I Have a Bad Day

Do you ever get the feeling that you are being watched, or that the world is out to get you? I do. All the time. You see, I have a complicated life. It's full of twists and turns and regrettable, unforeseeable circumstances… like when your best friend kisses you then doesn't call you for almost a year. I take that back. She did Iris-message me a few times and conveniently forgot that she kissed me! And she's a daughter of Athena for the gods' sakes!

Oh yeah, did I mention that I'm a half-blood? You heard me right. A half-blood is a child of a mortal and a Greek god. Yeah they exist. And they're here, in the U.S.! I know, weird. My name is Percy Jackson. My mother is Sally Jackson, a mortal. My father is Poseidon, god of the sea. He's one of the Big Three. You know, the three sons of Kronos: Zeus, Hades, and, my dad, Poseidon.

I shouldn't have been born because of this prophecy that said the next child of the Big Three to reach the age of sixteen would decide the fate of the gods. It would have been Thalia, daughter of Zeus, but she joined The Hunt with Lady Artemis and is immortal now. And I am determined not to let it be Nico di Angelo, son of Hades. He is about twelve now and his sister died two years ago on a quest after she joined The Hunt.

I turned fifteen at the end of August. Today was May the twelfth. I would turn sixteen in a matter of months and make a huge decision that I would probably end up dying in. But let's not think about that.

Today was the last day of school and it was the first time that I had gone a whole year without getting expelled. That night me, my mom, and my step-dad-to-be, Paul Blofis were going to celebrate by going out to dinner. We had told him months ago about me being a half-blood.

So there we were sitting in the restaurant when I see something that makes my skin crawl. There was someonesitting in the back booth… staring right at me. And guess who it was? Luke.

When he saw me he smiled evilly and tapped his wrist, telling me that I was on a time limit before he would do something.

"Mom," I said seriously, "You two need to get out. Go home, I'll be there soon."

"Percy? What's wrong?" she asked

"Just, just go. There's a problem."

"But what-" Paul was cut off by our waitress bringing our food.

"Here you go," she said. Her peppy tone annoyed me. Couldn't she see that the source of all evil was sitting in the farthest booth? Oh, I guess not, because of the mist and all.

"Will there be anything else?" she continued.

"Yes, a check please," I said before Mom or Paul could say anything.

She looked confused and turned to my mom and Paul, who just nodded.

"O-okay then." she walked off.

"Mom," I said, "When you get home, contact Chiron immediately. Tell him that He's here."

"Who, Percy?" Paul asked.

"He'll know who I mean." I tried not to look at Luke/Kronos so Mom and Paul wouldn't know who it was, but at the last moment, my eyes flicked towards the booth. I quickly shot them back to Mom and Paul, hoping they didn't notice. No such luck.

My mom looked and said, "Percy, is that…?"

"Just pay and leave, Mom. I can handle it." I probably said it too angrily, but couldn't they see I was trying to protect them from the traitor who ruined my life?

She looked slightly hurt but none the less paid and left with Paul, who cast me a quizzical glance over his shoulder.

Once they left, I walked over to Luke. "What are you doing here?" I asked bitterly.

He gestured to the seat across from him. I slid in. He looked pale and weak.

He spoke. "I've come to make a proposition."

"Not interested."

He smiled evilly and said, "You will be. You see-"

"Wait, before we start the whole threat-and-violence-thing, I've got one question. Who's talking: Luke or Kronos?"

The waiter came over and Luke waved him away angrily. He cackled softly and said, "Lord Kronos has business to attend to."

"So he's not in your body anymore?"

That was the wrong thing to say.

The area around his scar twitched. "That's not what we are here to discuss. I have a proposition for you, Percy, and I think that you will find it very appealing. Join Lord Kronos and you could rule by his side. He could make you a minor titan. He could give you all the power you want. Join us… and we'll let you and your friends live." He smirked evilly again.

"That's a nice threat, but will you back it up? You're a coward, Luke." The truth was, I had only a slight doubt that he wouldn't do what he said. The truth was, I was scared out of my mind and could feel myself pale.

Luke could probably see it too because he said, "Are you scared, Percy? There's no one here to save you this time, but lucky for you, I didn't come here to kill you, just to make the offer."

He got up and motioned for me to follow him. I did. We walked outside and turned down a side alley. It was dark and cold. There were no signs of life whatsoever.

I could barely see Luke's thin outline, that's why I was so surprised when he turned and gave me a sucker-punch to my jaw. I stumbled back in shock, but he didn't stop. He sent his fist in my stomach and made me hit the wall behind me.

I slid down the wall and cursed myself when I cringed in pain. I couldn't defend myself, I couldn't draw Riptide. He kept beating on me with kicks and curses. I was on the ground in the fetal position with my eyes closed tight.

I could taste blood in my mouth and feel it trickle down my lip. My breath came in slow, shaky spurts that sent searing pains into my chest.

But Luke wasn't done. He gave me one last kick and bent down to whisper in my ear, "You have one week to answer us, or your precious camp will be in flames, and you and your friends will be dead." He paused before adding, "You have two weeks to join us, Percy…" then walked away.

I couldn't move. It hurt to bad. I must have laid there for what was only half an hour- it seemed like an eternity. I guess Mom and Paul got a hold of Chiron because a black shadow descended upon me and I heard Blackjack, my favorite Pegasus. You okay, boss?

I could only moan. Then I blacked out.

It was pitch black in my dream. I knew it was a dream, but it still scared me. Mist swirled around me in whites and grays, blending into the darkness.

I heard a cold, grating voice, like stone against stone. Kronos. "Come, little hero. You will be here again soon enough if you don't join me." Kronos laughed.

Tartarus. That's where I was. I felt my heart by quicken and my breath came in short, raspy spurts.

Kronos bellowed one last time before I woke up.