Author's Note: Hello! I know I haven't posted much of anything in a while, and I apologize. Applying to colleges has been taking up much of my time. (Hopefully all the essays taught me a thing or two about writing?) Anyway, I hope all of y'all had a great holiday season, and your new year is going well so far.

As for me, I've started my first alternate universe kind of story with our beloved Percy Jackson cast of characters. It's been interesting staying true to each individual while finding them a part in the narrative. I hope you enjoy, and review!

Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson (or any of the other references I make in here) and no one is paying me to write.

PROLOGUE

Leo had no idea why he was tied to a chair attached to the barre of a dark dance studio. Or when he had gotten here. Or why a man twice his weight was walking towards him with a knife strapped to his belt.

He took a deep breath, and pretended to be brave. "Oh, good. You're here. My feet are falling asleep a little, so if you could just UNTIE ME FROM THIS CHAIR –" he began shouting. He was cut off by a punch to the jaw.

"You are not funny." The man growled in a strange accent. "You are not here for jokes."

"Then why am I here?" he demanded. He wasn't sure why he was shouting, but it made him feel a little tougher in the room full of dangerous-looking armed people.

The man shoved a photograph unnecessarily close to his face. "Where is this woman?"

"She's visiting her family." He answered. He looked at the man quizzically. "Why are you asking? Who are you?" Since when did it matter so much what a blue-collar woman did in her off time?

The man slapped him across the face. He could taste blood in his mouth. "Don't lie to me! Do you know who I am?"

"I literally just asked you, amigo." Leo snapped, feigning bravado. "Where are we and why am I here?"

"Where is this woman?" he demanded. Leo ignored him, looking around desperately for an escape. The man punched him in the ribs. He was trying very hard not to cry. "Where has she gone?"

"I told you! She's visiting family in Mexico!" he shouted.

A violent – looking woman walked in, her boots thumping authoritatively. "Well?" she demanded, her tone impatient and tense.

"He pretends to know nothing." The man explained, waving the photo with frustration. The woman squatted down to his eye level and squinted at him. He could practically smell the grime on her bandanna. She looked familiar for some reason, but he couldn't recall where he'd seen her before.

"He's telling the truth. He really doesn't know anything." She said. Leo sighed with relief. "Turn him loose."

"It's been nice." Leo quipped as the man obliged, rolling his wrists and ankles as they were untied. "Y'all have a good day, now. And maybe please stop stalking my girlfriend."

"Hilarious.' The woman deadpanned. "Follow me, punk."

Leo groaned. He had never even won a game of arm wrestling in his life, he stood no chance here. Unwillingly, he followed her out of the building. Once they were out of earshot, she shoved him behind mattress left next to a dumpster.

"Listen very carefully. In 38 seconds, my friend is going to drive by in a silver Camry. I need you to get in it. You're going somewhere safe, but keep your head down." Leo jumped at the sudden shift in events. "Do you understand?"

His mind was reeling so much he was fairly sure he was going into shock, but nodded anyway. He had a million questions, but only a few seconds to ask. "She's – she's not visiting family in Mexico, is she?"

The woman blinked at him in confusion. "Why would she be? Reyna is Puerto Rican."

Feel free to leave comments, criticism, questions, or bad puns!