Well, there you go. Chapter 2 of SpearHead already out ina few days. Hope you enjoy it. Percy's beginning his last day of school... with a slight twist. I'll continue more of this in Chapter 3. Pretty slow, chapter, but hey, you gotta lay down the foundation before you start building up. Plus, this helps me brainstorm for stuff to come ahead in the story! Not much else to say...

Chapter 2: Rude Awakening

"Perseus Jackson! You'll be late for your last day of school if you don't wake up!" Sally Jackson yelled from the stove as she finished cooking several of her famous blue pancakes.

"I'm up, I'm up!" Percy called, racing into the kitchen, snatching a fresh pancake of the plate in his mother's hand. "Geez, can't a guy make sure his hair looks nice?"

"Ah, right. Your date with Annabeth is after school." Sally taunted, turning off the stove.

"Mom, for the last time it's not a date. Since when was going back to Camp Half-Blood considered a date?"

"Call it whatever you want, Percy. To me, it's a date. Besides, what's not to be excited about? You're finally going to finish a school year-"

Percy interrupted. "Don't jinx it mom." He waved a pancake at her, flakes flinging onto the floor.

"Fine, fine. You hair is still kind of messy though… Here let me get it for you…" She licked her fingers, then tussled his hair around a bit.

"Mom!" Percy shuck her off, "By the why, where's Paul?"

"Oh, he had a call from his boss. Said it was important."

"Anything else?"

"No. Not really."

Percy glanced out the window just as their conversation died. "Oh! There's my bus mom! Bye! Love you!" He kissed her on the cheek before jogging out the door.

"Wait! Percy!" Sally called, before he was out of earshot.

"What?" The Son of Poseidon back tracked. His mom motioned towards her cheek indicated Percy to do the same. He blushed before wiping the remains of the blue pancake from his face. "Thanks mom." Then he was off again.

"Try not to blow anything up!" She gave one last piece of advice, then turning to wash the dishes.

Percy had missed his bus by only a few seconds, and as a result, had to now walk to the subway. As he picked up a quickening pace, so did the man ten feet behind, ducking in and out of the crowd, yet continuously keeping an eye on him. He wore a fresh suit, similar to the ones in spy movies, with sunglasses and an ear piece. His hands were tucked in his pocket, and trying not to be suspicious, he silently pursued his target.

The man's name was Phil. An ordinary name, one you might find in an accounting firm, or construction site. Instead, Phil Starkly worked for the CIA. He didn't have a wife, nor kids, and his only relative was his uncle whom he grew up with in Detroit. No one would actually miss him if he went missing. Only a week before, he was on a desk job in the capitol, but today, he was out on the field. For years he had dreamed of working as an agent. Only, not like this. The man was stalking a 16 year kid! How much more embarrassing a job can it be? The one shot he had of fulfilling his dream of a spy, now was reduced to child stalking and paper filing. Phil knew he shouldn't have picked up his telephone at 1:00 in the morning, especially since it seemed like the person he was talking to was another teenager. He had been assured this wasn't a joke, and given a fact file via e-mail on his target: Percy Jackson.

The agent looked up. Ahead, they were approaching the entrance to the subway and soon would be underground. It was now or never. Phil knew what he had to do, and with a gulp and a further moment's hesitation, he sprinted ahead. Turning a corner and into a long forgotten part of the subway, he had located the cage he had been advised was there. Fumbling in his pocket, his hand emerged with a bronze key, with one end shaped like a skull. A skeleton key indeed. For Phil had been warned the contents of this cage was deadly, even to him, and if he didn't run fast enough, he too, will die.

Shakily inserting the key into the hole, Phil turned the lock and took a cautious step back. Suddenly, dark red eyes glinted at him with an evil, amused glare.

"I gladly thank you mortal, for your assistance…" A deep voice protruded from the darkness. Phil had not expected the contents of the cage to be able to talk. Now he was shaking even more wildly, cowering.

"It seems you can see me. Tell me, am I terrifying?" The voice taunted. And slowly, ever so slowly, the figure stepped out of the shadows. It looked like a lion, except much larger. By the looks of its mane and fur, it had been a furious fight, and had lost. But it had an almost human quality to it. The being had bat like wings tucked on its side, but the most fear-inducing feature was its tail. Protruding along with several spines was a tail almost the length of its body and as thick as a man's leg. It was smooth, yet scaly, and reflected a red almost purple shade. And at the end, a stinger, like a scorpion's, dangled down, dangerously close to Phil's face.

"It's a pity myths are long forgotten in your modern human world… Otherwise, you would've known who I am." The creature explained, "It is not every day you find a Manticore in the subway."

Phil tried to run away, but stumbled and fell onto the seat of his pants. Cold sweat poured over his body.

"Now if you'll allow me to satisfy my hunger!" The Manticore launched itself at the fooled agent.

Percy stood nearby, waiting for the subway to come. He knew he was going to be a bit late, but if he ran the rest of the way, he could make it by the first bell. Carelessly flinging his change around, he dropped a quarter which rolled off, by the shadows. Crouching onto the gum-stained tiles in order to retrieve the cash, a card flew out from the darkness. Percy read it. On the card, it identified Phil Starkly, CIA agent. Looking up, Percy saw those same red eyes Phil did just before things went wrong.

Tah-Dah. Like I said, not so great. I'll try to make the next chapter better. I would like to thank the people who have supported my story so far by reviewing, alerting and favoriting it :D Please bare with me, for I need some way to build the story up D:

TibbiToo - Thanks!