Path Of Hurt - Tumblr Posts

August snippets Day 1: Stalked (Alt Promt)

Fandom: Percy Jackson

Summary: Percy starts to realize something or someone is watching him when he's out with his mom getting ice cream.

    Percy knew he was being watched. He had gotten used to the uncomfortable feeling of eyes on him. However most of the time the feeling of being watched went away when he was outside of school or camp.

    Instead Percy was getting ice cream with his mom. The two had decided to go out after Percy had passed his first quarter at school. Blue ice cream sat in front of them.

    "Is everything okay, Percy?" Sally said. "You haven't had much of your ice cream."

    "Yeah. I'm okay." Percy lied. After everything he had gone through, some ice cream and time with him mom sounded perfect. As the two sat at their table, the teen settled in. While the feeling he was being watched stayed with him, the boy started to ignore it.

    It wasn't until Sally and Percy had finished their blue raspberry ice cream when the feeling started to bother him again. Sally seemed to realize something was wrong. She looked concerned as she watched their surroundings on the way home.

    "You feel it too, don't you?" Percy asked him mother.

    Sally nodded and stood a little closer to Percy. "Maybe it's a monster?"

    "I don't think so." Percy looked around and sighed. "Let's just go to the park."

    "Okay. I could call Chiron."

    "We'll be fine."

    The two walked to the park, never being able to rely. Once there, they talked about what was next. "Maybe it is a monster? I think I should look around."

    "Percy" Sally started, "We look together."

    "I can't put you in danger. Whoever or whatever is watching us, wants me."

    "We go together. I'll be okay. I faced the minotaur, remember?"

    "And almost got killed, remember?"

    "Percy."

    "Okay."

    The park was a beautiful place. Sally used to take Percy all the time. He had always shown an interest in the decorative water fountain in the middle as well as any drinking fountains that had been around.

    Walking around the park, Sally and Percy tried to find the source of their discomfort. For it being mid-day, there was no one around. The wind blew the  swings gently. "Not creepy at all." Percy said, looking at his mother.

    There was a quiet noise in the trees. Percy grabbed his pen and took a step closer to them. Standing right behind her son, Sally prepaid herself for whatever foe may be hidden in the pines and oak trees.

    Pulling the leaves back, Percy looked to see what was there. A squirrel ran out from the tree and went up another that wasn't too far from it. "You know, maybe we are just being paranoid."

    As the two turned to leave, they realized they weren't alone. Their feelings and been right.

"Hello Percy." Luke Castellan said. "You must be Sally Jackson." The man said as he motioned to Sally with his sword. "It's nice to meet you."

Taking a step back Percy pulled his mother with him. "Luke? How long have you been following me?" Uncapping Riptide, the half-blood placed it between his mother and Luke.

"A few days."

"A few days?!" Percy yelled surprised.

"Leave my son alone!" Ms. Jackson yelled sternly at Luke, putting a hand on Percy's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, I can't. You see, I need your son dead. So-"

"You'll have to get through me."

"Mom. Let me handle it."

Luke looked interested. "Sally Jackson fought a minotaur, I'm sure I'd be no challenge." He joked. Taking a step forward Percy pulled him back with the threat of his blade.

Both demigods knew it was time to fight. They readied their weapons. Percy stood in front of his mother, knowing he couldn't let Luke get close to his mom. Sally was one of the people who Percy loved most. She was his to protect.

As they fought the question of how Luke found him lingered in Percy's mind. "Let me get this straight, you've been following me for days now? Just like that? I never noticed you?"

"Yep. I thought you would be more observant. With everything that's happened, how could you not be?" Luke said as he swung his sword.

It only took one look at his mom for Percy to know why he hadn't realized Luke had been looming; his mother would keep him safe. "You want to know why?"

Luke was an all year camper. Percy never learned what happened to his mother but he knew that it was complicated. As much as he didn't want to, using his mother and his own might help get them out of the situation. After all, his mother was there. Percy couldn't let her get hurt.

"Why?"

"Because I trust my mom."

Luke paused. The words surprised him more the Percy thought they would. Using his hesitation, Percy slashed Luke's arm with his sword.

Jumping back, Luke almost dropped his sword. He looked at his arm, blood pouring from his wound. His eyes landed on Sally who had found a stick to hold, ready to fight if she had to. The man's breath was shaky. With his left arm, the demigod pulled his sword up. "Good for you." Attacking again, Luke swung his sword at Percy, aiming for his chest.

Moving, Percy drug his sword across Luke's side. With Luke behind Percy, Sally had the opportunity to slam her stick over his head, knocking him to the ground. After a moment, Luke sat up and looked around. Percy had a sword at his throat and Sally had her stick hovering menacingly near him.

Swinging Backbiter at the Jackson's feet, Luke stumbled to his feet. He knew he had to escape. Looking around, the man decided the trees would be the easiest place to disappear. Quickly placing his sword in it's sheath, Luke ran into the woods.

When Sally went to follow him, Percy stopped her. "We don't have to follow him. He'll get away anyway. I don't want you to be in anymore danger."

Sally nodded. "So, that was Luke?"

"Yeah." Percy sat down, breathing heavily.

"He seems a lot less though then how you described him."

"He was an all year camper. When I said I had you, it must have messed with him. Trust me, he's not fun to fight."

"Come on, let's go home. Do you want to stop by the candy store and pick up some blue jelly beans and watch a movie when we get home?" Sally helped her some off the ground. She smoothed out his hair and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Hell yeah."