Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Chapter 5

It was a bad evening for both Percy and Annabeth that day. With Percy, he was lying in bed early, with no dinner to stop his hunger. And Gabe didn't even bother moving him from his position as he fell in a mini coma that he had just woken up from.

"Stupid bastard," Percy muttered angrily under his breath, but winced afterwards.

Gabe had hit him with his belt in the neck. He was lucky he could still talk, but even that was painful for him. He clenched his hands into tight fists, and had an idea if escaping like yesterday. But like yesterday, he didn't feel like moving. His arms and legs were exhausted. And where would he go? All those thoughts swirled around his head.

All until Gabe came back. "Get me some beer," he said, his words slightly slurred.

"Can't you see I'm tired?"

Percy mentally kicked himself. But the words were already out of his mouth. He had a sudden adrenaline rush and his legs didn't feel so exhausted anymore. Maybe it was because of the fear, but before Gabe could do anything, he ran out the door while grabbing some money. He sighed. This was getting to be in a regular routine. And felt completely sick. He wanted to escape, but couldn't bring himself to do it. His chance was right there. He could go to an alcohol store and say Gabe was beating him up. But that was the problem. It was an alcohol store. People would think he was drunk.

There was no one there on the streets. But either way, Percy was nervous. He had no weapon at all. He should have taken a kitchen knife. After all, many late night shopping trips for Smelly Gabe had caused him to have experience. He sighed at his first time he had gone out.

It was a late night and Gabe had been demanding for a can of beer.

"No beer in the fridge." Gabe muttered.

Gabe looked at Percy's bedroom, and grinned. He had never really walked to an alcohol store and he certainly wasn't going to start now. Sally had always provided him with everything he needed.

"OI! Brat!" Gabe yelled.

That should do the trick, Gabe thought. I wasted too much voice energy... But when Percy didn't come down, he frowned. He was supposed to come here, but he didn't, Gabe mused.

But what Gabe didn't know was that Percy had heard him. It was just that he thought that he heard "rat" instead of brat.

"I won't repeat myself!" Gabe growled.

That was when Percy knew something was wrong. He crept to the kitchen and saw a fuming Gabe.

"What the hell took you so long?"

"Heard 'rat' instead of 'brat." Percy mumbled under his breath.

"Say that again."

"Nothing…"

"That's the way you talk to elders. Got a job for you. Here, ten bucks spend it on beer, got it?"

Percy nodded weakly. It was 1:00AM in the morning, and he was tired. The only reason he was awake because he heard Gabe making a ruckus downstairs. He grabbed the money and stuffed it in his left pocket. Then, quickly shuffled out the door.

Gabe threw an empty bottle of gin at him. "HURRY UP!" He yelled.

Percy dodged the bottle and it was a lucky time for him. If he hadn't moved to the right, his head would have been impaled. And that would be a waste of a bad life. He shook out of his thoughts and ran out the apartment hastily.

The one problem with the trip was a bad one. Percy didn't know where it was. So being the type of person he is, he asked a random stranger.

"You know where the alcohol store is?" Percy tapped a random guy's shoulder.

"Aren't you a little bit too young?" The stranger turned around.

The stranger had a scar running across his face. That was the first thing that flashed through Percy's mind. The person had blue eyes, and blonde hair. Not to mention the fact that he looked to be running.

"Errands for my stepdad." Percy said curtly.

The stranger nodded his head in understanding. He pointed to the direction to the right. "It's right there."

Percy nodded his thanks and made his way towards the store. Taking a deep breath he opened the door. The store wasn't that big, rather small actually. There was a selection of alcohol on the left section and some drugs, and cigarettes on the right. He shuddered and made his way to a cooler to get some beer cans. It was surprisingly heavy so he nearly dropped them. A person on the right began sniggering.

Percy whipped around to glare at the person when he saw it was the same person as before.

"What are you doing here?" Percy asked suspiciously.

"Could say the same thing to you too." The person replied.

"I told you. Errands for my stepdad…"

"Can't he have gotten it himself?"

"Look, why do you want to know? You didn't ask before so why start now?"

"I was busy before. But now I have all the time in the world and wanted to buy some drinks. And you seem to be defending yourself. Maybe you are an underage drinker."

Percy stared at him in disbelief. This stranger had no right to go into an argument with him. He had an instinct to pay for the beer and run to his apartment but he didn't. And that was a mistake.

The stranger seemed to notice his silence.

"No defense? So you are an underage then. Someone has to go to the police station!" The stranger said.

"I told you it was errands for my stepdad!" Percy retorted, trying to pull away from the stranger's grip, but he was too strong.

"No police eh? Let's do it my way then."

The stranger hauled him out of the store and made their way to an abandoned warehouse.

"In," the stranger commanded.

"Why?" The question was voiced by Percy.

The stranger kicked him. "Don't defy my orders."

Percy landed on the floor on his back. He groaned as he tried to stand up.

"Nakamura!" The stranger's voice echoed all around them.

A Japanese teenager came out from a door. He had an eye patch and seemed to be scowling permanently.

"What's your name?" Percy blurted out, expecting another kick but it never came.

"Luke." The reply came curtly.

Then suddenly a girl the same age as him showed up unexpectedly. She couldn't see Percy.

"Luke!" She cried out happily. "Let's go do something!"

"Not now Annabeth." Came the short reply.

The girl's face saddened, and Luke's face softened. "Later, okay?"

"Who's behind you?" The girl's eyes were sharp.

"No one. He's just going to go now." Luke said.

Percy noted that Luke didn't seem to care if he went or not. He was just another victim after all. So after a second after he said that, Percy wasted no time at all escaping from the house. He went back to the alcohol store that seemed to be illegal and went back to the apartment an hour later.

"What took you so long!" Gabe demanded.

Then Gabe took a beer, took a slurp, and sighed in relief.

And that was basically how his experience went. So he was now paranoid for going out at late nights. If it wasn't for that girl his age; Annabeth she was called- Wait. Annabeth... Percy kicked a rock in frustration. Where had he heard the name before? And that was when realization dawned on his face as he figured out the answer.

A/N: I am really sorry I didn't update. And I mean it. School was part of the problem. And reading a series that I just finished yesterday. Also to a reviewer I update randomly as you can see. There are quite a few stories about Percy having a mask on, so I'm really glad to all the people that still read this. Especially since I don't update that quick. So once again, thanks, and sorry.