Percy was tired of running from his problems. Ever since the gods had exiled him, he had been running, from his past. . . and from Annabeth.

The gods believed he had betrayed them. They believed he had plotted with Gaea to destroy the world. He could still here what they had said to him. Traitor. Deceiver. Gaea's Minion.

Percy was running from everything he held dear. He had been on the streets for nearly six months, unwilling to go home and face his mom. He wasn't even certain what he would say to her if he did.

Now he was leaning against a wall in the worse part of New York City, watching as Ray Deprino's gang slowly surrounded him. They were some of the worst human beings Percy could say he had ever met. But he knew exactly how to handle them.

Ray was grinning like a maniac, which in Percy's point of view he was, as he said, "Well, well, well. What have we here?"

Percy smirked at him, feeling a slight rush of joy as he said, "Well let me think. Could it possibly be the amazing Percy Jackson who is by far the most coolest person in NYC?"

Ray's face became splotchy and red, as it always did when Percy insulted him. It was part of the reason he did. He got a kick out of seeing Ray seethe.

Then Ray said, in complete anger, "Get him, boys."

Two of Ray's goons made a grab for Percy's arms, but Percy ducked under them and fled. He knew better than to get into a fight he couldn't win with Ray's gang.

He wove and dodged other people as Ray's gang tore after him. Percy leaped over steps, tore around corners, and threw down garbage cans to block the gangs way.

It was all for nothing a moment later when Percy turned a corner and nearly walked right into the punch thrown towards his face. He hit the ground with a groan of pain and managed to look up at Ray with narrowed, angry eyes.

Ray just smiled at him and crouched down as the rest of his gang ran up and two of them grabbed Percy's arms, pulling them behind his back. Then Ray grabbed a hold of Percy's chin and hissed, "You should learn to close your mouth, Jackson. I'm gonna have to teach you a lesson for that."

Percy just glared at him, feeling anger pump through his heart. Ray continued to smile, and, as he always did, punched Percy in the gut as hard as he could, causing Percy to gasp for air at the shock of it.

Ray was laughing as Percy fought as best as he could, struggling to get out of their grasp. He managed to get one arm free for about a minute and used that opportunity to punch Ray as hard as he could.

That only caused Ray to give him a kick to the stomach. Percy groaned in pain, blood slowly falling down his face from a split lip.

He barely noticed when Ray nodded to his guys and they let go of him, leaving him lying on the cold ground of a New York alleyway.

"Catch you later, Jackson," Ray snarled, with a parting kick.

Then he and his goons where gone.

Percy tried to drag himself up into a standing position. The pain was so bad he kept on tumbling down into a crumbled position. His limbs were shaking as he kept trying to force himself to stand. His head was feeling woozy and he knew that he was probably going to pass out any moment now.

He shook his head. Percy knew that he had to get to his hideout. He couldn't pass out on the streets unless he wanted to be kidnapped and potentially assaulted.

Percy could feel tears building in his eyes as he continued to try to get up to his feet.

After so long of being on the streets, Percy could feel himself beginning to quietly break down.

He couldn't even use water to heal himself anymore.

The memories of the horrible betrayal from the gods. . . and Annabeth had nearly destroyed him.

And now he felt as if he had finally lost the battle he had already been losing ever since that awful betrayal. Depression was entering Percy's heart as he laid, brokenly on the cold, hard streets.

He managed to drag himself to one of the dumpsters in the alleyway and leaned against it for a moment as he felt himself slowly begin to black out.

11111111111111

Matt Logan watched as the teenager crawled and fell against the dumpster with a raised eyebrow. Amusement was clear in his dark brown eyes as he watched him. Then he turned to face the other standing next to him.

"I don't really know about this one, sir," he said casually. "He barely fought back. I don't think this one will work out."

"Oh, no, Mr. Logan," the other man said coolly. "This one is a necessity."

"Why, if I may ask?" Matt said with a raised eyebrow.

A short sharp chuckle came from the other, "Ah, that is simple, Mr. Logan. I have watched this one for some time. He is far stronger than any of the other street children we have taken. He will not only survive, but I have no doubt that he will come out on top of them."

Matt let out a curious little hum as he studied the hunched figure for a moment, before shrugging and saying, "Very well. I'll fetch him them.

Then Matt casually jumped off the building, landed on the concrete with a dull 'thud', then headed over to where the body of the teenager laid.

He scooped up the boy and tossed him over his shoulder before heading back up to his employer.

After all, one didn't disappoint the Kingpin of Crime.

1111111111111111

Percy groaned as he slowly opened his eyes, feeling confusion as the sight of a bright white room, instead of the alley he had fallen unconscious in. He slowly sat up and looked around himself.

The room was empty except for the bed he was lying on.

Percy could feel a slight panic beginning to rise as he continued to search the room with a wide, fear-filled gaze.

Had he been brought to an organ farm or something equally horrible?

As he was looking around the door of the room opened, revealing a young man in his early twenties with light brown hair and dark brown eyes.

He seemed to study Percy for a moment before pulling a chair over by the bed and sitting on it.

Percy narrowed his eyes at the man, feeling rather nervous about whatever this man was about to do.

But the guy did nothing but give Percy a small smile, and say, "How you doing, kid? You're lucky we came across you when we did. You're injuries from those kids were pretty bad."

Percy narrowed his eyes at the kindly spoken words.

Percy was confused and also a little worried. No one helped you when you were on the streets. Well, not unless they wanted something.

He remained silent, watching the older guy as he shifted in his seat.

Percy had grown up a little since falling for Luke's lies, he wasn't going to be falling for whatever this guy was trying to get from him.

The guy kept shifting and then asked, "So, um, hungry, kid?"

Percy continued to stare at the guy, not willing to give any ground. Especially if this guy had a price for his kindness.

The guy frowned, and Percy could feel tension beginning to run up his spine. That look had to mean that this guy was about to snap.

Instead the guy said, "Look, don't believe me if you want to kid, but this is a safe place. No one's gonna hurt you here. Certainly not whoever your running from."

"I'm not running from anything," Percy responded almost automatically, wanting to slap himself for such words.

"Sure," the guy said with a raised eyebrow. "What's your name kid?"

"As if I'd tell you that," Percy said, continuing to glower at the guy.

The guy shrugged, "It makes it easier if you do. I'll quit calling you kid at the very least. I'm Matt, by the way. Matt Logan."

Percy continued to just stare stoically at him, not saying a word.

He knew that something was wrong here.

Nobody just helped street kids.

Not unless they wanted something.

Percy managed to sit himself up as far as he could and glared at Matt, as he said, "No one just helps street kids. That's not how it works. So, I'll ask this only once. What do you want with me?"

Matt stared at him for a long moment before he said, almost casually, "You're observant. Perhaps that's why he wanted you. Maybe you will survive it."

Percy tensed. He knew what those words meant. Or what they might mean.

Human experimentation.

There was no other explanation.

The world had been moving forward and now there were strange things at work.

And now Percy was sitting in what had to be a lab about to be experimented on.

Matt leaned towards him, taking in Percy's expression with much interest, "And now, I'll have your name. We need it for your files."

There was no way Percy was giving him his true name.

No way at all.

"Jackson," Percy said. "I'm Jackson."