A Different Reality (Percy Jackson Fanfiction)

Chp 160 - Percy's POV

A/N: Dedicated to JaSmInEkc12 for giving me the EXCELLENT idea of exploring Peter's past. Seriously, I usually modify the ideas I get from others to better fit the fic but yours was just... *chef's kiss* (I wrote almost everything in just one and a half days). Unfortunately, no Percabeth in this chapter; I'll make it up to you with Annabeth's next chapter. Now that I think of it, should I've added some ball or homecoming or something? I really have no idea (can't say that I care though, it's not important to the story, it would only slow us down).

Percy's Flashback

WEDNESDAY, 8th February

"Mom?"

Thinking it was odd Sarah hadn't called him for dinner yet, Percy stepped out of the room towards the living room. Spying inside, he saw her frozen form on the couch, staring unblinkingly at the TV. Curious to see what had her so erupted, he paid attention to the reporter talking about guards, fire, and inmates' deaths. He realized it was about a prison riot just a second before the reporter repeated the prison's name. He felt a wave of dread as if his blood had turned into ice, and it only took him a second to know it was not his own dread.

That's where he is.

They had never gone into details, but Percy caught up at once.

Gabe.

Gary. But yes. Do you think...?

Would you like that?

... Honestly? More than anything, as long as it was slow and painful.

"Mom?"

"Peter!"

She turned to look at him, startled by his voice. Her face was pale and her eyes looked haunted. He could see her hands tightly closed in fists and her tongue darting to lick her lips. Percy moved around the couch and sat down beside her, using one arm to pull her closer to a side-hug.

"I know, mom. I know."

He gently rubbed her back, and Sarah slowly relaxed against him. After a couple of minutes, she let out a small chuckle devoid of humor.

"And I thought you'd be more upset than me."

I'll be if we find out it wasn't painful enough.

Percy wasn't sure if Peter's answer was what she wanted to hear, but he felt it wasn't his place to mediate. He repeated it out loud and Sarah sighed tiredly, searching for his free hand and squeezing it.

"Peter, we don't even know if he's dead, they haven't divulged the names yet."

He squeezed it back.

"One can always hope."

She stayed silent and he almost thought she wasn't going to answer until she whispered so low he barely caught it.

"Here's to hope."

THURSDAY, 9th February

He shot up in bed, panting and drenched in sweat. His arms gave out from underneath him and he flopped back on bed, forcing himself to take deep breaths and squeeze his hands to stop the trembling.

What the...?

It'd been a while. I didn't miss this kind of nightmares.

What...? I don't even remember Gabe doing that.

Doing what?