Chapter 2: The Wrong Kind of Monster

Summary: Percy makes his way into the city to buy more pills. He comes face to face with unsavory elements.

Percy

The night sky was refreshing. Percy walked down a full-moon-lit road lined with tall pine trees on either side. He'd started noticing a trend. The nightmares always came when the moon was either full or completely dark. Of course, the moon was full or nearly full and new or nearly new every two weeks. That didn't leave him much time to develop a healthy sleep schedule. Maybe it's a coincidence?

But what about my powers? They'd also become more erratic around this time. Maybe that was from the lack of sleep and the stress that the evil dreams brought.

He went on, wondering and worrying until he reached the bus stop. He counted out the fare in wrinkled dollar bills and a handful of mortal coins, already knowing exactly how much he'd need. Unfortunately, this wasn't his first late-night trip into the city.

When the bus arrived, he got on and took one of many empty seats. The only other people on the bus were a homeless man sleeping in the back, two women in glittery dresses (probably returning from a club), and a man dressed in scrubs and a jacket. The man glanced over at Percy, making him shift in his seat and cross his arms. He reminded Percy of the Apollo kids he'd been avoiding for the past few months. They were at the top of his list of people to avoid, along with Annabeth.

Gods, Annabeth. He hated keeping things from her, but he just couldn't bring himself to talk about what was going on. It wasn't that she wouldn't understand (if anyone would, it would be her), but the idea of having that conversation—of worrying her and letting himself be vulnerable—terrified him.

The hiss of the bus doors opening interrupted his reverie. He hopped off and made his way through the busy streets. They weren't kidding when they called it the city that never sleeps.

Through back alleys, Percy found his way to the wrong side of town. As he turned a dark corner, a hand slammed into his chest.

"Where do you think you're going, kid?" The burly man reminded Percy of the Ares campers. Yup, this is the place.

Percy looked up from under his hood. His sea-green eyes churned a sickly green. "I'm looking for Asher."

"Hmm." The man took a puff of his cigarette. "You back for more?"

"Yeah," Percy said, ashamed at the fact that he was, indeed, back for more.

"Well then, come on in," he said, gesturing into the alley.

Two guys stood around, leaning against the wall. One was short and stocky, the other was a bit taller than Percy. The latter held a bottle in his hands. "Hey, kid!"

Percy ignored them and walked up to the half door on the side of the building. The top half was wide open, while the bottom half acted as a mini table. The man on the other side tilted his chin up in greeting.

"Hey, man. Whatcha looking for?" Asher asked.

After what he'd just experienced, a drink was out of the question. And if he brought cigarettes back to camp, the others might smell it on him. So, he decided on more of whatever had been in the small plastic bag.

"Do you've more pills?"

"Yeah. One bag?"

Percy thought back to the night he'd had. "Two," he decided.

Asher named his price, and Percy pulled the cash from his pockets, exchanging it for the small bags of pills.

He turned around to leave when one of the drunk guys called out, "That's all?"

"Looks like you got enough for more." The other drawled. He must've noticed the cash left in Percy's hand.

Percy avoided eye contact and made his way towards the street, but he was too slow. The tall drunk man slammed him against the wall, knocking his bad arm against the bricks. He let out a small grunt.

"Let him go. We won't have any buyers if you keep scaring 'em off." Asher said, peeking his head out from the doorway.

"Well, he ain't buyin' no more. Right, Gabe?"

Percy's breathing hitched, and his heart raced at the name. This guy's name is Gabe, like my ex-stepfather? Percy looked down at Riptide at his side. I guess I planned for the wrong kind of monster.

"That's right. And we ain't selling anyway." As if on cue, Gabe approached Percy and hit him in the gut. He doubled over in pain.

The taller man took a turn.

"Tony," Asher called out, exasperated.

Percy could see the man who had been standing guard walking over, but it was too late. Fear turned to rage as Percy grabbed the liquor bottle he'd kept in his hood and knocked it across Gabe's face. It shattered, and Gabe landed flat on the floor.

His drinking buddy was ready to land one on Percy's face, but Tony caught his arm.

"Get outta here, kid. Now!"

Percy ran out of the alley and into the street. Adrenaline was still rushing through him, dulling the pain. He worried he'd attract monsters in his feeble state, but somehow, he made it onto the next bus in one piece. A battered-and-soon-to-be-bruised piece, but still, one piece.

Percy found an empty window seat where he leaned his forehead against the seat in front of him. He pulled one of the plastic bags out of his pocket and popped one of the white pills in his mouth, sighing in defeat. He created a small blob of water in his hand and swallowed it. Oh, so this still works. He thought, irritatedly.

The drugs soon began to calm his nerves. They did little for the pain in his abdomen, but the euphoria was distraction enough. It was so distracting, in fact, that he would've missed his stop had the bus driver not said something. Percy headed towards the door when the man asked, "Is this your stop?" He must've thought it was strange for a teenage boy to be getting off at this hour at a strawberry field in the middle of nowhere. Percy pulled out the change from his pocket, left it in the tip can, and walked off.

By the time he made it back, the sun was cresting over Half-Blood Hill. And with the sun rose the Apollo cabin. Since their father was the god of truth and medicine, Percy tried to steer clear of the Apollo kids, but some of them had started to notice. Chief among them was Will Solace, cabin counselor and head healer.

Percy would've been more careful when heading towards his cabin, but between exhaustion and the drugs, he let the familiarity of camp lull him into a sense of security. In other words: He wasn't avoiding Will.