The Fate of Apollo

Released from the Prison!

PERCY:

A call interrupted our small bubble of happiness. It was from an unknown contact. As soon as I received it, a loud voice boomed, "Hello, do you know Apollo Benedict? If yes, please reach the police station as soon as possible." The man waited for a reply. But I couldn't speak. I felt myself going pale.

Finally I stuttered, "Apollo is my brother. I will be there within 15 minutes."

Leo and Nico looked curiously at me. I just ordered them, "Go home and sneak in through our bedroom window. It is kept unlocked. Lock the door and don't come out unless I or Apollo ask you to. Did you understand? I'll explain everything once I and Apollo reach home."

They wanted to protest but followed my order and went home. I sighed and walked towards the police station.

I entered the police station and found one of the officers, who had come to the petrol station on the day when that crazy man attacked me and Apollo, present there.

He gave me a wave and called out to another officer, "Mark, the boy is here."

The officer named Mark approached me, "Who are you and what is your relationship with Apollo?"

"I am Percy Jackson. Apollo and I live in the same house and we are brothers by everything except blood."

"Why do you stay together? How old are you?"

"Our parents are friends and after our mothers' death, we moved in together. I am 17, by the way."

"That means only you and Apollo live in a house or apartment together?"

"No, sir. I and Apollo live together with our other two brothers, Leo and Nico, and our stepfathers - Blake Marino, Gabe Ugliano, Stephen Rodgers and Jonathan Ace."

"Oh!! Now let's get to the real business. Your so called brother was caught at the Central Park today at 9.20 p.m. with 500g of cocaine. We are investigating the case but his answers are suspicious. So we can't release him unless someone bails him out. We need to contact his father, Gabe. Please give us his number."

"Sir, can I pay and get him out? If Gabe knows about it, he will go insane."

"Sorry but you are a minor."

"Please sir, can you consider it a bit?"

Officer Mark seemed to think for a while and said, "Ok, I'll let you take him away. But you need to tell us about your and Apollo's whereabouts."

"Every morning on weekdays he works at a petrol station with me and on weekdays he works evening shifts at 'Love Lace Hotel and Restaurant' whereas I work afternoon shifts at 'Blue Sky Café', on weekends, he gives painting tuitions at the 'New Talents Painting School' in the mornings and afternoons but disappears mysteriously after that and doesn't return home till late night, " was my reply.

"So he is secretive about what he does during the nights at weekends. So, can it be so that he is involved in these drug deals during that time?", contemplated the officer. "Peter, bring the lad here. I need to ask him questions."

APOLLO:

I woke up to someone shaking my shoulder. It was officer Peter. He said, "Your brother is here. We need to ask you a few questions. Now get your lazy ass up, you sleepyhead."

I rubbed my eyes and followed him out of the cell. He said my brother is here. That means Percy must be here. Oh God! How much more awkward can things be for me, I groaned mentally.

Officer Mark smirked at me as he saw me, "Now, Mr. Benedict, your brother has provided a very crucial information that no one knows where you are at night during weekends. So, do you utilise that time selling drugs or....." He trailed off. I started hyperventilating. This was going to be bad, really bad. I couldn't tell Percy that I am a prostitute. He would hate me for the rest of his life.

I knew it would be futile to look in Percy's eyes, but my curiosity got the better of me. The look in his eyes was a mixture of pain, anger, confusion, - he looked broken. He urged, "Apollo, please tell me that the officer is wrong. Tell where you go at that time. Please, I beg you. Please tell me."

My heart felt crushed. But I still couldn't bring myself to tell the truth, so I bit my upper lip in anxiety and kept my mouth shut. "Seems like my guess is correct?", officer Mark sounded amused.

Percy snapped, "What! You really are in drug deals! You are not declining his fucking statement! So, I, Nico and Leo idolised a fucking drug dealer?"

His words broke my heart. Tears flowed down my eyes relentlessly. As if my voice had a mind of its own, I started speaking. My voice an octave louder, "You really wanna know the truth Percy? OK. Fine. I'll tell you the fucking truth." I wiped and shouted, "I am a fucking prostitute. Yes! You heard me right. The brother who you idolise is a fucking man-whore, a fucking slut who has slept with nearly two-thirds of Manhattan's gay population for money."

Percy said with venom lacing his voice, "You could have told us. I could have got another job. Leo could have even got one if the money was too short." I laughed. Did he think that providing for a family of eight was easy? "How old were you when our step fathers stopped supporting the family? I was just 16. You were 13 and Leo and Nico weren't even teenagers. No one wants to give a job to a teenager who has no experience. So, I had to choose between my dignity, integrity and self respect and your future. I chose the latter. Till today, I loathe the fact that you cannot grow as normal teenagers. You cannot go to parties because I can barely provide for you. It hurts. It fucking hurts me to see that you just get barely enough food to satisfy your hunger. I am a failure. But you will be free. You are going to college very soon. And I have saved enough money to pay for your college. And I can't stop sleeping around, if you are gonna ask me to, as I still need to save for Nico and Leo's college fees and it is a hell lot of money."

Percy looked dejected after my outburst. Without much delay, he paid the fine and bailed me out. We were heading home when suddenly a pack of street dogs attacked us.

We started to run away from them when suddenly four boys came up with swords and started attacking the dogs. Very confusing indeed, but the dogs turned into golden dust. As much as it may sound painful to a dog lover, I was glad that the dogs were killed as they seemed like they wanted to tear us apart.

As if this was not surprising and amusing enough, the boys bowed to me and the blonde one, who bore a stunning resemblance to my appearance said, "Hi Dad, how have you been?"

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

A hopeless chapter once more. Ok guys, please put up with me. Who do you think appeared and if you had not figured it yet, I'll explain all the things in the next chapter.

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Until next time. Hope to upload soon.