I don't think I have anything to say here. Except...
I don't own anything.
"A minor earthquake, rated 3.2 on the Richter scale just occurred a few hours ago. Scientists have determined the origin of the earthquake is from a disruption in the ocean, but evidence and reasons are still unknown. Our top meteorologist with more details..."
Percy turned away briskly and walked off. Gritting his teeth, Percy ignored the looks and cautious stares. He wasn't sure where he was heading, just...away from that. He didn't dare return to Atlantis, not so soon. Maybe not ever. He had just found a new home, and now it was ripped away from him, leaving Percy homeless and on the streets.
Maybe it was the short lifestyle of a prince, but Percy found himself bored and annoyed. Then he chided himself for taking it for granted. Percy had always guessed the royalty life wouldn't last. It just ended a little earlier than he had hoped.
Percy had washed up on Long Island not too long ago, swimming up to the shoreline to the surprise of the few people there, but otherwise, not paid much attention. At least, with the new clothes from Atlantis, he didn't look like a homeless kid anymore, just a grumpy, gloomy teenager. People didn't stare at him. He kept his hood on to hide his face, in case people would recognize him from the news.
He considered going to find Annabeth, but decided against it. He would have to walk a couple miles to get there, through many, many people. It would be risky. Also, Percy didn't want to risk staying in one place for too long. It could attract monsters, and Percy was not having that.
So aside from meaningless wandering, Percy had nothing to do. Why did he even return to the surface? Triton mentioned a destiny. His brother was convinced Percy served a purpose up here. But what was it? Was it merely to survive, and keep the legacy going?
Pausing in his walk to look, a mall was just up ahead. He did have some money, but did he really need anything besides food? But he wasn't really doing anything else, and Percy was really, really bored (courtesy of ADHD), so he supposed window shopping would be more entertaining than half-heartedly chasing pigeons.
"Well, I guess I've got time to kill..."
Percy killed time. He killed time extremely well. It was sunset when he finally left the mall. Percy pretty much did what he expected he would do. Waste time doing practically nothing, that is.
It was nearing nightfall, though, so Percy had to find a place to sleep. Back to the alleys it was, he supposed. He could sleep underwater, but Percy decided to stay on the ground for the moment. Also, the homeless guys sleeping in the sand didn't look very appealing either. Percy wandered a little, looking for suitable place to spend the night. Honestly, he wasn't too sure what he was looking for. Spots just showed up in the most random places. But of course, he was still being searched.
Twice Percy ducked into alleys and corners to avoid cop cars. What was immensely worrying though, was an appliance store window with a television talking about his, well, disappearance. "Percy Jackson, still missing, is currently still being searched for. Once again, the photo of the subject. The government is very concerned about his disappearance, and have even sent extra military search units. Is it worry for the countries young children? Or are they more interested in Jackson's rumored powers? Stay tuned, America."
And now the government was searching for him too. Most likely to capture and study his powers, like other demigods they had found.
Other demigods. Percy hadn't even thought of that. Other demigods, that might not know that they were monster-magnets. The idea sickened him, that a demigod out there was approaching imminent doom. What if he hadn't had his powers? What if he didn't find Atlantis. What if Percy was just a little slower, a little less alert...would he be here right now?
It got dark, and Percy continued his search with a little more haste. He sped up a little as he walked past sketchy salesmen, homeless bums, and street hawkers, who eyed him like they were thinking whether or not he was worth mugging.
Percy starting walking faster. He was in the middle of an alley right now, and he didn't want to get caught surrounded.
So of course, that's exactly what happened. "Hey, you there."
Looking back on it, Percy didn't know why he stopped. But before he could react, half a dozen kids circled him. Expensive clothes and mean faces, Percy had seen it many times before, rich kids trying to be bad boys. "What do you want?"
"This is our turf." The biggest of them all, most likely the leader, sneered. "You need to give a little...payment...to cross." The rest of the kids sniggered meanly, and Percy rolled his eyes.
"What if I don't?"
"Well, it's six to one." The kid said like it was obvious.
"Yeah, you don't want to mess with us." Another one grinned darkly, taking out a switchblade.
The leader grabbed Percy by the collar of his shirt. "So what is it, huh? You gonna hand over the money?"
Percy looked down on his hand. Compared to Triton (or any mermen, honestly, Percy had learnt some hand to hand combat in Atlantis), the grip was laughably weak, but the fact that someone was threatening him for no reason sparked a spike of indignation. He looked up at the big kid, and then smirked.
With one hand, Percy twisted his hand holding his collar. With the other, he grabbed the boy's chin and forced his body sideways, prompting a strangled yelp. And finally, he lifted his right leg, and delivered a sweeping kick at the back of the boy's knees.
He flipped twice before landing hard on the ground. The other boys looked down in shock, which Percy suspected would turn into anger in a few seconds. He didn't really fancy his chances fighting five on one, and he couldn't use Riptide, even if he wanted to. So Percy ran. Sprinting through the opening that the leader had made, Percy raced down a street and turned a sharp corner.
Only one store on the block was open, glaring neon, with a sign that said something around the lines of CRTSYS'U WRTAE BDE PLECAA. So he burst through the doors, ran behind a water bed (which was probably what the sign said), and waited as the gang kids ran past.
Success. Looks like he lost them. Looking up, he realized this was a bed store. Waterbeds of every kind, kinds of wood, patterned sheets, queen size, king size, et cetera. The models all looked extremely fancy and expensive, like a Safari Deluxe model with lion carvings. "What is this place?"
"It's my collection." A booming voice sounded behind him, though Percy had sworn no one was here a moment ago. Behind him was a bald, seven foot tall man in a leisure suit. He had gray, leathery skin and a cold reptilian smile. Percy didn't think he was a human, so he started slowly backing away toward the door. "I'm Crusty."
"Uh...sorry for barging in. I was just..."
"Hiding from those no-good kids?" Crusty grumbled. "They hang around here every night. Quite annoying. Say, you want to look at a water bed?"
Percy hesitated. He was almost at the door, and he could have escaped. But...a bed. A waterbed. Percy was tired, and he really didn't want to sleep in an alley, especially with gangs looking for him, as well as the government. But this man didn't seem normal–
Crusty made the choice for him by putting a huge paw on his shoulder and steering him into the showroom. "This is my most popular model." He proudly gestured over a bed with black satin sheets, with built-in Lava Lamps on the head-board. And just to top it off, the mattress vibrated.
"Million hand massage," Crusty explained, "Go on, try it out. Take a nap. I don't care, no business, anyways."
"Um, I don't think..."
He patted Percy reassuringly on the shoulder and pushed him subtly. Reluctantly, Percy sat down. He wanted no more than to rest and lie on the hydro-massaging bed, but he didn't like how Crusty was pressing him. Something was nagging at the back of his mind...where has he heard of something like this before?
"Hey!" Percy protested as Crusty forced him onto the bed. "What are you–?"
"Hm...not quite." Crusty mused. He snapped his fingers. "Ergo!"
Ropes sprang from the sides of the bed, lashing around Percy and confining him to the mattress. "G-gah!" The massage wasn't as enjoyable when he couldn't move. "L-let m-me g-g-go-o!"
"Oh, I will." Crusty casually said, grinning, revealing pointed teeth. "But I have to make you fit. All these beds are exactly six feet long. You're too short."
Percy struggled, trying to reach for Riptide, but he couldn't even lift his wrist. He should have attacked his monster as soon as he saw him! "You're Procrustes. The stretcher." The story came back to him, the giant who tried to kill Theseus on his way to Athens. Procrustes shrugged. "Yeah. But who can pronounce Procrustes? Anybody can say 'Crusty'. Now..."
New sets of ropes came from the top and bottom of the bed, lashing around Percy's ankles and armpits. Then they began to pull. Percy gave a strangled gasp. "Hey, don't worry. It'll add maybe three inches to your spine. Maybe you'll even survive." Percy wanted to curse at the monster, but when he opened his mouth, he could only manage a yelp of pain. He tried to think, but the massage pounding on his back disoriented him. It was hard to contemplate. He couldn't reach for Riptide. He had to get out of here somehow.
Crusty started to rant as Percy grimaced and cursed and struggled. "I tell my customers every time! Nobody bothers of the workmanship. And never six feet exactly. Then they complain about the fitting of the water bed. So inconsiderate!"
Percy was only half listening, but he realized something. Water bed. There was water here. As Crusty ranted and complained, Percy focused on the water under him, trying to ignore the tearing pain of his joints.
He willed the water to swell and churn. He willed them to gather and push. And with a tremendous explosion of water, the ropes snapped off and Percy was flung into the air, as Procrustes stared, soaked and open-mouthed. Quickly though, the giant snarled and reached behind the sales desk and brought out a double-bladed brass axe, ready to swing.
It was too late. The water had energized Percy, and with one smooth motion, he uncapped Riptide and stabbed downward midair.
The golden dust started to fade, just like the roar in his ears. Percy sighed and grimaced, wincing. A minute later and he probably would be dead. But now Crusty was out, and Percy had this whole place to himself. Looking across the many, many comfortable water beds, Percy smiled.
Now which one to pick...
His dreams were mysterious and nightmarish as always. Shattered images of past, present, and (presumably) future zipped in and out of Percy's subconscious mind. Annabeth, at one point ran beside him like she was chasing him. Then the blonde kid with blue eyes he had seen frequently popped up again, muttering "where is he?".
Three kids, two girls and a younger boy ran like they were being chased. "Hurry, Nico!" One of them said to the boy.
"It's getting closer!"
A shadow loomed over them, but the dream was cut off suddenly. Then it was replaced by a middle-aged man with a brown beard, but Percy gave a start when he realized the man had a horse's lower body. Somewhere above, a loud voice said, "Find them, Chiron. Find the remaining demigods."
"Of course, my Lord."
Percy sat awake, immediately awake. He was sure the kids he had seen were demigods. He had even seen them a few times in his dreams. But who was this...Chiron? He was a half-man, half-horse. A monster. And he was looking for demigods like him.
Another one looking for Percy. Why were there so many targets on his back?
Percy stretched, took a shower the best he could (it helped that he could manipulate water), and exited the water bed palace. He didn't want to use it as a base or something, since the gang of kids would be bothering him every day. But he put this place on his mental map in case he ever wanted a nice place to sleep.
Percy walked north, heading toward the forest that he heard was a couple miles from the city. Percy didn't have much to do, and he decided to go into the forest and fight monsters. He needed to train. It would be dangerous...but he had fought off monsters in Atlantis. Percy wasn't too worried. He just wanted to go somewhere where people wouldn't be in danger.
Taking the nice morning walk, Percy relished in the cool air and the peaceful setting. It helped him relax (which he suspected wouldn't last long). But in the meantime, Percy whistled a jaunty tune as he walked leisurely down the sidewalk. No monsters, nobody trying to hunt him down, the feeling felt a little foreign to Percy now, not that he didn't like it.
Unfortunately, it didn't last. As Percy glanced to the other side of the sidewalk, he choked on his whistle. A man on a wheelchair was wheeling himself down the sidewalk on the other side of the street, but Percy recognized him. The brown beard, the refined way he held himself, the searching look on his face; it was Chiron. Percy froze and stared at the cripple. He could not believe it. This...monster found him already?! He didn't know why Chiron was in a wheelchair, but he was willing to bet that it wasn't his true form. He knew this was the same half-man half-horse Percy had seen in his dream. Percy's good morning was fading fast.
Chiron then stopped suddenly, and turned with a confused expression, towards Percy.
With a horrified spike of fear, Percy whirled his head around and started walking forward with his head down, trying not to freak out. His brain was screaming, his body was shaking, and his legs felt like jelly. At the corner of his eye, Percy noticed Chiron frowning at him, then turning his wheelchair to follow him!
Percy grit his teeth. He started walking faster, hoping to lose Chiron in the multiple groups of people. Percy was almost running at this point, bringing a couple weird looks.
He didn't look back for another mile and half, but Percy gave a huge sigh of relief when he realized he had lost Chiron. Probably. Hopefully. Percy sat down, his heart thumping against his chest, trying to catch his breath.
After a few minutes, Percy calmed his racing heartbeat, and looked up and started. He hadn't realized how far he had walked, but the his destination, the forest was not half a mile away. Glancing around a few times to make sure of his safety, Percy started walking shakily toward the woods.
"Alright. Alright." Percy started preparing in haste. He didn't know when a monster would strike, so he had to move fast. Trees all around him, check. Isolation from watchful eyes, check. No humans nearby, check.
Setting his bag down, Percy took out Riptide and uncapped it. The bronze sword sprung into the air, giving off a faint glow. Percy held it in front of him, turning periodically to check. "Come on, now. I know you're there." He muttered.
Minutes passed as Percy waited, until he heard a short growl behind him. Whirling around, Percy raised Riptide, his heartbeat going up one notch. A pair of red glowing eyes stared back at him. He took a deep breath. Come on, then.
With a snarl, the monster lunged out of the darkness, A giant black dog, with teeth like knives and claws outstretched. Percy instinctively rolled away, letting the beast hit the ground. Percy estimated about half a second before the monster recovered, and lunged forward, bringing Riptide up in a deadly arc.
With a howl of pain and anger, the hound melted into shadow. Percy breathed out slowly. One down. A hiss behind him, and an arrow narrowly missed him. Percy chided himself for letting his guard down. Behind him were a trio of serpent-women, dracaena. "Come on, then!"
The first two advanced with spears, while the archer stayed behind, but Percy wasn't going to have any of that. Ducking as the archer fired, he stabbed the first in the gut, picked up her spear and threw it at the archer, then quickly finished off the last dracaena. Checking quickly that his throw had hit, Percy cautiously gathered up the weapons. There was no harm in possessing more weaponry, and he might be able to use the Celestial Bronze someday.
In the next hour or two, Percy had killed twenty telekhines, a dozen hellhounds, five harpies, two giants, and an innumerable amount of dracaena. Man, those things were annoying. Percy was leaving the forest with his haul of weapons from the monsters, but before he could leave, he felt a breeze. Which was odd, because there had been no wind fort he whole day. And also...as the wind hit him, a rush of emotions reached him. Malicious intent.
Percy stopped. Something was wrong. "Who's there?"
For a moment, nothing happened, but then, the wind picked up. Gales swirled around him and gathered a few feet in front of him. Percy stared, dumbfounded as it collected into a singularity, a young man made of dark vapor with smoky wings, and eyes sparking with electricity. An evil angel. "I am, half-blood."
Breaking free of his stupor, Percy realized, huh, this is a monster. I should probably–
Before he could even raise his sword, an arc of lightning sent him hurtling backward, wind knocked out of him as he slammed into a tree. His clothes were torched. Percy gasped, electricity running through his body. His mouth tasted like flaming aluminum foil. All he could hear was screaming winds, but he managed to grip his sword and raise it, despite static electricity flaring up when he moved.
The storm spirit was surprised. "How are you alive?" The vents demanded. "That was enough lightning to kill twenty men!" Percy couldn't even speak, but tried to stand up defiantly. "No matter."
A harsh wind sent him hurtling to the side, and Riptide fell to the ground. "A second blast should do the trick." The spirit sneered, raising his hands. Electricity gathered as he readied a bolt of lightning, and Percy realized he couldn't do anything about it."
No! I can't die now! Not like this! Move, move!
The ventus let loose another bolt of lightning.
But it never reached Percy. A golden blade intercepted it and the electricity was absorbed into it like a conductor. "Hey, storm spirit."
A boy around Percy's age held up his sword, now sparking with electricity, and sent a glare at the dumbfounded spirit. "My turn."
It was over before Percy knew it. The ventus sent a blast of wind, but the boy was untouched somehow. He closed in, and the ventus panicked, hastily forming a vortex of lightning, but it was too late. One quick thrust, the spirit exploded to powder.
The boy lowered his sword, and turned to Percy, who shakily stood up. Those electric blue eyes..."I...I know you."
The other boy blinked, but lowered his sword and extended his hand. "You're the first demigod I've met. I'm Jason. Under other circumstances, I would say that it's nice meeting you."
Another chapter up! I think i'm going to stick around the 3000 word mark for most of my chapters. I know this story is moving very quickly, so sorry for that. But other than that...well, I don't have much to say. Though, who do you think Percy's going to meet next?