~Percy's POV~
It's about sunset and Stephanie's party is about to begin. I'm combing my hair so that I can look awesome. Rachael asked if we could together and so we are, but in a "friend manner". I look at the clock and its 6:07 p.m, party starts till 7, so I'm fine.
I remember a few days back and remember Katniss's smile as she faded away. Her smile calms me; it reminds me of hope and faith. To know that there is always a way if you set your mind to it. It's amazing how much I can tell from a smile. A lot people say my smile is something but I really don't know. I remembered how Calypso described it. I blush as I remember her. If I had to choose between all these girls, I would choose Calypso. I barley know her but everything she did was perfect. The way she acted, walked, spoke, everything. And she was always sad because of her curse so I would be there to help her be happier. Any other "girl" would be fine without me, maybe a little sad, but fine. Calypso would have to go through the process all over: Meet a hero, fall in love, he needs to leave and never see each other again. I may not be a genius when it comes to love but I do know what Calypso does takes guts.
I look at the clock and its 6:30 already! I must have been in thought for a while. My mom and Paul are in the living room watching a horror movie. So I just give my mom a nod and once she nods back and I'm on my way. I meet Rachael at Central Park and her fancy BMW takes us to the party. She looks awesome. She has this white blouse that has frills on the sleeves and lace on the waist plus she has back skinny jeans on. Her hair is a curled ponytail and I have never seen anything like it. This is not Rachael. But I gotta admit I like this Rachael as well. All I have on are my ripped jeans and my Abercrombie shirt.
She breaks the silence by saying,
"So if anyone asks, we are NOT going out or anything. We just came as friends, okay?" she says with a concerned look on her face.
"Of course, you know it. Hopefully Kamila and her friends aren't there." I shudder as I say her dreadful name.
"Hate to break you bubble water boy, but you know she is going. I can't take her stupid attitude. She thinks she is all that with her Juicy Couture stuff piled all over her."
"Hehe, not to mention all that make-up she wears." I smirk as I say that.
"You could say that again" Rachael says as she chuckles.
Kamila is a girl that is filthy rich but is a stuck up conceited girl. She always says me and Rachael are dating secretly because we hang around each other a lot. So she teases us A LOT. In return, Rachael makes fun of her clown make-up. Rachael always asks if we can go to parties together. Everyone sees that as a relationship thing but I don't. Every time she asks if we can go to a party together I always take it as a friend thing like, 'I got your back sorta' thing. I think she does too, but sadly the majority of people here do not.
{I RECOMMEND PUTTING POKERFACE RIT NOW, so u can set da mood, u no? :"DD also wen I mention songs throughout this chapter.}
Once we arrive at Stephanie's mansion I can hear Lady Gaga's Pokerface going on in the back.
"Ready?" Rachael asks as we enter through the back door gate.
"Ready." I say confidently as I open the gate.
When I open the gate I see a pool on the left with some girls and guys, a table where the food is (more like candy), and a DJ at the far right end, just below a huge balcony. Then I see Stephanie coming toward me.
"Percy! Rachael! I'm like, SO happy to see you guys came!" She said/yelled excitedly which caused a few people to glance at us suspiciously. Then I immediately notice
Stephanie's bright smile turned upside down and she asked,
"Percy…Katniss didn't come?"
"She couldn't, she said she might still try though." I say reassuringly.
"Katniss was invited?" Rachael asks and looks into my eyes, but her eyes look sad…not mad but a sad feeling in them.
And just when I wanted to make her feel better, Stephanie said something she should have not said,
"Why of course! I invited her myself on Wednesday! When she and Percy were eating hot dogs at Central Park!" she perked as her smile returned.
"Oh. Wednesday…." Rachael wondered to herself as her eyes looked sad with a bit of regret in them.
Then she said, "I'm going to get a drink, be right back.", and with that she turned without even getting a response from me or Stephanie.
"D-did I say something wrong?" Stephanie asks with her chocolate eyes gleaming with worry and her smile again turned upside down.
"No…nothing at all…don't worry, Stephanie." I say as I look at her.
Then the person I least wanted to see came up to me.
"O.M.G! Percy! You like came to the partay! And I see you didn't bring your girlfriend with you."
Kamila perked with a smirk on her face.
"She isn't my girlfriend, and she came alright. Kamila."
"Even I know that!" Stephanie said cheerfully
"Well if she 'isn't' your girlfriend then….want to dance with me?" she said seriously
The word "dance" struck me like a spear. And worst of all it was with HER. Out of all girls, Kamila! That overweight, money-struck, clown make-up alien!
"I…uhh…don't want too." I say
"What, are you scared she might see you?"
Then I hear a voice and I'm glad I heard it,
"It's not that his so-called girlfriend would get mad. It's just you are too ugly for him." Rachael spat
"Me? Ugly? Look in the mirror for once you rat-smelling-red-head."
Then I have no idea why I said this but I did,
"She is anything but Ugly!"
Then they stopped their glaring contest and looked at me like: What the Heck…? Well Kamila and her friends/stalkers did. Rachael had some pink on her face and a smile.
The song Crush Crush Crush by Paramore then came on and Stephanie said,
"This is like MY song! Like BRB!" she said as she skipped off to the dance floor with her friends.
Then with that Kamila said,
"You know what? Whatever, just go on with your useless lives while I go live my lovely life."
And with that she stormed off.
There was silence between me and Rachael and then I realized I should explain, even if she gets mad.
"Rachael….I gotta tell you what happened on Wednesday."
"Fire away."
"After you left to complete your essay, I-"
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to yell at you like. I'm sorry! I was just…frustrated. I'm sorry!" She said as she cut me off with her head cast downward.
"It's fine."
"No it isn't! You didn't deserve that! I ditched you right there and then! I'm sorry!"
After that I lead her to a small garden to talk because I needed to tell her who Katniss really is. She still seemed sad and her head was cast downward all through the way to the garden hidden on the far left of the pool.
Once we got there we sat on a bench and I broke the seal of silence.
"I went back to my apartment after you left. And she appeared. I took her to eat hot dogs and Stephanie was there and invited her. I told Stephanie that Katniss is my cousin."
"…Why? Why did you tell her that? She isn't though….right?" she says as her she finally looks up.
"No she isn't. I had to tell her that because Katniss isn't from here."
"What..? Wait you mean Greek mythology…right? You know you can tell her. She is also a demigod like you."
"No not Greek mythology. I mean time. She is from the future. A horrible future and I can't go telling people that she is so you are the only person that knows that she isn't my cousin. Please keep it like that." I say softly
"The…Future? Wow. Didn't expect that. And yeah sure, your secret is safe with me. Wait, what do you mean by 'horrible' future?"
She was interrupted by a scream from the pool and with that, me and Rachael shot up from our seats and ran out of the garden. Once we did we saw a girl floating in the pool.
She has brown hair with some ashes in them….no A LOT of ashes in her hair, and is currently clouding the pool with them along with a red substance.
Stephanie then rushed there and jumped in with clothes and all. And swam toward her as the girl was sinking to the deep end. Then it hit me. Water. And as soon as I thought that I went in with her. As I jumped I sunk to the bottom where the girl was going.
Then I saw her face.
"Katniss….?'
~Katniss POV~
{U shud lik put Decode by Paramore here! Thy rhythm goes great~! According to my brain}
I'm screaming at the top of my lungs right now. I can't take my life here anymore! I was fine with Percy and I felt alive and happy. But not anymore! That was two days ago! Like a fantasy! Something unreal compared to now. Today. The Present. Now! I'm at my safe haven crying my eyes out and screaming. Why did they kill her? WHY? She didn't deserve to die like that! Johanna…why? I guess I too deserve to die. Like Sora says, I am worthless.
I still remember how I was walking back from that meeting yesterday and I heard screams from the subway. And how I stupidly went back to see what happened. I got inside and I saw Mitzuki on the floor crying and screaming with Sora comforting her. As Sora looked at me I finally got a good look at him. He has orange red hair with blue eyes. The exact same shape Mitzuki's eyes were. He then got up and told me to follow him because I have to see a message the Capitol sent ME! Katniss Everdeen. I followed Sora into a room where Haymitch and Plutarch were arguing with a worried look on their face. Finnick just leaned on the wall. Pale and with his eyes in shock. Even Gale was there as well with his face cast downward. He is considered part of the team now since he is my assistant. As soon as Sora said "She is here." Everyone looked up and then exchanged glances between them.
Finnick then said sadly,
"K-Katniss…we found Johanna."
Johanna….that means Peeta is close. And then I asked,
"W-what? Where was she? Is Peeta there? Are they okay?" I ask
"No she is NOT FINE! She is dead! Murdered! Tortured! Slaughtered!" Haymitch yells as he pounds a table where a black box is.
"What…how?" I ask
"Look Katniss, don't mind Haymitch. He is just mad about this so I'll explain it calmly to you.' Plutarch said
"Fine." I say
"Okay. Districts 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 11 received a message from the Capitol and a fellow spy combined the message and brought it here. That message that each District got are…"
He then trailed off with his eyes glittering chocking back tears. Just staring at the black box with regret.
"Damn it Plutarch! Get to the point!" Haymitch growled
I then turned my head from Haymitch's direction to Plutarch's who was still some what traumatized. After a while he then said,
"The message each District got are J-Johanna's body parts. District Three got a-an arm, Four a-another arm, Six a l-leg, S-Seven another leg, Eight got the upper half of her t-torso, Eleven got the o-other h-half." he said slowly as tears started glittering down his cheeks.
We all stayed quiet for a while and I was more than traumatized, I was devastated into disaster. Johanna saved my life, and she is with Peeta right now. Wait…no. PEETA!
I then looked up from my downcast expression and balled my fists and asked,
"Where-is-Peeta?"
Haymitch looked up and made a smirk. Plutarch just clapped his hand over his forehead. Finnick and Gale continued looking down. Sora just stood there almost emotionless.
Then Haymitch said,
"Ah. I see you are still not giving up on your bread boy. He would be lucky to be alive right now trust me."
"Why would that be?" I ask with my fists balled with more force.
"Because of a message they gave you, Katniss." Sora said calmly with still no expression on his face. Like if he did not care at all.
"You mean that message." I say as I point to the black box.
"Besides that message Katniss. That message was actually for the rebels. The real message they gave you is on a piece of paper in the box. It came along with the whole packet." Finnick said ruefully as he turned his head sideways.
"And that would be…?" I say
Haymitch then rolled his eyes exaggeratingly and opened the box, and after searching through it, he got a paper out of it. He then gave/threw it to me. And I began reading something I wished I hadn't.
Mockingjay. Come on out from your hiding place now. This trash we call a rebel is just a warning for what is about to happen. We have found their hiding spot so surrender now or you lover with end up worse then her. Be prepared for the worst. Your uprising shall come to an end by the Winter Solstice.
I looked up from the note with my eyes glittering. This doesn't make sense! How can they send a message to the rebels like this when supposedly we are betraying all of them?
I then look up and look at Plutarch and asked that.
"Plutarch….I thought the rebels thought we betrayed them. How can the Capitol just send them her body parts?"
He then looked up and said,
"District 9, were the ones who found her and turned her in and so far all the Districts besides the ones who received a body part are on the Capitol's side because they don't want their world 'destroyed' by us, the 3rd group. The Districts who received the body parts don't trust us as much but they are still in rebellion. The spy that gave us the body parts plus your message is from here, so we trust him 100%. He says that there is a rumor is that Johanna was in charge of the Nuclear weapons that we are making for destruction. The rebels refused to believe it and then the Capitol got the body parts as proof that they had found them making the weapons which is why they killed her. We are still are wondering how to prove ourselves innocent." He said sadly
"How can you trust this spy so much to get all that information? What if he also changed things to make-"
I was then interrupted by Sora,
"I got the right information. I'm sure. I would never betray anybody. I know what I heard and while we are still arguing, the rebelling Districts are making up their mind. So we have to do this mission, NOW. Not in a month!" he said with so much confidence.
That's where he was yesterday. Since didn't attend the meeting.
"I need to have some time in thought to think this over." I said calmly so I would not show my true feelings. And with that I walked out of the room.
Mitzuki was there sobbing but not crying and then she looked up with her silver glitter eyes and said,
"It is the end."
Then she shot forward and got to her feet and her eyes changed color to a light purple and said,
"Water boy shall save us. By the dawn of the end." and then her eyes became the silver they always were and she fell back and fainted, and was caught by Sora. He then looked up to me and shot me a glare with his icy blue eyes and carried Mitzuki off with him to the darkness.
As he walked past me he said,
"Baka." and continued walking normally.
I stood there stunned at what just happened. That was….strange. Very strange. I also don't think Sora likes me very much. All he does is glare at me or tell me off. I wonder what his problem is. And then I remembered how he carried Mitzuki off as if it were normal. Are they married? Going out? Anything? I then remember when Mitzuki looked at him admiringly at the meeting. And how he picked her up like if it would normally be like that. Maybe they are siblings or something. As I walked home once more I kept wondering about the future. My Future. Then I hear someone say Mockingjay. And I immediately know that someone is calling me.
I turn around and see fiery hair and piercing blue eyes looking down on me.
"S-Sora." I say
"What did she tell you?" he spat
"Who?"
"Mitzuki!"
"I don't know!" I spat getting irritated
"Damn it Mockingjay!"
"Well I'm sorry. It's not my fault I can't speak gibberish!"
"…Mockingjay….you have to watch where you are going. That boy will cause you nothing but trouble."
Boy…I know a lot of those. Who would he be talking about? Peeta, Gale, Finnick…I don't know Sora! Take your pick!
"W-What?...Which boy?"
He then started chuckling and said bluntly,
"Water Boy."
Who…? Finnick? It can't be Finnick.
"You mean Finnick?"
"Of course not. You know who. If it were my choice I would already get you off the whole plan. You have no real value on this team, Mockingjay. It's your fault Johanna got murdered. We wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't so madly in love with Peeta. If it were my choice I would just let him rot. He is useless so far. Just causes us problems."
Every single word he said stung me. And made my fist ball.
"What is your PROBLEM!" I spat angrily
"…You."
Okay this guy is getting my nerves. So much I could just attack him like I did to Haymitch. But I won't. Not yet.
He then said,
"Everything is your fault, is it not? If you die during the mission. I will be satisfied we got rid of an obstacle."
My fists balled up in anger and I know he just crossed the line.
I punched him in the nose. HARD. So hard he falls back and I see a sticky red substance on my knuckles.
"Mockingjay. Rot in hell."
He got up and glared at me with a look that could kill. Piercing me with his icy blue eyes right through my soul. He then walked off with that red substance dripping on his tracks.
I stood there thinking about how much he wished me dead. Am I really that much of a burden? He also wished Peeta dead. Why? What did we do to him? Then I remembered everything that happened. Johanna is dead. Peeta isn't safe anymore. At that moment I realize how much I need Peeta. How can I want him so much? I don't love him. Love is the real obstacle here! Even I can tell Sora is in love with Mitzuki. So then….why? I look up into the dark starry sky and wonder to myself.
What the heck is going on?
I return to now. My flashback over. I remember how I ran home and got a quilt and my bow and arrows and ran here. I haven't gotten out of here since then. I'm planning to stay here till I have to attend the final meeting tomorrow. I now look up to the cloudy sunset and my memory flashes fast like before someone dies. But the memory starts when I get off the plane to come here.
Then I see myself yelling at Haymitch. Now crying on my bed then looking up to see green eyes looking down on me. I remember that beast. Then Gale giving me a bow and arrows. Then shooting Percy down. Then crying and him later disappearing. Then the first meeting. Then me laughing. Then the hot dogs. Then the meeting. Then Johanna. Then stupid Sora! Then…now.
My stomach interrupted my thoughts. I'm hungry. I'll just hunt a bunny to two. Two sounds better, according to my stomach. I climb down the tree and before I know it I got two bunnies. Now if I had a fire….
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of bushes moving and whispering. I climb to the nearest tree and target the bush. And then Marissia came out of it followed by…Rory….holding Prim's hand? So I suddenly decide to eavesdrop.
"Umm, Marissia…we are lost aren't we?" Prim questions behind her
"Yeah. I don't see any way out." Rory responds
"We aren't lost! I have my hideout here and I'll show you!"
"Okay fine. But seriously it's getting dark and we still can't find it." Rory says as he lets go of Prim's hand.
"Yeah. And I'm worried about Katniss. She hasn't come home since the meeting yesterday." Prim says worriedly
At least someone cares about my existence. Prim, my sweet sister. But I wonder why she is here with these two. I continued to eavesdrop to answer my question.
"So…we are really going out. Aren't we Prim?" Rory asked as he looked up with pleading eyes.
Prim giggled and said,
"Of course. I said yes the first time, did I not?"
"Yeah, you did." He said convinced
I saw Marissia looking a bit sad though. Maybe she liked Rory all this time and now, she couldn't express it. That or she is getting worried about truly getting lost.
And then I accidentally snapped a branch. Crap.
"What was that?" Marissia asked as she got close to Rory.
"I do not know. I'm surprised you heard that, Marissia, I didn't hear it till you told me", He says.
Marissia then blushed when he said that.
"…I think I do." Prim responded.
They had a confused look on their face and then Prim said,
"You don't have to hide. You didn't do anything wrong. And mom is really worried, I am as well...Katniss."
Oh uh. What do I do? How did she see me? Then the branch fell making me fall with it. I was on the floor and I saw the three faces surround mine.
"Katniss." Rory said, "So this is where you were! You know Gale is very worried as well."
Prim then looked worried almost terrified.
"Katniss. Did you hear anything in our conversation?"
I responded after I got to my feet (So this is what Percy felt),
"I heard a bit. You are going to have to tell mom later. But I won't tell. What happened here stays here. Including this location."
Prim looked satisfied with that answer and I climbed the tree again to get my supplies. When I came down, I just glanced at the three of them and continued walking forward.
"Katniss, you aren't coming back?" Prim said worriedly
"Not yet. I'm sorry. Remember, what happened here stays here."
As I said that I remembered Percy yet again. I guess it really does stays here. And with that I sprint off as fast as I can. Eventually it's totally dark but the sky looks gray. I stop after running a while. I pant heavily and rest a while before starting a fire.
After a while of looking for twigs, I start a fire and cook my meal. I ate like a wild person and I actually finished both rabbits. And then I fall asleep.
~A HOUR LATER~
I wake up to smell smoke. I shot up to see the forest in flames. I start to run away from the fire but then go back to get my bow and arrows. Stupid me. Then I heard thunder over me. Yes, rain! I grabbed my arrows and continued running. Until I reached the end of the forest…? My hair was filled with ashes and so were my clothes.
I decided to run faster toward who knows where until I could not go on at all. So I got on the concrete and laid there. Cold, and sad. I didn't get my quilt. So I'm shivering so hard.
"Someone save me…Please. I don't want to die now…It's c-cold."
~IN NEW YORK- Future~
I wake up to people looking over me asking me if I'm okay. I see huge lights and some people drunk. Go Figure. I get up and tell them I'm fine. After a while they leave me alone. And I start walking.
Where the heck am I? Then it hits me. Percy's world. New York. Not good. Where is Percy? With that I start to run, crashing into people while I'm at it. Then someone pulls me back. When I looked into its eyes I realize it's not a someone. It's a something. With one eye?
"How dare thee run into me!"
"I am…sorry?" I say
He tugged me to an alley I began to feel scared but then I realized my bow and arrows are with me….I wonder why and how.
"You reek of ashes and saltwater. You have been around Poseidon's son."
What? Who is Poseidon?
"Leave me alone!" I spat
He then chuckled and as soon as I saw the chance I ran. After a while I didn't see him anymore and I realized the lights and buildings were gone. I saw other buildings but these were calm. Not like the other ones. I started walking since I had no more energy left in me.
After a while I heard music. And I felt something slash me from behind. I fell to the ground with the pain sinking into me. When I touched my back I felt a watery substance. Blood. I turn around to see that creature again.
"You end now!" He yelled as he put his hands together and raised them to clobber me.
I immediately rolled to the side. And he picked me up and threw me to the roof of a fancy building, where the music was coming from.
My whole body was going through pain when I landed on the roof. I hadn't experienced this type of pain since the Quell. He then picked me up and I saw how high we were. My reflexes caused me to kick him and his head went back and I found a chance to jump out of his reach. And as I landed on the roof I went through a bit of pain, but nothing compared to last time.
My instincts told me to shoot at it, so as he was about to clobber me again I rolled and as I did last time and I took out the bow and arrow and I aimed and got his eye. He fell back off the roof and when I looked over the roof he had faded. Then I realized how much the cut in my back hurt and I also fell over the roof and landed in….
"Water?"
~Percy's POV~
Stephanie and I got her inside. Rachael was outside trying to explain what happened to everyone. We laid her on a couch and Stephanie rushed to get a first aid. That girl is only an airhead when she wants to be one. She is actually very bright and fearless.
Rachael then came in and said,
"People here are real easy to convince. So then, who is our friend here?"
It takes me a while to respond but when I did I simply tell her,
"Rachael meet unconscious Katniss. Unconscious Katniss meet Rachael."
Stephanie then comes in and has this mature look on her face and says,
"Move aside, I have to do my work."
Rachael and I did without a word. I can see a shocked look on Rachael's face. And she whispers into my ear,
"Stephanie…is a healer?"
I chuckle and whisper back,
"Don't be surprised. She can do many things actually."
"You know I can hear you." Stephanie said with a smirk.
After a while Katniss wakes up and sits up suddenly and says,
"Peeta!" but then she leans back down and rubs her head.
Then Stephanie returns to her airhead mode.
"Katniss! You're up! I should give you some green tea! It's good for headaches! And it makes your skin sparkle!" she said with happiness and got up to, I guess, get some green tea.
Katniss then said,
"Where am I? And do NOT say Manhattan! I'm positive I'm not there!"
I then laugh and say,
"You are at a house of a friend. How did you get here? And why are you full of ashes? And bleeding for that matter?"
She blinked for a few moments as if to remember everything when she finally stood up and said,
"Well I woke up at a busy street and almost got stepped on and then I started running until… something grabbed me. I know it sounds weird but it had one eye. It told me I reek of ashes and saltwater. Then I escaped and I ran till I got here and then he threw me to the roof of this building and wanted to clobber me but then I shot it at its eye."
"What did you shoot it with?" Rachael asked, finally getting into the conversation
Katniss then turned to face her and said,
"My bow and arrows."
Then a cheery voice came on,
"Katniss! Dear! Honey! Friend! Amiga! Here is your tea!"
"Thank you Stephanie." She said
"Oh! And by the way this is Rachael!" Stephanie says cheerfully
Oops. I forgot to introduce Katniss to her.
"Hello, Rachael." She said as she sipped the tea.
"Hey." she responded faintly.
After a bit of silence, I could tell Stephanie got irritated and said,
"So Amiga Katniss, why do you have ashes in you hair?"
"Because…Because I was running away from a fire."
"A fire?" Rachael asks.
"Yes a fire back at…."
She looked at me as if telling me, 'What do I say? The past destroyed New York?'
So being smart me I blurt out,
"Oh yeah, the one that the monster caused."
"A monster…? Here? Now?" Stephanie said worriedly
"No I already killed it." Katniss said as she put the tea cup down
"…..Are you sure there was only one?" Rachael asked.
Stephanie and I derived our attention to Katniss since we are the ones at risk.
"As far as I know…" She said
After that we heard yells outside. And we all got up to go outside, except Rachael. She stayed to help Katniss. That's really nice of her but….strange.
When we are outside Stephanie curses,
"Oh sweet mother of Apollo."
I looked up to see what she was looking at, splashing through the pool. Cyclops. Three of them. And they don't look nice like Tyson.
"There's Poseidon's boy! Kill him!" The one who seemed the leader said.
And I guess Stephanie changed to her airhead mode for a moment,
"Hey am I like invisible? I'm Apollo's girl! H-E-L-L-OOO!"
I have to admit that remark made me smile. Funny Stephanie. I then see Rachael and Katniss by our side. Katniss with her bow and arrows and Rachael with a really sharp knife.
"Everyone thinks it is an attraction which explains why no one is running away." Rachael says bluntly.
"Damn it. Get them out of here Rachael! They will listen to you." I say and she nods. I then take off the cap of Riptide.
This leaves me with the Apollo girl and the Mockingjay.
Stephanie then says (as I see she is getting hyper because of her ADHD),
"We have to attack like, NOW! Before they like destroy my house!"
And shot out running toward the one on the right.
"She is hyper…." Katniss says
"Yes she is, and that is actually her usual mode. Now stay behind me, you can get hurt again." I say, but I guess what I say doesn't matter since she also started running toward the Cyclops on the left that is about to ruin the garden.
This leaves me with the one in the pool.
I really want to go protect Katniss but it looks like I'll have to stay here. As I am about to charge I see Rachael running toward me and I also see that Stephanie got slammed into the wall.
"Stephanie!" I yell as I run toward her, with Rachael following. I see a Stephanie's pink bedazzled bow and arrows and pray to Apollo and Artemis to let me shoot right just once. I shoot but miss the eye and hit the mouth which causes the Cyclops to fall back in pain. I see Rachael helping Stephanie and I remembered Katniss. I look around for her and I see her covered in cuts but she keeps dodging the attacks with great speed. I get a firm grip on Riptide and run to her.
"Katniss!" I yell
I really should have not yelled because I distracted her and the Cyclops finally grabbed her by the neck and pulled her up. She was being chocked while I'm here standing around. Until I saw the water. Water! I closed my eyes and imagined it covering the Cyclops with so much force he falls to the ground.
I open my eyes and see that it came true. Katniss has a huge cut on her right cheek that goes from her forehead to chin and is currently bleeding. I run to her and help her up and she looks shocked at what just happened.
She then snaps out of it and yells,
"Be careful!", as the Cyclops was about to clobber us.
As we roll she lands on top of me and we lay like that for a while. I'm in a trance with her eyes, her lightning silver eyes. I realize she has red on her face and I think I do too.
Then I hear Stephanie yell,
"Percy! Katniss! Look out!"
Two Cyclops surrounded us and Katniss got off of me and she grabbed Riptide from the ground and shot it like a spear directly into its eye. She is really good at that spear thing. Then the monster dissolves. I guess Rachael and Stephanie managed to kill the other one, but that still leaves us with one.
The leader. All four of us stand our ground. Stephanie with her bedazzled bow and arrows, Rachael with her KitchenAid knife, me with Riptide, and Katniss with her gilded bow and arrows.
The Cyclops cracked his knuckles and said,
"Too easy."
He then charged and the archers took a side and shot. Rachael got back and threw her knife and hit its leg. The archers hit its arms and I dove in for the final strike through its eye. So much for Stephanie's mansion. It doesn't have a lot of damage though. Just a cracked pool and cracked walls. Oh and ruined benches and garden!
It dissolved in a flash and we all stood there panting. Then Stephanie looked up and started laughing. Rachael and I followed along. And we laughed hysterically. Katniss stood there with a confused look, but then she grew her amazing smile and put her banes to the side and then smiled even more amazingly and started laughing along.
I forgot everything that was bothering me. I wish I had a camera to record this awesome moment.
"Well so much for my mansion! It's alright though! We have insurance!" Stephanie said as she continued laughing.
I then looked up into the starry sky and wondered,
"Can this moment last forever? Here with Rachael, Stephanie, and
~Katniss POV~
I can't believe I'm laughing! Yesterday I was depressed, and now laughing? Is that even possible? It is. Because I'm here with people who will protect me. Stephanie may be an airhead but she is fearless plus a healer, like Prim. Rachael has courage like no other girl. Percy is just so…amazing. I like his laugh and his smile. Just looking at it makes me feel confident and that everything will be okay.
Percy is my idol.
I then remembered something. My memory flashed to where the Cyclops was chocking me and then I saw water move by itself on top of us with great force. And then I landed on the floor to safety. Then the damn Cyclops scratched my face. And it still burns right now.
I guess Stephanie noticed me touching my scratch and said,
"Well I guess I gotta go get the first aid kit once more! Be right back!"
Then she skipped off.
Percy then asked the red-head,
"So where are the guests?"
"Oh…I sent them on a treasure hunt" she said as she smiled.
"Seriously?" he asked.
"What? You don't believe me?" She asked with a confident grin.
"Well, yes…no…sorta in the middle." he says ashamed but with his smile still there
"Well I did. I told them to find a heart shaped rock, a pink flower, a violet sock, and a clown." she said proudly.
I laughed at that and they looked at me with their smiles.
Then I said,
"They are never going to come back! Where do expect them to find a clown?".
She was about to say something when all of the sudden we hear people coming in through the back door. And we saw a clown coming in, along with the other treasure hunting items.
Then Rachael, Percy and I looked at each other and laughed even more. All the guests had a confused look. And Stephanie came out also confused to see her guests with a tall clown.
Then she just said,
"Party on!"
She then ran over to the DJ station and took out some dark sunglasses and began a song. It has good rhythm.
{Put Break your Heart by Taio Cruz now! If yew want…I respect your free will ^^}
I noticed she left the first aid kit on the floor I went for it because this cut really hurts. I walked toward it and I grabbed it but someone else also grabbed it. I looked up to see Percy. And he smiled at me and motioned me to go inside the house. Rachael followed but then stopped and went over to the dance floor.
I guess she wants to dance. Which left me and Percy alone inside the house.
We sat on the house and he opened the first aid kit and took out some alcohol and a cotton ball.
"Warning, I am not healer material." he said with a smirk.
As he was cleaning my face I was mesmerized in his eyes. Wait. What am I doing? I can't be thinking about this! I scratch that thought and act natural.
I then hear voices and see Stephanie and Rachael coming in.
"I'll take over from here! After all I am classified for this!" Stephanie said cheerfully.
Rachael then whispered to Percy something and I could make out he said 'No'. And Rachael then grabbed his arm and dragged him outside.
I think Stephanie saw me observing them because she said,
"Don't mind them. Rachael is getting Percy to dance a slow song with her. It's amazing how Rachael doesn't give him up. You can tell she likes him A LOT. But then again, who doesn't!"
For some reason my heart feels empty. I feel mad, angry, sad, and jealous? I couldn't be jealous! Why would I be? My denial thoughts were then interrupted by Stephanie.
"There you go! You're all set to go! Go rock your socks off!" she said with her bright smile.
I got up and went outside and I saw Rachael in the crowd, dancing and Percy leaning on the wall and I asked him,
"You aren't dancing with her?"
He then looked my direction and said,
"Dancing isn't my thing. Ask anyone. Besides I'm terrible."
"Nice to know I'm not the only one." I say staring into his gleaming minty eyes.
"Then how about I test you? We will slow dance in the next song. Does that sound good to you?"
I swear my heart skipped a beat when he asked that. WAIT! NO! I cannot be feeling this! Why? I do NOT like him!
But for some reason I said,
"You're on! I'll test you as well."
NO! Stupid Me! Stupid, Stupid, Stupid Me! Why did I say that? This isn't me! This is maddening! I can't even dance!
The song then ended and a beautiful song started. And Percy said,
"So, should we go now then?"
Stupid Stupid me! Say an excuse! Tell him no!
"You know it."
IDIOT! Idiot me! Do I know what NO means? Why didn't I say it? I can't do this! He looks so confident!
He then grabs my hand and leads me to the dance floor where there are couples dancing.
"My heart is skipping beats and I have no idea why. What is wrong with me?"
~Percy's POV~
{Okay put Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls!}
I can't believe I just asked her to dance with me! I can't even do that to other girls in my school. Or Annabeth! Well just once. But still! Not even Rachael! I'm so dumb! I'm also nervous!
We are walking to the dance floor and I'm leading her and she has so much confidence in herself while I'm here shattering slowly!
I put my hands on her waist and she wraps her arms around my neck. I'm starting to sweat right now. I don't even know why! Do I like like her? I barely know her! I doubt she likes me back though. Who would like me? I'm like the ugliest guy on campus! I look into her eyes and they are blazing silver and she is torturing me with her smile again! Why can't I be better looking? At least attractive!
I decide to break the silence by saying,
"Sooooo how do you judge my dancing?".
Damn it, I'm nervous!
"With a ten. You are amazing. The opposite of myself." she says bluntly.
You are so wrong Katniss. You are amazing.
"No you're fine. I would give you a one hundred but there are no on hundreds so I'll give you a ten."
"Don't flatter me with lies." she says as she looks down smiling, I bet.
"As if. I don't lie. Ask anyone."
She then looked up and she had a beautiful smile on her face.
"Thank you."
And with that she faded.
I stood there dancing with oxygen for a moment to finally realize she was truly gone.
I then stepped out of the dance floor and looked up into the starry sky and told myself.
"I just want you to know who I am."