Falling Through Portals

The Followed and The Dreamers

Chapter 54

Percy let them feel secure. Ignorance was better than knowledge in this case. He knew that they were searching the woods for them, every last inch. Searching for him.

Every dimension he went to, the people there were prepared to go up against the evils of their world, but his new friends were powerless against the raging monster that possessed people like Elsa. Percy tried not to think of her. His first murder . . . he knew in his head that it was just defense, but in his heart it didn't matter . . . he had still killed her.

They had parked their car a good ten minute walk away from the house that they were going to. When they had gotten there, the other three seemed to have lighter shoulders. They thought they were safe. Percy didn't have the luxury.

"Kyle," Lilly said in an irritated and hushed voice, "How do you know about this place?"

"I picked up a few of my friends from a party here once when they were drunk," Kyle said, "they were so wasted," Kyle said as if remembering the moment.

The abandoned cabin was littered with trash. They spent the hours before dark picking it up and putting it all in a central location around back. Percy's ears were parked at all times. He had to protect them, if they got between him and them . . . he didn't think that they would make it out.

The sun had gone down and Percy had taken up his position on the porch in the darkness. His pen in his hand and his eyes open. He had told the others do go to sleep. Percy felt like he could pull an all-nighter. His mind was swimming with so many thoughts, sleep was a fantasy anyway. With the threat in the woods, it wouldn't be hard to stay awake.

"We are safe here," Keeli said from behind him, "come in and get some sleep."

Percy wanted to yell at her that their lives were in danger. He wanted to tell her to hide in the cellar and lock the trap door while he went out and hunted down the things that were after him. He wanted to tell her to run, to hide, and to save herself. He was a danger to everyone he was around. He wanted to slap some sense into her and tell her that they might all die because of him.

But he couldn't do that to her.

"I just want to make sure," Percy said.

"Promise that you will come in and sleep later," she said.

"Okay," Percy lied, giving her a strained smile. She didn't smile back before heading back inside.

The darkness of the forest reminded him of the Woods in Camp. Even though thinking of that place made his homesickness claw at his flesh, he wanted to think about home. Percy remembered when he was claimed in those woods, on the river. He had wondered why everyone was staring at him. Percy chuckled to himself. All of the days full of capture the Flag. The day that he and Annabeth fell into the Labyrinth, he hated that labyrinth. He also remembered when Luke tried to kill him in the woods that was a bad day.

Of course his thoughts went to Annabeth after that. His love, his everything and he had no idea where she was, if she okay. He wondered if she had really moved on like he had told her to. He wondered if she would get married and have children without him. The thought hurt so much that he had a hard time breathing. He wondered if she would fall in love again. No doubt there would be some other guy who would fall so hard for her that he wouldn't be able to think. Percy knew what that felt like from experience. Maybe he would be a better guy then Percy. Maybe he would be able to protect her in the times that Percy couldn't. Maybe she would be happy with him.

Percy tried not to make a sound as tears rolled down his face.

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The next morning came and Keeli went outside to see if Percy had come in. she opened the screen door and walked onto the porch. Percy was standing in the middle of the clearing in front of the house. She walked to him. He had Riptide in his hand as he stood there, the blade was pointed at the ground and his back was to her.