A Son From Lands Unknown (PJO x Male Reader)

Battle at the Gateway Arch

The group spent two days on the Amtrak train, heading west through hills, over rivers, and past amber waves of grain. They weren't attacked once, but none of them could really relax at all. Percy felt like they were traveling in a display case, being watched from above and maybe from below, that something was definitely waiting for the right opportunity. (Y/N) spent it observing people, seeing if anyone was rich enough for him to pinch from. They were on an Amtrak, so of course the answer was no.

Percy was trying to keep a low profile because his name and picture were splattered over the front pages of several East Coast newspapers. The Trenton Register-News showed a photo taken by a tourist as he'd gotten off the Greyhound bus. The picture showcased him with a wild look in his eyes. Riptide was a metallic blur in his hands. It might've been a baseball bat or a lacrosse stick.

The picture's caption read:

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson wanted for questioning in the Long Island disappearance of his mother two weeks ago, is shown here fleeing from the bus where he accosted several elderly female passengers. The bus exploded on an east New Jersey roadside shortly after Jackson fled the scene. Based on eyewitness accounts, police believe the boy may be traveling with three teenage accomplices. His father, Gabe Ugliano, has offered a cash reward for information leading to his capture.

Further down the page, (Y/N), who was peeking over Percy's shoulder, saw a picture of his own mother. It was her high school photo, her smiling face looking right at the reader.

It was under the obituary section.

Last week, first responders found the body of (M/N) (L/N) outside of her Brooklyn apartment. Authorities say that she was threw her apartment window after her door exploded into her apartment, throwing her through it. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation. She leaves behind- (Y/N) didn't read any further. He didn't want to believe it, but it made too much sense. How the Iris Message had been cut off by that explosion, how the Angels had gone after someone else when they couldn't get to him.

(Y/N)'s thoughts dwelled on his mother the entire rest of the trip.

The money they took could only take them as far as Denver, and they couldn't get berths in the sleeper car, so they dozed in their seats. The boys could feel their necks getting stiff. Percy tried not to drool in his sleep since Annabeth was sitting right next to him. Grover kept snoring and beating and waking the others up. Once, he shuffled around so much that his fake foot fell off. Annabeth and Percy had to stick it back on before anyone else noticed.

"So," Annabeth asked Percy, once Grover's sneaker was readjusted. "Who wants your help?"

"What do you mean?"

"When you were asleep just now, you mumbled, 'I won't help you.' Who were you dreaming about?"

Percy was reluctant to say anything. It was the second time he had dreamed about the evil voice from the pit. It bothered him so much that he caved and finally told her. Once Percy was done, Annabeth was quit for a long time.

"That doesn't sound like Hades," she said. "He always appears on a black throne, and he never laughs."

"He offered my mother in trade, who else could do that?"

"I guess... if he meant, 'Help me rise from the Underworld.' If he wants war with the Olympians. But why ask you to bring him the master bolt if he already has it?"

Percy shook his head, wishing he knew the answer. He thought about what Grover and (Y/N) had told him, that the Furies on the bus seemed to have been looking for something.

Where is it? Where?

Maybe Grover sensed his emotions. The satyr snorted in his sleep, muttered something about vegetables, and turned his head. Annabeth readjusted his cap so it covered his horns.