Disclaimer: I don't own anything!
Note: Another update, though I'm a little unsure of the latter half of the chapter... Oh well, enjoy!
IIIII
"So, do you understand Percy?" Sally asked as she finished explaining what the greek gods were and why that was even relevant to a monster chasing after them. Though she did make sure to leave out the details of who his father was. Percy didn't need to know that yet. "I know it's a little too much right now. But that's the truth."
"I understand." Percy nodded his head, barely looking to be paying attention to what Sally just said.
"Okay... I'm sure you'll learn more when we get to this camp. Just remember, never mention anything about your abilities, alright." Sally reminded the boy, sighing a little inside. She knew Percy was just five, which in all honesty, was probably why he took the news that the Greek gods were real so well. But that still didn't stop her from trying to prepare him for what was to come when he stepped into the camp. Not that she really knew herself, but preparation was preparation.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the last stop before we head back. Please leave your seats in an orderly fashion... And please take any and all garbage with you."
"Time to go, Percy," Sally said as she stood, sliding Percy off her lap as they got in line to leave the bus. The whole affair took a little longer than it should have with how impatient some people were cutting in line. But eventually, they stepped off the bus and onto long Island. Home to camp half-blood. Though admittedly, Sally only had a vague idea of its location. Poseidon mentioned the area and the direction, but not its exact location.
"Mom, where are we going?"
Keeping quiet, Sally tried to think of anything else she may have forgotten from her conversations with Posedeion about the camp. But her head was drawing a blank. Sally had never truly taken the god's words to heart. Much less after giving birth to Percy and deciding she wouldn't let him go but raise him herself. A decision that was coming back to bite her.
"Just a minute Percy." Sally patted the boy's shoulder, gazing around the area. Searching for anything that might be helpful to their current predicament. After all, there had to be something, right? It wasn't as if the gods would expect demigods to just find this place on their own with no direction? That was ridiculous. There had to be something.
Luckily, after a few more minutes. Sally's search paid off when she found a small bench a little ways from the bus stop shimmering before transforming in the air to form a sign.
Camp half-Blood
East One Mile -
"See, I told you something would turn up." Sally smiled, pointing out the sign to Percy. "All we have to do now is follow the directions to the camp."
As for what would happen when they got there or the little detail of her being unable to enter the camp as a mortal. Well, for now, Sally was choosing to ignore that issue. Her inability to visit was one of the few things she remembered hearing of the camp and one of the biggest reasons she'd resisted the idea of Percy attending it all these years.
"Wait, mom, you were trying to find the sign? I found that ages ago." Percy grinned, looking quite proud of himself.
"...Good job." Sally smiled softly, ruffling Percy's hair. Her son was a demigod, which had somehow slipped her mind for a moment. So, of course, he'd be able to see any hidden secrets or mist-covered objects better than her. She should have just asked him what he saw instead of wasting time trying to see through the mist herself. "Make to tell mom if you see anything else, okay, Percy?"
"Okay."
With that, Sally and Percy began their trek east in the direction of the camp. It was slow going, partly because of Percy running towards every little new bug or rock he found interesting or didn't recognize. But also because Sally always stopped to patiently answer any questions Percy had. Using the distraction as an excuse to keep them from reaching their destination sooner. Something that Sally recognized was a ridiculous thing to do. Yet she couldn't help it. Dread filling her every step closer she took towards the camp that would soon be her son's home.
Finally, after almost half an hour, the mother and son duo found themselves at the entrance to camp half-blood, Sally coming to a standstill at the road. A small part of her wanted to get closer, to at least make sure Percy made it to camp with her own eyes. However, she knew she couldn't. As if something in the very air was repelling her presence away from the place, the feeling growing stronger every second.
Crouching down on her knee, Sally came eye to eye with Percy. "Listen, Percy. I need you to go uphill to the camp. There should be lots of other children there and a man named Chiron... Or maybe it's Charon. I can't remember right now. Anyway, he'll take care of you, alright."
Breaking out into a grin, Percy grabbed her hand. "Got it. Come on, mom."
"No, wait, Percy." Sally shook her head, keeping in place even as Percy tried to drag her forward towards the dirt pathway at the bottom of the hill. "I'm not going with you... I can't."
"Then... Then I won't go." Percy replied, his answer coming quick. The excitement and interest at seeing the camp dying in his eyes at Sally's words.
"No, Percy, you have to. Remember what happened before? We almost drowned. I almost got you killed!" Sally said, her voice raising a tad as her mind flashed back to what had happened just one week ago. "I can't risk that again, Percy. I can't risk you. I love you, sweetie. You'll be safe here. Beside's, it's only for a little while. I'll be back before you know it, and it'll be just you and me again."
"Promise?"
"I promise. Now come here." Pulling Percy into a bear hug, Sally leaned her head on his shoulder. Resisting the urge to shed any tears now that they were about to finally separate. Something that became even harder to do when she noticed her shirt was getting a little damp, the small shuddering Percy made in her arms the only other indication he was crying, the boy not letting out a single bit of noise.
"Oh, Percy." Hugging the boy even tighter, they stayed like that for the next few minutes. Sally, at some point, decided it was a losing battle and let her tears flow as she just held the boy, second thoughts and ideas of other ways to keep Percy safe besides leaving him at the camp flooding her mind. Unfortunately, the more rational side of her shot down every one of them. Knowing without any doubt that this was the best option for Percy... And maybe even for her as well.
"...Okay, that's enough waterworks for now. You need to get inside the camp before we burn anymore daylight." Sally chuckled, trying to wipe away the tears on her face as quickly as she could before Percy saw them. "Now you memorized my number, right. We'll set a schedule every night... No, wait, that won't work. Um, every Saturday morning. I'll call, and if I can't reach you. You'll call at night, okay, Percy?"
Seeing him nod, Sally quickly kissed Percy's forehead and handed him all the money she had. It was only fifty dollars, but maybe it could be used for another set of clothes or whatever else he might need at the camp. She didn't know, but it made Sally feel a lot more comfortable knowing Percy had it than if it was left in her possession.
"Go on now, Percy. Remember to keep your abilities secret... I love you. Never forget that." Sally whispered, giving the boy a little nudge towards the camp. A part of her still wanted to pick up her son and run away from the place, but she ignored the feeling.
Watching as Percy hesitantly moved towards the path and began to walk up, his head consistently looking back at her, Sally waited. Even as Percy's small figure disappeared over the hill, she still waited, wanting to make sure nothing went wrong and that Percy made it there safely even if she couldn't witness it herself.
Ten minutes later, Sally reluctantly looked away, her legs feeling like lead as she started her walk back to the bus stop. This time without Percy, which made the mile walk back seem ten times longer. A funny thing considering it was probably the opposite now that she wasn't stopping so much to answer Percy's questions.
"If it helps to remind you, madam. Simply think about how Percy will now be safe from any harm that might befall him. And how you'll be seeing him again as soon as you have enough strength to protect him."
"And how soon will that be?" Sally asked, not fully serious but more curious than anything else. "We both know how the previous event went. Without my son, I'd be dead. That doesn't exactly inspire the most confidence when it comes to completing or rather surviving these events."
"I believe you can do it, madam. Though to answer your question, the fastest way would be an S or higher disaster leveled event. If one of those were finished with even a B or C rating, you would gain an unimaginable amount of experience. Maybe even enough to challenge some of the stronger monsters roaming this world."
"An S class event? Could I really survive one?"
"Madam, I'm sorry, but you have a higher chance of surviving falling into a volcano than doing an S-level disaster event."
"Ah, I see..." Taking a break from her walk, Sally sat down on some grass by the road. "I assumed that was the case. But you never know, maybe I had a chance."
"At your level, I would advise against attempting anything higher than a C-level disaster. Even with those, there's a high chance you won't make it back in one piece."
Unintentionally glancing down at her hand where she'd been burned, the nerves still not fully recovered, Sally nodded her head. "I'll keep that in mind."
And she would. Sally wasn't an idiot. Sure, maybe deciding to go back to a disaster event was foolish, perhaps even downright stupid. But if it allowed Sally to give her son a better life and, more importantly, allowed her to be in her son's life? Well, then that risk became minimal in the grand scheme of things. That said, she wasn't about to go above what she believed she could do all to return to Percy faster. No matter how much she wanted to, which meant at the moment, anything above a C-level disaster was off-limits.
Pulling a few pieces of grass from the ground, Sally sighed, glancing up at the long road ahead. She recognized the area, the first curve before the bus station, meaning she was only a few hundred feet away from it. If she continued, she'd probably be able to get on the bus in the next few hours or so, whenever it arrived. Then be back in downtown New York by morning with her apartment, which hopefully wasn't trashed or ransacked by any of the local gangs in the area. Sally could then get some sleep, maybe eat something, and finally depart for the next event better prepared...
Yet Sally found herself wanting almost none of those things. She didn't even have the desire to leave long Island, wanting to stay as close to her son as possible, even if she couldn't see him. The only issue with that was she had no money left, no form of identification, no license, and no possible way of accessing her bank account without those things. In fact, Sally didn't even have the key anymore to enter her apartment. Making traveling back there pointless unless the landlord lets her in. Which she doubted the woman would as Sally was already months behind on her rent payment.
Altogether, traveling back wasn't worth the hassle or the trouble it would cause in the long run. Leaving only one option for Sally if she wanted to continue staying on Long Island. Though there was one thing she had to confirm first. "Butler, is it possible to bring back items if I'm holding them?"
It hadn't occurred to Sally until a little while ago, but she was still wearing the clothes the hospital had given her, and so was Percy. So, theoretically speaking, if she could bring back the clothes, injuries, and effects of the disaster event. Surely she could bring back other stuff too, such as money, or perhaps some food?
"Yes and no, madam. If it can fit in a bag, or to be more accurate. You can lift it, and the item doesn't exceed your body weight. Then it can be taken without issue."
"So, food and maybe a tent shouldn't be a problem?" Sally asked, sitting criss-cross as she tapped her chin. It had been years since she'd last gone camping, long before Percy was born. But, the option was probably her best bet, given that she was broke. Plus, Sally could travel light and still stick around close to Percy, all while completing these disaster events... As long as she stayed alive, that is.
"You would be correct, madam."
"Okay, I guess it's time to go then." Sally sighed, standing up with just the slightest bit of reluctance. Knowing if things went like they did last time, she'd probably be dead by tomorrow. "Butler, can you pull up the disaster events?"
"Of course, madam."
[Global Scenario List!]
[Disaster Event: Recommended level (C)]
[Disaster Event: Recommended level (C)]
[Survival Event: Recommended level (C)]
"Is this a joke?" Sally asked after a good minute of looking over her three options. The large three C's she could see for the difficulty standing out among everything else. "What happened to the other difficulties?"
"The scenario list event type and difficulty are randomized. This is purely a coincidence, nothing else."
"...If you say so." Shrugging, Sally chose the C-level disaster, ignoring the survival option below it. She wasn't sure what that would be or if it would even be better or worse. But for now, Sally was sticking with what she knew. No risks or chances until she could better improve her survival capabilities.
[Confirmation loading... 3... 2... 1... Complete.]
[Disaster Event: 2012]
[Quest: Survive the rising tide!]
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me..." Sally closed her eyes as she read the quest, that same sick feeling from the ship returning in full force. "Can this get any worse, Butler? Next thing we'll know, it'll be a tsunami and not a wave... On second thought, don't answer that. I don't even want to consider the possibilities."
[Teleportation commencing... 3... 2... 1...]
Feeling another twist of her stomach, Sally kept her eyes closed for another thirty seconds as her body and mind reoriented themselves. Then she opened her eyes, blinking rapidly both to get used to the sudden light change, as well as the location she found herself in. Somehow, unlike the previous event. She'd been teleported to some plaza or mall-type area. With stores lined up on either side of her and crowds of people going about their daily shopping. All with Sally sitting on a bench in the middle, a little resting area by its looks with absolutely zero privacy.
"Butler, where am I? And how did no one notice me teleporting?"
"You appear to be in Los Angeles, at one of the many shopping areas in the state. As for your teleporting, in normal situations, mortals are unable to see it. All that would appear in their eyes is a young woman walking to the bench to sit down."
Relaxing at that new information, Sally was about to stand up when she noticed a small plastic bag by her feet. Glancing around quickly for anyone looking her way, she opened the bag and found some crackers, a red hoodie, and an empty wallet. Nothing else of value and no money, the latter of which was what Sally had been hoping for, despite how unrealistic that hope may be.
Putting on the hoodie and opening the package of crackers, Sally asked Butler the question that she was sure she'd be asking more than once before the day was done. "When does the disaster start, Butler?"
"...I'm sorry, madam. I do not know."
"...I see." The cracker's taste now transforming into cardboard in her mouth as she chewed it, Sally forced herself to swallow the snack. She'd been relying on Butler being able to tell her when the disaster would start for her preparation time. This way, she could improve her chances of making it out of the disaster alive. Now though? Now she was considering the possibility that the disaster would hit in the next five minutes making even the attempt to prepare pointless.
"If I may, madam. I would suggest checking the library on the corner for information. They should have access to computers or some other ways of getting information."
Nodding, Sally stood up and made her way in the direction mentioned by Butler, the massive brick building with the shiny library sign practically screaming with how out of place it was with all the stores around it. It was odd, and Sally briefly wondered why the library was in a plaza location before she threw the thought out. The reason didn't matter. All that did was that the library had what she needed.
Entering the double doors, Sally walked right past the front desk and to a side lobby, thankfully not getting stopped or asked for a library card as she sat down in front of one of the computers and booted the machine up. Within a few minutes, she was opening up a web browser and searching through the most recent news articles. Looking for any information or potential clues as to what disaster might be about to arrive.
Unfortunately, she found nothing, no info, no clues, and no bad news outside of the regular daily reports. Even a check at the sea weather reports showed nothing unusual. Though that relieved Sally just a little as she wanted nothing to do with water disasters after the last one. One was more than enough for her.
"Is it possible there won't be a disaster?" Sally asked, feeling hesitant, not believing that could be true, yet hoping it was. Then the only struggle she'd have would be surviving the streets of Los Angeles with no food, shelter, or a dime to her name until she could leave.
"That is an impossibility, madam. If no disaster arrives today, you will have to wait until one comes before being judged to have survived the event."
"Hold up just a minute!" Sally's eyes widened as a thought occurred to her, one that made her face lighten a shade. "Do you mean to tell me I could be stuck here for the next few weeks or even months if this disaster doesn't come soon?"
"Yes, madam."
Running a hand through her hair, Sally bit her lip, trying to keep herself together. She did not want to think about what would happen if she got stuck in a disaster event. Worse yet, what would Percy think of her if she just disappeared. It would look like she abandoned him. Especially if Sally just upped and vanished right after dropping him off at camp... She couldn't let that happen.
"Butler, is there any way to make the disaster happen right now? Or maybe bring me to when the disaster starts so I won't have to wait?" Maybe that was a little too crazy, but Sally wished the disaster would start already. She didn't want to go through the anticipation of waiting even if she hadn't prepared again... Especially if it meant that she would be in the event longer than just a few days.
"I'm sorry, madam. I do not control these events, nor can I make them start."
"Alright." Sally sighed, leaning back in her chair, ready to close down her browser before a new article caught her eye. 'Flood covering the western part of the world!'
Clicking it, Sally waited as the article began to load, then frowned as the page came up unknown. "Butler, what just happened?"
"Someone took down the URL before you could load the page."
Feeling a little nervous now, Sally refreshed the page multiple times, waiting for the article to come back. But it didn't, which only increased her nervousness. Sure she'd said she wanted the disaster to start, and she had meant it. However, the article title about a flood and the quest she'd received about a rising tide sounded as if it was leading up to a disaster she did not want to go.
*HHIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSS*
"What the..." Shooting up from her chair, Sally spun around, looking for what made the noise she'd just heard. The librarian from the lobby corner gave her an odd look before walking away. "Butler, tell me you heard that t-"
As if alerted by some hidden cue, a rumble shook the library building cutting Sally off, the lights, power, and computer screen flickering before going dark. Screams and shouts from the floor above her and the other rooms to the side sounded all throughout the library. One voice shouting the word earthquake caught her attention as the floor began to shake. Fear flooding her body, Sally ran out the computer room door to the main lobby, almost crashing into some of the other people running out of the other rooms. Everyone seemed to have the same thought as her and tried to get out of the building as quickly as possible.
Seeing the floor off to the side from a slight crack, Sally picked up her speed, adrenaline kicking in as she ran. Not looking back even as terror-filled screams filled the air, the sounds of bookshelves and cracking wood echoing in the air, encouraging Sally not to lose speed or risk turning around to help the people falling behind. An act she usually would have done in any other circumstances. But not now, not when she could very well die herself and leave her son an orphan.
"Madam, grab the book by the door, quickly."
Looking towards the book Butler was speaking, the strange shimmering on the cover helping her locate it. Sally picked up the book and rushed out the door. Barely losing a second of time before her feet hit the sidewalk and she continued running. Ignoring the bodies lying ahead on the ground, Sally tried her best to focus and figure out where to go next. The earth might no longer be shaking, but she had a feeling it wouldn't be stopped for long, which meant she had to get out of the area as fast as possible before the next shake occurred.
"There's a sign for the airport on your right, madam. Maybe you can attempt to catch a flight before it leaves if any planes are still on the ground.
"It's... It's worth a shot!." Sally breathed out, chest heaving as she turned towards the direction of the airport. The road curved into a spiral downhill before opening up to the front of the airport. Abandoned cars and crashed vehicles filled the road all the way there. The growing crowd Sally could see entering the airport in the distance, letting her know Butler wasn't the only one with the idea of flying out of the state.
Reaching the doors as quickly as she could, Sally burst through them, ignoring the angry shouts by the people she almost hit, and rushed towards the terminals. That, however, was where she was forced to come to a stop. Crowds and crowds of people were in the way, blocking her path towards the boarding flights. Glimpsing behind her and out the door windows, Sally saw more cracks forming along the edges of the spiral road she'd just come from, increasing the urgency she felt to leave.
"Attention, ladies and gentlemen. Please keep calm and do not panic. We have soldiers stationed helping everyone on the flights. We do have limited space but are trying to squeeze in as many people as possible. Please, just stay calm, and you'll all get out of here."
Listening to the man try and calm the crowds down, Sally frowned, not liking the way he said squeeze in. That implied there wasn't enough space for everyone to get on board. At least that was her assumption of what the man meant, and with another potential quake about to hit, she wasn't about to risk being wrong.
Pulling away from the crowd a little, Sally checked behind her to make sure no one was watching. Then she slipped into a corridor that had the words 'Restricted Authorized Personal Only' painted across it. The door on the other side, thankfully unlocked, with the keypad greyed out, probably from the power outage. Stepping inside, Sally found the hallway to be empty, devoid of any people. That was strange, but she wasn't about to push her luck.
Breaking out into a run, she made her way down the corridor along the back part of the airport, the open windows beside her allowing Sally to see people boarding the plane. As well as the fact only two passenger planes were remaining as well as a mini plane in the far corner. Neither was enough to fit all the people she'd left behind at the main entrance.
Slowing down to catch her breath, Sally leaned against the window, then frowned. She could have sworn she felt it vibrate for a second, but she felt nothing now. Peering closer at the glass, Sally saw a flash in the corner of her eye out in the distance. Turning her head to check, Sally looked closer at the city of Los Angles and paled. Stuck in place as she watched a huge dust cloud appear and a building toppling over, falling into the street below, causing giant explosions of fire.
"Madam, you need to move!"
Blinking, Sally snapped out of the trance that had come over her and began running again down the corridor, barreling through the exit doors to the back part of the airport. Two soldiers and another man who looked to be a pilot boarding the plane's loading dock. No one else but them around. The doors which should have allowed access to the terminals were barred with chairs, the clanging noises of someone hitting against it coming from the other side.
Hesitating, Sally looked away from the piles of chairs and raced towards the boarding extension the three men disappeared into, trying her best to catch them. Hopefully, they'd have space for one more as she didn't know what else to do. The city was falling apart, and she was sure it wouldn't be long until the airport collapsed as well.
"Now, what are you doing here?"
Hearing something click, Sally looked up to see the two soldiers she'd been trying to catch, one of them pointing a pistol at her while the other was giving a dead stare. "Now, explain to us how you got here and what you think you're doing?"
"I, I uh... I'm trying to catch the plane?" Sally tried her best to answer while keeping her eyes locked on the gun pointed at her.
"I think we can both see that. Now how did you get here?" The soldier asked again, this time looking a little more impatient.
"Oh, come on, Rob." The other soldier said, the stare turning more sympathetic as he turned to the other man. "What does it matter how she made it here or not. We need to go. One more person isn't going to hurt."
"Like hell, it's not!" The now named Rob snapped, waving the gun behind them. "We're already crammed as it is. You want to let her take your place, Nick... Well, do you?"
"I-I well no... But R-"
"What is going on here, men!" The rough and scratchy voice that certainly didn't look as if it belonged to the woman who'd appeared from behind the two men caused both soldiers to snap to attention.
"We discovered a trespasser, ma'am."
"Trespasser?" Sally's mouth dropped in disbelief as she stared at the soldier who'd just been pointing a gun at her. The whole situation was absurd. The city was being destroyed, and the airport was still shaking from the quake's effects and probably wouldn't be standing long. Yet here Sally was being called a trespasser in the middle of a disaster.
"Rob, Nick, get this woman on the plane before I throw you two idiot's off it. The general ordered us to save as many civilians as possible. One more passenger won't make a difference. So get her on this plane, now!" The woman ordered before turning around.
"Well, it looks like you're in luck today," Rob muttered, his voice carrying to Sally's ears, making her grit her teeth.
"Alright, let-"
Feeling the ground beneath her shake once again, this time far more than a little vibration, Sally looked at both soldiers, the both of them looking at her. Then all three of them broke out into a run towards the plane, the sound of cracks and air being released from the earth able to be heard even from inside the boarding extension they were in.
After what felt like an hour, yet in reality, it was probably mere seconds. Sally and the two men reached the plane and got in before quickly swinging the door shut and sealing it. The three of them were barely able to breathe a sigh of relief before the screams from the people farther in the plan were heard.
"GO GO GO!"
"OH MY GOD! GET US OFF THE GROUND!"
"CAN SOMEONE TELL THAT PILOT TO TAKE OFF ALREADY!"
"Well, come on, Rob, let's find somewhere to sit down and pray we don't die before taking off." Nick groaned before making his way toward the screaming passengers.
Watching the two men leave, Sally stayed where she was, looking out the small window as the plane started up and began to pick up speed, the earth cracking and breaking in the distance, growing closer and closer with crowds of people running towards the plane. Apparently, having wisened up to the fact there wasn't enough space on the plane for them all.
Leaning her head against the window, Sally closed her eyes, feeling like she could hear all the people below screaming. Trying to get the plane to stop even as they pulled up into the air. It wasn't an enjoyable feeling and made her stomach twist as she knew all those people would soon die with the next few quakes.
However, she was alive. She made it out and would soon be back home. Though Sally had a feeling sleep would be hard to find in the next coming weeks after all the things she'd witnessed recently.
"Butler, how soon can I return home?"
"Madam... The disaster's not over."
"What?"
IIIII