Percy Tells Paul

Chapter 4

Paul's POV:

"Should we go after him?" I asked Sally quietly. Neither of us had said a word since Percy left.

Sally sighed. "Probably. He'll just attract more monsters if he's out there among the mortals with all their technology. Come with me, I know where Percy'll go." She grabbed her coat and keys, and, fumbling, I followed suit.

The air was crisp and cold as we walked to Central Park. "So..." I began. "Percy was telling the truth, right?" Sally laughed and nodded. "The Ancient Greek world exists today in the Empire State Building? And Percy goes to a summer camp for demigods?"

Sally turned to me, a sudden sad expression painted on her face. "Yes. Percy is the son of Poseidon, god of the seas. He and his friends fight ancient monsters every day in an effort to survive. Look, Paul, I understand if you want to leave. This is probably too messed up for any good person to handle. Just say the word and we'll leave you alone."

I was incredulous. "Are you kidding? First of all, this is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me! Second, I love you and would never abandon you like that. How can I help?" Sally's face glowed with happiness at my enthusiastic answer.

"Here's the lowdown, from what Percy and his buddies have told me: Recently, the Titan Kronos started to rise again, luring some of Percy's old friends into his traps and convincing them to fight for him. A week ago, Percy and Charles Beckendorf, a son of Hephaestus, raided one of Kronos' ships. Percy made it out alive, but Beckendorf sacrificed himself to save my son and destroy the ship. You have to understand that most demigods never see twenty. Beckendorf was barely eighteen." I gasped in horror.

"Since Percy is one of the most powerful demigods of all time, he is expected to lead the demigod army against Kronos and his battalion of monsters. There is a prophecy that says Percy will probably die in the battle." Sally's voice thickened, and I saw the beginnings of tears about to spill down her cheeks. Clearing her throat, she continued. "At this point, we're just waiting for the call from his camp." I was silent. The full meaning of Percy's earlier words came crashing down on me, leaving me astounded.

Sally and I wandered through Central Park, peering around for any sign of Percy. As we walked, Sally regaled me with tales of the random demigods she harbored over the years, as well as stories of her own son and his favorite places in the park. Suddenly, a soft sniffling noise to the left caught my attention. "Percy?" I called cautiously. The sniffling stopped abruptly. "Are you there?" I saw the edge of a park bench, partially obscured by a large oak tree. Sally nodded to me, and we crept over. What we saw when we rounded the corner was completely unexpected.

Percy Jackson, strongest demigod of his time, was curled into a ball, knees under his chin, and crying. Large tears rolled down his face as he fought to keep his whimpers in, flowing faster when his mother rushed over and wrapped her arms around his shaking body. "Mom, I-I can't do this. I can't watch more of them die. Mom, Beckendorf was going to go to college, he was going to marry Silena and then he-he DIED. Right in front of me. It's all my fault, Mom. All my fault," Percy buried his face in Sally's scarf, muffling his words. "I should've saved him. It should have been me."

I looked on in silence, my heart slowly ripping to pieces as I watched a fifteen-year-old fall apart over the gruesome death of a person not much older than himself. Percy was clearly the most loyal person I had ever met, willing to give his life in an instant to save a friend.

"I'm going to kill him, Mom," Percy said, raising his tear-stained face. His bloodshot green eyes blazed with fury. "Kronos is going to pay for what he did. I need to go to camp, but I'll be home soon. I promise." Percy stared me dead in the eyes. "Take care, Paul." Sally squeezed Percy's hands, helping him up off the bench and wrapping him in an even tighter hug than before.

"Don't hurt yourself, now. I'm expecting you home by 10:30 tonight. Go save the world, sweetheart. I love you." Sally gave Percy one last kiss on the head before he let out a piercing whistle and an old, battered taxi whisked him away.

This is the final chapter, so thank you all so much for checking this story out! There is a quick "The End" page next, so please read it! Thanks a million!

Athenowl