Let's Run Away
and find our destiny together
Percy stepped out his room in his old shorts and a baggy shirt he'd found outside, trying to avoid the poker chips, beer cans and pieces of glass strewn across the floor. He held back a gag at the stench of smoke that filled the air. Tiptoeing past the worn couch and it's occupant, Gabe, he held his backpack tightly, making sure it didn't make a sound. The walrus of a man was asleep, his pudgy face tilted forward, covering the little neck he had. His thundering snores resonated around the small, ratty apartment.Once he reached the door, he let go of his backpack and curled his dainty fingers around the handle. He took a deep breath before yanking it open, Knowing that if he pulled it slowly it would squeak even louder.
He dashed outside, sprinting down the stairs. He pulled up his mental map of the area and made his way towards the nearest park.
When he arrived he slowed down, breathing heavily. He sat down on a bench and tried to sort through the thoughts currently running wild in his head.
It was still early in the morning, the sky painted with oranges and pinks. The park had no occupants other than Percy and a couple who were taking a stroll.
"I did it. I finally did it." he muttered, still in slight shock.
The day his mother died, he'd taken the letter to an officer at the crime scene, knowing it would be pointless to try reading it by himself. She gave him the bronze pen inside the envelope and started reading it aloud. She frowned at the contents, before her eyes glazed over and she continued. It was weird at first, but Percy later realised it had been the Mist. The one his mom wrote about in her letter. She also wrote about the Greek gods, his father being a god, the camp for demigods like him and the oath that meant he was never supposed to be born. Throughout this part of the letter, Percy tried process everything. He didn't know if he took the wrong letter or something (even if there was only one), but then she explained how Gabe covered his scent, the one that monsters looked for, so he had to stay with Gabe. She asked for at least until he was around ten. That solidified his belief in the greek world, because he knew his mother wouldn't tell him to stay with smelly Gabe unless she thought it was completely needed.
He'd sat in his room for days, only coming out for water, food and the bathroom. Most thought it was grief, but they didn't know Percy was over that, so they left him. It was just Percy's way of getting used to another world. He grew tired of all the pitying looks and people saying they were 'sorry' fast. It wasn't them who pushed her. It was Gabe, so why were they saying sorry? Sorry for having to live with an overgrown walrus? Also didn't involve them. And he knew they weren't sincere, otherwise they wouldn't have said it to Gabe, who lied his ass of to the cops. Eventually he grew tired of Gabe too. He tried to stay with him for his mother, burt without her, Gabe had gotten much worse.
He'd lost hope of his dad coming to save him. He'd pray every afternoon and every morning, sometimes even randomly in the middle of the day, but all he'd receive was a gentle ocean breeze.
Big help.
He stopped wasting his time and gave up eventually.
When he first opened the pen his mom gave him, he was lucky to just scratch his hand. He recalled his mother's words in her letter saying he couldn't lose it and that it would help him protect himself. He'd tried using it on a sleeping Gabe a couple days ago, but it just passed through. Every afternoon Percy went to the nearest ally, filled with bin bags, random trash, broken bottles and so much more. He slashed at the immobile trash cans, pretending he was in a fight and hoping he was doing it right. He couldn't ask someone to teach him after all.
The first time he saw a monster was when he was five. The big dog with glowing, red eyes had chased him, while he was walking in the park, until he was cornered in an ally. He tried to pull out his sword and defend himself, but it was the first monster he'd seen and he was absolutely terrified. Luckily, a girl wearing silver released an arrow and it crumbled to golden dust. He'd tried to thank her, but she ran of without a word. He picked up the arrow and took it to the apartment, determined to give it back if he found her.
The arrow was packed away in his bag, along with some money, food and water. He'd started thinking about running away for a while, but today, as he was lying down on the floor, trying to fall asleep at four in the morning, he couldn't stop staring at the bag. The bag that would solve his problems. Gabe wouldn't look after him. Never had, never will. His biological dad who was an actual god wouldn't do anything more than provide air-freshener. His mother was gone. So he left.
He stood up from his bench and started walking randomly. Weaving through people and avoiding anyone or anything that looked scetchy.
He'd thought about going to the camp. It seemed like a good idea, but then he remembered all the times he'd prayed to his father. If his dad couldn't do anything when he was being thrown around like a bag of trash, then what was going to do when he was safe? Completely ignore him? Let a monster come and eat him? It was pointless. He'd be in danger at the camp, he'd be in danger on the streets. No one would care in both instances and he'd never been the type to make friends. At least he had the advantage of home turf if he didn't go to the camp. He might've been small, but he was still a New Yorker. He knew people around here and he knew the area. It was his home. Not the camp, not the apartment, but New York was his whole home. He'd be reckless and no one would care. He'd be free. Some thing he'd never felt. Freedom.
So if he slipped his fingers into some rich guys pocket and ran away with a wallet or if he'd mistakenly forget to change out of the clothes he was buying or even if he accidently didn't pay for the food at the garage, he was free.
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