"What do you wanna do Melody?" Ten year old Percy Jackson asked his twin sister, "Gabe's gonna be gone all day."
"How about we make some art?" She suggested.
"Sure! What kind?"
"Wanna paint murals in the alleyway again?"
"Okay!"
Melody opened the closet and opened a small wicker chest. Inside were a bunch of paints. Their art kit was Percy and Melody's favorite shared possession. They opened their window and climbed down the fire escape. When their feet touched the ground in the alley, they snuck towards their old murals. When they got there, as expected, someone had washed away their old ones.
"Ready?"
"Yup."
They dipped their brushes in acrylic paint and began. Little did they know they were being closely watched. The wall was soon covered in fantastic colors and decorative designs. When the twin siblings were done they stood back to admire their work.
"I think we did good." Melody announced.
"I do too." Another voice commented.
The twins whirled and were face to face with a large man in a hoodie and jeans. Frightened by his countenance and size, they started babbling over each other.
"We're sorry!"
"We didn't mean to vandalize!"
"Please don't hit us!"
"At least not hard!"
"We didn't know it was your wall!"
"We won't do it again!"
"We'll stay far away from here!"
"Stop!" The man shouted over their cries, "It's okay."
"You're not going to beat us?" Melody asked nervously.
"No. Why would I? You're art is beautiful," said the man, "And the way you and, I'm assuming he's your brother, move together, your cooperation is a sweet thing to see."
"You're seriously not going to beat us?" Percy asked, "Not even a smack?"
"Nope."
The twins heaved a sigh of relief in unison.
"So you're the ones making the murals."
Melody looked down and tugged on her sleeve sheepishly. Percy nodded.
"Uh-huh."
"Where're you from?"
"None ya."
"It's okay. I won't hurt you."
With a sigh Percy admitted, "The Niedermyer apartment building."
"Not necessarily a child friendly neighborhood."
"We get by."
"I can see that. Who do you live with?"
"Our family."
"Which is?"
"The two of us, our mom, and our stepdad."
"Which one's the abusive one?"
The twins shared a look of pure terror.
"When I came up to you, you said, 'Please don't hit us,' and when I told you everything was cool, you said, 'You're not going to beat us?' The pieces weren't that hard to put together. So, is it your mom or your stepfather?"
"Please! You can't tell anyone!"
"He'll blame one of us and kill the other!"
"And our mom!"
"You can't!"
"Please!"
"So it's your step dad," the man interrupted, stopping the babbling, "No worries kids. I know the way it is."
"Y-you do?" Percy asked, surprised.
"Yeah. Mine was my mom though, not my step dad. I didn't have a dad."
"We're sorry."
"Don't worry bout it. It ain't your fault. What're your names?"
"Melody."
"Percy."
"I'm Nick."
"Nice to meet you sir."
"Don't call me sir girlie," Nick chuckled, "It makes me feel old."
"Yes sir. I-I mean- I'm sorry!"
Nick placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Easy Melody. You're okay."
Not for long. A loud yell was heard, terrifying the two Jacksons.
"Woman! Your brats ran off again!"
"Gabe…" The twins whispered in unison.
"He was supposed to be gone all day. What's he doing back in the early afternoon?" Percy wondered aloud.
"Like heck if I know." Melody snorted.
Nick laughed at her statement.
"Nick?" Melody asked quietly.
"Yeah?"
"Could you protect our art kit until we can come back here for it? We know full well Gabe will smash it the instant we walk through the door."
"I'd be honored, sweets."
"Don't call me sweets. It makes me feel like a two year old."
"Alright. But sure I'll watch it till you get back. By the way, when will that be?"
"Tomorrow hopefully. Here."
"I'll meet you here then."
"Thank you Nick," said Percy.
"I'll see you then kids."
The twins hugged him fiercely and left towards the apartment. They were headed towards the fire escape when from behind they were grabbed by their shirts.
"Gotcha!"
The twins shared a glance as they turned their gaze to Gabe as he led them into the apartment building. They went up the stairs instead of the elevator and Gabe physically dragged them up the stairs in a rather painful manner. It was a surprise no one found them, but then Gabe scared most of the residents who'd ever met him. Loads of them knew he knocked around his stepkids but no one was brave enough to tell him off for it. It was almost a relief to reach their floor if it wasn't for the fact that they knew when they got to their apartment they'd be beaten more. Gabe practically kicked open the door and threw the two weakened children in.
"Now you brats," Gabe spoke, "I thought I said to stay inside."
"I thought you said you'd be gone the remainder of the day," Melody mumbled.
"What was that?"
"I said," she snapped, "I thought you said you'd be gone for the remainder of the day."
"Snippy little brat aren't you princess? I'll show you!"
He seized her by the braid going down her left side and swung her around, slamming her into the wall.
"Stop!" Percy yelled.
Gabe kicked him forcefully in the ankle, causing him to fall backwards, almost taking the bookshelf behind him down as well.
"You'll get your turn. Right now is for the snippy little girl."
He picked Percy up by the scruff of his shirt and threw him on the closet, locking him inside. Percy banged his fists against the door, screaming to be let out. His shouts and protests fell on deaf ears as he listened to his sister cry out in pain.
"Not so snippy now are you?" Gabe sneered, "Don't worry. You won't feel it much longer."
"W-why?" Melody managed to croak out in a shaky voice.
He smacked her upside the head and grinned when she blacked out.
"That's why," he said.
He unlocked the closet, letting Percy out.
"Get out of my sight. And take her away too while you're at it."
Percy treaded lightly into the living room, stopped short, aghast at what he saw.
"What did you do to her?!" He screamed, running to her still form.
Melody was bleeding from whip marks on her back and a cut that was surely from a knife on her arm. There were bits of glass from beer bottles stuck in her back as well.
"She said she'd take your punishment and hers. It ain't my fault."
Percy sighed, his brave sister. His beautiful sister. He placed his hand on her arm and she flinched at the contact. Though saddened by the reaction, he was glad she was still alive.
"Mel, it's me. It's Percy."
"Mmm…" Melody mumbled.
"I'm gonna pick you up okay?"
"Mmhmm," Was all she managed.
She was still dazed. He pulled the shards of broken beer bottle out of her back as gently as he could, but she whimpered in pain all the same. When he had gotten it all out, he put one arm under her knees and one behind her back and carried her as quickly and carefully as he could to their room. He set her gently on her cot. She had fallen asleep on the way. He brushed her hair out of her face and stroked her cheek.
"Oh Mel. I'm thankful I didn't get hurt, but look at you. Why'd you do it?"
Her voice tired and no higher than a whisper she replied, eyes still closed, "Today, I'm the hero."
"Okay. You can be the hero today," he said, kissing her forehead, "I love you."
"Ditto."