Flash Flood

Preveiw

Percy

Percy was in the car's back seat, and both Paul and Sally were in the front seats as they drove home from Goode. New York traffic was always a pain, but driving took twenty minutes more than going through the subway system. The war had ended, leaving Percy almost a full year behind. Fortunately, through decent grades, summer school, and Paul being the head of the Goode High School English department, he managed to get in for junior year.

All are complete with a shiny 504 plan. The end of the war was Annabeth. The two lasted about three weeks of consistent bliss and no life-altering quest - though the three weeks also got incredibly dull. Only so many picnics, lake trips, and talks about their everyday life to realize the chemistry came from the fight or flight instinct rather than a cheesy feeling in the stomach.

It felt weird, losing his best friend in a way. They still wrote letters occasionally, but the awkwardness was still there. Even then, the selection at Goode was minimal, with the swim team being his saving grace for a social life. The car slowed down into the driveway; feeling the car settle into the park, Percy felt himself wake up a bit more. No one told him his quests were ten times easier than writing a 4-page English essay. Not double-spaced.

Percy grabbed his backpack and headed out when he saw a dark, black liquid seep out beneath his feet. An oil leak was not something he could deal with right now. It was not like he had a choice—fix the leak now or postpone it and go without a car for practically two months.

"Mom, the oil leak is back again." Percy mentioned, trying to avoid getting the stuff on his Converse

"Just great," Percy thought. With a four-page essay and an oil leak, this week has not started out great. Tired and not wanting a migraine from his essay and dyslexia, he got the tools from the garage. It was just an oil leak.

"Hey, Mom, I'll be inside soon. Just gotta fix a leak!" He yelled out

"Okay! Be careful!" " she called back, grabbing her things from the front and kissing Percy on the head before following Paul inside. Percy got to work, sliding underneath the car with a flashlight in his mouth to find the source. Spotting it, he set up the light and got to screw things in place.

After a while, the car fixation started to settle in, and Percy got lost in his own little world, oblivious to the thundering in the background and how drops slowly started to hit the ground.

The storm got closer and closer and settled, with thunder and lightning, but Percy remained dry as sand. A hit sparked through the car, and Percy suddenly tensed at the burning sensations throughout his body—involuntary screams ripped from him.

"Percy!" his mother called, running outside with Paul behind her. He just kept screaming, his muscles involuntarily tensing, muscle spasms hitting the car. It wasn't long before the electricity and gas caused a combustion. Shrapnel headed in every direction, taking the mortals in its damage. Percy's skin was untouched, the curse of Achilles still firm.

Sirens sounded as medics checked the house. While Percy's parents were loaded into body bags, Percy was declared comatose.