I Don't Belong Here *A Percy Jackson Love Story* Book 1 |Updating|

Chapter 8: Percy Saved My Life? A Bubble?

When we got to Gladiola's house, they had changed the price to $300 dollars. Perfect for a trip to LA on the Amtrak train.

We spent two days on the train, heading west. We weren't attacked once, but that doesn't mean any if us relaxed. Percy was trying to keep a low profile, since is face was everywhere. The Trenton Register-News showed a picture of Percy, his sword was merely a metallic blur, and could've been a baseball bat, or a lacrosse stick. In the photo his eyes were wild and slightly crazy. The 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 five teenage—three girls, two boys—accomplices. His stepfather, Gabe Ugliano, has offered a cash reward for information leading to his capture.

"Don't worry," I told him.

"Yeah, mortal police could never find us," Annabeth added, but from the looks of her eyes, she wasn't sure, and neither was I.

The rest of the day, Percy paced down the train, and Isabella was flicking through her book, as she tried to stay calm. What if the police were on this train with us? Would be able to break out?

On the train ride, Christopher pointed out some centaurs galloping across the fields. The seemed to be hunting down their lunch, with their bows ready. A little centaur saw Percy staring and waved. Percy seemed to be surprised that no one else had noticed the centaurs. Everyone else, not as much. What was really bothering me was Grover, who stared longingly out the window, desperate to eat cans and be free.

Another time, on the train ride, we saw a Hummer. It flashed us it's golden colors as it speed out in the woods. The fur was pretty color when the sun hit it. This appearance happened right at sunset, before the sun had gone away.

Our reward money for turning Gladiola in had only been enough to get to Denver, and we didn't get the sleeper car. My neck started to get stiff and Percy was right next to me, and I was hoping he wouldn't drool.

He was quiet but Grover however, wasn't. Once I had finally drifted off to a nice dream, Grover snored and bleated, waking me up again. One time, his fake foot fell off, so Percy, Isabella and I had to put it back on before anyone noticed.

"So," Isabella asked Percy, "Who's begging for help?"

"What do you mean?" Percy asked.

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

"Well, I um have been having these dreams lately. I would be in a dark cavern, before a giant gaping pit. Gray mist creatures danced around me, and I think they were spirits. They would tug at me, but I would feel the urge to walk to the very edge. A voice was laughing. Then a voice would say, 'The little hero. Too weak, too young, but perhaps you will do. They have misled you, boy. Barter with me. I will give you what you want.'
"Then he would show me a picture of my mother. Her face was in pain, like the Minotaur was still there. Her eyes would plead for me to go. I would try to cry out, but I wouldn't be able to say anything. A force tried to push me into the pit, but I stayed firm.
"'Help me rise, boy. Bring me to the bolt. Strike a blow against the treacherous gods.' Then I realized, he wasn't pulling me in, he was pulling himself out. The spirits would say, 'No! Wake!'
'"Good, good,' it would murmur. And then I would wake up."

"That doesn't sound like Hades," Annabeth said, now awake to hear Percy's story. "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?"

The conversation continued, then we started to talk about our past life. After Annabeth was done with hers Percy asked me about mine.

"I'd rather not talk about it. . ." I trailed.

"Why not?"

"Because it. . .was rough, and I'd rather not relive it while I talk about it."

"How much worse could yours be to Annabeth's?"

"Much, much, worse," Annabeth butted in.
*
Eventually, we got of the train, as Annabeth and Isabella feverishly chatted about wanting to be an architect. We decided that Annabeth, Isabella, Percy and I would go see the Gateway Arch, while Christopher and Grover would wait.

We looked at the history, which was kinda of interesting to me. Then we aboard an elevator, which had a fat woman and her Chihuahua. We made small chat, but I could tell Percy didn't like confined spaces, and was edging towards me. Soon we were up, then the deck was closing. Isabella and Annabeth got into a cart, but we didn't fit, so we just waited, with the strange woman.

A little boy shouted, "Doggie! Look a doggie!" But his parents pulled him away.

"Well, son," the woman said. "If you insist."

"Um, did you just call that Chihuahua your son?" Percy asked, nervous.

"Chimera, dear," she corrected. "Not a Chihuahua. It's an easy mistake to make."

I gulped as she began to form a reptile. The dog turned to the size of a lion. The boy's parents started to run away, pulling their son with them.

Slowly I read the dog's tag: CHIMERA—RABID FIRE-BREATHING, POISONOUS—IF FOUND, PLEASE CALL TARTUS—EXT. 954

Percy and I didn't move, but the Echidna swiped at me pushing me to the side. "I will take care of you later!"

She hissed at me. I needed to help Percy but my body was frozen, unmoving. Suddenly I realized, someone was freezing me, and it would last a while. I watched as Percy fought. Then when he was about to jump, off of the Gateway, he grabbed me, and jumped.

I thought I was going to die, until the waves protected me. Percy, was all I could think of as I swam through the freezing water to find the boy who saved me.