Percy Jackson groaned as his eyes tried to fully open. Pain swept through his youthful body.
Delirious from pain and drowsiness, he called out, "Who... who said that?"
'Slurred out' would be the more appropriate term.
What came out of his mouth was not his voice, but the voice of a dehydrated man running his 28th mile in the desert.
Gasping for a bit more air, he could hear just how raspy his voice was. His eyelids fluttered sporadically, as his mind wandered in and out of consciousness.
His breathing, while not poor, was still somewhat laborious, and he couldn't prevent the cough that forced its way out, nor the accompanying pain as it felt like the back of his throat had been ripped open, and the stabbing pains to his head as he coughed.
He pushed his small frame up, until he was resting on his elbows. Teeth gritted throughout the act. His head collided with a wall behind him. Not hard, but it didn't have to be in the state he was in, as the force sent a wave of pain through him.
He closed his eyes and breathed in a deep and shaky breathe through his nose. He had never been in this amount of pain, ever. And he hopes to god he never does again.
With a sigh and a grunt, his body fell back onto the floor below him as his arms gave out underneath him. Pain flared throughout his body at the act, despite having only dropped down a foot.
He breathed through his pain, and slowly noticed the searing agony ebb away to that of a dull ache.
He opened up his brilliant eyes, the pain still there whenever he moved them, but now more manageable without another million nerves firing off from literally everywhere in his body.
Despite his eyes having opened fully, it took them awhile to adjust and focus. Lightly blinking a few times, his vision slowly started to make sense.
What he saw made his eyes open wide.
There was a rectangular shape a few foot above him, an image of a starry night looking down at him. No, not an image, the actual night sky. He reached out to it, as he saw a shooting star whiz past.
That's when he caught sight of his arm, or rather his sleeve. He was wearing a nice shirt, a shirt nicer than any he'd owned, and far different from his usual t-shirts.
Why would he be doing that? He never wore anything other than a pair of jeans and a top. Slowly the memories of the past month or so started to come back to him.
Birthday. Wizard. Moving to England. Diagon Alley. Madam Malkins. They were his school uniform. School uniform for Hogwarts. Hogwarts.
Where was Hogwarts, and where was he?
He stared at his arm a little more, curious as to where his robe was. He fought through the pain that sparked up from moving his arm, before something took his eye.
Looking at his arm, he could vaguely see the background behind it, unfocused and dark, but close too.
He slowly lowered his arm to ease the pain, and to get a better view, before he slowly looked around.
He couldn't tell what it was, but his eyes could see there was something around him. A wall around him.
He forced himself to sit up, his stomach and abdomen wailing their reluctance.
He rested for a few moments, willing the pain away, before trying to stand up.
He leaned against the walls for support, shocked to find them made out of what felt like dirt.
He'd already been shaky and uncoordinated when sitting up, standing on his two legs was far worse, even with the dirt wall to help him.
It wasn't long before he lost his balance, and fell backwards, head clattering against a wall, and his vision fading away into black.
The next time he felt anything was a couple days later, although that was unbeknownst to him.
He first noticed a slight force drop onto his face. His face squinted and recoiled.
He murmured to himself, before rolling over onto his side.
He felt another thing hit the side of his face, closely followed by more.
He flicked at his ears, trying to swat away whatever hit him.
More and more things came falling onto him, bringing him further away from the realm of sleep. He groaned little as he came out of his tired fog, and opened his eyes.
The first thing he noticed was it was far brighter than it was when he was last awake.
Second thing he noticed was that it was pissing it down.
The third thing he noticed was that he was currently underwater.
Panicking, he quickly rolled over so that he was on his stomach, before pushing his body upwards and clambering to his feet. As he stood up, he arched his back outwards and inwards, relishing the clicking sounds as his stiffened back relaxed.
Once he'd finally come round to his senses, he tried to work out what the hell was going on.
He tried looking around for any identifying marks or clues, but rain had flooded the entire area.
He could feel the water sloshing around his knee caps.
He glanced across the new lake that had appeared, peering through the water looking for the hole that he was in. Nothing.
Had he imagined that too.
What the hell was going on?
That surely wasn't part of a dream, right? It felt far too vivid for that. He knew that wasn't a valid excuse, as his dreams often felt vivid. But still, something didn't sit right.
Percy glanced around him, looking for some clue as to what way he should go.
He'd already decided he was going to get nothing from this place, and might as well try and find his way back to Hogwarts.
He'd already seen the lack of castle anywhere to know that he wasn't close to his wizarding school.
Spotting a hill about a mile away, he set off towards it. Maybe then he'd have a better vantage point.
He strode through the lake below him, with strides matching those on land.
He tried, he really did try not to let his thoughts be consumed with theories about what was going on, but his mind just wouldn't cooperate. But nothing made sense to him, at all.
It wasn't long before he reached the mound, lost in his thoughts. As he quickly clambered up the hill, he felt his body suddenly grow weak and he stumbled and fell back down the hill.
Landing with a splash in the flooded plains he walked across, he could feel energy course through his body once more.
Picking himself up once again, he started climbing back up the hill. This time much more slowly, making sure to be careful and deliberate in case he had a sudden loss of strength again.
He did, but it was a lot more manageable with the precautions he took.
Halfway up the small hill, his calves were on fire, and he could feel a dull ache all around his body.
Glancing back around towards the water, and then to the sky, he could only assume that it was some kind of magic rain. Something that perked him up.
He rested at the top of the hill for who knows how long, just lying on his back, with his arms spread outwards. His school uniform caked in mud, but surprisingly dry despite the light rain falling on him, and the practical swim he took to get here.
He took a quick breather before forcing himself upwards to massage his thighs and calves.
They'd been burning ever since he stepped foot outside of the water. The pain eased a little the more it rained, but the showers came and went in bursts so the respite never lasted long.
Once he finally felt strong enough to walk again, he sighed with a bit of reluctance and stood up.
From on top of the hill, he could see for miles around, so he looked out for any sign of Hogwarts.
It wasn't long before he spotted towers off into the distance.
His eyes closed softly, and he let out a breath of satisfaction, before opening his eyes again with a small grin adorning his face.
At least he wasn't lost, the boy mused silently.
As he walked towards his home, his thoughts rose up again. Normally he was a curious person, but a curious person who didn't really care if he got ananswer. He always wanted to know, but would soon forget and move on. He never spent too long focused on one particularly thing to warrant a genuine care, which made this while ordeal that much more surprising.
He had stayed focused on what had happened.
Well kind of. His theories were wild and ridiculous, but he didn't give into his ADHD impulses and let himself be distracted. Actually, when thinking about it, he noticed there were no impulses for him to try and control. He was solely focused on theorizing why he woke up in a hole in the ground miles away from Hogwarts.
Speaking of, his eyes flickered upwards, gauging how far away he was from the school.
He found himself a lot closer than he would have thought, and it to be a lot darker than it originally was, which finally snapped him out of his theories.
He was far too worried to try and blame what happened on a possessed gorilla that can teleport. He had more pressing issues at hand.
Everybody would be getting their tea right about now, although he doubted he'd manage to make it in time for food.
He couldn't help but let his mind wander again.
What was he going to say? How does he explain what happened? Would he even have to explain? Does anyone even know he's not there?
More thoughts like this flew around his mind.
Does he just tell the truth, or would that make him look like a crazy person?
"Oh sorry Dumbledore, I just woke up a few miles away from where I'm supposed to be. But don't worry I'm completely fine after being submerged in rain water that may or may not be magic." The boy chuckled slightly to himself, the ridiculous nature of what had happened to him only seemed crazier when spoken out loud.
He had no explanation for it. No idea what happened. He didn't even know how long he'd been gone. He'd just have to wait and see what they say before talking. Judge then whether or not to tell the truth, or just bits and pieces, or even make up a complete lie.
He still tried rationalising what had happened to him.
So much so that when he glanced back upwards, he saw the now looming castle. It being much closer than he thought it would.
Man, he thought to himself, I really zoned out.
He laughed, dryly, As usual.
As his feet stepped up to the entrance courtyard, he gulped deeply. The large walkways either side of him loomed far taller than they first seemed.
Or had his nerves just made him feel smaller than he was?
He steeled his determination up though. He wasn't at fault, so why should he be scared?
That did nothing to placate his nerves.
His soft footsteps still echoed around the empty courtyard. Wind whistled softly, a gentle breeze rippled his hair.
He reached the door.
He glanced around a little, his nerves getting him jumpy.
He exhaled deeply, before pushing the doors open.
If he had been in the right state of mind, perhaps he'd wonder about how easy it was for the doors to open, but he wasn't nearly well adjusted enough to cope with everything that had gone on to care about such things.
The doors opened up to a long, darkened hallway with the faintest of creaks.
As he stepped one foot inside, torches ignited, stretching along the length of the corridor. Illuminating everything in a bright orange. Heat washed over him, and for the first time he realised just how cold he was.
The further he got inside, the safer he felt.
He really hadn't appreciated just how much he felt at home at Hogwarts.
He was vaguely aware of the door creaking shut behind him, as well as a couple of the paintings who were glaring at him for waking them up.
But he didn't care about that. He was back safe.
He could feel his eyelids start to droop as he ventured further into the castle, and he let out a yawn.
He must have been walking for hours to get back to Hogwarts.
His legs had been aching for a while now, but since he noticed how tired he was, they felt like they were on fire.
It wasn't a long trip towards the Gryffindor common room, but Percy barely made it there without passing out.
As he stumbled through the portrait which reluctantly opened for him, he let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.
He'd made it.
His eyes flickered towards the stair case to his room.
Well, almost made it.
He grunted in annoyance, and a little bit of pain, but forcing himself up one last time.
As he slowly shuffled up the stairs, well... crawled up, he felt like his legs were about to fall off.
The aching hadn't left either. The full ache everywhere on his body made it even more difficult, combined with the aching in his legs.
Pushing through his rooms door, he stumbled across the threshold.
He glanced around to make sure none of his roommates were awake, or that he'd woken them up, before carrying onto his bed.
His sweet, comfortable, beautiful bed.
His body felt like he hadn't slept on a bed in days, and he wouldn't be surprised if that ended up true.
It didn't take him long after he climbed onto his bed to fall into a deep slumber. He'd barely had time to lift the covers over him before he'd passed out.
His dreams were no less gruelling than the day he had, perhaps even worse.
He found himself at the edge of a palace. A black palace. A palace that felt so familiar.
Where was he?, Percy mused silently.
That's when the seeds of recognition grew.
His eyes widened. It was familiar because he'd been here before.
His eyes darted around nervously. He couldn't be back here, surely. He never wanted to be here again.
It's just a dream, he told himself, calm down.
He was back in the Underworld. In front of the palace he saw first time around.
But why was he here?
He didn't have time to think about that question, as he suddenly shot forward. Floating past the guard towers where the creatures floating around were. But they paid him no attention.
He stopped flying when he was over the courtyard, and was rather unceremoniously dropped from the air.
Landing on the ground in a heap, he couldn't help but notice that there were spirits shuffling around.
Looking at him.
They slowly trudged until the had formed a circle.
He slowly turned around, looking at them all, wondering what the hell he was to do.
That's when they started moving again.
The majority stayed in the circle, but a select few, those in front of the black marble doors parted, making a walkway to the entrance of the palace.
He watched as the doors slowly opened, as if beckoning him in.
No way.
He was defiant...
I am NOT going in there.
... But he was also wrong.
His body floated against his will once more, slowly taking him further and further inside.
He looked down and saw his feet scraping against the ground. He tried digging his feet in, but it was of no use.
He didn't have control of his body.
He was forced in front of another door. This one was also a black marble door.
And just like with the main door, this one opened as well.
The door opened into a very large room. Far larger than the great hall back at Hogwarts.
The room was also empty. Well, empty of furniture.
No benches or tables, or decorative items adorned this room.
The polished floor, once again black marble, reflected the flickering green flames that lined the room.
As he picked his head up he looked to the sides.
Rows of shades were lined up, all just looking at him.
The same sorrowful expression on their faces.
He forced his eyes to the front, wanting to know where he was being brought.
His eyes connected with a throne. And a man sitting on that throne.
The throne itself was a stark contrast to the rest of the room. Where the room was black, the throne was white. A pale, creamy white coloured throne. It sacred him, and he didn't know why.
The closer he got, however, told him all he needed to know about his fears.
The throne was made out of bones, woven together with more bones. It made him sick.
He saw rib cages, mixed in with fingers. It was horrible.
Most horrible of all we're the skulls. The skulls arched over the back rest of the throne.
The very central skull was the worst. He could have gone his whole life without knowing what a babies skull actually looked like. Shame.
Arching just above this halo of skulls, and just above the man sitting on the throne, was fire. The same green fire that lined the walkway.
The flames flickered, almost intoxicatingly. He was almost entranced by them, and would have been had his eyes not caught sight of the man on the throne.
This man was tall, extremely so. Muscular too, which only added to the already imposing image Percy had of him.
The mans skin was as white as paper, as though he hadn't seen sunlight in 3000 years.
Looking at the mans eyes was the most daunting.
They were a dark colour. Far darker than what Percy would call black. They looked deep, endless, as though they were nothingness. But they held power, and knowledge.
They were the eyes of genius, or of insanity, or of both.
Falling down just over his eyes, was the mans shoulder length black hair. Greasy and dangling over his forehead.
Sitting just below his nose was a prominent beard. Perhaps dignified, if this man was someone Percy could ever respect.
He found it hard to muster up any kind of respect for him though, when he could hear the wails and moaning of the souls that had been woven into his black robes. Screaming faces, eyes begging. He had to look away.
Percy felt this mans aura pushing and pulling him, almost in a dance, leaving him mesmerised from just looking at him.
This man was eyeing him. Nothing changed on his face, but his eyes showed his true fury. His dark eyes swirled with barely restrained anger.
The crazed glint to his eyes frightened Percy, but he held this beings gaze.
The man reached out his hand towards Percy, as if to grab him.
The souls of the dead all around him grew agitated.
Their voices spoke up. They grew louder.
Traitor, the quiet whisper echoed around the room.
Betrayer.
You belong with us.
Percy tried to back away as the ghosts grew near, and the man got closer.
He struggled against the force that brought him here.
He had to go.
You never should have left Percy.
Come back to us PERCY!
No, he shook his head, leave me alone.
PERCY! They shouted again. Growing louder and more frantic.
PERCY!
This time it echoed around the chamber.
All the ghosts were now involved.
PERCY!
The voice, it sounded familiar to him.
PERCY!
YOU NEED TO WAKE UP!
He didn't know who said that. He looked around frantically.
The shades had all shrunk away, and the man was back on his throne. A cruel glare crossed his eyes, and a sneer over his lips.
WAKE UP!
And so he did.
A/n - a little bit quicker this time, but I know, still not good enough. I will try and get better though.
Seriously, please review. I love hearing what you guys think, and how I should improve.
Let me know what you think, unless it's negative in which case don't tell me.
Or do, constructive criticism is always good.
I hope you like it, more things are happening and in play now. Whether they'll come to fruition soon, who knows?
Anyway, tell me what you thought, I appreciate any kind of review.