Raising a Demon

Prologue

(A/N)  Warning!! Mentions of rape, blood, and gore.

- 3RD PERSON -

September 15, 2000. 11:00 PM, Manhattan.

8-year-old Percy Jackson walked down the dark street, a grocery bag that contained liquor and a brand new deck of cards was tightly held in his hands.

His sorry-of-an excuse of a step-father, Gabe, forced him to go out in the middle of the night to go shopping for his drinks and some extra cards for his poker game. Gabe told his gambling buddies that he just needed a new deck because the old ones were worn out - but Percy knew better.

The bastard was a cheat and a con, making it seem like he was a fair player by getting a brand new deck for his buddies and himself when really, he wanted the extra cards to help him get the upper hand in the game.

Percy was always an observant boy and was able to pick up the small of details in the smallest of things. His mom, Sally, would joke that the gods had blessed him with foreseeing sight.

He never took it seriously, of course, but sometimes he wished that the gods were real. He wished that they could hear his prayers, and give him advice like they had done for Odysseus in the stories. Sally always told him that they were listening, even when they think they were not there.

Gabe, however, ruined the young boy's fairy tale by coming in and saying that no such beings existed, and if they did; where would they hide in such a modern world?

That very thought always lingered in Percy's mind, and when he did; an image of the empire state building would always pop up into his mind. Percy didn't know why but it subconsciously felt right, despite how it didn't make sense.

The small boy could feel a hard stare burn into his back as he walked down the dimly lit sidewalk. Not wanting to risk anything, Percy started walking faster, the bag crinkled loudly under his tight grip.

Footsteps started to follow him, making shivers crawl up his spine. His fear began to build up as he started to run now, having trouble with the heavy bag lugging around with him.

Percy saw that it was useless to try and run any further since the man behind him was able to catch up to him easily. And he couldn't leave the bag behind, otherwise, Gabe was going to teach him a lesson.

The 8-year-old whipped his head around frantically, desperate to find a hiding spot.

Noticing a dark alleyway beside him, the young boy quickly ran into a specifically dark corner behind a dumpster. Squashing himself into the small corner was a bit challenging, but Percy didn't care. He just wanted to hide from this scary person and wait for them to go away.

When he no longer heard any more footsteps, Percy breathed out in relief; believing that they were finally gone.

That relief was short-lived as the young boy heard a man say,

"~Come out, come out~ wherever you are."

The voice was heavy and slurred, something that Percy had grown accustomed to spotting in a person's voice. If someone were to be blamed for the fact that this 8-year-old was able to tell when someone was drunk, it would be the fat walrus sitting in his home while he's here in a dark alleyway just minutes away from getting attacked.

"~Come on, kiddo. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to play a game with you."

Percy's breathing was irregular, coming out in ragged breaths as he tried to calm himself.

He went to cover his mouth, but his forearm slashed against a broken bottle poking out of a garbage bag beside him. It was so sudden that he let out a cry of pain.