Vigilante (Part Two)

"What are you doing up here?"

A little boy about her age looked up to meet her gaze and he quickly wiped away his tears. "What are you doing?" He asked crossing his arms. "This my spot."

"But it's late. Shouldn't you be home with your mommy and daddy?"

"You should be too," he countered. He stared at her for a moment before he frowned. "Why is there a spider web on your shoulder? Do you have a pet spider?"

She gave a short shriek and tried to wipe it away but it didn't seem to work. Silently the boy reached out and took it off of her and dropped on the ground. "All gone."

"T-thank you," she told him. "I'm Annabeth."

"My name is Perseus but call me Percy," the boy smiled but Annabeth frowned seeing the bruise on his face.

"Can I sit?" She asked.

He nodded and both sat down.

"Why were you crying?" Annabeth asked him.

"It doesn't matter."

Annabeth jolted awake and her eyes flitted around her surroundings. She was in a dark room and strapped into a chair. The room was only illuminated by a hanging light directly above her but it flickered on and off. She pulled at the restraints but they didn't budge. She cursed to herself as she racked her brain trying to figure out how she had gotten there.

A large thump and a freak of metal sounded from behind her. She couldn't quite see but it seemed someone had opened a door. Footsteps neared her a chill went down her spine. She turned her head to look at the person but quickly hands grabbed her head forcing her to look straight.

"Glad to see you're awake," the person said calmly. The sound of the voice- his voice- brought back her memory almost immediately.

She swallowed slowly. "Perseus."

"Now, now Annabeth. We both know I don't prefer to be called by my full name," he said releasing her and coming to stand in front of her. The light flickered and for a moment he couldn't see his face but when she could she could see that his sea-green eyes were full of anger and hate. He wore an easy going smile as if this is what he did everyday. Well actually as Riptide this is what he did most days. His usual vigilante uniform was gone and in its place he simply wore an orange t-shirt, a black sweatshirt and a pair of jeans. Even so Annabeth knew he was still lethal.

"What do you want from me?" Annabeth asked him. "An apology?"

Percy chuckled and shook his head. He turned around and walked away from her and out of the light to the corner of the room. He grabbed something and dragged it back toward her creating a loud scraping noise causing Annabeth to cringe. When he was back in the light Annabeth could see that it was simply a metal chair. He turned it backwards and straddled it in front her. He rested his arms on the top of the chair and smiled.  "It's too late for an apology."

"Then what do you want?"

"I want you to convince me."

"Convince you to what?"

"Not kill you." Percy moved his hands so he could look down at them as he clenched and unclenched his fists. "You see my first instinct at the moment is to wrap my fingers around your neck and see how long it takes for you to stop breathing. But," he continued looking back up to look in her in the eye. "that stupid little voice in the back of my head- my conscious- tells me not to. It's quite annoying. So give me some good reasons to let you go and I might."

"Might," Annabeth repeated.

He nodded. "Might. I'll give you some time to think about what you want to say... Then again, that would be boring. So I'm not just going to kill you or let you go without having some fun first."

"What's your definition of fun?"

He smiled at her an evil glint in his eye. "Your fear." He pulled a small box out of his sweatshirt pocket and opened it. He put his hand inside it and took something out which caused Annabeth to recoil. A spider.

It wasn't big maybe about the size of a nickel but Annabeth had seen smaller ones do much worse. "Please," she begged as he reached toward her with  the spider on his hand. "I-I don't need time to think about what I'll say."

"I think you do," Percy shrugged. "And this little guy here is your motivation." He smirked at her as she sucked in her breath as he put the spider on her forearm. She gave shriek as she stared at it watching its every move. "I'll come check you on you two later."

Annabeth didn't watch him go but she heard his footsteps retreat and she heard the door open and close. She watched the spider holding her breath as it slowly made its way up her arm and onto her shoulder. The light flickered and she lost sight of it but she could feel something on her neck. Then the fear overcame her and she saw black.

"Gabe. I don't think anything is scarier than him. Besides not being able to see my mom. What about you?"

Annabeth gave a shiver. "Spiders."

"Spiders?"

"Spiders. They come into my room at night. And I wake up with spider webs all around me. I can feel them crawling on my skin."

Percy wrinkled his nose. "Gross."

Annabeth nodded. "Very. And my family doesn't believe me either. My stepmom thinks I'm crazy." Annabeth pulled her knees to her chest. "I hate her. Sometimes I wish it was just me and my dad- and my brothers too I guess. Is that bad?"

Percy shook his head. "I don't think so. I wish Gabe was gone and it was just me and my mom."

Annabeth nodded. "Good."

~~~~

"We just went home. Why are we here now?" Detective Valdez asked with a yawn.

"Police rushed to the scene where witnesses said they heard a gun shot," Captain Brunner explained. "All the found when the got there was a police issues gun and a phone. Detective Chase's cell phone."

"It had to be Riptide," Detective McLean said.

"I agree. I need all of you looking for her. And anything you can find on Perseus Jackson!"

~~~~

"Annabeth can I tell you something?"

Annabeth nodded. "Sure."

"You're my only friend."

Annabeth blinked surprised. "I'm sure you have other friends."

Percy shook his head. "None. I change schools often, and other kids don't like me, so none."

"Well then I'm honored that in you friend."

"You are?" He asked looking at her hopeful.

Annabeth nodded. "Yup. That means I'm your best friend and I'll always be here for you."

Percy pulled her in a hug. "Thank you... Best friend."

"No problem best friend."

Annabeth woke up to water splashing her in her face. She quickly looked around breathing heavily as she came face to face with Percy. Once again he sat straddling the chair facing her. In his hand he sat the spider. He examined it for a moment before shifting his gaze to her. "It seems you two didn't quite get along."

Annabeth calmed slightly as she stared at the vile creature in his hand. "You could say that."

"So have you decided how to convince me? Or were you busy having a nap?"

Annabeth opened and closed her mouth. "I-I... I blacked out..."

"So you haven't decided," Percy said a shadow of a smile on his face as he looked at her from the corner of his eye. "Is it worth it to give you more time or would you prefer I simply kill you now?"

"I-I didn't get the chance," Annabeth explained quickly. "The s-spider..."

Percy looked her in the eye as he held out the spider to her. "Would you like more time? Or would you like to die?"

"T-t-time," Annabeth stuttered.

Percy nodded. "Good choice. I'll just leave you and my little friend-"

"No!"

"No? I thought you wanted time?"

"Not with that spider," Annabeth said her eyes never leaving the arachnid.

"Well if you want one this little fella comes with it," Percy told her with a smile.

Annabeth slowly looked away form the spider and looked to him her gaze hardening. "Is this funny to you? My fear? You just want to torture me wth my worst fear before you kill me don't you?"

Percy shrugged. "I don't exactly dislike that plan."

"You psychopath!" She shouted. "You're insane!"

"Many people have told me that. And, I'm starting to believe them."

"You are insane. You know what I fear and you use it against me. I wouldn't have ever done that to you. Because I know you couldn't have handled it." Percy's eyes narrowed underneath the flickering light as she spoke but despite her situation Annabeth continued. "You wouldn't be able to take the torture of your own mind. Tell me, what if our roles were reversed?"

"They aren't."

"What if they were?" Annabeth asked him. "Imagine yourself strapped in this very chair while I sat in front of you smiling as I dangled Gabe in front of you? How would you feel t-" Annabeth was cut off as a hand wrapped it's way around her throat and began to squeeze. Her eyes found Percy's, as he stood in front of her. His eyes full of malice.

"Never mention his name."

"You're shaking," Annabeth said despite the fact that she could barely breathe at it was. "Did you realize that I'm right?"

Percy tightened his grip and Annabeth gasped for air as she stared into his eyes desperately. After a moment he pulled his hand away and Annabeth gulped in air. Percy shouted in frustration and kicked his chair over. He shouted again and with a curse he turned back to Annabeth and grabbed the sides of her face.

"You get how I feel now?" Annabeth asked him as the light flickered around them.

Percy opened his mouth but no words came out. He released her face and Annabeth could hear his retreating footsteps before the door opened. "You still need to convince me. Even more now," he said quietly yet his voice still carried. Annabeth didn't get a chance to respond as the heavy door slammed shut.

"We can help each other!"

Annabeth stared at her friend confused. "How?"

"I don't know," Percy admitted. "But I know we will. You'll help me be free of Gabe and I'll help you be free of your stepmom."

Annabeth smiled at him. "It needs work but it's the beginning of a good plan. Let's do it."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

~~~~

"Captain! I've got something!"

"Finally it's been long enough," Captain Brunner said semi relieved. "What did you find Valdez?"

"Perseus Jackson himself doesn't have many records of him it's almost like he's vanished," Detective Valdez started.

"Then what good is that?" Detective McLean asked annoyed.

"None. What's good is that I found his alias. Peter Johnson who has a lot of records, some of which include police ones. And some of those records? They list an abandoned warehouse under his name."

~~~~

"I don't think I can take it anymore. I just can't."

"What do you mean?"

"I-I wanna run away."

"What?"

"Go where none of them could find me." When he didn't respond Annabeth continued. "You should come with me."

"No," Percy said firmly.

"No? But you wouldn't have to deal with Gabe anymore. We could go anywhere-"

"No," Percy repeated. "I'm not leaving my mom... And you shouldn't leave your dad and brothers."

Annabeth didn't respond.

"Percy?"

Both children looked up quickly as a woman came up on to the roof. Percy blinked a couple times before he stood up. "Mom? What are you doing?"

"I went into your room but you weren't there so I went looking for you," the brown haired woman explained pulling him into a hug. She then looked over to Annabeth and gave the girl a small smile. "And who is this?"

"This is my friend Annabeth. Remember I told you about her? She lives in the building next door."

"Hello Annabeth," the woman smiled. "I'm Sally. Percy's mother. He's told me a lot about you and you're welcome to come over one day. But I suggest you get home it's supposed to start raining soon. I doubt your parents want you to catch a cold."

Annabeth nodded. "Okay."

"Now come on Percy." Sally grabbed Percy's hand and pulled him along to the staircase to head back downstairs. Percy looked back to Annabeth and gave a small wave.

"Times up." Footsteps grew closer before Percy stood in front of Annabeth and bent down to look her in the eye. "Better talk fast. I've heard my name on the police scanners."

Annabeth looked him in the eye. "I'm sorry is all I can really say. I shouldn't have left you. I shouldn't have said what I did when we met for years ago. But actually there is one other thing I can say. I met your mom only once but, I know that she wouldn't want you to be a killer. She seemed so nice she didn't deserve what happened, you didn't either, but murder isn't the answer."

Percy frowned. "I figured you'd say something around those lines.

"And? You're going to let me live."

"Am I?"

"You are. You were planning on letting me go ever since I mentioned Ga-him. Because you realized I was right."

Percy didn't respond as he pulled a switch blade out of his back pocket. Annabeth kept her eyes on the blade as he reached forward and cut the strap on her right wrist before he placed the knife in her hand and quickly stepped back out of her reach. Annabeth held the knife and watched him for a moment before using it to cut her other wrist free before proceeding to cut her ankles free as well. She placed he knife in her lap and began to run her wrists as she watched him.

Percy said nothing and walked behind her before she heard the door open. She immediately had the urge to run for the foot but she had a feeling that's exactly what Percy wanted. So she stood slowly and turned to face the door uncertainly.

"Percy?"

The guy turned around to see the smiling face of a blonde girl with gray eyes. The girl tried to pull him in a hug but she was quickly pushed away.

"You don't remember me?" She asked confused. "It's me-"

"I do," he said bitterly. "I remember you Annabeth."

Annabeth smiled. "Then what's wrong?"

"You left me for fifteen years. Am I just supposed to pretend that everything is okay?"

"But-"

"Don't. Go enjoy your life while I still suffer in mine."

"I-I didn't mean... Look I'm sorry but can't we still be friends?"

Percy shook his head and ran a hand through his raven black hair. "Fifteen years. That's a long time and in that time people change Annabeth. But only some of those changes are for the better."

Annabeth slowly walked toward the door cautiously listening as she could hear Percy banging on something and walking around. She reached the door and walked outside of it and into another room. The room was smaller and there were stairs heading down straight in front of her but Percy was in the way of them. He had his back to her kneeling over a trunk and pulling out a large gun and some bullets.

"What are you doing?" Annabeth asked him quietly even though she was positive she wouldn't like the answer.

"What's it look like? The cops are on their way to get you. I need firepower to get out of here alive. Or I need to least shoot a couple to have them shoot back at me. I'm not going in wearing handcuffs."

"Why? Just surrender and go prison isn't that better than dying?"

Percy shook his head as loaded a the gun with bullets. "I'm not stupid. I know that capital punishment is in store for me. I died along time ago Annabeth. Revenge has been the only thing which has kept my body moving. So I rather go down swinging than face the needle."

Annabeth slowly stepped forward and stood in front of him. Percy paused and looked at her confused. Her hoisted the large gun on one shoulder and Annabeth reached out with her left hand- the one not holding the knife- and grabbed his free hand. "Your hand is warm," she told him.

"Your point?"

"Do you know what that means?"

"What?"

"It means that you're still alive, you're not dead. You're still breathing. So stop acting like you're dead."

Percy pulled his hand away. "Don't get to close. You might catch my insanity." Annabeth didn't respond as the sound of sirens reached her ears. Percy stepped past her toward the stairs. "Showtime."

He walked down the stairs and after a moment Annabeth hurried after him. The sirens grew louder and she could hear the opening of car doors and shouting of orders.

Percy paused on the next flight of stairs as he held his weapon ready to fire. He stopped heading down at this floor and instead took a spot across the room his gun trained on the stairs where soon enough officers would come up. Annabeth stopped on the floor and began to walk over to Percy when she froze. Should she run down to the cops and safety but as a consequence let them shoot at Percy and have him shoot at them? Or should've she stay and try to talk everyone down?

She didn't get much time to decide because the first officer made their way up the steps- Detective McLean to be exact.

"Annabeth!" The other girl shouted happily before her eyes narrowed in on Percy behind her. "Drop it Perseus!"

"Calling me by full name only makes me want to pull the trigger more," Percy told her.

"Annabeth get out of the way."

Annabeth was about to move when she heard Percy hurry up beside her and placed the gun to the side of her head. Around her more people started shouting and Annabeth glanced at Percy. He seemed to almost be enjoying himself.

Percy slowly moved the gun away from her head but only for a moment as he pulled another gun from his waistband with his other hand before putting the smaller gun to her head and pointing the bigger one at he cops in front of him using Annabeth as a human shield.

The cops shouted again that's when Percy started shooting.

~~~~

It is now time to... CHOOSE YOUR OWN HEARTBREAK! I had two ideas for an ending and couldn't pick so you can read one or both! And tell me what you think!

-Jaz

~~~~

OPTION ONE

The sound of bullets and shouting reached Annabeth's ears. She felt a bullet graze her leg and suddenly she became aware of the object in her right hand- the knife. Without another thought she stepped back into Percy before shoving the knife in his throat. Percy dropped the guns immediately as he fell back clutching his throat. Annabeth was by his side immediately. He pulled out the knife coughing and spluttering as blood came out of both his neck and mouth.

Tears began to flow down Annabeth's face as she brushed his hair out of his face. "Shhh. It's okay. It's okay. I'm right her," she told him softly. "In here right here." She paused to wipe away tears. "You said you wanted to go down swinging right?"  

Percy coughed again and his hands grew covered in more blood. "Ya know... You're the worst best friend ever," he told Annabeth.

Annabeth cracked a smile and cradled his head as his breathing slowed and his body began to go slack. "I know. I know. Trust me Percy... I know."

~~~~

OPTION TWO

As soon as he pulled the trigger Annabeth slammed Percy to the ground. She wrenched the larger gun away from him and she held the small knife to his throat.

"After all this you're not going to get out of here so easily," Annabeth told him applying pressure to the knife, just enough the draw blood.

"I still have one gun," Percy told her.

"We all have them too," Detective Valdez said pointing his gun down at Percy's head.

Percy only dropped the gun and smiled up at the detective.

~~~~

"Annabeth. I was beginning think to you wouldn't show."

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "I've been coming to visit you or this long. There was no way I'd miss today. I won't get to see you again."

"How many reporters are out there?"

"Why do you care?"

Percy shrugged and ran his hand through his hair. "Just curious. I'm the first man to be executed in New York State after a long time."

"Jackson your last meal is here," a guard announced entering the cell and placing a tray in front of Percy.

"Blue chocolate chip cookies and a blue soda?" Asked Annabeth confused.

"Blue Cherry Coke," Percy corrected taking a sip of the drink.

Annabeth rolled her eyes.

~~~~

Annabeth was the only non reporter sitting in the viewing room as the prisoner strapped him down onto the gurney. They asked him if there was anything else he wanted to say. His last words. In response the reporters sat up straight ready to write down his last words.

Percy's eyes found Annabeth and he gave her wink. "See ya in hell best friend."

With that said the process started and the injections went in one by one. And soon enough the officially pronounced him dead. Reporters hurriedly left ready to write down the story for the morning news while Annabeth sat staring at his body ignoring the few tears falling down her face. Finally she stood up and headed for the door only looking back once. "I'll see you there best friend."