The Dark Percy Jackson

01 - I Kick a Tree

"Percy, man... I don't know how to tell you this but..."

Grover mumbled something about the Minotaur, then stopped himself.

I sat up and groaned. "I just had this really bad dream.."

Grover stared at me in a mix of pity and hesitation.

"It's your mom... she, well, she--..."

"She what?" I jumped out of bed. "Grover, what happened to her?"

He grimaced and croaked out one more word. "...died, Percy. The Minotaur killed her."

No.

"No," I blurt out. "No."

"I'm really sorry, man--"

Grover didn't finish. Water leaked into the room. The incessant dripping filled the silence. 

"It's your fault," I hiss.

Grover is taken aback. "Wha--..."

I shoved him to the ground, every muscle in my body tense and vibrating. "If it wasn't for you and your stupid camp," I snap, "She would still be here."

I still hadn't processed what Grover had said. It couldn't have happened. I'm stuck in a dream. I'll wake up one day. This will all be a dream. Mom will be alright. 

Who am I kidding? 

Water flooded in the room, barrelling straight towards Grover. He looks at the water, then at me, mortified. He won't look at anyone ever again. His deathly pale face lodged itself in a permanent scream of terror. 

Grover's body would be found by someone soon. I need to leave, fast.

On my way out, I saw a pine tree and kicked it. My foot throbbed with pain. I ignored it and left everyone behind.

"Hey," a voice jerked me out of my thoughts.

I spun around, my hands instinctively flying to the pen-sword in my pocket.

"Relax," he laughed. "You're escaping from camp? Good. So am I."

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"Hi. I'm Percy."

I extend my hand in greeting.

"My name's Luke," he shook my hand, "I haven't seen you at camp."

"I'm new," I reply. "I guess I was supposed to be introduced to everyone this afternoon. 

He nods and we walk together in silence.

"So Luke, why are you leaving?"

He shook his head. I could tell I'd struck a nerve. "Well," he began. "So... I think I just need to distance myself from camp for a while. This whole monsters and gods thing-- "

He takes a breath and continues. "I've been reading up on Kronos."

"Who?"

"The Lord of Time. His mother, Gaea, gave him a scythe and he hacked his own father to pieces." Luke's face twisted itself as he talked, out of nausea.

My stomach felt like a cement mixer. "Why are you telling me this?"

He exhales. "My point is, Percy... immortal beings have no sense of right or wrong. They betray their own family with no regrets. They won't think twice about leaving their children to rot. My dad, Hermes, did that to me."

I nodded. I could understand having an ass for a father.

Luke changes the subject. "You're a son of...?"

"Poseidon," I supply. I realized I never thought about it, but that flooding water hadn't just appeared. I'd summoned the water. 

"I summoned some water when I... uh, well..."

I wanted to say killed my best friend. But I didn't want Luke to back away from me.

"That's cool. Gotta go. Bye... Seaweed Brain" he waved to me. "See you around, maybe."

I gave him my best fake smile and...

Seaweed Brain?

I spun around, maybe to call him some choice names too. But the only person around is a mortal jogger, eying me dubiously.