Chapter 2

Percy ran. The demigod who had faced countless monsters, battled gods, titans and freaking mother Earth, been in two Great Prophecies and survived going through the hell pit known as Tartarus turned heel and flat out ran... from a poker game.

But all he could think of was the slimy smile that never reached his eyes. The look of hatred and restraint from doing what he really wanted to do every time he hit him. The pain searing through his body but the stubbornness not to cry out, not to give him that satisfaction until he couldn't help it anymore. The countless years of torture because of a man who drank and played poker too much to be healthy. The way his home life used to be, the fear of going home overwhelmed by the yearning to see his mother. The man who was the source of his fear, Gabriel Ugliano.

That was the man who plagued his nightmares, that kept him up at night because he may be gone but it sure didn't feel that way to Percy.

Every time it was dark and he was alone, every time he smelled alcohol or saw poker, his fears ran wild. He would think 'no, No, NO! Not him, please not him!'

And of course, it was just his luck that his friends had seen him in such a venerable state.

'They probably think I'm weird...er and weak. Can you imagine what they would think if they found out I couldn't defend myself against a mortal?! Much less that I still fear said mortal! They would hate me', Percy began to think to himself sorrowfully, sitting down on the edge of the docks looking out at the lake that glistened in the sunlight. 'They would tease me about being weak and worthless. then Gabe would be right! No, I can't tell them. EVER! I-I can't lose them.'

Percy continued to look blankly out into the horizon, unknown tears flowing down his face.

And like that he stayed for who knows how long before he heard a soft voice behind him hesitantly say "Percy?"