Persephone

Chapter 2: Apparition

Chapter 2: Apparition

Percy waited outside the shop as Beatrice cleaned up the counter, Belle working with her by taking her bag. The shop sold almost twice its normal ownings, and Percy kept the $100 bill in her backpocket in case she misplaced it. It wasn't raining anymore, and the sky was clearly dotted with a million stars.

Beatrice and Belle finally walked out of the door, and Belle smiled at me. "Thanks for helping out, Percy."

She nodded. "My pleasure. Goodnight!"

Beatrice waved as they walked down the different direction, and Percy going at the other. A stray wind almost blew off her hood from her head, and she quickly caught it before the wind tousled her hair. The streets were silent, only lamp posts illuminating it, and the buzz of cars were only a bend away.

"Hey, pretty girl, where are you going this late at night?"

Normally, Percy would laugh, then turn around to see Zee grinning at her holding a box of pizza and coke on the other. But this was not Zee, certainly not him. Fear suddenly coiled in her stomach and soon she was running. Heavy steps were gaining, and Percy swerved and ducked over dumpsters and thrown over trash bags. This can't be happening! Percy realized before she nearly slipped on a puddle, her vision half-blinded by the panic. NO!

She believed she had screamed her thought out loud as she stumbled to the dirt, a tight hand grabbing her hair. Percy shrieked, her throat becoming raw as she was yanked back upright. Desperately she kicked and wriggled all she could, but then a back-hand slap almost sent her vision black, and the coppery taste of blood singed her tongue.

Slowly, she felt herself being dragged into an abandoned building, the grip around her mouth and torso excruciatingly painful. The haggard breathing in her ear smelt of rot and alcohol, and she gagged and tried to bite those fingers.

"Help--!" Percy hit the ground face first so hard that she felt her teeth chip and wound her lips.

"No one can hear you now, bitch!" the kidnapper shouted at her and Percy groaned as a kick was aimed on her stomach. "You're mi--"

Silence.

Percy's vision was double and dark, her stomach was broken glass, her mouth afire. She was numb, tasting her blood and feeling it trickle by the side of her face. She was breathing heavily, but she slowly came to absorb her surroundings.

Slowly, she opened her eyes, a warm white light washing over her face. It calmed her, and it seemed to smooth her constricted muscles. It felt like she was in a sensory deprivation tank. Away from the world, the happenings, the events.

The light grew a bit brighter, and through Percy's half-unconscious state, she saw the face of an angel bending over her before she blacked out completely.

*

Knock - Knock

Percy opened her eyes to see sunlight filtering on her face. She blinked a couple of times, debating whether this was a dream or not as she sat up to see around.

She was on her couch, with a lot of blankets around her and a mug of cold tea on the table in front of her. Was everything a dream? she thought as she slid off the couch, feeling refreshed, like she had a good sleep. There was a full length mirror by her book case, and she checked that she was wearing her black sport shorts and her Nirvana shirt, her hair in a disarray.

She twirled around. Still Percy.

She stretched and made a face at the mirror. Still Percy.

She sighed. Just a bad dream, she told herself before the sound of someone knocking on her door resonated again. Percy splashed a bit of water on her face before going, and opened the door. "Hey, Zee." But the smile dropped from her face when she saw the worried expression on Ezekiel's face. "I-Is everything alright?"

Ezekiel blinked, and lost his worry-ridden face. "Ah, good morning, Percy. Just thought I could drop by... Well.." he backed off a little and scratched the back of his head.

Percy sighed. "Come on in, Zee." She pulled the door wider and gestured him to get in.

Ezekiel immediately took in the sight of the couch and the blankets. "Well, someone had a slumber party without me," he teased before picking up a fallen pillow.

"Nope. Not what you think, man. It's just me." Percy closed the door and then took up her original place on the couch. Zee tossed the pillow aside and then joined her on the couch.

"Where were you last night?" he asked as he picked up Haven from underneath the table. Percy glanced at the red paper tagged on it, and remembered to reread that story again.

"Just over at Dawney's. You know... so I could scrape by."

"You didn't go anywhere else?" Zee was looking at her now, and not at the book.

Percy arched an eyebrow. "Well, yeah? I mean, come on, Zee, I wouldn't go anywhere else except the library." Remnants of the dream tugged at her mouth, but instead she smiled at her best friend. "And you do know I'd call you when I went to the library."

The statement made Zee smile, and he brushed his hands down his jeans. "I'll go off then. I'll be seeing you later?"

"You're not staying for a glass of milk?" Percy wrapped her blanket a little bit tighter around herself.

He smiled. "Nah, I'm good. Just.. take care of yourself, okay? Don't stress much."

"Ye-es, mom," Percy giggled and then waved at him as he closed the door as he left.

As soon as she heard the gate swing open, she bounded up to the curtains to see Zee walk down the street. Her eyes didn't leave him until he disappeared around the bend. He was wearing eye contacts again, wearing the plain brown ones. Percy still didn't want him wearing those contacts; she adored his case of Heterochromia Iridum, making his eyes change from hazel to gold everytime he moved.

Almost the same eyes the angel had.