Percy stared out the car window, watching the raindrops hit the glass and fall, pretending they were racing. Oddly enough, it was always the droplet he picked to win that reached the bottom of the glass first.
"Looks like we won't be able to go to the beach today," Mom said from the front seat, turning on her windshield wipers.
Percy couldn't help but be saddened. Usually, they only go to Montauk Beach for his birthday, but Mom had planned to go a few months early.
He was practically bouncing off the walls when he had first heard, barely able to contain his excitement. However, if the rain kept pouring, they wouldn't be able to enjoy it at all.
Mom looked back at him and smiled, reading his thoughts. "It's gonna be fine Percy. When has the weather ever stayed consistent?"
Percy beamed back at her, his worries easing at her words.
They went on in silence. Percy continued to win his imaginary races and Mom focused on the road. Suddenly, as Percy won his game for what felt like the millionth time, the hairs on his arm stood up, and the smell of ozone started to fill the air.
The small drizzle of rain turned into a downpour. Thankfully, there were no other cars on the road, or they would've surely crashed into something. The rain made it impossible to see even thirty feet ahead of them, and Mom's windshield wipers were moving so fast Percy thought they were going to fly off.
Outside the car window, Percy watched the dark sky become illuminated by a thousand bolts of lightning, each one arcing across the sky. The sudden burst of light was shortly followed by the loudest crack of thunder he had ever heard.
The car and everything inside it shook, Percy included. He stared out the window in awe, watching each arc of electricity disperse into the air.
He looked back to Mom, looking for a confirmation that she had seen what he had. Instead of excited, she looked scared. Her face was pale as a ghost, and her previously relaxed expression was now on the borderline of panicking, something he'd never seen from her. "Get ready to run."
Mom's voice was barely a whisper, but Percy heard her nonetheless. He wanted to ask why, but the look of desperation in her eyes held his tongue. Percy unbuckled his seatbelt as if his life depended on it, which, based on Mom's reaction, it might be.
She went on rambling about how she thought there would be more time. Percy didn't understand - more time for what?
She slammed her foot on the brake, sending him into the back of the passenger seat, abruptly interrupting his thoughts.
"Run, Percy!"
Percy didn't need to be told twice. He jumped out the car, swinging the door open and landing on his feet. He barely made it a few steps from the car before an explosion from behind sent him flying off the road.
He landed with a hard thud and his entire body was racked with pain. The one thing he could feel other than the panging across his body was the electricity arcing through him.
Screams rang out, from both Percy and somewhere else in the distance. He wanted to see what was happening, but his vision was swarmed, completely covered by the yellow spots dancing across his eyes.
A feral roar pierced the air. Hooves pounded on the ground. Someone screamed - Mom? Percy shot to his feet, stumbling as vertigo overtook his senses.
Mom shouted something incomprehensible, or, at least Percy thought it was Mom…
Someone was yelling, that he was sure of. When his vision finally cleared, Percy watched, horrified, as some sort of beast smashed what was left of their car.
The sight sent chills down his spine. A white bull tore through steel and whatever else was in the car with ease. It rampaged endlessly, searching for something.
The animal snapped out of its frenzy when it caught sight of Percy, halting its destruction of the car to focus on its new target. It pawed the ground, and with no hesitation, it charged right at him.
Even as the animal closed the distance between them, Percy didn't budge, frozen in fear. His mind screamed at him, but his body refused to move.
Finally, as the beast was closing in, Percy jumped out of the way, narrowly avoiding being skewered by its horns.
Percy landed in a puddle, the cold water snapping his senses alive. He shot to his feet, just in time to jump out of the way of another charge.
The lightning and thunder were still going strong, and the rain in Percy's eyes were making it hard to see where he was. If it weren't for the bull's bright, white color, he'd have been trampled.
The bull released a deafening roar. It pawed the ground again, its hooves shaking the earth every time they landed.
"That is not normal," Percy said aloud.
Before he could put any thought into it, the bull charged again, much faster than before.
Not having enough time to jump to the side, Percy jumped over the monster, using its head as a springboard.
In the blink of an eye, Percy turned his body midair and grabbed one of the bull's horns, his momentum carrying him onto the animal's back.
The beast immediately roared in protest, bucking and shaking to get Percy off. Percy grabbed the horn with both hands, holding on for dear life.
His brain screamed at him, wondering what he was getting himself into. In truth, Percy had no idea either.
The bull should've tried to fall on its side and squish him flat, but Percy realized this monster only moved in one direction: forward.
Behind him, an explosion popped his ears and distracted the bull long enough for Percy to regain his balance.
Percy looked back and realized it was the car that had finally exploded. He could practically feel his heart drop at the sight, a cold presence falling over him. Mom never left the car.
A ringing sound filled his mind, Percy couldn't tell whether it was from the explosion or his anger. His newfound rage refueled him like gasoline.
Percy tightened his grip on the horn and started pulling with all his might. The bull let out a surprised grunt and went crazy, bucking and turning, doing everything in its power to toss him off.
Percy, knowing he would be thrown off sooner or later, yanked with everything he had left, and - snap.
The bull screamed in pain. With nothing to hold onto, Percy went flying off the back of the monster.
He looked down at the horn in his hand. It was sharp - wicked sharp - and about the size of a large knife.
The bull faced him, practically shaking in fury. The monster was already angry because it wasn't able to kill him, and now Percy made it personal. Good.
He started to back up, creating some space while the bull pawed the ground. When Percy stopped, the bull charged.
Without thinking, Percy rolled to one side and got to a knee. As the bull barreled past, he drove the broken horn into its white underbelly.
The monster screeched in agony and fell to its side. Percy didn't wait for it to get up. He quickly closed the distance between them and kicked the horn in further.
The bull exploded into a cloud of golden dust, leaving nothing but its broken horn on the ground. Percy was so tired he didn't even question it.
Lightning clapped above, as if it were angry at something. Percy ignored it and went to grab the horn on the ground.
When he reached for it, his body collapsed without warning, and he nearly impaled himself on the point.
Percy looked to the sky, watching thunder and lightning dance across the clouds. The rain poured on his face, but he didn't care.
The world started to move in slow motion. He watched as a bolt of electricity fell, heading right towards him. Percy didn't have the energy to even try moving.
Just as the bolt was about to hit him, a golden glow surrounded his body, and Percy was sent into the sweet relief of unconsciousness.
-~-
These ANs are important, so I'd suggest you read them. It takes not even two minutes, and if you got enough time to be here, you can afford it.
Going into the chapter: it all has to start somewhere, and this one sets up the future fairly well. More details pending.
For clarity purposes: The monster Percy fought was the Cretan Bull, not the Minotaur.
About my writing: I tend to stray away from the tropes and stereotypes that fill this site. Originality and quality are important to me. Obviously almost nothing is 'original' anymore, but my writing will always have its unique twist.
About me: If you couldn't tell, these ANs will be riddled with sarcasm. No, I won't stop. You can deal with it or leave. I'm not getting paid to write these. I'm a person, I got things to do - so does my Beta. Y'all need to start thinking about that instead of just seeing authors as an ID.
Update rate: It varies. You might get a new chapter in 2-3 weeks or 2-3 days. Will I rush the process? No. Like I said, quality is important to me. I also have a Beta (round of applause for her). She's half the reason these chapters come out at all and I will not be putting any pressure on her just so little Timmy here can get another chapter. If she is busy for a few days then the chapter is delayed for a few days, no if's or but's about it.
"But I don't want a name 51, if I can't pester you, what should I do while I wait for you to post again?"
Glad you asked. Go check out IDKHowToWritePlzHelp and his current story In The Shadows of Men. That man is a wizard with words. One of the few authors who have my undying support. The ratings he gets don't do him justice.
Reviews and PMs: I welcome them with open arms. Authors thrive off criticism and support. It's our lifeblood. If I see a positive review or a PM it's often more than enough for me to get up and start writing. If you want me to respond, a PM is where it'll happen.
There'll be more details about the story in the next chapter. I'm not keen to spoiling my story, though there'll definitely be a lot of foreshadowing.
I'll see you in the next one
-I don't want a name 51