Percy Jackson Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent

2017 (2)

A major city means major unused buildings, so it was dead easy for me to set up a Clint-worthy rafters perch in an old warehouse-thing that I hadn't seen anyone anywhere near for days. Having decided where I was going to sleep until I ran again, I foolishly thought that heading back into the centre of the city to check the news at like an internet cafe or something would be useful. Spoiler alert: it wasn't.

Soon enough I was sitting in MAZ'S IN'ER'ET CA'E as the broken sign proudly proclaimed to the whole street and keying my name into Google. I tensed as I pressed the 'enter' key; I hadn't googled myself since I was like twelve and I hated to think of how many of my school records could be out there for the whole world to see.

I clicked on the first article.

Top Swimmer Missing

It has been reported that Perseus 'Percy' Jackson, a former New York state champion, has disappeared. His family are pleading for him to return home as soon as possible. His mother, Sally Jackson, simply begs for Percy to return home safely. "He's not the sort of boy that would run away; he had a stable job, healthy habits and a loving family. He just wouldn't do this."

This could come into contention with the fact that he was expelled from seven different schools during his time in education and had a reputation for getting into (and apparently losing) fights, or, as a senior at Goode High School said, 'generally spending his life in the principal's office'. Despite this, most say that he's friendly and kind, if a little cheeky at times.

Unfortunately, the authorities in San Francisco (where he was on a work-related trip with two of his co-workers) have discontinued the search, likely due to this reputation. Their spokesman said that 'we are simply not in the possession of sufficient evidence to support an ongoing search within the city.' His mother was understandably distraught to hear this news and implores that anybody who has seen or knows anything that could aid in his safe return that they come forwards with it (picture underneath).

Mr. Jackson is said by all friends and acquaintances to be an amusing, sarcastic personality with a positive outlook and a love for his sport, swimming. He worked full-time as a coach for a period at his local swimming club, and when asked about 'Coach Percy', all of the kids in the squad that he taught were bubbling and positive, calling him 'funny', 'supportive' and 'patient'. His coworkers and the older swimmers at the club described him as 'naturally talented', 'positive despite everything life throws at him' and 'a brilliant coach.'

Ms. Jackson and her husband, Paul Blofis, have taken to social media and received an outpouring of support from kind strangers, one user in particular (@catlover3000) tweeting 'He thrashed my bro @nystateswim! Real talent, love 2 u guys + hope u find him soon', showing that this one cheeky teenager can touch the hearts of countless people.

(Later that day, I bought a burner phone and sent a simple text to Mom after reading this, then discarded the phone with tears in my eyes.

The text read: 'im sorry, love u. too dangerous for anyone around me to hang around.'

It was pathetically inadequate.)

Another piece of news that moved me to tears was the letter that I unearthed from SHIELD's deepest and darkest archives as I scrolled further and further into the pages of my Google search, eventually giving up and just hacking the SHIELD servers instead (it was quicker). It was a handwritten letter, scanned into the server by the mailing team. The last few lines were a little shaky.

FAO: Detective in charge of Perseus Jackson case

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my feelings regarding the termination of the search for one Perseus Jackson, last seen three weeks ago today in San Francisco.