Favorite : Change for the both of us

Chapter 34

The next week came with a sighting of Kronos, on the same road as my school.

I never saw him personally, but someone else did - a local - and they called the police instantly. Poseidon and Athena arrived at school in the middle of lunch to pick me and Annabeth up early; the looks on their faces told us not to question it at that moment in time. We bade Grover a goodbye and then each other, before climbing into our parent's cars.

"What's going on?" I ask, still clueless, as we pull out of the parking lot at the back of the school and drive in the familiar direction of home. I survey Poseidon through the rear-view mirror and frown at his tense expression. "Dad, is everything all right?"

"They've seen him," Poseidon says, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

My breath hitches and my vision seems to tunnel slightly. "Kronos?" I ask. I pause for a second, waiting until I'm sure that I won't descend into a panic attack. After visiting the hospital for a check-up a few days ago, they concluded that Annabeth and I have post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD. They say that it won't be uncommon for us both to have panic attacks if we're faced with something related to the abduction, or something that reminds us of it. Becoming closed off is a possibility, and flashbacks are normal. Great. I take a deep breath before continuing. "I-Is he in jail yet?"

Poseidon shakes his head grimly. "No. Someone saw him and reported him to the police. He was stood practically opposite the school, apparently, and was gone when the police got there,"

I gape at him. I feel a tightness in my chest and sweat beads on my forehead, and I force myself quickly to ignore it. Poseidon already has enough on his plate; he seems worried enough about his own things, and he doesn't need me making matters more complicated. "Is that why you picked me up?" I question. Even to my own ears, I sound small. "Just in case?"

"Yeah. I didn't want to risk anything happening to you," says Poseidon. "Neither did Athena. The school suggested we take you out, in fact,"

Because they don't want the paperwork that would come with Kronos forcing his way into the school, I think, closing my eyes and breathing evenly before I can have one of my first memorable panic attacks (I've had a few, according to Poseidon, however they've all been after nightmares and I don't recall them). The thought of him barging into my maths class makes me shudder, however. What if Kronos does go into school, looking for me and Annabeth but either of us are there, and he hurts one of my classmates?

I shake my head. No, he has to know that we've both left by now. Kronos has a creepy talent at finding out private things like that. And he isn't stupid enough to assume I'd still be there. Pursing my lips, I stay silent for the rest of the five-minute journey.

When we get out of the car, Poseidon ruffles my hair and places his hand on my shoulder. "Sorry if I'm acting grumpy," he says with a sigh. "I'm just worried,"

"Me too," I reply. More than worried. I huff slightly, wondering when the worrying will end. "When's this going to stop?"

"I've got no idea, Percy..."

We enter the house and Poseidon hangs up his coat and stuff whilst I head into the living room, mind focused solely on the sofa. Maybe I can persuade Poseidon to watch some more Modern Family with me – he always does, and I could do with some humour to try and take my mind off things. I've taken a few steps into the living room before I realise that it isn't empty.

Kronos, the snake, is sat casually on the sofa, sipping coffee from one of Poseidon's mugs (one of his favourites, which he doesn't even let me use). He looks perfectly natural, if you exclude the knife he's twirling in his free hand and the glint in his eyes.