's going on? What are they?"
"I don't know." Rachel's voice was tight, "But they looked at you Percy-" she dragged Percy into a band room, "They want you I know they do-"
"Rachel, Rachel calm down." Percy grabbed Rachel's shoulders quickly, "Breath. Whatever they are it's going to be okay- I won't let them hurt you-"
"It's not me I'm scared for Percy! They're here for you aren't they-"
"Probably." Percy admitted, "But I can handle myself-" she looked around, "Okay- okay I appreciate the desire to run and hide but hiding in a room like this is never a good idea. If they find us we'll be trapped." there were a bunch of instruments, drums, guitars, stuff like that, "So step one is getting out of here- gods I have no clue how I'm gonna explain this to Paul later."
Her eyes landed on a large window and she grabbed Rachel's hand and dragged her towards it, unhooking the latch and pushing it open quickly, "Okay, okay so we're gonna get out of this window and make a break for it."
"Percy-" Rachel's voice was shaky, "Are you sure-"
"Rachel I need you to trust me." Percy grabbed Rachel's hands, squeezing them firmly, "Look at me. We're gonna be fine okay?"
"I- okay." Rachel nodded, "You sh-"
"You go first." Percy ordered, "C'mon, it's kinda high so I'll give you a boost." she was grabbing Rachel and lifting her before the other girl could protest, and Rachel grabbed onto the edge of the window and with Percy's help hauled herself through it, Percy heard the thud and grunt when Rachel got outside but she was already grabbing onto the window frame herself and hauling herself up and over, landing a moment later on the other side in a crouch- just as she heard voices outside of the door- Tammi's voice.
Percy resisted the urge to curse loudly as she grabbed Rachel- who'd been about to bolt, and grabbed her elbow, yanking her backwards and slapping a hand over her mouth, pressing her finger to her lips as she pulled her back so that they were crouched with their backs against the wall.
Her heart was pounding in her chest as she heard the voices filtering down from out of the room through the window.
"They came this way-"
"They must have left through the window." the voices sounded annoyed.
"I can't see them outside-"
"It's Percy Jackson, the girls known for getting away."
"I can still smell her."
"Well she's gone."
"Let's keep looking-" Percy heard them leaving the room and she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"They're gone." she moved her hand from Rachel's mouth and Rachel sucked in a shaky terrified breath.
"Holy shit Percy is this what your life is always like? Why did you stop-"
"I knew they were about to come into the room, if we'd have ran they'd have seen us and they'd have known which direction we went." Percy gave a wry smile "I might be a dumbass sometimes but I'm not totally stupid- just a lil bit reckless-"
"You're telling me." Rachel closed her eyes and took a slow breath, "What do we do they're not gonna stop looking."
"We make a break for it now- get out of the school grounds and we find somewhere to hide- while I figure out what the fuck to do next." she pulled Rachel to her feet and together they made their way around the building towards the gates- but before they reached them a familiar voice was calling.
"Percy!" and Percy closed her eyes, cursing under her breath as she turned her head to see Paul rushing towards them, a confused annoyed look on his face. "Percy! Rachel what are you two doing! Where are you going you can't just walk out girls."
"Mr Blofis." Rachel's voice was tight, "It's complicated-"
"Shit." Percy cursed very loudly as Paul reached them- because Kelli and Tammi had come out of the school and Percy could see Tammi pointing at her.
"Percy!" Paul's eyes narrowed, "I know that-"
"Paul I am so sorry." Percy's voice was tight and panicked, "But we have to go." and Percy was moving, whirling back around and sprinting towards the gates, dragging Rachel with her.