Colors [Percabeth]

Caged// Chapter 6

Annabeth

Cold hands searched the ragged walls as I stared blankly. While my hands subconsciously searched for an exit, all I could do was sit there staring at the dull color of the wall.

Why white? It was such a bland color, you could find it almost anywhere. It was unoriginal and it was already getting dirty with the paintings and prints of those who had been here before me.

"Is that really what you're thinking about?" A male asked as he leaned against the wall. My thoughts were cut off and I glanced up.

Blinking slowly I asked, "I was thinking out loud, wasn't I?"

Percy's serious tone vanished as a slow smile appeared on his face. The situation seemed less serious when he smiled; it almost calmed the nerves that welled up within me. "Do you always think about the color of prison wall cells?" I shrugged. "Not always. Sometimes I think about the bars. Or I'll count the number of donuts the sheriff can scoff down in an hour. Let's just say it's an unhealthy amount and I'll have to talk to his geriatrician soon."

"Shut it, Miss Chase. You're in enough trouble as it is!" A short, middle-aged man called from his desk in the corner. He propped his feet off of his desk and walked over to the cell, stroking his stubby brown beard as he did so. Drumming my fingers against the iron bars, I sighed loudly and grumbled, "Whatever you say, Deputy Hedge." Percy shot me a comforting smile as he slid against the wall facing me. We stared at each other both of us expressionless. Sheriff Hedge's bored into mine as he clicked his pen. "So, would you like to explain to me now what happened?"

I looked over at Percy. "You know you don't have to stay here with me. I'm the one locked behind bars, you're allowed to leave." He scoffed, acting hurt as if I would assume that he commit such an act. "Are you kidding me? I want to hear this story just as much as the donut inhaler here does."

"Watch it, kid, or I'll-"

"Besides, I owe you one, Wise Girl. You know how to kick ass. So I ain't going anywhere." Defeated and shooting him another smile, I start tracing the outline of the brick wall. "Have you ever considered repainting?"

"The dam story, Miss Chase!"

Percy chuckled a bit from his corner. "Alright, alright."

***

5 hours ago

Jason dribbled the basketball anxiously as he swerved Leo and threw it into the net with a perfect swish. "And you're sure he saw all of that?"

I rolled my eyes. "Gods Jason, I don't know but I'm pretty sure it's hard to miss a damn gun, don't you think?"

He chewed his bottom lip anxiously. His eyes glanced around the room before they caught sight of the raven haired male talking to Piper. She promised she'd atone the whole situation, I just hope she can induce him into believing the fiction, despite the facts lying right in his face. But she was very persuasive, the most cogent one out of all of us. I could only hope that her tactics would perform another miracle just this last time.

Leo scrubbed some grease off his chin and leaned against the pole. "What was Luke doing suddenly coming to you out of nowhere? You could've seriously been caught." The blond nodded in agreement. "You need to be more careful. I don't want to drag Percy into this mess. He seems like a good kid."

I rolled my gray eyes and crossed my arms. "Jason, I didn't know Luke would show up out of nowhere when he hasn't bothered making an effort to contact me for months. I don't want to drag Percy into this whole situation any more than you do."

He only nodded as he dribbled the basketball in his hand. "I understand that. Since this war has only just begun, I think we should take some precautionary measures." I cocked an eyebrow up at him. "Are you suggesting I keep my distance?" From where Leo had been observing quietly, he spoke up. "No, no! That's definitely not a good idea." Jason and I shared a look of confusion before I asked, "What's up, Valdez?"