Lucy

Chapter Ten

Percy watched Lucy look away, the wind picked up her hair and it danced. Then she disappeared and Percy sighed, he should have been happier to be back home. Percy approached the door of the old house and knocked. Angie opened the door.

"Percy!" Angie squealed and lept into Percy's open arms. They hugged for a moment before she backed up and slapped him. 

"Really? Twice in one day?" Percy muttered, Angie ignored him.

"Where have you been! No, I don't wanna know. I've been worried sick, those gang members dragged you off and left me there and I looked everywhere for you. The entire gang disappeared out of existence! I haven't slept in weeks thanks to you! I was beginning to think you were dead!"

"Wait, weeks? I've only been gone a couple days" Percy exclaimed. Angie looked like she was going to slap him again.

"No, two and a half weeks since anyone's seen you. Look, you have a missing poster" Angie gestured to a light post a few meters away. There was, in fact, a missing poster with his name and picture on it. Time must be different in hell. 

"Sorry" was all Percy could think to say. 

Angie muttered some choice words and dragged Percy inside. Percy lived with Angie and her parents, they took him in when his father and sister died about three years ago. They had a spare room that Angie's older brother used to live in before he moved to Los Angeles to direct movies. 

"Mum! Dad! Percy's here!" Angie's screamed. Mr. and Mrs. Corning were in the kitchen cooking dinner together, their heads sprang up when they heard his name. Mrs. Corning ran over to him and took Percy in her arms.

"Oh dear, where have you been!?" She backs up and takes his ear, causing him to hunch over in surprise  "We've been worried sick!"

After a moment she lets go and hugs him again, "We're so glad you're home" She says. She's a lot like Angie, small and mildly crazy. Mr. Corning pats Percy on the back and goes into the living room to call the police and inform them of his reappearance. 

"Sorry Mrs. Corning, it was...a little difficult to leave" Percy rubbed his ear and adjusted his glasses out of habit. He decided it was definitely best to keep his adventure from his foster parents, but he was still contemplating whether or not to tell Angie. She would ask until she got an answer anyway.

"Oh honey, Angie told me what happened. I don't know why a gang would be at a coffee shop!" Mrs. Corning exclaimed. Percy looked down at Angie and she mouthed at him, 'don't tell'. Then she turned to her mother and agreed by shaking her head in disgust and then shrugging as though it couldn't be helped. Percy could have been dying and the police could have helped with the correct information, and yet Angie wouldn't have it, she would take her rebelliousness to her grave. To her parents, she was the sweetest girl alive. Not to mention a virgin, Percy almost scoffed just thinking about it.

"Well anyway, dinner's almost ready honey, sit down and tell us what happened." Percy gulped, he would have to find a way to get out of telling them. 

"Actually, I'm not hungry. I...I haven't slept properly for a while, so would you mind if I just got some rest?" Percy asked. 

"Oh of course not, hun, we'll talk later" Mrs. Carter smiled at him and then shooed him upstairs. Angie followed behind quietly.

The first door to the left was Percy's room, it was small, it had just enough space for his single bed and a set of drawers. He didn't complain. Angie sat on his bed and watched as he took his sweater off (where was his jacket?). Percy took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes, he wasn't lying, he was really tired. Angie didn't look like she was going anywhere though. Percy sat next to her on the edge of the bed.