Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Chapter 8

Percy sighed in relief when he checked behind him once he heard some leaves rustle. He had a bad case of paranoia and didn't like it. Annabeth had said she wanted to meet him after school but she wasn't around in sight. He had a feeling she might be up to something but he didn't know what. Now what would she do when she's up to something? Percy thought. Oh that's right, she would go to Luke! Say I have a short term memory and publish it to the school newspaper.

Percy pushed those thoughts out of his mind as he walked. Apart from swimming and going to the beach, he liked walking. It gave him time to think and have peace. However, he lived in a bad neighborhood. That was the only thing that disrupted him out of his thoughts. And right now, it was the thing that got him in trouble. Again.

See, bad things happened to Percy when he was younger, and the only thing that saved him was his mother. The people backed off, and still did, but that was only because they didn't know she was dead. Not yet at least. And to make it worse, he thought that everything would be normal. He thought wrong.

Percy had paranoia that something was wrong. Yet he still walked on and just when he arrived at the door of the lobby of the apartment... BAM! The bullet of a gun, possibly a shotgun was shot in the air. It fell down after it had gone a respectable amount in the air.

"Jackson!" One of the people of a gang shouted as another bullet shot in the air. "Heard yo mother's dead!"

Percy gritted his teeth and slowly inched away. But his heartbeat was beating at least a thousand km per minutes. Sweat was trickling down his arms. And he had a good reason why. One of the gangsters had decided to visit, and it had to be today. Off all days. Yet all days were the same for him, so it could be today. He would rather have a session with Annabeth then face this gang. He had experienced with this gang before, and survived with a heavy consequence. His mother faced the worst though. She had a bruised eye and cuts across her face and the lips. No, they didn't get in a fight, but they survived, and that was all that mattered.

"You listening to me?" The person asked harshly.

Percy nodded his head quickly. He didn't want to get killed after all.

"Well that's a shame. Looks like she is dead after all." The gang all jeered at him, and the person was now identified as the leader.

"Don't talk about her." Percy said in a dead cold tone.

That was all Percy said before he ran in his apartment and fumbled with his keys and stuck it in the keyhole.

"Jackson come back here!" The leader shouted, and running faster that Percy had ever seen, sprinted towards him.

Come on! Percy thought urgently, and finally the door swung open. He ran inside it while closing it with a slam. Gabe didn't bother looking behind him. Until he heard a knock.

"Who's that?" Gabe drawled lazily. "Jackson get that will you?"

"You get it," Percy panted, and didn't even bother with facing the consequences after that. At least Gabe would let him live, those gang members won't.

"Jackson, do you want to be a good boy and get the door, or barely survive and let me answer it?" Gabe threatened.

"Barely survive and let you answer it." Percy regained his breath slowly, and used his last energy by collapsing on the broken couch.

Percy's eyes were still open, so he could see Gabe narrowing his eyes and waddling to get the door.

"You'll regret this punk." Gabe threatened once again.

Percy sighed in relief and finally got part of his energy back. He stayed in the couch but popped his head up to see Gabe answer the door, and breathing heavily. Apparently a tiny walk was tiring for him. Gabe glared at the door like it was the door's fault at making him tired.

"Who's there?" Gabe asked gruffly.

The door slammed open without Gabe touching it. The leader of the gang had slammed the door open, and the door flew open and landed on the floor with a crash.

"Why you little-" Gabe glared, but was cut short with a kick to the stomach.

Percy's eyes widened. The leader had kicked Gabe and he was thrown off the ground and flew in the air, only to hit the floor five seconds later. It was like watching a slow motion movie: Gabe's mouth opening and closing and his eyes widening in surprise while he landed with a crunch.

Seeing a dent in the floor, Percy winced. The leader could kick really hard, and Gabe wasn't even the victim. He, on the other hand, was. But they hadn't noticed him yet, so he kind of had the upper hand in a way. How he was going to get away, was the question we're all wondering. Even he didn't know that, and with that, the leader found him seconds later.

"You sneaky little bastard you are." One of the members said.

And with those words said, that person took out a gun from his belt and placed it on Percy's temple.

"Can't talk so well with a gun in your head huh?" The person said harshly.

"You know what?" The leader asked his teammates. "Screw him, burn the place down."

The person with the gun removed the gun from his temple, and shoved him one last time.

"Got a lighter?" The leader asked Percy.

"He ain't giving you anything!" Gabe said from the floor.

"I thought I dealt with you already!" The leader said in annoyance, but his teammate gave him a lighter.

"Here you go boss." The guy said.

The leader forgot about Gabe and just when he was about to light the fire and throw it to the ground, the police barged in, and immediately cuffed the gang.

"Anything said will be used against you in the court." The police said.

The leader glared and kicked him hard, and then he dropped the lighter that he was miraculously still holding. But someone caught it. Annabeth held it in her hands while looking at the leader with her glare. Another unit of police swarmed in the apartment and grabbed all the members including the leader, and led them away.

"You'll have to come too sir." The cop said, looking at Percy and Gabe.

"We'll stay here." Gabe said, and glared at the cop, daring him to say anything else.

Any other cop would have said no, but they were in the slums. And the cop had met men these type before, they would refuse even of you gave them some vanilla ice cream. So seconds later, all the police were gone. Except Annabeth.

"Annabeth what were you doing?" Percy asked her while rubbing his head.

Percy looked nervous. He didn't want her to know, even if she just saved his life.

"Percy-" Annabeth started.

"What are you doing here girlie?" Gabe asked gruffly.

Percy sighed. Annabeth had just saved his life and he was going to repay her with Gabe beating the shit out of her.

"Annabeth go." Percy pleaded.

Annabeth hesitated before making her decision and walking away.

"Who was that Jackson?" Gabe once again had permanently placed himself on the couch.

"No one." Percy replied and went up his room.

"Come back here Jackson! I always keep my promises! You'll barely survive this one." Gabe raised his voice, and took out a beer can from the couch.

But Percy was already in his room, calling up the door fixers.

"Yeah, the entire door is on the floor. Please fix it." Percy said to the phone.

"We're coming right now sir, please hold on." The person responded at the end of the line.

"Alright, I can wait."

Percy hanged up the phone, and sighed. His day was anything but normal. It looks like his bad case of paranoia was actually correct.

A/N: I hope this is a good chapter for you guys. I'm thinking we could hit fifty reviews before I get my tenth chapter up but even if I don't, I'll still continue.