Alternatively

1: Under The Bed

The lights go out.

The father stays a minute longer, talking to the kid from the door. Something about waking up early to get ready for school pictures. The kid groans about this and tosses in bed, but everyone knows he's excited; he plans on sneaking his favorite hat into the picture.

When the door closes, the only light comes from the soft blue glow of a lavalamp night light on the wall. The kid spends a few minutes shifting in the sheets, mattress squeaking and blankets flopping from one side to the other. It doesn't take long for him to drift off, breathing deeply and hand falling to the side. Asleep, he doesn't feel the instinct to protect his limbs fro the dark abyss.

Fortunately for him, the abyss isn't interested in hanging hands or exposed feet. He was far more interested in his dreams.

But before he can slide out from under the bed, he sees the closet door yawn open. He clamps down on his growl, clawing his way out as a shadow solidifies.

"No," it hisses, waggling a finger. "Not this time, get back under there."

"My family, my kid, back off."

"It's first come, first serve and you know that."

He stands in front of the bed, blocking the sleeping Tyson. "What I know is there are dozens of kids in this neighborhood and you can easily go to any of them. Just not this one."

"That's not how this works," the woman crosses her arms, smokey gray eyes flashing in the light. "Move."

"You're being unfair," he whines.

"You're being a baby."

"Don't get all huffy, you can go literally anywhere else."

"So who's calling who huffy?"

"I-"

The bed creaks and they freeze, looking down at the boy as he turns over in bed. Blue light drifts across his face and he snorts in his sleep.

"I am not giving you this one," he pokes at Annabeth's shoulder. "Just because your portal happened to show up in-"

"Oh, here we go again," she throws her hands up.

"-doesn't give you the right to-"

"-not stealing what isn't yours-"

"Stop interrupting me!" he grabs one of her wrists as she gesticulates.

Her other hand flies to his throat, claws barely scraping his jugular and her fingers calloused from work. "I'm taking memories he doesn't even know are there, it. Doesn't. Matter."

"And if I take his dreams, what is he left with?"

"Come on," she relaxes and they both drop their holds. "It's not that deep, Perc, you're just territorial."

He rolls his eyes, shifting to keep her blocked.

"You act all high and mighty, like you're better than me-"

"I am better than you," he snapped.

She steps closer, tilting her head up with sly eyes and a malicious smile. "So you say."

Frustration boils in his gut the longer he watches her, blue dancing in the planes of her face. Ever since the Alton family brought Tyson home from the foster house, ever since he had a bed to claim for himself, they had been fighting for custody. She had reach across the region, but he had seniority over the particular blood line. It was a never ending argument.

She then tilts her head, leaving the air around him cold as she leans back. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"Listen," she looks at him.

Looks past him.

He turns, staring over Tyson and through the dark window. A winter night, not unlike the ones before and not unlike the ones to come. Bare tree branches shiver in he wind and a sliver of moon barely leaks through the blinds. Beyond the boy's breathing ad the bubbling of his fishtank, he hears nothing.

"Something's coming."

"Here?"

"And fast."

Percy feels his defenses heighten, though he doesn't consciously know why. He creeps closer to Tyson as Annabeth appears in front of the window, her frame outlined in gray. Her shoulders are tense and silver reflects in the glass as she stares.

It hits him like a bucket of cold water, suddenly drenching him in a disturbing sensation. It drips down like slime and claws lengthen from the tips of his fingers. "He's not safe."

"None of us are safe," she mutters.

"Annabeth."

She glances back and he sees something in her face. "I know."

"I have to-"

"Percy," she blinks, moving to the other side of the bed. "I know. What do you need me to do?"

He drums his claws on the nightstand. There isn't a way to tell what it's after, there would be no telling what will happen to the parents or the rest of the neighborhood if he takes Tyson away.

"Whatever you're planning, do it now."

It's closing in and it reeks of death. A true monster.

He kneels by the kid's side, feeling his portal tug at him from under the bed as he gently shakes his shoulder. "Hey."

Tyson stirs, brown eyes blinking blearily. "Mm?"

"Come on, bud, time to get up."

He stares, searching his face. "You're...the guy from my dreams."

Annabeth has the audacity to snicker, drawing the kid's attention to the window. The mild panic that arises is drowned out by the onslaught of nerves sparking across Percy's skin. It's nearly upon them; he has to act fast.

"Up," he demands, pulling Tyson up by the arm. "Let's go."

He weakly protests and is seconds from calling to his parents, but a shattering window sent him ducking into his arms. Annabeth blasts back, breaking the bed when she crashes. The shock wave reverberates through the house and he hears the thing two houses down, tearing into the roofs. It's getting closer, searching.

"Coat," he yanks the jacket from the end of the bed post.

"What's going on? Who are-"

"No time for questions, it's all okay."

He tries to speak, but Annabeth crouches low and he clamps a hand over the boy's mouth. The shock waves continue to pulse through the house, but the kid's shaking wasn't related in the least. The smell of blood tinges the air and he tries retracting his left hand claws.

"Annabeth."

She glances back, pupils slit.

"Get away from the window."

A growl rumbles in her throat, one he can feel deeper than the shocks, and he glares. She had always been too stubborn. She clearly wanted to wait, and he wasn't going to have it.

The waves stop and everything goes silent. Everyone is rigid and Tyson's hands are tight on his arm.

Annabeth slowly stands to full height, fists flexing.

Then a shadow, blacker than night with multiple eyes redder than blood, appears before the window with a deafening screech. Just before Annabeth lunges, Percy grabs her leg and pulls both her and Tyson through the portal.