Origin of a Hero - [A Percy Jackson Fanfic]

What drives people to continue living?

It was a question that many might consider absurd and irrelevant. Perhaps it was for those people who lived peacefully and without worries beyond everyday life, such as studying, working, paying bills, and, eventually, dying. Perhaps that is why they were not able to understand the magnitude and depth of said question.

But for those people who lived with one foot in the grave, they were constantly threatened by the prospect of not knowing if they would live tomorrow, it was a question they constantly asked themselves.

Those people may be ordinary people. A person who found themselves in a state of terminal illness could perhaps come to understand how profound that question was, or someone who had just had a close brush with death.

For Percy, who has suffered the latter countless times throughout his short life, it was a question he had asked himself the same number of times his life had been in danger. And, despite having thought about it for sleepless nights, the sad reality was that he didn't have an answer.

And besides, right now, he couldn't sit down and reflect on that one.

In fact, no person could manage to do so while he tried his best to run for his life, leaning on the small shoulders of a girl who looked no older than eleven.

Percy couldn't think clearly. He was about to faint, he was sleepy and cold. The only thing keeping him awake was the throbbing pain in his shoulder and the words of support from the little girl who helped him stay upright as they walked.

"Come on, we're almost there. Just a little more," she said, although Percy was sure she was saying it more to herself.

He had the feeling that that cold, dark night would be the last for him. He wanted to attribute those thoughts to how clouded his judgment was due to the weakness of his body, but he couldn't lie to himself. Lately, Percy saw everything with pessimism and bitterness. Although strange as it may seem, he never lost hope. He was there, deep within him, burning faintly like a campfire in a blizzard.

They both advanced at a slow pace through the cobblestone streets of the park. The streetlights located on the sides of the road slightly illuminated their walk. In the distance, Percy could see lightning streaks across the sky filled with dark clouds that seemed to swirl above him. A storm was approaching, and the constant cold wind that caused a chill throughout his body reminded him of it. Maybe he should have gotten something warmer than a simple T-shirt that was currently stained with dirt and blood.

He gritted his teeth to keep from crying out in pain. In all these years, Percy's pain threshold was quite high due to everything he had to endure. But this pain was undoubtedly in the top 3.

But no, he wouldn't give up. He wouldn't give up when there was someone who depended on him. He was afraid to think of what would happen if he collapsed there, leaving the little girl alone. That's why he kept going.

Percy began to cough involuntarily. His throat felt incredibly dry and, when he coughed, a pain would settle in his throat that wouldn't go away for several minutes.

"Are you okay? "The girl asked, with concern in her eyes. "We can stop for a moment to rest if you want."

"No," said Percy, "We have to continue. We don't know if that thing is dead. Maybe we just managed to mislead him."

"Are you sure?... You seriously injured his head."

"Yes, but he didn't turn into dust like the others."

An expression of fear appeared on the girl's face, but she quickly pushed it aside. She readjusted the hold she had on Percy and continued forward.

For several minutes they continued to advance in this way. With Percy leaning on the girl's shoulders. The wind became wilder as the minutes passed. At any moment it would rain and, with the strong wind and lightning lighting up the sky, it meant that a storm was approaching.

A bolt of lightning tore through the skies and illuminated the dark night, allowing a momentary glimpse of the place in front of Percy.

Behind rusty iron gates, the ruins of an abandoned church stood in front of him. Most likely it has been abandoned for decades. With the windows smashed, moss covering the walls almost entirely, the grass growing to ankle height, and the walls surrounding the church falling apart.

A question arose in Percy's mind, Where would those charitable believers, or the leaders of that church, be now? Maybe they got tired of that place and used the money of those who blindly followed God and built a church twice as big and more luxurious. To tell the truth, Percy didn't care about that, but he still thanked them since, thanks to them, he could use this place to take refuge. They had been doing it for a little over a month and it is the best place they had been in the last few months. They had drinking water and even a mattress big enough to share with the little girl next to them.

"Come on," said the girl, "We have to treat your injured shoulder."

She pulled Percy to the wooden doors of the church. Over the years, termites feasted on the wood as it could barely stand on its own.

They both opened the door and entered.

Inside, the church looked no better than it did outside. Cracked concrete columns supported a roof that was falling apart. On a clear night it would let in the silver light of the moon, but tonight you could only see the dark clouds hovering over the church. The paintings on the walls were faded and covered in graffiti, the wooden benches scattered here and there in no particular order. The floor was full of dirt, garbage, food remains, used condoms, and the smell... well, the air was filled with urine and the residual smell that people leave after having sex. It was not a pleasant place for an eleven-year-old girl. It was fortunate that the room where they were staying was in better condition. There were no strange smells, nor waste that reflected the decay in the growth of human beings.

They walked across the wooden benches. The girl, very gently, helped Percy to sit on the stairs of the altar, who adopted a grimace of pain as he felt the cold floor beneath him that ran through his entire body.

"How do you feel?" the girl asked.

"A little better," Percy responded, wincing. "The bleeding has stopped, but the wound is still open and hurts like shit."

"We have to treat the wound. Don't move. I'll go get the first aid kit."

"The one we stole from that pharmacy two days ago?"

"That same one."

She smiled at him amusingly and Percy asked himself a question, How was she able to smile so carefree in such a desperate situation like this? Maybe she wanted to show that all was not lost. That there was still hope of being able to get out of that unfavorable situation alive.

"I'll be back in a few moments. Don't move."

"I don't think it will be difficult to follow that order."

She quickly ran behind the altar where a worn rug was located, moved it and a wooden trapdoor appeared. She opened it and slowly went down it.

Percy settled into his seat and breathed deeply, trying to get as much air into his lungs as possible. With each palpitation of his heart, he felt a stab of pain in his shoulder.

"Damn it," he said, with obvious bitterness in his voice. "At the end of the day, it's the same as always."

His bad mood was not because of the state of his body. No, it was something deeper and more unpleasant. A strange sensation. A premonition that the danger had not passed. That they had not escaped from that strange creature. That they had simply misled him and that, sooner or later, he would find them again if they didn't leave the city right now.

With every breath he took, he still felt the putrid, hot breath of his. Percy had faced many strange things throughout his life, but never anything like this.

He could not identify his attacker in the darkness of the night, but he knew that thing, could not be human. It was big, very big, and it smelled really bad. In the darkness of the alley where they met, he didn't have time to identify it before the creature lunged its head forward. Percy's body reacted before his brain processed what was happening, and before they knew it, they were running across the park in an attempt to get away from the thing.

In attempting to flee from him, he had cut the creature deeply before he impaled its shoulder with something large, hard, and incredibly sharp. Too small to be a knife or something else.

Percy rummaged through his right boot where he kept his only weapon. A tooth approximately 30 centimeters long, tied with leather to a piece of wood that resembled a hilt.

It was a gift. A weapon that had been given to him by a strange man who could never see his face because he was always hidden under the hood of a sweatshirt. He owed that man a lot. He taught him how to properly wield the knife. He taught him about the monsters that lived in the world and how to fight them. That man had taught him how to survive and he would be eternally grateful for that. Although he never answered the questions he really wanted to know the answer.

Percy wondered where that man was now. If he was still alive.

That knife, which was the only connection he had with that man, was the only effective weapon he had against the monsters. He had had it for years and it had never failed him. More than a weapon, Percy felt it like a part of himself. It felt comforting for him to hold it in his hands and feel the weight of it. Holding it, he felt safe.

Percy was absorbed in his thoughts, looking carefully at the doors of the church through which they had entered. If his mysterious attacker decided to barge in with all his wrath, Percy would be ready. It didn't matter if he was hurt, he would fight.

He heard the creak of a door opening, but it wasn't the entrance to the church. The girl was back. She was carrying a white box with a red cross on it, a first aid kit.

She walked over and stood next to Percy.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

"A bit better."

"I brought the first aid kit, can you do it alone or do you need my help?"

"I'll need your help with some things, but I can do most of it myself. Now, I need you to help me take off my shirt."

The girl nodded and helped Percy take off his ruined shirt.

If you expect Percy, at fifteen years old, to have the body of some model or some Hollywood superstar, then you will be disappointed. His body was anything but healthy. He was scrawny, with his ribs marking the skin of his chest and so thin that you could feel his organs. He knew well that he was not the image of a healthy teenager, but his appearance mattered little to him, there were more important things to worry about.

"The bleeding has stopped," the girl said as she looked at the wound Percy had on his shoulder, "It was good that you applied pressure while we were coming. The wound is not very deep but will need to be stitched."

Percy grimaced at that. The idea of ​​a needle going in and out of his body was not pleasant at all.

"First we have to clean it. Here I have what I need. I will do it. You don't move."

The girl rummaged through the medicine cabinet for a few seconds until she pulled out a small bottle that had a clear liquid. Percy prayed it wasn't alcohol, because it would hurt like shit. When she gently poured it onto his wound, a shiver ran through Percy's body, but it didn't hurt.

"It's physiological saline," the girl explained. "It doesn't hurt. And it is ideal for cleaning wounds. Dad taught me this when he was treating me for falling off my bike. I guess having a dad who was a doctor is very helpful."

A look of sadness appeared in her eyes but disappeared as quickly as it appeared. Percy decided not to say anything. After all, it's only been a year for her. It must be difficult just to remember it.

When she finished cleaning the wound, she put away the bottle and took out a small curved needle and a small package containing a thread. After disinfecting the needle and threading it, she approached Percy to sew up his wound, but her hands were shaking slightly.

"Don't do it," Percy said, holding her hand. "I'll do it."

He grabbed the needle and thread and looked at his wound. He knew what he had to do and how to do it. Slowly, he inserted the needle into his wound, causing a stab of pain that he ignored and continued with his work.

When he finished, he let out a slight sigh of relief. It wasn't work worthy of a surgeon, but it was pretty good. Maybe, in a different future, he would have studied medicine.

"Not bad, Dr. Percy," said the girl, with an amused smile, "I'll put some ointment on it to help the healing and then I'll bandage it. You relax."

He took out what he needed from the medicine cabinet and continued with his work. A few minutes later, Percy had his shoulder bandaged and he felt a comforting warmth on his shoulder from the ointment he had applied. If he could get some sleep it would be great, but he knew he couldn't afford that luxury.

"We can't stay here for long," said Percy. "We're not safe here anymore, we have to leave as soon as possible."

The girl nodded, determined.

"As we were coming, I could see a parking lot with a couple of cars parked. The place is not very protected. We could... borrow a car."

"Who knew you could suggest committing a crime with that innocent face of yours?" Percy asked, amused.

"Leave me alone."

Percy laughed and lightly stroked the girl's head. Normally, she would get upset about it and pout cutely, but her expression only reflected sadness and guilt.

"Sammy, is something wrong?"

The girl, Sammy, refused to meet his eyes. She clutched the hem of her sweatshirt a couple of sizes too big for her.

[T/N: Sammy?]

"This is my fault. If only I had listened to you and escaped, you wouldn't have been distracted when that thing attacked you."

Percy thought for a few seconds about what she said. Maybe she was right. Maybe, if she had escaped, Percy could have just focused on fighting. But when he saw Sammy being stalked by a huge black dog the size of a rhino, none of that mattered. He attacked the beast and killed it, but that didn't stop the enormous creature that had appeared from charging at him, impaling his shoulder with an incredibly blunt object.

In the glare of battle, he managed to make a very deep cut above its eye, or what Percy assumed was its eye. The creature let out a howl of pain and Percy used that brief moment to grab Sammy's hand and run away without looking back.

"Maybe you're right," Percy acknowledged. "But I prefer to have you around when we're in danger. At least that way I can protect you."

"But, Percy..."

"No. No buts. Now, I know I said we have to get out of here as quickly as possible, but I don't think in my condition I can drive all night."

"So... What do we do?"

Percy sighed. He placed a hand on his injured shoulder, massaging it gently, and refrained from grimacing.

"We will rest for a couple of hours. Let's eat something and then... let's borrow a car before the sun comes up."

Percy's dreams have always been a little strange. But not "strange" in the sense of dreaming about unicorns shooting rainbows out of their asses while smoking marijuana with Snoop Dogg, while listening to the song "Smoke Weed Everyday."

No, his dreams were a little more vivid, as if he were watching a movie in high definition. The images passed with such fluidity and realism that more than once he wondered if he was really there.

Normally, he would dream about a random event without much meaning, people I didn't know in a large room where you could see the constellations of the sky, amorphous shadows that strutted in the darkness that whispered incomprehensibly, a summer camp with a lot of children running around here and there, and a small cabin across the street. The shores of a beach. That last one was his favorite.

But this time it was different. He found himself on a wooden dock, watching the sunset on the horizon of a lake that opened to the sea. He didn't know where he was, or what he was doing in that place, but that image filled him with a strange feeling of peace and tranquility. A feeling of belonging filled him. If he had to put it in one word, It would be nostalgia.

He heard the sound of footsteps on wood, followed by someone sitting down next to him. Percy tried to turn to see who it was but, for some strange reason, he couldn't take his eyes off the horizon.

"Beautiful, isn't it? "said a voice, jovial and friendly.

Percy tried to speak, but the words got stuck in his throat.

"Not many can appreciate the beauty of a sunset or a sunrise" the voice continues saying"Isn't it amazing just to observe it? No matter how many times you look at it, it's never the same twice. This landscape you see now only exists once."

Percy knew he had to be cautious. His dreams never boded anything good, except one. But this voice, young and kind, did not incite him to be on guard, it was calm and... strangely familiar. It was as if he was talking to a dear old friend that he hadn't seen in a long time, even though Percy never had a friend.

Is this real? Is it the past? The present? Or maybe... it's the future?

"It's neither," the voice said softly. "Just relax and enjoy the scenery."

Can you read my thoughts?

Percy started to feel a little anxious about it. Within himself, he knew that this was just some kind of dream, but he couldn't help but feel worried that someone could read his thoughts. We all have secrets that we want to keep hidden.

"Don't worry. Don't worry. There is no need to be so cautious. At least, not with me.

If you can read my thoughts... Who are you?

"It's too early for you to know that answer, Percy."

Do you know who I am?

"Of course I know who you are"the voice laughed softly at that fact, as if he had told a joke that only he understood"I've been watching you for a long time. You could say that I know more about you than you do yourself.

A shiver ran down Percy's spine if that were possible in a dream.

What is this place? I have never been so conscious in a dream.

" What is this place? "the voice repeated softly, appreciating the words, "Mmm...If I had to say it, I would say that we are in your head, but it is not an ordinary dream.

Isn't it? What makes it so different? Apart from the fact that I am aware that this is not real.

"Isn't it real? Just because we're inside your head, doesn't mean this isn't real.

You still haven't answered my question. Why is this time different from the other dreams I've had?

"When we meet someone who completely changes our world, a chemical synergy occurs," the voice said instead of answering his question.

Percy wanted to ask what the hell that meant, but he decided not to interrupt him.

"Even at this moment, encounters are taking place that will change the world of each person"the voice continues saying"Perhaps it is in a distant country. Maybe it's on the other side of the earth, we won't know. You asked me the reason why this dream was different, there are two reasons. The first is because it is the first time we speak. And the second is that, at this moment, your meeting is about to take place.

Percy reflected on his words. He didn't understand them, but he knew they meant something. Something deep. Before he could ask what he meant by that, a strange force began to push him back. He felt how the horizon was becoming more distant and increasingly difficult to distinguish.

"Come back soon, Percy." I look forward to the next time we can talk.

Then, he woke up.

"Wake up, Percy!" a childish voice whispered. "Wake up!"

Percy opened his eyes slowly. The muscles in his body felt like they were made of lead and he had a strange numb feeling in his shoulder, but he didn't feel any pain, not much. Beside him, Sammy shook him lightly. An expression of fear adorned his cute little face.

"Sammy, what's wrong?" Percy asked, slightly worried.

"I think I heard someone upstairs.

They were both in a small cellar in the church. He was located just below the altar and was accessed through a small trapdoor, hidden just below the large cross. It was not a very large room, but it was large enough for several people to fit into and provided shelter from the cold and rain. Furthermore, the most important thing of all was that we got the nauseating smell from the top.

Percy approached the trapdoor and strained his ears. He heard footsteps and wooden benches being dragged across the floor.

"Couldn't you find a better place?" a female voice complained. "This place smells like urine and shit."

"There was nowhere else" another voice, clearly male, responded"Besides, we can't be picky. It was about to rain, and we needed a place to rest.

"Did you check that there is no one around? I don't want some stupid police officers coming after us again.

"I couldn't see anyone around. Besides, who would come to this place?

'Actually, there are two people here,' Percy thought, 'And they're right under their butts.'

Percy decided to listen for a moment longer. There were only two people, a boy and a girl, and judging by their voice, they were around his age. Maybe they were just a couple of teenagers looking for a place to do something secret from their parents, drink beer, smoke, take drugs, or maybe have sex. If they dared to do that last thing, Percy would come out and give them the scare of their lives.

"Put it here," the boy spoke again. He heard him place something on the wood just a few meters from where the trapdoor was located. "How is she doing?"

"She still has a fever" answered the girl" She has gotten worse in the last few hours. She breathes irregularly, and she doesn't have enough strength to stand.

'There is someone else. A third person. And she, apparently, is sick.

Percy felt a little relieved at that. They weren't two hormonal teenagers doing dirty things.

"Damn," said the boy, "We don't have any medicine, and I didn't find any pharmacy nearby." Maybe we should take her to a hospital...

"No! If we take her to a hospital, they will start asking questions and take her away from us.

"What other option do we have? We can't leave her like this.

"I'll go look for a pharmacy.

"She's crazy! It's about to rain, and we were barely able to mislead those hellhounds. We have to keep moving.

'Hounds of hell? They can see them too...'

Beside him, Sammy took a step back in surprise and knocked over a couple of cans of food. The sound echoed throughout the place and alerted the teenagers above them.

"What was that noise? Who is there?!" exclaimed the girl.

Percy didn't want to risk being discovered. He found the conversation the pair of teenagers had somewhat intriguing. And the fact that they mentioned hellhounds was the most curious thing.

He turned to Sammy and spoke in a low voice:

"Stay here. Don't make any noise and don't come out unless I tell you to.

She nodded.

Percy patted the back of her worn jeans. When he felt the object attached to the back of him, he felt a little comforted. Even if they are only teenagers, he should never let his guard down. After all, humans were worse than monsters.

He ascended the wooden stairs that creaked under his weight and opened the small trapdoor.

The first thing he noticed was the two teenagers watching the place where he emerged from. They both looked hurt, and hungry, with tattered and dirty clothes. They stayed in position, studying Percy's movements.

The boy, who was apparently the older of the two, slowly approached Percy with... was that a golf club strapped to his back? He had a mischievous and calculating look as if he was deciding whether to kill him or steal his money. If it were the latter, he would be greatly disappointed.

Percy slowly approached them without making any sudden movements. When he was close enough he got a good look at the young teenager, He had sandy blonde hair, messy and full of grime. Blue eyes and torn clothes that were a little baggy. He was a few years younger than Percy, thirteen or maybe fourteen, but that didn't make him any less dangerous, he was scarier than any of the thugs you'd find on the streets.

"There really is someone here," the boy said, to no one in particular.

"I told you to check if anyone was around here, you idiot!" the girl shouted at him, obviously in a bad mood.

The girl gave Percy a bad vibe. She had black hair cut into a spike in a punk style, menacing electric blue eyes with heavy black eyeliner, and freckles running down her nose. From the looks of her, she didn't look more than twelve, maybe thirteen years old. But the scowl she had on her face gave her an older look, one that would break your legs and then laugh about it.

The girl was holding a spray tube in her hand as if she was holding some kind of weapon. What was she planning to do? Paint some graffiti on the walls and then play golf with the club that boy had on his back?

"How would I have known there would be someone hiding under the floor?" He defended himself as a blonde boy.

"Well, that's exactly why you should have investigated, genius! Now if they find us, he will be in danger too.

"You know well that monsters do not attack mortals.

'Monsters? '

"Don't say that, you'll scare him," the girl said, pointing her finger at Percy.

As if they had noticed her presence, they both turned and studied Percy. His eyes rested for a second on the wound he had on his shoulder, but he didn't say anything about it. Instead, the girl pointed the spray can at Percy.

"Who are you?" she asked him, with a firm and authoritative voice.

Percy didn't flinch at her. He narrowed his eyes and stared at her without taking his gaze away from her.

"Are you deaf?" the girl insisted again. "I asked you a question!"

"Why would I respond to someone pointing that thing at me?" Percy said, referring to the spray bottle.

"Because if you don't I'll shove this thing up your ass. Now answer!

"Hey, calm down," the blonde boy said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "That's no way to talk to someone." He looked at Percy, "Forgive my friend, she's a bit temperamental."

"I can see that," Percy said.

The girl looked at him wanting to cut out his tongue, but she didn't say anything.

"Let's start again," the boy said, more calmly. "My name is Luke, this is Thalia," he pointed to the grumpy girl. "And the little girl who is lying here is called Annabeth," he pointed to the girl lying next to him.

Percy looked at the girl who was lying on the floor. She was evidently sick from the way her chest rose and fell with difficulty in an attempt to breathe better. The girl's curly blonde hair clung to her face due to her slight sweat. Her cheeks had a strong red tone and her small body trembled slightly under a tattered blanket that tried to keep her warm and prevent the cold night air from seeping through her body.

"We are looking for a place to rest and shelter from the rain"Luke continued saying"Our friend is sick and...

"I don't care," Percy interrupted him abruptly, "Get out."

Both teenagers looked at him in disbelief, unable to believe what he was telling them. Quickly, disbelief then gave way to anger. Thalia approached Percy and stood in front of him threateningly.

"What did you just say?" she asked in a dangerous voice, her eyes flashing with suppressed anger.

Percy held her gaze unfazed.

"I told them to go away." Don't you understand me? Or do you want me to draw a drawing for you to do?

Thalia clenched her fists furiously, causing her knuckles to turn white from the force of it.

"We just want a place to stay until our friend recovers enough...

"I already told you that I don't care. I don't want you here.

If looks could kill, Percy would be buried ten feet below the floor because of the death glare Thalia gave him.

"Then the answer is simple," said Thalia. "I'll beat you up and throw you out on the street."

"I'd like to see you try," Percy responded defiantly. "I don't care if you're a girl, I'll kick your pretty ass."

Maybe Percy was hallucinating, but for a second he could have sworn he saw a flash of electricity in the girl's eyes. She quickly retracted her arm and threw a punch in the direction of Percy's face. He moved aside from her at the last second and, taking advantage of the fact that the girl advanced due to the momentum of her blow, Percy hit her with the sole of his foot on her butt. The girl crashed into the church pews, raising dust.

"I told you I'd kick your ass."

Thalia quickly stood up in a rage. Her face was red due to the anger she felt, and her clothes were covered in dust.

"You bastard, I'll kill you!" she screamed.

"Thalia, stop!" Luke exclaimed. "Don't attack him."

"But this bastard kicked me. In the ass!

"You attacked first, so don't complain.

Thalia grumbled for a few moments and lowered her arms.

"This is the worst. What the hell did Amalthea want to guide us to this place?" she muttered under her breath.

Percy raised an eyebrow, curious about the young teenager's words. Had someone brought them here? Did anyone know he lived in this place? That was not a good sign. Usually, if someone knew of his existence it was because he wanted to kill them, it has always been like that.

"Who is Amalthea?" he asked.

If he was some kind of monster, he had to be cautious.

"Oh, she's a magical goat that drips Pepsi out of her udder," Luke said, waving his hands like it didn't matter.

Percy watched them carefully with a poker face, blinked for a few seconds, and finally said:

"Are you two on drugs?

They both looked at him, offended by that statement.

Thalia was about to tell him something, but she stopped when she heard the sound of a trap door opening. Those present turned their gaze towards the place where the sound came from and saw a small girl emerge from the same place where Percy had come out previously.

"Percy... Are you okay?" she asked, timidly.

The two teenagers were shocked to see the girl who looked no older than eleven. She was wearing old, worn jeans, along with a sweatshirt that covered almost her entire body and almost reached her knees. Her long brown hair was down and unkempt. Her honey"colored eyes, eternally adorned with an expression of concern, looked at those present.

"A... girl?" Luke asked.

"Sammy!" I told you not to come out unless I told you to!

Percy quickly approached her and placed her behind him, as a sign of protection.

"But I heard them talking about monsters and then chairs being pushed. I thought those black dogs had found us again and I got worried.

"Wait, black dogs? "Thalia asked, bewildered"Do you see them too?

Sammy nodded sheepishly and hid behind Percy.

"Are they also demigods or are they just mortals who can see through the fog?" Luke asked.

'Demigods? 'Percy thought, 'Fog?' What the hell are you talking about? '

"That doesn't matter now," Thalia said, then she looked at Percy. "You have a little girl with you, you should understand our situation." Our friend is sick and suffering and you don't want to help us. You are a hypocrite.

"I'm not a hypocrite," Percy said. "But if you want a reason why I don't help them, it's simple, He didn't trust you. They come to this place, threaten me, and say they can see monsters and magical goats that secrete Pepsi from their udders. Why should I help you?

"Because you also see monsters! "Or at least, she does," Thalia said, pointing at Sammy.

"Well, that's one more reason not to help you. If they say they see the same things we see, they will know how dangerous they are. And they are always in a group looking for us, following us. If we are a large group, it will be easier for them to find us.

"Then if we get rid of you two we can keep this place.

At that statement, Percy clenched his fists tightly. He felt something familiar begin to course through his veins, making his body tremble slightly. He knew that feeling well, he had felt it countless times, but he had learned to control it.

He took out his knife that was hidden in his back and pointed it firmly at Thalia.

"If you dare lay a finger on Sammy... I'll kill you! "Percy said, his voice cold as ice, laden with true menace.

Both teenagers were surprised by this statement. Tension reigned in the atmosphere, and silence filled those present. The only audible sound was the winds crashing against the walls. It was in that moment of tension that Luke was able to recognize something.

"You're hurt," he said, pointing at Percy's shoulder which was stained with blood. "You said you also see monsters, were you hurt by them?"

Percy looked at Luke carefully, trying to see what he meant. Not detecting any kind of bad intention, he relaxed a little and lowered the knife. But even so, he remained alert, he did not trust that his partner would be more reasonable. The fact that he was looking at him wanting to kick his ass was a clear sign of that.

"Yes, but this one was different from the ones we normally see," Percy said, lightly rubbing his injured shoulder. "I've never seen a creature like that before."

Thalia's frown relaxed slightly at his words.

"What kind of monster was it?" she asked.

Percy looked at her suspiciously. Of the two teenagers, Thalia seemed the most dangerous and it wasn't because of her bad girl appearance, it was because of her eyes. They radiated something that made Percy uncomfortable and caused him to not let his guard down around her.

"I couldn't quite put my finger on it," Percy said. "It was big, at least two meters tall." He looked like a rugby player addicted to steroids. He didn't speak, he just growled like an animal. And he had what looked like a pair of horns on his head. "It was one of those horns that caused this to me," he finished saying, pointing to his injured shoulder.

Both teenagers looked worried and a little scared after hearing that. Thalia's arm holding her spray can trembled slightly.

"Did you... did you kill him?" she asked, hopefully.

Percy shook his head bitterly.

"No, I couldn't do it. We were attacked by a pack of hellhounds and Sammy was in danger. I only managed to stab him in the eye before escaping from there... and then some. That was hours ago.

The information fell on them like a bucket of cold water on those present. Thalia and Luke understood Percy, after all, they had been through the same thing countless times. It was at that moment that they wondered if Percy was equal to them if he was also a demigod.

"That's why I want you to leave," Percy said in a low tone.

"What?" Thalia and Luke said in unison.

"If that thing is still alive, it will come for me. They have always been able to find us by our scent, and once they catch it, they never stop until they find us.

"So... you say you're worried about us?" Thalia asked, doubtful of her own words.

"No," Percy answered flatly. "But at least they're warned."

"Hey, you said you hurt him," Luke said. "How did you do it?" Monsters cannot be hurt by normal weapons.

Percy showed them the knife he hadn't put down yet. Thalia and Luke examined it with interest.

"That's not celestial bronze," Luke said, looking closer. "But it's not a mortal weapon." It seems strangely familiar, if I had to say...

"It looks like a tooth, "A fang," Thalia finished.

Percy nodded.

"It's a tooth from one of those black dogs. Someone gave it to me years ago"They both looked at him curiously, but he just shrugged. Long story.

"I didn't know you could use parts of a monster to kill others," Thalia said, fascinated.

"Well, you know what they say. Only a monster can kill another monster.

"Interesting," Luke said, thoughtfully with a hand on his chin.

Sammy stretched out Percy's shirt that she was holding onto to get her attention. He turned and looked at her.

"What's wrong, Sammy?"

"What's wrong with that girl?" Sammy asked, pointing to the floor where Annabeth was. "Is she okay?"

"She's sick.

"Then we can help her.

"Wait, can they do it?" Thalia asked.

"We have medicine," Sammy answered, timidly. "The other day Percy... took a couple of things from a pharmacy."

Thalia looked questioningly at Percy and frowned again.

"So all this time you were able to help our friend and you didn't say anything?!

"Yes," Percy replied cheekily.

"Now I'll kill you," said Thalia, approaching Percy fuming, but she was quickly stopped by Luke, grabbing her by the waist. "Let go of me, Luke!" I'm going to beat this bastard!

"Calm down, Thalia. Hitting him won't solve anything" She looked at Percy and adopted an almost pleading expression"Please help our friend. When she is well enough to walk, we will leave quietly. I promise.

Percy looked at the two teenagers in front of him. All he wanted now was for them to go away and be left alone, for the sake of everyone present. He didn't want problems and they clearly represented that. And the fact that they also saw monsters worried him greatly. He knew that he could protect Sammy in case they were found by a group of monsters, but they...

He felt a tug on the side of her shirt, turned around and found Sammy, who was looking at her worriedly. Percy knew that look and he knew it was what she wanted. She was an innocent and sweet girl who would do everything she could to help others. She was Percy's counterpart. She represented everything that he decided to discard to survive in this cruel world full of creatures that wanted him dead. She represented the most human side of him.

And it is because of that that she would do whatever she wanted. Because that way, he wouldn't forget her humanity. He wouldn't forget that he was still human.

"Sammy, go get the first aid kit," Percy said. "Also bring a blanket, a bucket, and a small rag."

Sammy nodded, happy to have convinced Percy to help others. And she did it without saying a word! She quickly went and disappeared into the small trapdoor.

Percy approached the girl who was still lying on the floor and breathing lightly. The girl's blonde hair stuck to her forehead due to her sweat and her cheeks were painted red. He placed a hand on the girl's forehead and checked her temperature.

"How long has she had a fever?" Percy asked both teenagers.

"Two, maybe three days," Luke answered.

"Did she have any other symptoms?

She, well, she looked tired and she always complained that her body hurt. She also coughed quite frequently.

Percy nodded.

"At best, it's probably just the flu. If so, then there is nothing to worry about.

"Why do you say that?" Thalia asked.

"The flu can cure itself. He just needs to rest for a few days and he will recover. The best thing we can do for her is to make her feel as comfortable as possible.

"And in the worst"case scenario?

"It could be something more serious. Pray it's not like that or you'll have to take her to a hospital.

Just then Sammy arrived with the first aid kit, a small metal bucket, and a couple of blankets that looked old and worn but could still be used. She handed Percy the materials and stood next to the girl. Percy opened the medicine cabinet and rummaged through it for a few seconds until she pulled out a tablet with pills in it.

"I'll give you something to lower her fever," Percy informed. "Sammy, go fill the bucket with water." You, blonde boy, pick her up to take her to a more comfortable place.

Sammy immediately went to carry water dragging the bucket, while Luke gently lifted Annabeth like a princess. She moaned slightly at the movement, but her eyes remained closed.

"Follow me," Percy said.

He walked towards the trapdoor where he initially emerged, followed by Thalia and Luke, who was carrying Annabeth. He opened the small trapdoor and descended the ladder that was about two meters high.

"Why do we have to take Annabeth there?" Thalia asked, looking suspiciously at the top of the stairs.

"She needs to rest somewhere warm," Percy replied. "Unless you want to leave her out in the cold night, I suggest you keep quiet."

Thalia looked at him wanting to kill him as she gritted her teeth.

Luke didn't say anything as he slowly climbed down with Annabeth on her back. When his feet touched the floor, he turned around and could see the room where they were. Although he didn't expect it, it was broader than he initially thought. It was big enough to accommodate the five of them without problems. The place was slightly illuminated by different candles located throughout the room. There were a couple of boxes stacked in the corners covered by white sheets. A couple of small, meter-long bookshelves containing dusty books that didn't look like they had been opened in years. There were several gallons of water on one side of the room along with a wooden box that had a large amount of canned foods.

"How long have you lived here?" Luke asked, examining the room.

"A little more than a month," Percy responded, looking over his shoulder. "Place it there," he pointed to a mattress two meters high and one meter wide that was located in the corner of the room.

Luke walked over and placed Annabeth gently on the mattress. The little girl was still fast asleep.

"Percy, right?" Thanks for your help. If it weren't for you, we would most likely have had to take our friend to a hospital. And that's not something we could do unless the situation is desperate.

"Don't thank me, thank Sammy," Percy said with a cold tone without even looking at him, "If it were up to me, I'd leave them on the street."

Thalia walked over to say something to Percy, but Luke stood in her way.

"Still, I appreciate it.

Percy didn't answer. He looked at the girl who was lying on the mattress where he and Sammy had slept these past few weeks. The place where he had been sleeping just a few minutes ago.

The creaking of the wood caught the attention of those present and they turned to see Sammy coming down the stairs with a bucket full of water. She walked over to Percy and placed the bucket at her feet, a proud smile on her face.

"Thank you, Sammy," Percy said, placing a hand on her head as she smiled back slightly. Then he looked at the two teenagers and her smile faded. "By the time her friend wakes up, you should tell her that she should go take a bath and remove all the dirt from her body." She must be clean so that she heals faster.

Luke nodded affirmatively while Thalia looked at him with slight intrigue.

"Wait... is there a bathroom in this place?" she asked, bewildered.

"That's where I got the water from," Sammy said, pointing to the bucket of water.

Thalia looked uncomfortable for a few seconds. She rubbed the back of her head as she looked back and forth.

"Well... I... we've been wandering aimlessly lately, and we haven't had a place to rest properly." We're covered in grime, we stink of sweat, and... would you mind if we used the shower? "she ended up saying, slightly embarrassed.

Sammy looked at Percy as if asking for his consent. He just sighed and rubbed his injured shoulder.

"Alright. "You can use it," he said, reluctantly. "But make sure you clean up after you're done." Sammy, come with her, please. Make sure it doesn't do anything weird.

"I won't do it!" Thalia exclaimed, embarrassed.

A slightly amused Sammy walked up the stairs accompanied by Thalia, who turned momentarily to see her friend lying next to her. The punk girl's frown visibly relaxed and her face took on a worried expression. All this was observed by Percy, who raised an eyebrow, curious about the behavior of the girl who just a few minutes ago looked so violent and aggressive.

When the two girls left, Percy momentarily turned to the lying blonde girl. She looked a little better. He was no longer shivering from the cold and her breathing was no longer erratic. He walked over and sat on the floor next to the bed.

"Alright, blonde boy, here's the deal," Percy said, directing his cold gaze at Luke. "We'll take care of your little friend until she recovers from her illness."

"Oh really?! Many thanks...!"

"Don't get so excited, kid," Percy interrupted. "Don't think that I'll help you without getting anything in return."

Luke was surprised by her words. He looked around her and his eyes fell on Annabeth who was resting peacefully. They were in a desperate situation. One of his friends whom he had sworn to protect was in serious condition. Not because of her illness, but because of the situation itself. The fact that she couldn't move made it difficult for her to keep moving from the danger posed by the monsters. If Annabeth couldn't move on her own, sooner or later the monsters would catch up to them. She had many options floating around in her head, but at this moment she decided to opt for the one she had the greatest chance of survival.

He looked at Percy, who was sitting on the side of Annabeth's bed. A bent knee where his arm rested. His green eyes looked at him impassively, as if his presence did not alter him in the slightest. Looking at those eyes that seemed to shine in the dimly lit room, a feeling reverberated in the depths of his own being, causing a chill to run through his entire body... Fear.

Luke felt like a rabbit under the watchful eye of a predator. This man was dangerous, that's what his instincts told him. The same instincts that had kept him alive these last few years.

"What... What do you want?" Luke asked, somewhat fearful.

Percy didn't show any expression, his face looked like it was carved from marble.

"I want his favor. During the time it takes for his friend to heal, you will help me keep the monsters away from this place, even if that thing that attacked me comes back for us. It will also help me... obtain the necessary supplies to be able to live in this place, food, water, clothing, hygiene items, and whatever we need.

Luke nodded in understanding. Percy's demands were reasonable and it was nothing he hadn't done before, except that he would have to do it in greater numbers than before since it was a larger group and he would have help from someone who, apparently, had quite a bit of experience in fighting against monsters. He even had a weapon to fight them. Luke only had a damn golf club.

"One last thing, and the most important thing," Percy said, changing his tone of voice to one much colder and more dangerous. Luke felt a shiver run through his body as he watched the menacing glow emitted from her green eyes that seemed to glow in the dark. "If Sammy is hurt in any way because of any of you, I will make sure that the last thing you see before I kill you, is the cold corpse of your friends soaked in their own blood. Was I clear enough?

Luke felt a lump in his throat as he imagined Thalia and Annabeth's lifeless bodies. He clenched his fists tightly in helplessness. He knew Percy's threat was genuine and he was scared of the consequences, but he didn't have much of a choice. Despite Percy's death threat, his help was more beneficial than the other options he had. He offered them shelter, food, water, and even a bathroom. How long had it been since he last had all that at his fingertips? He didn't remember it.

"What's your answer?" Percy insisted. "If you want to find another place to shelter or go to a hospital, I won't stop you."

Luke considered it once more. In crucial moments, Thalia and Annabeth had always turned to him. They had never expressed it in words, but they considered Luke as their leader and the one who had the final say because his decisions were what had kept them alive these last few months.

Strengthening his resolve, he gave Percy a look filled with determination.

"I accept the deal."

...

..

.

[T/N: Ok! This is more for the patreons but I think if I meddle too much in this book it will ruin the effect. Let me know how it is and if I should edit a little more. If you like this chapter then leave a comment, drop some stones, and write a review! If you want to read some advanced chapters then check out my Patreon!]

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