🌅﹒→﹒ 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 ﹒ ﹒ ˚ ༘ .˚🔱 ୭ ˚. ﹢﹒ ✦⊹﹒𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝐈 . ݁₊ . ݁˖˚⊱🪷⊰˚〝 the test of patience 〞 ────୨ৎ────
𓂃˖ ࣪⊹ CHAPTER FIVE. jump then fall ‧˚꒰ৎ୭🌩️—
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MOST PEOPLE REACHED stardom in their 20s. Percy managed to do just that at twelve. The boy was on the cover of almost all the newspapers on the East Coast, with titles like "Troubled boy destroys a bus!" and "People of New Jersey shocked after kids demolish transportation systems" clinging to his name.
The boys stepfather, Gabe Ugliano, had leaked his name to the public, offering a cash reward to whoever found him. Andie thought it was considerate because her parents would likely not care this much about taking her home. Maybe Percy Jackson really was one of those troubled kids her mother had warned her about.
Annabeth reassured them they were unlikely to be found, considering mortals weren't as intelligent or quick on their feet.
SLEEPING WASN'T EASY for both Percy and Andie. Annabeth had made it a habit to cling to her when asleep, so moving was impossible. "You're sure you want to do this?" the daughter of Apollo mumbled, "what if it's a scam? I wouldn't trust Hades."
"It's my mom. I have to. You would want to save your mom, too, wouldn't you?
She shrugged worldlessly.
"Wouldn't you?" Percy asked again, scoffing.
"I don't know. I feel like I have to. But then again, Mom wouldn't have done the same for me."
"Why do you believe in only helping people if you think they'd help you in your shoes?"
"I was taught to be selfish. Why should I keep helping others and expect nothing in return?"
"Because you're kind. And a healer."
"Kindness means nothing in real life. Look, I admire how you're so hellbent on finding your mom. But I'm not like that. I don't want to save the woman who listens to her boyfriend more than her kids. The woman who sent me to boarding school after boarding school, hoping I'd return to normalcy. All of that just because he asked her to."
Percy blinked, unsure what to say.
"Sure, they said they wanted me there," she continued. "It was just difficult to believe them. Ever since my stepdad came to live with us, my ma changed. Suddenly, it was all boarding school, asking if I wanted to stay at camp over the holidays. How could I complain? I prefer being alone anyway."
He stared out the train window, focusing on the little droplet of rain beating against the window. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."
