•Peace•

•Chapter Twenty-Three•

Jason didn't care.

He turned and ran. He took off his helmet and domino mask and stuffed it in a trashcan while he ran. He didn't want to be Red Hood in that moment. They didn't know Red Hood. He wanted to be Jason.

Somebody Percy knows.

The streets showed damage. Many store fronts seemed to have cracked, or even shattered windows.

Some lamps were fallen, decorative plants or tables were turned over or in the street.

Jason knew he should be checking on the people inside these stores. But there were too many.

So he kept running.

It was only a block. But the damage in these shops and homes were only slightly better. Windows were still shattered. And-

There it was.

From the outside, Mays Bookstore looked fine, intact. But as Jason neared he realized that the windows had shattered.

And now Jason was digging into the pile directly in the center, hoping and praying Percy wasn't under there.

She didn't answer when he called.

"Percy!?" He yelled again,

And still no response.

He kept throwing books out of the way, digging as if it were dirt.

Finally, he saw something.

Oh. Oh no.

"Percy?" Jason asked carefully, still moving books away as he uncovered two bodies.

His hands started shaking as he noticed a strange, splintered piece of wood sticking straight up.

It wasn't huge, but it looked sharp.

He managed to slip Percy carefully out from under the fallen shelves. Luckily she wasn't pinned too badly under them, he was able to lift and slide her out awkwardly.
And following got May out from under it as well.
the splintered wooden shard had pierced Percy's skin, and Jason prayed it wasn't deep.

He scooped her up, holding her awkwardly, as the shard was coming out of her back upper left hip, slightly above where her hoodie ended and her jeans began.

He decided it was best to take it out.

He carefully brought her to a table, swiping off all the glass and dust and setting her down, before going back to retrieve May, who thankfully was awake, and he carried her to a couch.

He knew they both needed medical attention, but there wasn't time for that.

"May, are you alright?" He asked softly.

May nodded. "Where is Percy.. She.. she's okay right?"

Jason nodded back in response. "I think she's fine. But I got to go help her right now, will you be okay?"

"Yes.. please. Go help her." May coughed.

Jason nodded, rushing back to the table where Percy seemed awake, yet disoriented and unresponsive.