Chapter 6 - Percy's Decision
When they arrived at their modest New York apartment, Percy looked around. The place was small but cozy, with simple furniture and walls that radiated the warmth of a home. The living room had a worn-out armchair, a coffee table with signs of use, and the comforting smell of home. This place had always been his refuge, his safe harbor. But now, that was about to change.
Sally watched him closely, still worried about her son's distant behavior since he woke up from the coma. There was something different about him, something that deeply concerned her, but she tried not to press him. She turned to the kitchen.
— I know we've missed lunch, but I'll prepare something quick, okay? — Sally said, trying to keep her tone light as she headed to the kitchen.
Percy murmured a low "okay," but his mind was elsewhere. He had remembered something important… something terrifying. He was a demigod, and that meant monsters would soon be after him. He didn't have much time. "The monsters will find me. They always do." The thought made him anxious. While Sally was busy with the pans, Percy tried to think of solutions.
"Perfume, maybe… to hide my scent?" he thought. But he quickly dismissed the idea. Perfume wouldn't be enough to fool mythical creatures. "Smelly Gabe… might be a solution, but…" Percy didn't want to force his mother to endure that terrible man just to hide his presence.
The only real solution came as an inevitable blow. "Camp Half-Blood. I have to go. If I stay, mom will become a target for the monsters too."
He needed to leave quickly. There was no choice.
Percy sat at the table while Sally prepared lunch. He watched his mother working in the kitchen, trying to find a way to tell her. How could he explain that he needed to leave? That the only way to protect her was to distance himself? The thought made a knot form in his stomach, but he knew it was the only solution.
A few minutes later, Sally brought two plates of sandwiches and juice. They ate in silence, Sally trying to make conversation occasionally, but Percy was too distracted, lost in his worries. He needed to tell her. Finally, after rehearsing the words in his mind, he decided to speak.
— Mom, I… — Percy began, but was interrupted by a cold shiver running down his spine.
Suddenly, he felt it. It was like a wave of pure danger was about to hit him. A tingling sensation spread across his back, and without thinking, he threw himself to the side, knocking over his chair.
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion.
He saw Sally's face twist in horror, but her eyes weren't on him… they were fixed on something behind him. Percy felt a sharp wind brush past his head, and for a fraction of a second, he saw a large, rough hand trying to grab him.
His body acted on instinct. He didn't know how he had come to the conclusion, but he decided to follow his body and instincts. He quickly released all the strength from his legs, allowing gravity to pull him down as he rolled away from the attack. Whatever was behind him only managed to snatch a handful of his hair.
Without thinking twice, Percy turned and swept the creature's legs, taking it down with a swift strike.
— BOOM! — The sound of something heavy hitting the floor echoed through the apartment. It was as if a car had flipped over inside.
Percy wasted no time. He knew he was at a disadvantage. The space was too small to fight, and he didn't have a weapon. He felt his instincts kick into high gear, his mind working at a frightening speed. It was as if his ADHD, something that had always been a curse, was now helping him, allowing him to see all the options around him. He was strangely calm, despite the imminent threat.
— Player's mind… — Percy murmured, recognizing the cold, analytical feeling that had taken over him.
Sally was screaming in the background, her voice filled with panic, while the creature slowly got up. When Percy finally had time to look, he froze.
It was a dracaena. Half-woman, half-serpent, with gleaming scales and blazing yellow eyes. Her claws were sharp, and her forked tongue flicked out of her mouth as she hissed menacingly.
Percy backed away, but what he didn't notice was a piece of wood behind him, causing him to trip and giving his enemy a perfect opportunity to attack.
The snake-woman lunged at him with bloodlust, and for a fraction of a second, Percy thought he was going to die. But then he felt his body move on its own, regaining balance almost instantly, as if he were a warrior trained for ages.
He was adapting to the battle.
But even with that, he couldn't avoid one of the woman's claws from slashing a large part of his ear.
And as fast as lightning, a sharp pain shot through the left side of his head, but as quickly as it came, it disappeared, leaving only wisps of vapor rising from his ear.
However, Percy didn't focus on that. He was in a fight, and any loss of attention could be fatal.
Luckily, as someone with ADHD, he didn't have that problem; it was as if his mind insisted on registering every detail of the fight. The way his muscles contracted, Sally's terrified face, and even the large desk near the snake-woman.
"Oh~" Percy thought.
Quickly calculating his options. He didn't have a weapon, but he could use the environment. His eyes scanned the room until they fixed on a nearby bookshelf. It was heavy enough to hinder the monster if he could topple it at the right moment.
As the dracaena advanced, Percy leapt to the side, grabbing one of the shelves and, with all the strength he had, shoved it onto the creature. The shelf fell with a crash, making the creature hesitate for a moment.
Percy didn't waste the chance. He grabbed a broken chair leg and, using it as an improvised spear, drove it into the dracaena's back with all his might. The creature writhed, letting out a high-pitched scream, and then… turned to dust.
Percy's breathing was heavy, and he fell to his knees, exhausted.
— Percy! — Sally ran to him, her eyes filled with tears. — How did they find you? You're still so young… — the worry in her voice was palpable.
Still panting, Percy looked at his mother. He couldn't hide the truth any longer.
— Mom… I know. I know what I am… a demigod. — He swallowed hard. — I… I have to go to Camp Half-Blood. They'll keep coming after me. If I stay, you'll be a target too.
Sally remained silent for a moment, processing his words. Her eyes were filled with sadness and fear.
— I'll take you there, Percy — she said firmly.
— No, mom — Percy replied, shaking his head. — It'll be safer if I go alone. If you come with me, they'll go after you too.
Sally tried to protest, but Percy convinced her it would be safer this way. Reluctantly, she finally agreed, though the fear and pain were evident on her face.
She spent the next hour packing a bag with clothes and supplies for Percy, her hands trembling slightly as she folded each piece of clothing.
At the farewell, Sally hugged him tightly, as if she didn't want to let him go.
— Promise me you'll come back? — She asked, her voice thick with emotion.
Percy looked her in the eyes, determined.
— I promise. As soon as I get stronger, I'll come back.
And then, Percy left the apartment, with his mother watching anxiously from the door, praying to God (God with a capital G) to watch over every step he would take.