An Assassin's Guide to Family

Chapter 2: Past

--------------- Percy's POV: ---------------

The day my normalcy officially ended was the day my mother died. The end of my home life and the beginning of why I'd run.

It had been a hot day, the school's first quarter had just begun and everyone was drenched in a thick sheen of sweat from the remaining warm weather of the summer. The kids laughed and continued on with their day, happy that their school day had ended and that they were free for the next two days.

I admit, I was also quite happy to have a few days of silence.

I grabbed my backpack, hoisting it further up my back with a short jump before walking out of the cool air conditioning, the air calling for me as I walked away and into the stuffy heat.

It was bright outside, so much so that I was sure Apollo was having a great day, even Zeus was seemingly complying as there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

I smiled to myself, exhaling before pulling the skateboard out from underneath my arm. I grabbed one end before throwing it forwards, placing my feet firmly on the steady and rough board, the wheels spilling the instant I made contact.

Skateboarding was a hobby I'd picked up after the war. Annabeth had encouraged it, saying it could help me to work on something new to keep my mind off things. Give me a reason to get out of the house.

As the wheels spun fast beneath me, the board flinching every few seconds from the cracks in the sidewalk sending small bouts of shakes through me I couldn't help but thank her. In all honesty it's helped me a lot more than I'd let on.

Annabeth was "my person" as mom would say, she recently got into Grey's Anatomy. I told her everything and trusted her with my life. She relied on me and I on her. That's why she's the only one who knew about Gabe.

It had happened on accident of course, a chilly day over winter break and my mom had given me permission to stick to camp for a while until she 'figured things out' or in other words she kept the both of us out while Gabe drank himself stupid with his friends and forgot himself.

While the perfect atmosphere at camp half blood usually was warm and sunny today there was a certain bite to the air leaving the hair on my arms on guard and a constant shiver going down my spine. I didn't mind though, the water brushing against my feet was also chilly but I enjoyed the cold, it kept me grounded.

I watched over the horizon, the sound of the waves running up and down the shore was music to my ears, accompanying the beautiful view of the ocean. I was tempted to jump in but I decided against it, just in case the few kids that were left wanted to play a game or something.

Usually camp was crowded around this time but I suppose with the war in sight parents were trying to get in a whole lot more time with their kids. Who knew how long they had?

The thought made my jaw rigid, the cold now holding an extra bite.

I'm sure I would've dwelled on that thought alone, spiraling into the depths of my mind and allowing dark thoughts to run rampant, I would have of course if the sounds of footsteps didn't grab my attention, forcing my gaze behind me as I placed a hand into the grainy sand to steady myself.

Annabeth was walking over, her long hair up in its usual ponytail, she wore gray sweatpants and an orange tank top with messily designed Christmas trees and other Christmas items to boot. She gave me a warm smile, eventually plopping herself down besides me but with her legs in a crisscross fashion instead of in the way of the water.

"Hey Perc , I've been looking for you. I heard from some campers you came here a while ago." I turned from her face just as a look of concern hinted on her features. "You didn't come say hi, is everything going alright?" She asked quietly, in a tone that I'd only ever heard her use with me. A sort of reassuring voice that left no doubt in her care for me.