Update time! I'm apologizing in advance. I only had time to work on this yesterday and today, so it might seem a bit rushed.

The doorbell rang. Damn it. I didn't have time for stupid reporters and police and their stupid questions. I rushed downstairs and out the back door. I ran through a few backyards before coming out to the front. I had to get to the nearest airport, and fast. I couldn't go back to Gwen's house, that would take too long. I looked around. The policeman and reporter were still waiting at the door. I snorted to myself. When will they get the hint that nobody's home. I saw a silver Gumpert Apollo. Must have been expensive. I took out two paperclips and formed them into the shapes I needed. I started picking the lock. I pulled out some biker's gloves from my back pocket and slipped them on. No need for fingerprints. I opened the door, climbed in, closed the door and hot wired the car. I sped off, going past the speed limit. I heard sirens behind me. I cursed. I headed towards the airport anyway.

It took about seven minutes to get to the airport with the speed I was going. and there was a small forest near it. I sped into it. I opened the door and jumped, attempting to slam the door. I don't know if the door did close. The momentum would keep the car going a while. I rolled a few times before getting up and running towards the runway. I heard the sirens of the police cars go the direction of the car. After looking ten minutes for a jet, I found one. The door was unlocked, and the pilot stupidly left the keys on the seat. After pushing random buttons and pulling levers, I got the plane to lift off. After getting high enough, I went as fast as the plane could go, heading east. Have I mentioned how much I despise flying?

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I just realized I have absolutely no clue how to land a plane. It had been around five hours since I took flight, and I only just realized this. I figured out how to put auto-pilot on about three hours ago. The flight was too slow. Zeus had probably already killed Mom, but at least I could be at the funeral. I looked out the window, and saw the top of the Empire State building. The sky was clear. It was like the Fates wanted people to notice me. I grabbed a nearby parachute and pulled it onto my back. I opened the door and jumped. You know what I remembered? I hated heights and becoming a Percy Puddle in the middle of the road. I waited until I thought I was as close as I could get to the ground before pulling the string. It takes forever to land on the ground like that, you know. People were already starting to stare and they started taking pictures. Just what I need, a public audience.I slipped out of the straps that were keeping me attached and fell the rest of the way down. This was much faster than the parachute. I landed on my heels first, and rolled. No sprained ankles or wrists. My back hurt a bit though; the gravel wasn't very comfortable. After staggering around from the impact, I started sprinting home. The building was still standing. My apartment was still there! Yes! I had a chance! I could get my Mom out of there and run away, and we'll never have to worry about killing or being killed. We could-

Damn it. I jinxed it. Stupid Karma. Stupid Fates. Stupid Murderers of America! I burst into the building and ran up the stairs. Residents were rushing down in panic, some warning me to get out. The fire was already starting. This is what Zeus wanted. To give me hope. To make me think I had a chance. He waited patiently, and crushed that hope.

I kicked down the door, and it fell down easily. I ripped off a piece of my shirt, and tied it across my face so it covered my mouth and nose. I rushed into the bathroom, and turned on the shower. I dragged it as far as it could go, and shot the water at the flames. I got about half the flames, but they were soon replaced. I gave up after thirty seconds and went to find my mom. I ran into her bedroom. Nothing. She wasn't in the kitchen either. I tried my room, and there she was, sprawled on her stomach in the middle of the floor. She was clutching a box and a photo album to her chest. I went over to her, and picked her up. One hand under her knees and one supporting her upper back. I carried her back to the bathroom. If Annabeth survived by drenching herself and sitting in the tub, so could we. The box was metallic, and had a lock, so it didn't get harmed by the water. Maybe got a bit rusty, but other than that it was fine. The photo album didn't get badly ruined, but it got all soggy. My mom was unconscious, and her breathing was shallow. I cradled her head in my lap.

"Mom. I'm so, so, so sorry. This is all my fault. Don't die. You can't die," I whispered to her, over and over.

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Eventually, the firefighters found us, and we were taken to the hospital. My second time in the hospital this week. My mom was taken to a different room, and I was told that I had to stay overnight to recover. A nurse had brought me the box and photo album. I told her that they were my mothers, but she just smiled sadly at me, and told me that my mother's area of the room didn't have space to have them beside her. It wasn't like they could give it to some stranger, and I was the one holding them. I didn't bother looking through the album. The way the nurse said there was no room with my mom, I figured she meant that she was in no state to have them. Or the doctors were trying to keep her alive. If she was gone, I didn't want to relieve the memories of when she was alive. As for the box, I didn't have my paperclips, so I couldn't unlock the key.

I just spent the rest of the day staring out the window. I didn't sleep. I didn't feel safe. I didn't have my weapons, and I had a feeling someone would try to kill me in my sleep. If I was awake, I could use any martial art and at least knock him out. Of course, I would feel pretty self-conscious, only wearing this gown. I feel so exposed in it.

I think I fell asleep at around two in the morning, because when I woke up, there was a beam of sunshine warming up my face. Where was I? This wasn't my bed! I reached for Riptide, but got nothing. Why was I in this gown? All of a sudden, yesterday's events rushed back to me. Was my mom okay? A nurse walked over to me, and had all my clothing in a bag.

"We're letting you go now, so here are your clothes. You can get changed, and sign out at the front desk."

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After signing myself out, I asked if I could see Mom. She was on the same floor I had been on. She was sleeping, and there were some burn marks on her face. I pulled up a chair, sat beside her and gripped her hand in both of mine. I let a few tears run down my cheek. Please be okay. Please get better.

I fell into a half-conscious state, not really sleeping, but not awake either.

"Percy?" I heard my mom ask. Her voice was ragged and hardly audible. I awoke from my semi-conscious self and looked at her.

"Mom!" I hugged her, but as soon as I did, I heard Mom quietly gasping for air. I pulled away and looked at her in worry.

"Mom, are you alright?" She tried smiling at me, but it turned into more of a grimace.

"I'm all right sweetie," she rasped.

"I am so sorry. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have left I shouldn't have-" Mom cut me off.

"It's nobody's fault Percy. Where is the box and photo album? Did they make it through the accident." Accident my foot. I pulled out the objects she requested, and handed them to my mother.

"There's not much else left from our home."

"Percy, make sure not to lose them. You need those memories. I love you." She closed her eyes and her breathing slowed down, getting slower with each breath. Her hand went slack in my hands. I laid my head beside hers, and silently wept. I stayed like that until the doctor came. When he saw that one of his patients was gone, he apologized to me, telling me they did everything they could, but there was just too much smoke in her systems. I didn't need his sympathy. I didn't need anybody's sympathy.

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The funeral was a week later. I was wearing black dress pants, a black tux and a black leather jacket. The jacket my mom got me for my birthday. She said it looked great on me, but I hardly ever wore it. It looked pretty odd too, being all fancy, and ruining the look with a regular, non-fancy jacket.

I didn't bring any of my weapons, and just left them in my hotel room. Mom used to be a an author, and she wrote amazing books in all different genres. I had brought them with me to San Francisco, so they were safe. Her editors and friends were all here. She was always a very likeable person. Some fans were there too. I almost hated them for being here. They never knew my mom. The only reason they were depressed about her death was because she wouldn't be writing any more books. I thanked them for coming anyway.

I went over to my mom's coffin. I told her all of my regrets, apologizing again, not only for her death, but for all the times I drove her crazy, for not being a better son, and everything else. I felt a firm hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry for your loss." I could tell it was Poseidon.

"You're not sorry. You don't know how it feels. You never cared about her, not anyone. So what are you doing here?" My voice was cold, and Poseidon's grip tightened.

"It was your own fault Son. I'm taking you back to California. You still have a job to finish." He lead me outside, where his dark green SUV was parked. He drove us to the hotel, probably because he knew my weapons were still there. After that, he drove to the clearing in the forest where the jet was. Poseidon didn't come. He was just as acrophobic as I was. On the way back to San Francisco, I decided one thing. I would avenge my mother. I wouldn't listen to the MoA's orders. What could they do to me now? They have no one else to blackmail me with.

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For the next week, I didn't eat, drink or go to school. I stayed locked in my room all day, doing nothing. I never cried. Crying wouldn't bring Mom back. Nothing would. I deleted Thalia's texts without reading them, and somehow Annabeth got my number too. I blame Thalia. I ignored her texts too.

I heard a knock on my bedroom door. I ignored the knock, thinking it was Helen. I was half asleep anyway, and didn't feel like moving.

"Percy? Are you in there? Let us in. Please? We want to help you." The voice wasn't Helen's, but it was familiar. It sounded almost angelic, like bells ringing. Her voice was soft and comforting. I almost smiled.

"Jackson! Open this door!" That wasn't the same voice. It was Thalia's. Why was Thalia here? I heard a clicking noise and the door opened. Right. Thalia could pick locks too. I sat up and looked at the two girls that walked into my room. Thalia and Annabeth. They both took in my appearance, and looked shocked and worried.

"What do you want?" I asked gruffly.

"Percy, are you okay? You look terrible!"Annabeth said, sitting down next to me on the bed.

"It looks like you haven't eaten in days! And where were you at school. You better be there tomorrow, or I'll have to drag you myself."

"I didn't know you cared, Thalia. I thought you wanted me dead." Thalia rolled her eyes. "Leave me alone." I laid back down on my bed.

"We're not leaving until you tell us what's wrong," stated Annabeth.

"Nothing's wrong."

"That's why you're staying locked in your room, not eating or anything," she replied sarcastically.

"Who let you in?"

"Helen. Percy, what happened?"

"Leave me alone Thalia. It doesn't help if you know ore not."

"It helps to talk about it." I didn't answer her. Maybe if I didn't acknowledge them, they'd leave. "You can't stay cooped up in here forever." I still didn't answer them. Just go away. Instead, Thalia asked about what was in the box. That's when I lost it. I stood up.

"WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE! JUST GO AWAY!" I thundered at them, pushing them out the door. I wasn't usually like this. Maybe it was the hunger, or I was just grieving too much. But they Thalia was right. I couldn't stay cooped in here the rest of my life. I could go to school tomorrow. I decided to eat too. I didn't realize how hungry I was until I started eating. As for the photo album and box? I didn't want to relieve the memories of my mom. Not yet anyway.

So. Many. Linebreaks. You readers are so naive, thinking I would keep Sally alive. Tsk, tsk. Serpent's Shdow is coming out in five days, so I'm happy :) See?

Fluffy. Bunnies Are. So. Cute – Is that the only reason you didn't want me to kill her? Psh. (ignore the spaces. FF wouldn't post your full pen name.)

flyonfan14 – Thanks :)

magicdemi-god223 – I'm sorry...sort of...

unknown nobody that loves PJO – Maybeeeee... Yes, yes I did.

XOsweetPURPLEcandyOX – Well, there's more than one reason. It's the same reason they killed Bianca: They were 'taking too long' to kill Annabeth, and Percy was trained to kill, not save. So when Percy saved all those people in the house, the MoA was disappointed, and wouldn't let Percy get away with it without punishment.

Ginyus – Nudge. From Maximum Ride? No? Oh, okay then.

Katniss Annabeth Nina 824 – I decided not to make this Percabeth :P

The Innocent Little Human – I'm sorry, please don't throw anything at me. Okay, good. I'm not crazy...well I am... but... you know what I mean.

ChildofWisdom – Lol. I can just imagine. Then again, you were sucked into my blaming lemons 'story' so... BYE COW!

iluvemhaterz – Yeah well...just you wait.

PercyJacksonsLittleSister – thanks.

Altus Arserii – Thank you. Well...you may have gotten some parts right... And thanks for reviewing twice...with the same review...it happens to me too!

Percabeth rocks 4 ever – thanks :)

Daughter of Magic – Like? Thanks.

Abbie Brown – She didn't hear you, I'm sorry. And thanks ^-^

ButterflyFlyToMe – Thanks.

LaughLoverCrystal – Fine. I'll give you a hint. In twenty years, I'll be over five. ^.^