Sorry for the later update! Work's been pretty busy. But to make up for it, here's a longer chapter! Like, much longer than the others. But there was a lot that needed to be covered! Now, I'll respond to a couple of guest reviews here. I really appreciate them, guys, and I want to take time to acknowledge them!
Mandarina: "Hey just found this fic today and I just wanted to say I really like ur writing style! As a suggestion, maybe u could also upload the story in AO3. I think there's more people reading fanfics on that site so u would probably get more recognition (that way we get more updates hehe).
Anyways love the story and can't wait for the next update!"
Thank you! I'm glad you like it! And yeah, I cross posted it. I appreciate the suggestion!
Guest: "Dude this is good. To me Percy is more annoying in this with his rash decisions but hey it's part of his character in this."
Thanks! Yeah, I understand that. He's pretty reckless, but don't worry, Annabeth will balance that out and reign him in from doing anything too stupid. Hope you like this chapter if you're reading it!
Hope you enjoy!
"The Day My World Died"
-x-
Percy awoke at sunrise to find Rachel Dare in her usual spot.
It became a silent obligation to meet each other in the watchtower three days a week, because it was the only real chance they had to be together alone. Connor Stoll always sat in the other watchtower when Rachel took a shift, but he could never stay awake.
Rachel was an artist, not a fighter. She didn't volunteer for wall duty to shoot any invading humans, or deal with infected, she came up here to sketch the landscape of the ruined city.
This was proven when Percy climbed up the last rung of the ladder and saw a thick pad in her lap, charcoal pencil in her hand. On the pad, she'd already scratched several black marks, forming an outline of the broken skyscrapers all around.
Percy's eyes quickly switched from the pad to Rachel herself. The growing sunlight beamed on her, pointing out every noticeable feature that Percy liked. Pale, freckled skin, slender shoulders, full lips, bright, curly red hair flowing behind her back, and of course, bright colored clothes. Her trademark.
She noticed him before he could sneak up on her, which disappointed him a little. He tried extra hard to climb the ladder with silence.
"Oh, hey Percy." She frowned playfully, "You didn't come see me last night."
Percy pulled himself into the watchtower, chuckling, "I figured you were asleep...ah, if I'm being honest, I was beat. Yesterday wore me out."
"I heard a few things. Is it true you brought a girl home?"
As Percy was swallowing, his throat tightened, causing him to temporarily choke. A few slaps on his chest cured it, but his ears still turned red from the way Rachel was looking at him.
"C'mon Rach, it's nothing like that. We ran into her when we were getting chased by infected and made a deal. That's all. She probably already left."
Rachel shrugged, "I've been up here all night. I haven't seen her leave yet."
"Must've slept in..."
Rachel couldn't hold it in any longer. She began giggling and pointing at Percy, "You should see your face! Oh my God! Percy, you've gotta be kidding me!"
"Well...you got all serious! What was I supposed to say?!"
Her laughter trailed off, "Come and sit. I saved it for you."
Percy calmed down, his nerves easing as he sat next to her. It was funny, he feared making Rachel upset more than he feared the infected. Or maybe it was equal, just a different kind of fear that he wasn't used to.
"If she helped you out, I'm glad," Rachel said, putting her pad and pencil on the wooden floor beneath her chair. "Would've sucked for you to come back with half your face bitten off."
"Yeah...it was my fault. I told Grover the both of us could handle it. I should've listened to him and taken someone else."
She scooted closer to him, quickly placing her hand within his palm, lightly squeezing it. "You're reckless. But that's one of the reasons why I like you. Makes you brave."
"Brave or stupid?"
"Let's go with both."
Percy laughed, images of last night flashing in his head, specifically...that giant infected with two others inside it. Something he still couldn't believe.
"You should've been there, Rach, you wouldn't have believed it. We had to go through the sewers-"
"So that's why you smell weird." She interrupted.
He lightly shoved her, "Shut up, I took two showers to get that crap off me. Anyway, we came across this huge infected. I mean like a really fat monster that blocked off the entire sewer."
"Did you kill it?"
"We had to, or we wouldn't have been able to cross. It nearly crushed my ribs with one hand, and would've if Annabeth didn't shoot it in the face. But here's the crazy part. After that, two infected came out of its freaking stomach and grabbed her! I've never seen anything like it!"
He felt Rachel shiver in disgust, "Ugh, that sounds gross. Do you think they turned inside its belly after it ate them?"
"That's what Grover thinks. But I'm still not sure. Whatever it was, it was different than anything I've seen before."
Rachel shifted, leaning forward to get a better look at Percy's face. "What's wrong?"
He hadn't realized he'd been glaring ahead, his entire body tensed up from frustration. "It's just...there's still so much we don't know. About the infected, about the state of the rest of the world. It drives me crazy."
"Why?"
How could she ask that? Doesn't it bother her too? Doesn't it bother everyone how little they know? "Look around. It's been three years since this whole thing started, and what's been changed for the better? Nothing. Not a single thing. Everything has only gotten worse. The government's been replaced by Project Atlas, going around bullying everyone with their numbers and advanced weaponry, this and the other major cities have been burned, and more people are getting turned every day. Humanity is literally dwindling as we speak, and if this continues, we'll all be wiped out! It's just a matter of time! How come that doesn't bother you?"
When Percy finished, he had to catch his breath. He realized he began raising his voice during the tirade, startling Rachel.
"I'm sorry."
"No, don't be. I-I understand. It's just...it does bother me, but that's such an overwhelming task, don't you think?"
"Of course it is, but someone has to be willing to do it. I always thought it would be Mr. Brunner, but these days..."
"He's really smart."
"Yeah. I have faith in him, but I just wish he would involve me in things a little more. I want to see what's behind that room he always works in. He's got to be hiding something to help humanity in there."
"It's probably dangerous."
"Probably. Doesn't change how I feel."
Percy hated the reality that he was only just one person. If he could, he would embody whatever power necessary to revert it all back. To cure the infected, topple Project Atlas and replace them with a just government, to rebuild everything that got destroyed that day. He would bring everything that was lost...back.
Most of all...he would bring her back.
Dammit. Why couldn't Mr. Brunner see how much he believes in him? That he believes if anyone can do it, he can. All he wants to do is help, to be in the know how, to be a part of the cause. He knows Mr. Brunner is working on something special, but why does he keep getting pushed away?
Percy nearly jumped when he felt Rachel rest her head against his shoulder, her hair tickling his neck.
"Say," She said, "Think you might take a break from saving the world and ask me out sometime? Like, ever?"
That was a good way to get his mind off of Mr. Brunner and everything else. His face got hot, "Where would we go? The dorm complex isn't exactly the best dating spot."
"It's all we have. I'm sure you could make the best of it."
"Well...I guess I can free myself up tomorrow and make a big romantic gesture for you. Sound good?"
She smiled up at him, "Sounds perfect."
And just like that, Percy's mood changed. For a few moments, he forgot about his conflictions, his frustration with the state of the world. Maybe that was the point. The world was bad, sure, but there were also good things about it still. Good things that had happened to Percy after things went wrong. Rachel was one of them.
It was just like his mom said. He always found a way to see the best in things.
(Three Years Earlier)
Percy loved the water.
He figured in another life he must've been a fish, or an old sailor, or even a sea god worthy of Poseidon's attention. Trident, long beard, talking to squids, the whole nine yards.
There wasn't a specific reason he could put his finger on. He just found himself drawn to it. It seemed to be the only place he could clear his head, where ADHD or his dyslexia couldn't weigh him down. In the water, he felt focused, calm, clear...and free.
Currently, he sat at the bottom of Yancy Academy's pool, just listening to the ambience of the water around him, the steady sound of his heartbeat, and forgetting all the troubles he faced on the surface. If he could choose one superpower, just one, he would pick breathing underwater without hesitation. That way he could live in it and never go back.
Above, he heard a muffled voice calling down to him. Percy inwardly rolled his eyes. He knew he'd get caught eventually by a teacher; he just hoped his little trip had lasted longer.
Percy knew next to nothing about the Yancy Academy swim team, other than the fact that this pool was reserved for them, and he wasn't a member. He also may or may not have skipped his last period to be here. Breaking two rules at once. If confronted on that, Percy would just shrug and claim he always overachieved in being a delinquent.
Pushing off the pool floor with his feet, Percy's head went through to the surface, streams of water pouring off his head like fountains, blurring his vision.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Just give me the detention slip and I'll be there Monday." He shook the water from his face and blinked his eyes open to find that it wasn't a teacher staring back at him. It was Grover, his best friend.
The scrawny boy had his hands on his hips, looking at Percy for an explanation.
"What? You know I come here when I get stressed."
Grover shook his head, "That's the third time this week, man. Mrs. Dodds put me through the ringer! You're lucky she didn't send school security to look for you!"
Percy grinned, "Did that big vein on her forehead come out again?"
Grover couldn't fight the smile at his friend's antics, "Yeah, you were right. It is pretty massive."
Percy kicked his legs and swam over to the side of the pool to lean his arms over on the concrete. "Is last period over?"
"Yeah. I figured I could get you before they did. You might even be able to get away with it since it's the weekend."
Percy smirked. He timed it perfectly. Yancy Academy wasn't exactly...well, the place for the brightest, most well-behaved students. It was nice and big like a private school, and it cost a tuition that rivaled most, but its students were the worst of the worst. Kids that belonged in a scared straight program.
He considered himself a troubled kid, sure. If troubled meant having fun all the time and ditching the stupid constraints of school. Like, who invented it anyway? Whoever it was, wanted to make kids' lives as miserable as possible. Percy considered it revenge against the universe to not try in his classes, to ditch constantly and skateboard instead, or mess with teachers like Mrs. Dodds.
The only thing that made him want to try though, was his mom. Sally Jackson. He had no shame in admitting that he loved his mom more than anything, and considered her to be one of the coolest people on the planet. She worked so hard to give him a good life, and sometimes, he felt like a total jerk for not doing better with what he's been given. Even if it sucks.
But hey, now that the weekend was here, he'd get to see her. All the kids could on the weekend. Yancy Academy held dorms for their students to keep an eye on them, making sure they didn't get themselves into law breaking trouble.
Grover gripped hands with him and helped pull him out of the pool. Percy walked over to grab his towel. "So, you spending the night this time, G-Man?"
His friend beamed, "Yep, got everything packed and ready to go. Whaddya want to do?"
"I don't know. Maybe we can play some video games. But first things first, mom said she's making us cookies, and I'm not sure about you, dude, but I'm devouring those."
Grover was practically drooling, "Your mom makes the best cookies."
Percy quickly ran the towel over his body, drying himself as fast as possible so he could leave without getting caught. After he felt dry enough, he forced his jeans on his legs, then his socks, shirt, and shoes. He hated re-dressing after a good swim. It was like getting in a car with leather seats after being out in the rain. It just didn't feel right.
Not two seconds after they reached the door, Percy and Grover were stopped by none other than Mrs. Dodds, the math teacher, and Percy's worst enemy.
"Well, well, Percy Jackson. Why am I not surprised to see you here?" She crossed her bony arms and glared up at him.
Percy smiled mockingly at her, "As enthralling as your class is, Mrs. Dodds, I'd rather be here, where I'm not having my brain grinded out of my body every ten minutes. Now, if you'll excuse us, I've got a weekend to enjoy."
The two boys weaved around her and opened the doors to exit the pool area. Not before hearing Mrs. Dodds call after them, "That'll be two weeks detention when you get back!"
Percy only waved at her, "You bet!"
They made their way out of the building and into the school traffic circle, where many kids were awaiting their rides. Percy's excitement at seeing his mother shriveled away pretty quickly when he spotted the '78 Camaro he was all too familiar with.
Gabe Ugliano, his stepfather, had come to pick him up.
Confirming that statement in his mind made him want to turn around and spend an entire year straight at Yancy. Mrs. Dodds, Nancy Bobofit, and all the other crap he had to deal with paled in comparison to Smelly Gabe. The guy was the worst. He treated his mom like garbage, he drank, smoked, smelled, and gambled all the time in their apartment, using money from God knows where. He managed the electronics department for some store in Queens, but he hardly went to work. Percy assumed he must be on a salary or something.
"Isn't that-" Grover started, noticing the Camaro.
"-Yeah," Percy said, "It's my asshole stepdad."
Both boys walked over to the car, finding Gabe in the driver's seat with a cigar in his mouth.
Ugliano was a fitting last name, Percy thought. He'd rank Gabe among the ugliest people he'd ever seen. The guy was overweight, nearly bald except for a few hairs in a comb over, and his diet consisted of nothing but junk and grease.
Gabe scrunched his fat nose at Percy, as if he were a stray dog begging for food. "Well, what are you staring at? Get in."
Percy's tone held venom. Just seeing the man was enough to make him want to punch something. "Why are you picking me up? I thought mom was going to do it."
"She's busy with those stupid blue cookies you always beg for, so she asked me to do it." He cracked a small smirk, "Not without a little payment though. Remember our guy secret?"
Gabe held his hand towards the passenger window, rubbing his fingers together.
Grover furrowed his eyebrows, "What's he doing?"
Percy exhaled hard through his nose, "He wants money. What, you lose all of yours gambling again? Do you really suck that bad at Poker?"
"It was Blackjack, you little shrimp. Me and the boys got a little game going. One that I need to get back to. Very important stuff."
"Oh, I'm sure it is. You go right ahead, I'll walk."
He started to turn and do just that, but Gabe stopped him, "Oh yeah, you think you and your skinny friend can last in this kind of heat? The apartment's miles away, brain boy."
Percy stopped. Grover got tired easily, and as much as he hated to admit it, Gabe was right. The apartment wasn't close, and he really missed his mom...
Gabe could see the confliction on his face. It made him smile, "Hey, if it makes the deal any sweeter, I'll give you a discount. Ten dollars for the both of you. That's generous, if you ask me."
Percy glared at him and pulled out a single bill, practically slapping his hand when he gave it to him. Gabe didn't care, he pocketed the ten and unlocked the doors.
On the ride back to the apartment, Gabe blasted music that Percy hated, too loud for him to even talk or think. He and Grover remained silent for the drive.
Percy's mood immediately lifted once he saw the apartment complex. He jumped out of the car before Gabe could even park, wanting to get away from him as soon as possible and see his mother.
He bounded into the small room and looked around for her, finding her in the kitchen, the cookies finished. They were blue, like always.
"Percy!" She opened her arms for a hug, and Percy obliged, squeezing her tightly.
His mom was kind and loving. She deserved a millionaire who could buy her anything she wanted, not a loser like Gabe. She was so busy working in a candy shop, trying to make ends meet, that she couldn't pursue her real passion. Writing. She'd rarely talk about it, but sometimes Percy saw her typing away on her computer, working on a novel she'd been attempting to write for the past two years.
"I missed you, mom." He said after pulling away from the embrace.
She looked at him warmly, "Is Grover here? You wanted him to spend the night, right?"
On cue, Grover walked into the apartment with his bag, smiling at his mom, "Hey, Mrs. Jackson. It's nice to see you."
Five seconds after she greeted Grover and gave him a hug, Gabe walked in, closing the door behind him and looking at his mom with distaste.
"Well, I got the kid. Hope you're happy."
"I am. Thank you, Honey."
"You keep the guys entertained? None of them left, did they?"
She shook her head, "No, they stayed. I gave them some of the cookies I made. You can have one too if you like, dear."
Gabe snorted, "Nah, let the kid have em'. Too sugary for me, anyway."
Percy was eyeing him with hatred. He mumbled under his breath, "Your gut says otherwise."
Gabe's eyes went wide with fury, "What'd you say, punk?!"
His stepfather sauntered toward him and grabbed him by the shoulders, pressing him hard against the wall. Grover, nor his mother did anything to get in between them, in fear of making him angrier.
"Gabe, stop!" She pleaded.
He paid no attention. "Listen, brain boy, this is my house, and I won't be disrespected here, got it? Another comment like that, and you'll wish you stayed at school. Understood?"
Percy didn't say anything.
Gabe squeezed his shoulders harder, to the point where it hurt. "Understood?" He repeated.
"Understood." Percy growled, wanting nothing more than to beat him to a pulp with his skateboard. But he knew that would only make his mom upset, and probably get himself arrested.
Gabe accepted that and let him go, turning around and getting back to his card game.
The remaining three stood in the kitchen, completely silent. Percy was boiling with anger, his fists clenched, his breath constricted. He'd lost any appetite for the cookies, or any desire to play games with Grover. He just wanted to be back in the water, where nothing could hurt him.
His mom tried to put a hand on his shoulder, "Percy..."
He stormed away before she could, going into his room and slamming the door.
When the sun rose above the skyscrapers, Micheal Yew came to relieve Rachel of watchtower duty.
Percy went down the ladder first, and Rachel followed, carrying her sketchpad. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she yawned.
He smiled at how cute it looked. "You gonna hit the hay?"
Rachel nodded, "I think so. Wanna tuck me in?"
Percy's face flushed a bit, but he remained calm, "Sure. Maybe I'll even read you a bedtime story. But I must warn you, the only ones I can think of involve infected and sewer water."
She giggled, "I'll take it."
The day had fully begun by now. Residents of Olympus were walking around, awake and ready to start the day, just like any other. Walls needed to be repaired, supply runs needed to be made, infected needed to be killed, weapons needed to be refined, and training needed to be done. Percy liked the busy atmosphere. It gave him hope that they were working towards something good, like they actually had a chance of overcoming everything.
It gave him purpose. Something he desperately needed to survive. Even if he would never admit that to anyone else, he acknowledged it within.
As Percy and Rachel walked towards the dorms, Grover met their path, a smile on his face, "Perce, you're not gonna believe it- oh, hey Rachel, you're up early."
"Watchtower duty." She yawned again.
Grover nodded, "Gotcha. Anyway, you know how Annabeth said she was leaving at first light?"
"Yeah..." Percy felt a bit uneasy talking about Annabeth in front of Rachel. The two had liked each other for quite some time now, but they weren't officially boyfriend and girlfriend. Not yet, anyway. His duties to the camp always seemed to wriggle themselves between the blooming romance. Percy had to do so much, he often prioritized Rachel second.
And the whole Annabeth thing didn't exactly help either. Percy had just met her, and there was nothing there, obviously, but he couldn't help but let that little comment Rachel made earlier bother him. Even if it was a lighthearted joke.
Grover continued, stifling his laughter, "Dude, she's out cold. Like, drooling in her sleep out cold."
Percy couldn't help but smile, "Seriously?" Imagining serious, stone gazed Annabeth drooling on her pillow brought him great joy for some reason. Perhaps because it humanized her.
"Come on and see for yourself. You too, Rachel. This is priceless."
Rachel seemed confused as to why the two men were getting worked up over someone being fast asleep, but she came along regardless, following Percy and Grover into the complex. Turn after turn, door after door, it took a few minutes to find the right room. Percy had shown her to it himself last night, but even he got mixed up with the maze-like structure of the building.
Come to think of it, how did Grover know where Annabeth was? Had he been snooping around the dorms for something? That didn't sound right...
He decided to raise the question, "Hey Grover?"
"Yeah?"
"How'd you find Annabeth's room? You weren't there when I showed it to her last night, were you?"
Grover stiffened for a split second, but shook his head in a way that played it off well, if there was any suspicion. "Nah, I got lost this morning trying to find the room I put my reed pipes in. You know how the Stoll twins are always trying to take them. Heard some snoring, and got a little nosy."
Percy only tightened his lips and nodded, accepting the explanation. He wasn't wrong, the Stoll twins are always after those reed pipes for some reason, either to steal it for themselves or sell it.
"Oh! Here it is. Check it out..." Grover carefully opened the door to Annabeth's room, not making a creak or any noise. Slowly, the room became clear, revealing the sleeping girl's form.
Grover wasn't kidding, Annabeth was out, sleeping silently like a baby. She lay on her side with the covers draped over her middle, arms tucked in front of her, blonde hair out of its ponytail and sprawled out around her head. Besides her shoes, she hadn't removed any clothing, and just slept as she was. Percy couldn't blame her. Being out on your own like that had to have been tiring and scary.
He studied her, finding himself admiring how peaceful she looked. Yesterday, she'd been on alert at all times, completely aware of any contingencies, or bad things that could happen. Against the infected, the giant monster in the sewers, and even Clarisse, she'd been sharp and calculated. Here though...she was still and at ease, actually allowing herself to feel safe for once.
Rachel tilted her head, "She must've been really tired. Didn't you say she was by herself, Grover?"
"Yeah. We found her hiding out in a bank. Right in the middle of Scavenger territory and everything."
The red head sighed with sympathy, "Poor girl."
Percy chuckled nervously, "To be honest, I'd put my money on her against any Scavenger. We weren't exactly saving her by letting her come with us, if you know what I mean."
Annabeth must've heard his voice, because she began to stir under the covers, her eyes slowly blinking open. Once she woke, she immediately threw the covers off of her and snapped to a standing position, shotgun in hand, aimed at the three of them.
It was so fast; they would've died if Annabeth pulled the trigger. Rachel yelped, while Percy and Grover both gasped, the former immediately trying to calm her down.
"Hey! Woah, woah, woah! Just take it easy, Annabeth, we're not gonna hurt you."
She looked like a cornered animal, rabid and defensive. She breathed hard, panicked breaths; her gray eyes darted between the three of them as if one would suddenly pounce on her. "What are you all doing in the doorway? Were you watching me?"
"N-No!" Grover lied, "Of course not! We were just...um, seeing if you had left yet!"
Annabeth's breathing calmed a bit. Her eyebrows knit in confusion, as if she were trying to figure out how she ended up here in the first place.
She took her glare away from the sights of the gun to glance at the bed, "How did I..."
Percy took a couple of steps forward, hands out in front of him, "Hey...it's alright. You came back to camp with Grover and I last night. Remember? We crawled through the sewers and killed that giant infected...you almost broke Clarisse's nose..."
Still disoriented, she didn't respond. Her eyes remained glazed over, looking past Percy into something else, something only she could see.
Percy had times where he woke up startled or dazed, but he always shook it off and gained his bearings quickly. This was something else. Annabeth had a nightmare or a bad memory. Something awful to make her act this way.
His voice softened, "Do you remember my name?"
It took a moment, but Annabeth closed her eyes and whispered it, "Percy. You're...Percy."
He nodded, "Good. You okay now? Ready to put the gun down?"
They both stood in place, unmoving. To Percy, it felt like forever with a barrel pointed at him, death only one small squeeze away. He didn't rush it, though, he just kept his hands where she could see them.
Annabeth wasn't looking at his hands, she wasn't looking at anything now but the floor. She nodded, seemingly embarrassed. "Yeah...I think so. My bad."
She finally lowered the gun and propped it against the nightstand, standing stiffly as if the room would explode. For a few seconds, it was awkward, and Percy didn't really know what to do or say.
Luckily, Rachel broke the silence by coming in the room and outstretching her hand, "Hi, I'm Rachel. It's nice to meet you, Annabeth."
Annabeth didn't shake it immediately, but when she did it was quick and short. She didn't greet Rachel; she only gave a single nod without making eye contact.
The artist turned to Percy, eyebrows raised, silently asking him if she did something wrong.
He shook his head, "Maybe um, we should give Annabeth a little space, yeah?"
Grover piped in, "Yeah. I never did find my reed pipes, anyway."
Rachel didn't look happy about it, but she decided to leave the room as well, "And I need some sleep." Before she walked away, she leaned over and planted a chaste kiss against the corner of Percy's mouth, causing him to blush. It was bold for her, and in the past, she'd given him kisses on the cheek, but this was different. She had been half an inch away from hitting his lips.
"See you later, Percy." She whispered, almost in a sultry tone. He could only make incoherent noises in response, but he also had the sneaking idea that she did this to 'lay claim' to him in front of Annabeth. It was silly, but it made Percy's chest flutter a little that she got protective.
The action was pointless though, because Annabeth wasn't even looking at them, she still had her eyes glued on the floor when Rachel and Grover left earshot. Silence ensued between the both of them.
Percy felt awkward, "So...you sleep good?"
"Yeah. I meant to leave sooner, I guess I just..."
She trailed off, not wanting to admit being exhausted, so Percy finished the sentence for her. "Got really tired? I mean, I can't blame you. You probably haven't had real sleep in weeks."
No response. Annabeth was clearly thinking deeply about something, and Percy thought he had an inkling of what it was.
"Hey, I get it. You feel outnumbered, like you can't let your guard down. Like...it was a mistake to fall asleep with so much potential for danger. I understand." Percy actually didn't, because he'd always had this place, with people he trusted, but he couldn't admit that. He wanted to make Annabeth feel better. She technically saved his and Grover's life, so he owed her that much.
"I know it's hard to believe, but we're all actually good people who don't want to hurt you. Even Clarisse wouldn't, especially after you kicked her ass."
That earned a snort, but not a smile, which jabbed Percy's ego. Man, could this girl even laugh?
Right then, he created a new goal for himself. Make Annabeth laugh, or at least smile before she left camp.
The thought brought his attention to her mouth, and he saw something that made him snicker.
Annabeth finally looked somewhere else besides the floor, now aiming for his eyes. "What?"
He knew it might earn a glare and even a shove, but he couldn't help it. He pointed to her mouth, "You uh, got a little drool on you."
Whatever drowsiness remained in her left with a flash. Her arm quickly shot up to her chin and wiped away any residue. He could've sworn he saw her cheeks darken a shade of pink while she narrowed her eyes. "I don't drool. Not usually, anyway."
"Hey, it's no biggie. I do it sometimes too."
Annabeth just pursed her lips and folded her arms, staring at Percy, while he stared back. The silence was getting deafening. Percy wasn't a quiet person, and he often carried conversations, but this...was on another level of weird. Annabeth might as well have been a brick wall.
And she had the gall to call him out for it. "So, are you always this awkward?"
Percy's smile fell. He narrowed his eyelids, "Awkward? You're not making it any better by just standing there, completely muted. You could say something too, you know."
Annabeth raised an eyebrow, "Fine, I'll ask something, then. Where's the shower?"
"Shower? Why would assume we have a shower? Just because we said we have electricity doesn't mean we have water."
She looked him up and down with her owl-like eyes, dissecting his statement. "The sewer smell from last night is gone from you, so you washed up somewhere. Also, most colleges have showers for their dorms. One male, one female. If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to use one, please. You saw me fall in that disgusting stuff after those infected grabbed me."
Percy nodded at her, a little impressed, but also a little annoyed. With the way she talked, she reminded him of every know-it-all he'd ever been in a class with. The types that actually enjoy taking tests, ask for more homework, and kiss up to the teachers. Those kinds of people were the exact opposite of Percy.
"Observant, are we?"
"It's just common sense."
Percy rolled his eyes, "Yeah, we have showers. Two at the end of the building. I'll lead the way so we can get that stench off you."
As he walked out of the door, he heard Annabeth behind him, "You act like you didn't smell the exact same just a few hours ago."
"I didn't fall into the nasty water. I only walked around in the nasty air. There's a big difference."
"Well, excuse me for not expecting two infected to pop out of that stomach like baby chicks."
"I know, right? They were like baby chicks!"
"Two mutated, skinless, decomposing baby chicks, yeah."
Percy chuckled, "Have you ever seen an infected like that before? The fat one, I mean."
He couldn't see her, since she was following him, but he imagined she shook her head. "Never. I've been wandering around the city for a few weeks now, and everything I've come across has been pretty standard. That was certainly a first."
"I'll have to ask Mr. Brunner about it, later."
After a few more steps in silence, Annabeth spoke again, her voice lower this time. "He seems like a good man."
"Huh?"
"Mr. Brunner. I can see why you respect him."
"Oh yeah. Yeah, he's..." Percy trailed off, unsure of how to describe Mr. Brunner in his own words. He could use the words other people around the camp used, but he wasn't like them. He always thought he and Brunner were closer, like mentor and mentee, teacher and student, father...and son, even.
Percy knew he was reaching on that last one. Mr. Brunner didn't even trust him enough to show him what was in that room. Brunner knew more than he let on about the parasites, and it bothered Percy that he wouldn't confide that information in him.
"...He's the best." Percy finished.
He and Annabeth didn't speak again until they reached the showers. It was still early in the morning, but most people were up by now, meaning that they had already taken their showers, freeing it up for Annabeth. Mr. Brunner always made sure to keep them clean, having designated groups scrub it down to the last crevice to make sure it didn't rust or mold.
Right now, it was barren and silent. No running water, no inhabitants. Annabeth took a glance at it, then back at Percy, who opened its door and gestured inside with his hand, presenting it to her.
"Well, this is it. Water's pretty hot, all of the shower heads work, so take your pick, and towels are to the left. Should be a big basket of them. You'll need some new clothes...I think you're about the same size as Silena, so I'll see if she can lend some. Any questions?"
"No."
Percy decided to ease the tension by cracking a joke. "Now I don't know how you are with showers, but don't get greedy. We start to charge after an hour. Oh, and I can't promise you that infected won't randomly burst from the drains and try to eat you. After what we saw in the sewers yesterday, I'm definitely looking at toilets in a different light."
It wasn't his best material, but it was enough to make Annabeth snort, a corner of her mouth almost twitching to make a smirk.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Percy shook his head, unable to help the bewildered grin at her resilience to humor. "Come on, I know that was lame, but not even a smile? You must rule at staring contests."
Annabeth stiffened, "There's nothing to smile about, Percy."
"What do you mean? Of course there is. There's still good left in the world. It's not like it's all bad."
She wouldn't meet his gaze, "You're lucky, then."
Before he could even think of a response, she disappeared behind the door and turned on the water, leaving him confused.
Lucky?
No...no, that's the last thing he is.
"Percy?"
His mom had already called his name three times through the door to his room. After the little spat with Gabe, he sat down on his bed and stared at his fists, curling and uncurling. He kept visualizing them in his stepfather's face. Just one good hit to get back at him, that's all it would take to quell his anger.
Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. "Come in."
The door opened immediately, and his mom slipped in. She looked at her son with sadness, "Are you okay?"
"No, mom, I'm not."
She gently shut the door and came to sit by him, leaving enough distance to keep him comfortable.
Percy loved his mom for it, but sometimes he wished she would just blow up. Act out on the emotions he knows she's been hiding. Take it out on Gabe, or hell, even him for that matter. Something. Anything.
"Why are you married to that scumbag?" He asked bluntly, tired of dancing around the topic. "He doesn't deserve you. He talks down to you, he threatens to hit you, he actually does hit me sometimes, and the guy's a total slob. Barely works, drinks like an alcoholic, smokes all the time, and gambles your money away. Your money, mom. Not his."
"Percy-"
But he wasn't done, "-I mean, you should be with someone that actually loves you. Treats you right. Someone like dad."
There, he'd said it. The subject of Percy's father wasn't something often talked about between the two. Every time it was brought up, his mom would get misty-eyed, and Percy always felt bad for saying anything. But not now. He wanted answers.
"The way you talk about him...that's love. What you and Gabe have isn't anything in the same ballpark. Why did he have to leave? Why couldn't he have stayed and made you happy?" Percy felt his anger rising, building heat in his neck. "Why couldn't that piece of shit have stayed?!"
"Percy, calm down." She shushed, "Please, calm down."
Soothingly, she rubbed his shoulder. Her touch melted all the stress away, leaving him to melt into his palms, rubbing his temples. "And I don't make it any easier. I'm a screwup."
She gasped, "Don't say that. You know that's not true."
"Yes, it is. I've been kicked out of four schools, I have bad grades in the one I'm currently at, I skip most of my classes, I've only had one friend for my entire life, and...I'm at a dead end. I have absolutely no idea what I want to do when I get older, or what I want to be. I'm just...pathetic."
His mother's voice became stern, "Percy Jackson, look at me."
The tone surprised him, so he looked to see her staring at him with determination and pride. When she saw him, she didn't see what he thought he was. In that moment, Percy truly grasped, for the first time, that her love was unconditional. He could make all the bad grades in the world, or even burn Yancy Academy to the ground...and she'd still love him.
"You are the best son I could ask for. You're...a good person, that's had bad things happen to them. It's hard, but it's just how the world is. Life isn't easy, but it's better to find the goodness in it, rather than find the bad. Remember, something is only special if you believe in it. So, if you look at life the same way, if you believe that there's good out there, or in your own life...then there will be."
Percy processed what she said for a few moments, and...while it didn't make perfect sense at the time, he understood the gist. It would be hard, but maybe he could try to adopt her thinking, and find the good things in his life. However few options for that there may be.
He decided to start with the most obvious, "I have you."
She smiled, "And I have you."
The two embraced, not wanting to let the other go. Percy was thankful for his mom in that moment more than he'd ever been. If it were him in her shoes, having to deal with a punk like him...he'd probably lose his mind. But here she was, patient and calm.
"And Grover." He added.
She nodded against his shoulder, "And Grover."
"And my skateboard."
She laughed, "Yes, honey."
They broke the embrace and pulled away, sitting in comfortable silence.
Her eyes lit up, "Hey, I have an idea."
"What?"
"Let's go to Montauk next weekend! Just the two of us!"
Percy reared his head back, "Montauk? But...we haven't done that since I was little. Do we have enough money-"
She shook her head, "-You let me worry about that, dear. We need a trip to just get away from..." She closed her eyes momentarily, almost as fast as blinking. A sigh came from her mouth, one of layered stress. Percy knew it well. "...Everything."
By everything, she meant Gabe, her work, the running around, the inability to have time to herself. She wouldn't admit it, but Percy could read the caged thoughts.
"I'd like that. But how are we gonna get there? We'd have to borrow-"
"-Gabe's car, I know." Another long sigh, then a forced smile. "I'll convince him. Stay on his good side."
It was then that Percy noticed she hadn't answered his earlier question about the reason for marrying such a creature. He decided not to bring it up again. The man wasn't worth their breath.
"Okay." Percy's face stretched into a small smile, "I uh, think I'm game for some cookies now."
"That's my boy."
Memories came in flashes, without rhyme or any reason that Percy could discern. He wasn't sure what happened to make him think of his mother. Was it what Annabeth said?
Luck. He often wondered if such a thing existed.
For most of his life, he considered himself unlucky. But when everything happened, since that first day, he began to think differently. He was still alive in a world of flesh-eating monsters, inhabited by hosts that seemingly want to take over the world. There had to be a little luck involved.
After Annabeth turned the water on, he made his way to Beckendorf's shop, knowing good and well that Silena Beauregard would be there. She'd been head over heels for the guy since they arrived at Olympus. Percy couldn't really wrap his head around it. The two were polar opposites. Beckendorf was a man's man. Good with his hands, unafraid of grime, and a hard worker.
Silena was beautiful. People called her "Beauty Queen" Beauregard. She was nice and sweet, but not much help when it came to labor or chores. Percy liked her, though, because she would always be willing to help others, no matter who they were.
Which is why she gave him some of her clothes for Annabeth, no hesitation. Percy figured they were the closest in stature to each other, so her clothes were likely to fit. Anything to get Annabeth out of the sewer water getup. If she hadn't already burned those clothes, he would do it himself.
By the time he retrieved them and came back, Annabeth was already done with her shower. Awkwardly, Percy gave them to her through the crack of the door she allowed, and turned as quickly as he could, afraid he might see something he shouldn't.
About a minute later, Annabeth emerged, hair still damp, and wearing Silena's outfit. Percy didn't know whether to ogle or hold his laughter.
Ogle, because she really was beautiful. Percy had feelings for Rachel, and really wanted their relationship to progress...but he was also barely past his teens, and still had the mind of a young man. He couldn't fight against the natural attraction of seeing Annabeth without all the concealing clothes and dirt she'd built up from being on her own. The water had washed away all the filth, revealing spotless, smooth skin almost matching the color of honey. Silena's outfit did little to keep things to the imagination.
That's where the laughter came in. It was kind of funny to see Annabeth, a very reserved and serious person, dressed in a pink t-shirt, jean shorts, and fluffy socks that stopped at the ankles.
Percy decided it would be better to just let himself laugh, as opposed to staring at her all day. "You look very...pink."
Annabeth frowned, "I look like a priss. This was the only set of clothes you could get?"
Percy threw his hands up, "Hey, if you want to switch back to the sewer suit, be my guest."
At that, she scoffed and shut the door, "Not a chance."
This time, Annabeth was the one giving directions, walking at a fast pace down the hall. Percy followed curiously.
"Where are you going?"
"To get my stuff."
"Wait, you're leaving?"
"Yeah."
For some reason, that soured Percy's mood just a shade. That quick? She didn't want a tour of camp? To kill some more infected together? Maybe find out more about them from Brunner? Percy figured a know-it-all like her would be interested in stuff like that.
He had to jog to keep up with her. When he rounded the corner of the doorway to her room, she was already grabbing her shotgun and latching her ammo belt to her waist.
"Uh..."
She looked up at him, but never stopped moving, "Yeah?"
"I mean, that's it?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, it's just..." Why was he even protesting to this? He barely knew her. It's not like the two of them were friends or anything. Being the opposite of Percy, he shouldn't even give her the time of day. The only reason he felt obligated was because of the help she provided.
That's the reason. He told himself.
Annabeth stopped moving now, awaiting his words. Words that Percy couldn't even process or form. His thoughts were telling him one thing, but by the time they got to his mouth, they dissipated.
He ended up shrugging, "Nothing. I get it. You've got things to do, places to go. I guess I just figured a camp like this to you would be hard to walk away from."
Percy found it hard to meet her eyes. But when he glanced, he found her looking at him, not blinking once.
"It's a great spot, Percy. You guys have something really special here." She finished latching her belt and completed the ritual by sheathing her knife. "But I have something special waiting for me, too. I can't stay."
Briskly, she closed the distance between the nightstand and the doorway, slipping past him as quick as the wind. The words came out of Percy's mouth before he could stop them, "Where are you going?"
She almost snapped at him, "It's none of your-" Then she found his intentions in his face, and saw the innocence there. He was only curious.
Her tight expression softened into something far more tired and robotic. "I'm going far away. It's something I have to do."
"Is it a long trip? We could give you some supplies-"
"-No. Thanks, but that won't be necessary." Her foot shifted, ready to begin walking away, but something in her mind kept her. She looked conflicted, mouth constricting in a way that told him she was considering something.
Finally, whatever confliction she felt must have won. Annabeth took four big steps to Percy and reached out her hand for a shake, looking him in the eye, as neutral as ever. Percy wanted to believe there was gratefulness there, but the gray orbs held no emotion. He realized that they could no longer, because she'd trained them not to.
It only added to the mystery. Perhaps that's why he didn't want her to go. She was a puzzle that he desperately wanted to solve and unravel.
Ironic, because Percy hated puzzles.
Slowly, he obliged to the handshake, firmly moving it up and down a couple of times until their grips parted.
"Thanks for letting me stay," She said, "And good luck out there. Tell Grover I wish him the same."
"Yeah." He whispered.
She offered a final nod of respect and turned on her heels, walking down the hall and away from him. Percy watched her go.
The skate shop was only a few blocks away from the apartment. Percy could walk there and keep from breaking a sweat.
Every weekend, when he got away from Yancy, he visited the shop every chance he could get. It was like the pool, or the ocean. A place where he could forget about his problems.
He didn't have the money to buy anything, of course, but he still enjoyed browsing and talking to the owner. He was among the few people who didn't treat Percy like a freak.
He'd taken the path for years, and it never changed. It was always open, and people were always inside. Today though, for the first time, the door was locked, and a closed sign sat next to the window, staring at him blankly.
Percy curled his lip, "What?"
He began knocking on the glass, "Tony! Hey, Tony! You there?!"
Almost instantly, a husky, Italian man with dark, slicked back hair came to the door, but not opening it. He peered at Percy through the glass, "Percy, is that you?"
"Yeah! Why are you closed? Is something wrong?"
"Citywide quarantine mandate!" He shouted, "You haven't seen it yet?"
Quarantine? Percy wasn't familiar with the word, but he knew it often coincided with sickness.
"W-Wait, Quarantine? For what?"
"Apparently it's some kind of outbreak. Sick people are overrunning a local hospital. It just came on the TV! You haven't seen it?"
Percy shook his head, "N-No, I just woke up and came here."
Just as he said it, a group of police cars zipped past on the street, sirens wailing. Percy could hear screaming in the distance.
Tony heard it too. His head went back and forth, then faced Percy's, his eyes...Percy recognized that look. He'd seen it on Grover's face every time a bully picked on him, on the face of his mother anytime Gabe raised his fist...and in the mirror when he looked at himself.
It was fear.
"You should really head back home, Percy," His voice quivered, "I mean it. With the way they talked...it sounds really bad."
Percy wanted to ask so many questions, but his mouth wouldn't move. Every instinct within his being told him to run as fast as he could home. Or else something horrible would happen.
Chaos was about to befall the city. People were going to die. He could feel it.
This realization finally triggered the sparks within his body, the engine in his heart, to start sprinting the direction he came.
He ran and ran as fast as he could. But the farther he went, the crazier it became. People were running around in the streets screaming and shouting in panic, stomping and pushing on each other to get away from...something. Police cars were blaring, guns were being fired left and right. It was mass hysteria.
Percy could only wonder what the hell was going on. How could a disease cause this? It was as if the entire street was being overrun by...
The thought crossed his mind and his vision confirmed it. Through the small spaces between screaming people, he could see other people. Only they weren't people. They looked like people, but...no, no person acts like that.
He bumped into a dozen people, trying to squeeze through so he could see what was going on. When he did, he wished he'd just turned his head and kept running.
Police officers were lined up in front of their cars, some on their knees, some standing, guns pointed out in front of them and firing at an army approaching them. A horde of people running mindlessly, their mouths hanging open, their eyes bloodshot, their skin pale. They moved and acted like wild, hungry animals. They didn't react to the guns being fired, they didn't get scared, and as several died from the shots, the others just kept moving forward.
They looked like people...but there's no way a person could act like this. Not if they were sane.
"Hold your position!" An officer ordered.
"Keep firing! KEEP FIRING!"
"They aren't people anymore! Kill them!"
A thousand voices shouted over the other, overlapping into nothing but unidentifiable garble. Everything was happening so fast. One second, the day is peaceful, Percy's going to one of his favorite places, trying to enjoy his weekend despite everything, and now...there's people acting like animals, pouncing after the NYPD.
Within seconds, they did just that. The bullets managed to take some out, but the army was too big. The zombie-like humans jumped in the air and sank their teeth into the officer's necks, biting down with all their strength. One after the other, they all got bit, blood flew from their necks, screams came from their mouths, they started firing the rest of their rounds in the air. They were dominated.
"Oh my god..." Percy whispered. Everything but his racing heart had been frozen. This couldn't be real. There's...no way this wasn't a dream, or something out of a movie. That's it, he's going to wake up soon, right?
Percy pinched his arm, and he didn't wake up.
"Kid!"
Percy's head snapped to the right. An officer's leg had been gnawed off below the knee, and he was hobbling at Percy, his face covered in blood. "Get out of here, now! GO!"
Out of nowhere, another monster tackled him to the ground and started eating his face. It was then that Percy realized how strong a human's bite is. He remembered the time when he accidentally bit his finger while eating something, and how much it hurt. When not holding back...teeth can tear through flesh.
Once the monster finished its meal, it turned it's cold, sickly eyes towards him and growled.
"N-No! Get away!"
It didn't listen. The monster, human thing, whatever it was, bounded at him on all fours. Once it got close enough to grab, it jumped, both of their heads level. It was aiming for his neck.
Percy's body moved for him in time, his instincts forcing him to duck his head and roll out of the way. The monster hit the ground and tumbled.
"S-Shit!" He looked in front of him and saw that he was the only person left. Every person he stumbled upon was gone. The civilians, the officers...they'd all been killed.
Realizing he needed to move, he scrambled to his feet and ran towards the first thing he saw that could protect him. An officer's car, still blinking its red and blue lights. Monsters trailed behind him now, coming to their own realization. That he was now their only option for dinner.
Luckily, the officer that drove this car had left the driver door open, likely rushing out in a panic without thinking to shut it. Percy leapt into the car and pulled the door shut as hard as he could, locking it, all within five seconds.
Monsters slammed into the vehicle, pressing their faces against the glass, banging on the hood and trunk. If enough of them gathered, they could tip it over, or at the very least, break the windows and reach in for him.
Percy couldn't allow that. He was so young. He might've been a screwup, but...his mom...Grover...that trip to Montauk next weekend...
He wasn't going to die.
Steeling his nerves, he turned the ignition and stomped on the gas pedal. Percy had his license, but couldn't afford his own car, so he had next to no practice in one. Still, when his life depended on it, he could do just about anything.
He mowed over the monsters clinging to the hood and front bumper, crushing their skulls like watermelons. He paid no attention to it, and kept driving desperately to his mom's apartment.
If they were here, they had to be everywhere. Tony said it was a citywide quarantine after all. That meant his mom and Grover were in trouble.
But what would they do? Run? If these things can kill armed police officers, then what hope do they have? Does the rest of the world know about this? The President? The military?
Percy breathed in and out while he drove, trying to calm his nerves. He couldn't think of the big picture right now or it would overwhelm him and cause a fatal mistake. He had to take this one step at a time.
Step One: Get home and see if mom and Grover are in trouble. Gabe, well, screw him.
Step Two: Don't die
And that was the plan. It wasn't his place to worry about how to stop this, he was only one person. He needed to worry about what he could control.
When he drifted around the last corner leading to the apartment complex, he could see the same scene as before in the distance. Police officers being overrun by the insane, while innocent people got caught in the crossfire. Luckily, his apartment was just before that, so he figured he could make it relatively unscathed.
That is, until he realized he had company.
Two of the monsters were crawling on the back of the car like spiders. One of them lifted an arm and slashed at the rear left tire, getting its limb caught. It caused the car to immediately lurch and Percy lost his control. The vehicle swerved and spun until it hit a lamppost, stopping all movement and denting Percy's side.
The stillness allowed the remaining flesh-eater to crawl over to Percy's cracked window and jab a hand inside, reaching for Percy's face with pale fingers. He didn't know what to do. Was it okay to kill them? They were still technically humans, weren't they? If the police said to kill them, then...
Percy grabbed onto the thing's wrist with both hands and yanked, making it lose balance and fall face first on the asphalt. Percy figured that was his chance to make a run for it. Shifting his hips, he jumped to the passenger side, unlocked the door by pressing the button, and threw himself out of the car. He never stopped to look, to turn the engine off, or anything. His priority laid inside.
The poor boy bounded up the steps of the complex, finding that the door to his apartment was open.
His heart sank to the ground. That meant...they had gotten in.
Percy began to tremble in fright at what he was about to see. Nothing could brace him for this. No amount of time or warning would prepare him to see what he saw.
There, on the floor next to the poker table, lay Gabe, his neck split open and blood oozing out of the wound, forming a puddle around his head. His mother...standing before him in the kitchen.
"M-Mom?"
His mother's entire body made a spin, jolting to face him in an inhuman manner. That was when the tears fell. She had become one of them.
Percy didn't quite know how, or what was going on, but he saw the bite mark on her neck, and the look in her eyes. She had the same dead expression, her mouth was hanging open and letting out low moans, her skin as pale as the hand that tried to grab him a minute ago.
Whatever those people had become...his mother joined them.
"Mom...please, please tell me you can hear me," He cried, "Please say something!"
She came forward, hands outstretched and feet shuffling. She didn't respond with words, only more moans.
"No!" He screamed, his face contorting with agony, "No, no, no, no, NO!"
He couldn't. He wouldn't.
But as the thoughts of refusal raced through his mind, he found himself avoiding her bite and moving towards the kitchen to open the utensil drawer.
Shakily, he pulled out a knife, but didn't raise it. His tears were blocking most of his vision, making his mom look blurry.
"Please..." He begged, "Please don't make me do this..."
She came at him anyway, diving at the last second to his midsection, tackling him into the countertop. Percy grabbed onto her wrists and struggled for several moments, trying to gain the strength.
Finally, he let out a primal roar from the top of his lungs, his voice breaking at the peak. More tears slid down his cheeks as he threw her to the ground, pinning her with his knees and brutally stabbing the crown of her forehead. He didn't know how many times he did it, but she moved no more after the second strike.
Percy tossed the knife to the wall and sobbed, leaning down next to his mother's head, cradling her. He had no idea how long it lasted. The entire ordeal felt like hours of torture. The biggest reason he kept going was gone, and it was his fault. He should've been there to protect her, in more ways than one. Not just from this, but from Gabe too. From everything.
He gave her so much trouble...
Minutes, or hours passed. Enough time for Percy's legs to get numb in his position. He heard a legion of footsteps come up the steps and towards the apartment. He panicked again, thinking it was another group of monsters. With no time to reach for the knife he just threw, the sources came bustling into the room.
"Hands in the air! Turn where we can see you!"
Percy didn't oblige at first, still being in shock. Through the blurriness and rage, he could register guns being pointed at him, camouflage uniforms and helmets. Soldiers?
"Hands in the air, now!" He repeated, "Show us your neck!"
"Have you been bit!"
"Answer!"
"N-No!" He croaked, his voice gone from the sobbing, "I'm not bit!"
The room fell silent. Percy saw the soldiers look at each other, murmuring amongst themselves. Through the fog, he could make out vague conversation.
"They don't speak, do they?"
"I don't think so."
"He's just a kid."
"Looks like his mom on the floor..."
Percy leapt to his feet and snatched the knife from the countertop, gripping it by his side and glaring at the men, "Who are you people?! W-Why are you here?!" He knew inwardly he was being stupid, grabbing a weapon in front of the military. But he didn't care what happened, if he lived or died. They could shoot him and he'd probably come back as a ghost and thank them for taking him out of whatever horrible reality he woke up in.
But they didn't. "Put the knife down, son. It's gonna be okay." This guy must've been the leader, Seargent or whatever, because when he waved his hand at the others, they lowered their guns. He made a point to show Percy that he was putting his on the island of the kitchen.
"Look, no weapons, okay. I'm Seargent Mitchell with the National Guard, we're here to help."
"N-National Guard? You guys...are army right?"
"Basically, yes." He stepped closer, almost to the point that it went unnoticed, "I'm sorry we pointed our weapons before. We just...thought you were one of them. Things aren't good out there. Which is why we need to get you out of here." He slowly flicked his hand, "Come on."
Percy dropped the knife, "What about my mom? My friend, too...he was here when I left."
The Seargent's face fell. He took a long look at his men. Percy didn't know what kind of silent conversation happened, but he guessed it involved telling him they were gonna have to leave her.
He faced Percy again, "I'm...really sorry, kid, but we'll have to leave her. Things aren't looking good at all out there. We need to get as many people in the bunkers as possible."
Bunkers?
Percy could tell they were trying to be as calm and reasonable as possible, but the man's tone had urgency laced in it. It must be getting worse and worse as they spoke.
He choked back another wave of tears, nodding, "A-Alright."
From there, it was a blur. He remembered bits and pieces of the next four hours. Getting in a big truck with fifteen other people, driving around the city to pick up more, avoiding the infected, and finally being shoved into a bunker buried deep within the Earth, located in the middle of the city in a secluded area, surrounded by abandoned construction sites.
It had been lines of thousands of people, all bustling into one giant room that looked like the inside of an alien spaceship. The walls were made of gray carbon, thickly layered with anti-nuclear protection, ensuring that nothing short of an asteroid or a god could get inside. Percy, at the time didn't even bother to wrap his mind around the concept. How it was built, who built it, and when. Was it for this outbreak? Did...they know?
The sheer size of it had to have taken at least a hundred years. It reminded him of an airport. A gigantic open space stretching a football field's length in height, and thrice that in length. There were lockers of supplies, rows of benches for people to sit on, and beds for people to sleep in. Nothing else. It seemed designed for temporary stay.
Once half the city's population squeezed inside and sat down, Percy heard an announcement being made over a loud intercom, the muffled voice of a man behind it.
"Attention all civilians, remain calm and seated. There will be an update on the situation shortly. For now, remain with your loved ones. If you are in need of food or water, contact the officer at the end of your row. Thank you."
Percy only stared blankly at the ground, completely void.
"It won't work."
The voice came from his direct right. Percy turned his head to see a horrible looking man sitting next to him, appearing as dead and empty as Percy felt.
The man's button up shirt, jeans, and jacket were dirty and tattered, all covered in dried blood. His face, hidden behind a long, unkempt beard. As Percy's eyes trailed lower, he noted that the man was a cripple. The jean on his right leg became limp and without form after the knee, his crutches sat under the bench beneath them.
"What do you mean?"
"The bunker won't work. It will keep them out, but there isn't enough sustenance to keep these people alive. Sooner or later, we must resurface."
Percy twisted his head around, observing the facility. "Seems pretty sustainable to me."
"It was built in haste. They didn't suspect the outbreak would happen this soon." He sighed, "Even with one hundred years of preparation, it wouldn't work."
"They? You know who they are?"
"In a sense."
"Do you know what happened?"
"I have insight. What we're dealing with...is a threat the human race has never encountered before."
Percy shook his head, chuckling humorlessly. "You have insight? Well then what the hell are you doing down here with us? Shouldn't you be trying to solve this whole thing?"
"I have tried. But I'm helpless against what's coming. The will of the new order will not tolerate any rebels."
Percy just gaped at him. It sounded like total nonsense coming from the mouth of a crazy man. But then again, this guy could be totally right. Percy had no idea what to think at this point.
The universe must've overheard, putting his word to the test. The man pointed toward the ceiling and muttered, "The bombs will drop soon."
Percy didn't even have time to question it. Just as the man finished the sentence, the entire bunker started rumbling. The sounds of muffled explosions and falling buildings could be heard above. Everyone began chattering and looking up in fear. The officers did what they could to keep everything calm, but it didn't work.
The noise, the vibrations, they didn't stop. It kept going and going. If those were really bombs like the old guy suggested...well, Percy was beginning to understand why the bunker was here in the first place.
"Who are you, man?"
Hesitation.
"My name is Chiron Brunner. I...am the man who started all of this."
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