Shattered to Pieces |Percabeth Story |

23

Part 2

Annabeth

Percy takes his place inside the witness box after swearing the oath. He doesn't look as nervous as I felt standing up there. I wonder if he hates me. I wouldn't be surprised if he did. After all, I'm the one who dragged him into this mess.

I should have refused to be his friend that time, months ago, which now feels like forever. He was such a stubborn ass. I'd never had anyone want to be my friend. It would've been nice if I hadn't had Ben ordering me not to speak to anyone.

What a mess my life is; father dead, mother doing God knows what with God knows who, abusive uncle that I killed... And a boy I love that probably hates my guts.

My life could be a movie.

I pull myself out of my thoughts when I realize Percy's lawyer is questioning him already. I blink as I focus on the situation in front of me and listen intently.

"How long have you known Annabeth Chase, Perseus?" the lawyer asks, his arms folded across his chest as he walks closer to the witness box.

"Since I moved here with my mom several months ago," Percy replies in a loud and clear voice.

"And during that time, when did you discover that Ben, Annabeth's uncle, abused her?"

"Almost immediately. I... I could hear her..." he trails off. He swallows hard before continuing. "I could hear her screams through the wall and I just... knew straight away what was going on. I confronted her and she made up excuses, just like my own mother always did. I recognized the signs."

"Did you tell anyone about your discovery?" his lawyer asks.

Percy shakes his head from left to right. "No. She made me promise not to tell and I didn't want to break her trust after only knowing her for such a short amount of time. I know it was wrong to keep the information to myself. I could have helped her long ago... but I was scared."

"Scared of what?" Percy's lawyer presses, his eyes narrowed.

"Scared of losing her."

"I see. Okay. Do you agree that yourself and Annabeth are more than friends?"

"Yes," Percy immediately replies.

"The day Annabeth killed her uncle, where were you?"

"I was in my house next door, in my bedroom, listening to music. I remember going down to the kitchen where I found a note from my mother saying she was out. I heard noises from next door; screams. I knew I had to do something. I couldn't let him carry on hurting her. I left my house to go next door. Through the living room window I could see Annabeth in the kitchen. The top half of her body was practically naked and behind her back she held a sharp kitchen knife. But that's not what caught my attention most. Her back. It was like something from a horror movie. There were angry, red wounds, blood covering her skin."

Percy stops and covers his mouth with his hand. He makes a gagging noise and an officer rushes towards him. Percy holds a hand up to signal that he is fine. I can see his Adam's apple move as he swallows.

"When you're ready, carry on," his lawyer says.

"I feel sick just thinking about it. How can somebody do that to another person? How could I keep something like that to myself for so long? I am disgusted that I let it go on. I could've helped. I could've gone to the cops. Maybe if I had done that, Annabeth and I wouldn't be here now, but Ben would be locked behind bars, actually suffering. Death is the easy way out. He's not suffering. He should have suffered, the exact same way he made Annabeth suffer. I don't care if that makes me sound like a monster."