Colors [Percabeth]

Corrupted Mind// Chapter 19

Annabeth

It's officially been a week since Jason went missing. Some members are claiming he's disappeared off the grid due to some dangerous mission, others say he's dead. The rumor that seems to sting us all the most is that he's done a 'Luke' and betrayed us all.

"For the millionth time, Jason is not Luke! He has not betrayed us and I will not stand to hear such negative rumors about your own leader! You should be punished for saying such things!" Piper yelled. A small sigh escaped my lips. This was our third meeting this week and it's all been the same. Just when we're about to discuss strategies, someone has to go and mentioned the missing male's name and the rumors and theories start back up. The brunette shuts them down immediately but even she's starting to grow weary of defending someone who disappears without saying a word. It was suspicious and, though I would never accuse him of doing such a thing, I don't blame the other members for starting to believe that he 'pulled a Luke'.

"Meeting dismissed," I grumbled and quickly got up from my chair. Everyone else scrambled out of their chairs and out the door. Before consulting Piper, I walked over to Thalia and rested my hand on her shoulder. "You okay, Thals?"

Since her brother was proclaimed missing, the poor girl hadn't stopped crying and stressing. "No, I'm not! What if he's hurt?" Her voice was barely audible as it trembled from her sobs. She stared down at her hands in silence.

"We'll find him, I promise." She didn't say anything and I had no choice but to walk away with a small sigh.

***

"You okay?"

My neck turned towards the voice next to me. For a small moment, I had forgotten that I was at the park with Percy. We were supposed to be working on our projects, the deadline only a month away now.

I hesitantly shrugged. "I guess. Just the whole Jason thing..."

He didn't say anything except nod as he wrapped an arm around me. "We'll find him and we'll get our answers. Don't worry." Despite the comforting words, my heart sunk low into my stomach. "Percy, when it comes to this kind of stuff, there is no 'we'. You are not getting involved, end of discussion."

Percy rolled his eyes and scoffed. "It's too little too late for that. This is my cousin we're talking about here. For all we know, there could be more to the story."

His words were a shock to me. Hadn't he been convinced that he was the bad guy before? What changed. Studying his face for a moment, I noticed how tense and distant he seemed. Why had I not noticed it when we first got here? I raised an eyebrow and asked hesitantly in a whisper, "Why do you suddenly care what Luke's side of the story is?"

His eyes seemed distant as they fixated on the nearby pond. They watched a family of ducks with intensity, only feeding into my need for answers even more. After a while, he said, "Because it's hard to give up on family." My eyes moved back down to my book as my heart sunk even lower. I decided not to ask Percy to elaborate, but something told me his words weren't talking about Luke.

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A/N: Yikes. Jason's missing and Percy is being secretive. I have everyone just where I need them to be, hehe.

-Alexa