Annabeth's P.O.V
When I got the text from Chris asking to meet up and talk. I'll admit I was surprised. If he hadn't have said it was to do with Percy, I wasn't sure if I'd have gone. I met him at the university library and right away I knew something was wrong. It had been three days since Luke took Percy. And although I'm now more informed about Luke, after some extensive research. I was still no closer to finding Percy.
So when Chris had messaged, I had jumped at the chance to gain more information. When I got to him, he looked worn out, but worse almost. Like he was bone tired not just tired.
"Hey Annabeth," he said trying for a smile, unsuccessfully, I might add.
"Hey Chris, are you okay?" I asked because even though all of my spare time was consumed with finding Percy, Chris was still my friend.
"That's not why I called you here." He said suddenly looking immensely sad. "Look Annabeth, I'll get to the point, because I know how important Percy is to you." He sighed. "I visited Luke last night and he was out of control saying – well, that doesn't matter either. Look I know he's my half-brother, but he needs help Annabeth. Not just a few meals until he gets back on his feet help either. He needs proper medical help."
I swallowed the dread that rose within me as the penny dropped. If Luke was unstable what would that mean for Percy?
"I'm not qualified to offer him that kind of help Chris. You know that." I said.
"I do. But his delusion is centred around you Annabeth."
"I know – but what does all this have to do with Percy?" I asked as tentatively as I could. A horrible idea was forming in the back of my mind.
"I only found out last night, but Luke, well he's the one who has Percy." He told me apprehensively.
"I know that too." I said as kindly as I could. I knew this was hard for him, he'd looked up to Luke too once they'd found each other.
"Do you also know where he has him?" he asked, and he noticeably flinched. My heart clenched painfully as I dared to hope Chris had the answer I'd so desperately been searching for.
"No," I whispered. "But you do?" He nodded.
"He has him at the Harbour. Our dad runs some of his imports through there. I don't know exactly where Annabeth. I'm sorry. I really hope you find him."
"Why are you telling me and not the police?" I asked. It was the only thing keeping me in my seat right now.
"Because Luke wants you. I don't know what he'd do if the police turned up. But I do know, it wouldn't be good for Percy." He told me.
"Thank you, Chris." I said before getting up and running from the library in the direction of the police station while calling Sally.
Sally and Paul met me outside the police station at 10 o'clock.
"Hey Annabeth," they greeted me.
"Hey Sally, hey Paul." I said.
"I've phoned Percy's dad. He'll meet us here too." Sally said. "Are you sure?" she asked.
"I have no reason to doubt Chris. I believe he was telling me the truth. But I recognise no matter how much I want to throw myself into that situation, to prevent any harm coming to Percy. To do so alone would be reckless and dangerous and might not help him at all." I said.
"I'm glad you've realised that, Miss Chase." Came the voice of Percy's father. "I may not know a lot about my son but what I do know is getting him back at the expense of you, is not an option. Shall we?" He asked holding the door open.
The meeting with Detective Thompson, went better than I had expected. I had thought I might have had to push harder to convince him to take me seriously, but that apparently wasn't the case. Which I was grateful for. The detectives changed into plain clothes and went out in force, and I was sat waiting with Percy's family. Detective Thompson had promised us that they wouldn't do anything to give away that they were police. Chris' warning still rang in my head that that could make things worse for Percy, but I knew Sally and Paul had been right when I'd spoken to them on the way here. I had to let the professionals handle it. I was a student and an architectural student at that, what help could I possibly be if I had charged in without thinking.
As soon as the detectives left, I called Thalia, Jason, Hazel, Nico, and Piper.
And Sally and Paul left to fetch Estelle when the time came.
Upon their return Estelle immediately latched on to me. I'd spent a lot of time, over the past few days, trying to convince not just Estelle but myself as well that Percy would be alright. Now we were waiting to find out if I'd been right about that.
I was usually able to sit still and be patient after years of training myself to do so, but it was almost impossible for me to do that now. So I paced the halls of the police station, Estelle hot on my heels, as we waited for news on Percy.
Luke's P.O.V
I couldn't believe he sold me out!
I'm his brother!
Now I'm stuck in this godforsaken room. I didn't even get to finish my chat with Percy. And then some doctor jabbed me in the arm with something. I don't know what, but he's been quiet since they did it.
It's kind of nice not having him around.
I wonder if Annabeth will visit now that I'm alone.
Thalia's P.O.V
Percy was not found at the harbour, and neither was Luke. Annabeth convinced Chris to come into the police station. When he arrived, he spoke, very nervously, to Aunt Sally, who assured him he still had a job at the shop if he wanted it and that any help, he could give to find Percy would be appreciated.
Chris didn't look at me once which I appreciated, things were complicated enough without having to explain that right now.
Not long after Chris arrived, the detectives left again. While we waited, Leo turned up with coffees for everyone and decided to stay and wait since the shop was shut anyway.
I was really struggling. I had been since Annabeth had told us that Luke had taken Percy. Luke had been my friend. He'd been my family and if I'm being honest, he'd been my first love. I didn't know how to reconcile this Luke with that Luke. This was the Luke I knew; he certainly wasn't the Luke I had fallen for.
I'll be the first to admit that my preferences in the love department have changed over the years. It wasn't even that I preferred women mostly now that had me struggling with the fact I had once loved Luke. It was who Luke had become. Had I been so wrong about who he was back then because I loved him? Had I missed the signs of him not being who I thought he was? Had I let him down? What kind of a friend did that make me? What kind of a person did that make me?
Had I ignored the signs because I was hurt? Could I have helped him? Could I have prevented this if I had seen it all?
I knew realistically that I would always have fallen out of love with Luke. Not just because he hadn't loved me back but because of who I was. It made sense to me that even if Luke had loved me back, that one day I still would have discovered that I preferred women. Another reason I was sure that dear old dad was trying to do what he was.
The other questions haunted me though especially as he walked through the doors of the police station in handcuffs. He struggled every step of the way shouting that we'd never find Percy, that he'd never tell us where he was. When he'd called Chris a traitor when he'd passed, I decided it didn't matter about the other questions. Because regardless of how much I had changed and who he'd become, one thing remained absolute.
Luke had let me down.
Piper's P.O.V
The mood in the police station changed instantly when Luke was brought in. Thalia looked somewhere between Jason and Annabeth. Annabeth looked like she was going to be sick, she'd gone so pale. Jason on the other hand was almost shaking in rage. Hazel looked as angry as I'd ever seen her. Frank was trying to distract her, but I could tell he was also worried. Nico, I wasn't so sure about, he wasn't the same man I'd met over the Christmas holidays, who'd been teasing his cousins that's for sure, but I couldn't really get a read on him.
Sally and Paul were trying to hold it all together for Estelle, but you could tell they were devastated. Percy's dad looked coldly in Luke's direction, and I was positive that I never wanted to be on the receiving end of that look! Estelle was the worst because she was, understandably, so upset. She would only let Annabeth sooth her and Annabeth, bless her cotton socks, was doing her best, but I could tell it was taking its toll on her.
As for me, I didn't really know how to feel about Luke. I'd hated how much he'd hurt Annabeth before all of this. And all of this just made me dislike him more. Which was why when Detective Thompson came to tell us all to go home until they could tell us more, I was surprised when he asked Annabeth to stay. It was 9pm, and Luke was demanding to speak to her. saying he'd only speak to her. When Annabeth agreed to stay Estelle had thrown a tantrum, she didn't want to lose Annabeth like she thought she had lost Percy. Under different circumstances the sentiment would have been very sweet.
Thalia eventually convinced her to let Annabeth go with the promise of a sleep over.
"Annabeth, are you sure?" I asked.
"Yes. If it helps Percy, I'll speak to him." She said more confidently than she looked.
"Don't worry Piper, I'm going to stay and make sure she gets back okay." Sally said. "The rest of you head back with Paul, we'll see you when we're done." She said kindly but also dismissing us all and Percy's dad effectively.
"Sally-"
"Yes Si, I promise." She assured him before he nodded and left.
I hugged Annabeth tightly and whispered, "I'm so proud of you."
She squeezed me tightly and whispered, "Thanks" before I released her and took Jason's hand. I wanted to stay and be here for Annabeth, but Sally was right, we all had classes or work tomorrow, and we needed rest. All of these things being true didn't make me feel any less guilty for leaving Annabeth though.
"She'll be okay Pipes, whatever Luke tells her, whatever that means, Aunt Sally will be there for her. And when she gets home, you'll be there." Jason said kissing my forehead before reluctantly leading me out of the station to head back to the Jackson-Blofis apartment to wait for news.
Annabeth's P.O.V
"Annabeth," Sally said taking my hands in her own. "I can see that this is going to be hard for you. And I appreciate that you want to help Percy, but you don't have to do this. We can find another way." She was giving me an out if I wanted it. I didn't. She was willing to give up a lead on Percy for my comfort, it simultaneously warmed and broke my heart.
"I have too," I confessed. "I have to find him."
"Oh, Annabeth." She said as she pulled me in for a rather tearful hug. I knew she wanted Percy home as much as I did, especially when I felt her tears on my shoulder.
They'd brought a doctor in to assess Luke before I would be allowed to speak to him, I didn't know why.
An hour later I was finally escorted to an interview room to see Luke. He was sat in one of those white jumpsuits they wear at crime scenes. I assumed that that meant they'd taken his clothes for evidence, which worried me.
As I sat opposite him, I noticed he seemed a lot less angry than he had when they'd brought him in. He looked up at me and smiled a genuine smile. I felt a knot twist in my stomach as I tried to remember the last time that I'd seen him smile that way and I couldn't place it.
"Annabeth, you came to see me." He said.
"Hi Luke" I said trying really hard not to snap at him. He seemed so happy to see me and I just didn't understand it. The last time we'd interacted in person he'd tried to kidnap me and the time before that he'd been unbelievably angry at me. This seemed almost like the old Luke that I used to look up to and admire. The Luke I used to think I had feelings for.
"How are you?" I managed to ask.
"I feel a lot more like myself." He said.
"That's great" I managed feeling like all of my social graces were suddenly leaving my mind. I needed to hold a conversation with Luke to find Percy. But all I could think about was that Percy was missing and it was Luke's fault. Because of this, I was struggling to compose myself.
"You look upset." He said and it almost sounded like he cared.
"I am" I said unable to hide it.
He frowned. "What's wrong?"
What's wrong? Like he didn't know?! Alright Annabeth you can do this. Play it like he doesn't know if that's what he's going to do.
"I miss Percy." I said honestly.
His eyes flashed almost angrily, and I worried if I'd over stepped my play. "Why do you miss him?"
I decided to tone down my real reasons if just missing him made him angry.
"Because he's missing, and I care about him." I said honestly.
"Why do you care for him?" He asked sadly, and I didn't understand why he was so sad.
"Because, he is a great person, he's kind, caring, loving and loyal. He takes time to know me, what I do and don't like and why that's the case. He understands me like no-one else ever has." Not even you. I added on in my head.
"You love him then?" He asked and I didn't see any point in lying to him at this point.
"I do." I confirmed with a watery smile. Because I really did love Percy with all my heart.
Luke sighed. "I don't like seeing you upset." He said.
"You could fix that," I said. "If you told me where Percy is."
He didn't want too, that much I could see.
"I will, tell you I mean. But I need to know something first."
"What do you need to know?" I asked, because at this point, I'd let him know anything just to get Percy back.
"Why did you push me away?" He asked.
Why did I push him away? That's how he remembers that?
"I didn't push you away Luke. You pushed me away." I replied. "Slowly you started to cancel plans we made in favour of hanging out with your other friends. And then after the party, you just cut me off, and I tried for weeks to get you to talk to me, but you wouldn't. Eventually I stopped bugging you for your time, I'd had enough of feeling like I wasn't worth it."
"I liked you bugging me for my time." He said. Funny way of showing it. I thought.
"I suppose it matters not now. We can't change the past." I replied. "Where is he Luke?" I asked desperately.
"He's at central park zoo." He told me and I got up to leave.
"Annabeth?" Luke called as I reached the door. I turned to face him. "Did you love me?" He asked.
"I thought…well, I thought…" What could I say? I thought I did but now I know how love feels I didn't? "You were like a brother to me, Luke," I said, "But I didn't love you."
Definitely had a crush. I added in my head, but I didn't want to upset him more than I knew I probably already had. I left the room without another word and found Sally waiting for me.
"The detectives have already left. Hopefully they'll find him this time." She said and wrapped me up in a hug and I finally allowed myself to breakdown and cry.
Will's P.O.V
Percy was missing and I hated it. Normally we had a monthly get together to catch up, but this month's wasn't going to happen now he was missing. I didn't even care that we would miss out on catching up. I just wanted my friend back.
"Where are you, Percy?" I asked aloud as I walked home from work. If I had let myself pretend, I could have sworn I had heard him say "I'm here."
"Wherever you are Percy, come back to us." I muttered as I trudged along.
It was while I was walking passed the Zoo entrance in Central Park, a short while later, that I bumped into my uncle.
"Uncle George, what are you doing here?" I asked.
"Looking for your friend. He's supposed to be here."
"Percy? Percy's here?"
"Yes apparently, although as we clear each area, we are still coming up empty." He told me.
I looked back at the way I had come and took off at a run.
"Will wait!" Uncle George called after me. but I tried to focus on where I had been when I'd thought I'd heard Percy respond to me. Because maybe, just maybe, I hadn't been imagining it, maybe he had really responded to me.
"PERCY!" I called "PERCY!"
"What are you doing, Will?" Uncle George asked, so I told him why I was calling out for my friend. Soon we were calling out for Percy together, and I hoped more than anything that I hadn't been imagining his voice.
Ψ
~ Author's Note ~
Hi all, thank you for reading this chapter and I hoped you all enjoyed it! I'm at the end unfortunately of my pre-written chapters and I am as previously stated in the middle of a very busy time at work. I will do my best to endeavour that I will get a chapter out next week, but it does rather depend on my work load I'm afraid! Please let me know what you thought of the chapter!
Going Dark – Thank you for your review, I do hope you're enjoying? All will be explained in regard to Luke and Mrs C by the end of the story I promise! Please let me know what you thought of this chapter.
SarcasmRocks – Thank you for your review, I'm glad you loved the last chapter! Theory one is interesting not sure on whether I'll work on this or not yet! Theory two is also interesting and will probably be explained by the end of the story :). Please let me know what you thought of this chapter!
Merennoemiliano – Thank you for your review, I hope you're enjoying? Please let me know what you thought of this one!
WiseGrl14 – Thank you for your review, I'm glad you loved the last chapter! I don't believe that Annabeth ever sat around and waited in the canon story, and I tried to emulate that here as well! I hoped you liked this chapter please let me know!
MegaRayquaza8121 – Thank you for your review, I did notice that it didn't come out the way you had perhaps intended but I do hope you're enjoying the chapters! Please let me know!
Sranupama2005 – Thank you for your review, I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! I don't believe that Annabeth ever sat around and waited in the canon story, and I tried to emulate that here as well! I hoped you liked this chapter please let me know!
Aweesh ganegoda – Thank you for your review, I'm glad you liked the last chapter! Please let me know what you thought of this one!
Insanedreamer7905 – Thank you for your review, I'm glad you liked the last chapter! I hope this chapter answers a few of your theories and hopefully gives you a few more, please let me know!
SAS7ROCKS – Thank you for your review, I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! Looking forward to hearing your theories please do let me know!
TheProudPearl24 – I know you're super busy right now and struggling to get time to read but I hope when you do have time that you are enjoying the new content and I hope you let me know!
Happy reading all & stay safe! :)