Chapter Eight

Percy's POV

I was walking, without an umbrella, down the streets of New York City with riptide in my pocket. I have no idea how I got this far because Thalia's house is all the way in Long Island. I was so stupid to leave. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I didn't know that Annabeth was going to find out. I kept it a secret for a reason. Why hadn't I told her before. Things would have been alright if I had.

I was really getting cold. I wanted to go back, but I have no idea which way I came from. It was almost too dark to see anything. The moon wasn't out. I thought about staying in the park, but I just couldn't. I searched for the nearest subway and went down the stairs. People were looking at me like I was crazy. A sixteen year old boy, drenched in water. Even though I'm the son of Poseidon, right now, I don't have the strength to dry myself. I bought myself a one way ticket and waited for my train to come. I got on board the F train, and waited. I needed to get to Manhattan. My mom and my step dad were staying in our old apartment on fifth avenue. It was small, but if you have a mortal family as small as mine, it wouldn't matter. I kept myself from falling asleep. But I just couldn't. Right when my eyes closed, I blacked out.

It's normal to have dreams when you're a demigod. They can scare you as much as the real thing. This was one of them.

I didn't know where I was. I could only see black. I couldn't tell if I was able to see anything until something caught my eye. A small light in front of me. I tried to grab it, but it kept moving farther and farther. Then, it burst. It didn't disappear, though. Instead, it turned into my friends and family. My mom, step dad, Poseidon, Tyson, Thalia, Nico, Jason, Chiron, Luke, Rachel, Grover, Clarrise(although, I don't know if I'll call her my friend), Silena, Beckendorf, Connor and Travis, and Annabeth. I tried to reach out and say something, but something made my body not move. Suddenly, I heard a deep, terrible sound.

"What if these people were taken away from you, Percy Jackson? What would you do?"

I couldn't answer. My voice was gone. I just stood there, watching in horror as my friends and family disappeared, screaming my name for help. I wanted to save them, I really did! But no amount of my courage was able to save them alone. I screamed, finally getting my voice to work. I woke with a start.

"Young man, wake up." I stared at a man with dark eyes. He scowled at me, probably because of the failed attempts to wake me up until now. I noticed people staring at me, wondering why I screamed. After a while, they turned their heads and ignored me again.

"Sorry sir. I fell asleep."

"Well, it sounded like you had a bad dream there. You were screaming all of a sudden." He was probably a passenger on the train. He sat next to me on my right. He had a guitar case on his lap. He was a musician. After a few seconds, he broke the silence.

"So, do you know why you screamed? I don't mean to get into your personal life, but I'm just wondering." I haven't noticed it before, but he had dark brown curly hair and a handsome face. He would've looked better if it wasn't for his sad eyes.

"I just had a nightmare. That's all."

"Do you want to tell me what this nightmare is all about?" It looked as if he really cared. I sighed. Normally, the rule is stranger danger, but I couldn't help but tell him.

"In my nightmare, I saw all my friends and family, screaming for help, but I wasn't able to do anything about it. They were terrified. I never want to experience it ever again." I put my hands up to my face. Tears started to form. I didn't want to cry like a five year old, so I sucked it up, and looked back at him.

He wasn't smiling. He looked really sad. Maybe a death in his family. Then, a smile formed on his face. He started to chuckle and that chuckle turned into a laugh. No one really payed any attention to him, but I had on a confused face.

"Why are you laughing?" I asked.

"Because it's a pleasure to meet you, Percy Jackson."

How did he know my name? I stood up, ready to pull out Riptide. Now, people were staring He must be a monster. But he didn't attack. He didn't even say my full name, which monsters tend to do. Instead, he just kept laughing. I looked at him with an even more confused face.

"Don't pull out your sword, son of Poseidon. I am not a monster. Just a mere figure from Greek mythology." I couldn't put my finger on it. Who was this guy and what did he want with me? I've already encountered too many monsters in my life.

When he calmed down, he looked at me with a smile. A pure smile. But it disappeared just as fast as it appeared. I still didn't trust this guy. By now, most of the passengers on the F train had already left. It was just some twelve year old kid with hazel eyes and light brown hair, a pregnant woman in her thirties, and an old man with a white mustache and a balding head.

"Percy, do you not know who I am?" My mind reverted back to him. I jogged through everything I remember about Greek mythology, which was a lot, but came out with nothing.

After a while, he sighed. "I guess not." He looked disappointed. "Well, I guess I'll have to let you keep guessing." He took out his guitar and started to play an unfamiliar song. Even though I've never heard of the song, I knew that he played every note perfectly. The left over passengers were swaying back and forth, almost like they were in a trance. Then, they the song stopped. The old man tried to walk over from across us, but the man said "No thank you, kind sir. I only play for pleasure." I now know who he is.

I thought for a while. He must be a nice guy. I was reluctant, but sat next to him anyway, but my hand was still gripping Riptide. He put the guitar back into the black case.

"Do you now know who I am?" he asked, with a sad smile.

"Yeah. You're Orpheus. The some of Calliope, one of the nine muses...right?" I know I sound stupid for being not sure about my answer, but I really wasn't sure. The man just kept smiling.

"Correct, son of the sea god." I don't get how the others can't hear him say 'son of the sea god',

but whatever.

"The reason you wear a sad smile is because of Eurydice...right?" There goes my question...again.

"You sure do know a lot, Percy. Yes. I am devastated because of Eurydice passing. I really hope that one day I'll be able to see her again. You don't know how lucky you are, Percy." he said.

"Why is that?" I was pretty sure my life sucked. I am a demigod. I might die right now.

He said, "It's because your friends and family are still alive. Eurydice was the closest person to me and then, she just didn't hold on hard enough." I don't get how this guy can't cry. I would bawl like a three year old if anyone close to me died. He just stared at his shoes like they were the ones named Percy. He continued. "Even if your friends aren't with you right now, you will always be motivated to save them. I know your fatal flaw. Personal Loyalty. But, I can't be motivated. I don't have anything to push me. Eurydice is gone, my mom is a muse so I can't see her that often. You don't know how lucky you are." he repeated. I couldn't help but feel bad for him.

"I guess I am," I said, finally. He looked up at me. With a smile, he started to get up with his guitar case.

"Nice to talk to you son of Poseidon. You have just motivated me." he stood up and walked out of the train without a good bye. I have a feeling that I will see him again soon. He really helped me in my situation. You see, he-

OH NO. Where am I? I looked up at the stops. Fifth avenue was close to this stop. I quickly got up, ran out the door before it closed, and went to look for Orpheus, to thank him, but he had already vanished.