Percy was as confused as Nancy Bobofit was a bully.

Déjà vu just had to be the weirdest thing in existence. A few days ago, Percy had taken a test at Yancy Academy. Normal, right? Yeah, it would be, except Percy actually got all of the questions correct. Like, what? The only thing Percy ever got right were the questions about Greek mythology in Mr. Brunner's class – and that was only because it was the only class that didn't bore him to death.

But this wasn't Latin with Mr. Brunner. This was math. Math! The only thing he sucked at more than math was English, because of his gods be damned dyslexia. It was almost like his brain was hardwired for another langua- wait a minute.

Gods? Last Percy checked, the only "gods" out there were his teachers, and everyone else who could give him bad grades and/or detention – and even that was stretching it a bit. What other gods could there be? Silly Seaweed Brain.

Seaweed brain?

Percy rubbed his temples in an effort to stop confusing himself. He redirected his attention back to Mr. Brunner.

"-which proved to be a very effective method. Can anyone tell me specifically why Kronos swallowed his children?" Percy knew this. He shot his hand up in the air. "Ah, yes, Percy."

"He had been warned by the earth goddess, Gaea, that his children would grow very powerful one day and eventually overthrow him." He said the earth goddess' name with such hatred that it surprised even him. What did he have against an imaginary chick from mythology? Surely nothing, right?

Do not be so sure, Perseus.

Percy suddenly shot out of his seat. "What?! Who said that?" It sounded like the voice came from his head. The whole class looked at him like he was nuts.

"Said what, Percy?" Mr. Brunner looked at him curiously.

"Uh, nothing, Mr. Brunner. Nothing at all." He returned to his seat, dimly aware of his classmates laughing at him. "Uh, can I use the bathroom?"

"May I, Percy. Yes, you may."

"Thanks."

Behind Percy, Mr. Brunner and Grover Underwood, Percy's best friend, exchanged looks of worry before Percy shut the classroom door behind him.

Line Break

Percy laid on his bed, thinking, which was not something he did often. His thoughts kept returning to that voice in Mr. Brunner's class. "Do not be so sure, Perseus." Why did he feel like he should recognize the voice? Where did it come from? What did it mean?

I am not an it, Perseus.

Percy bolted upright, reaching into his pocket for something unknown. "Who are you? What are you doing in my head?!"

I am you, Perseus. I am in your head because I am you. The voice sounded sad, like she had lost a child and never managed to forgive herself.

"The Hades does that even mean?" Hades?

Calm down, Perseus. You will confuse the other students. You should go somewhere where we will not be interrupted.

"And just why should I listen to you?"

I did mention that I am you, did I not? I assure you, this is in your best interest, Perseus.

"Do I even have a choice, lady?"

Of course you do. You are in control, after all. We both know, however, that you want answers. I can help you find them. Now, go to the pool.

"The pool?"

Yes, Perseus. The pool.

"Okay then. To the pool I go... Should I bring, like, a towel, and all that stuff?" Percy waited for a response, but heard nothing. "Really? Whatever..." He grabbed a towel and a change of clothes and started towards Yancy Academy's pool. He really hoped there wasn't a class in session.

Line Break

Thank the gods the pool was empty. Explaining to the coach that he wasn't in class because he had a voice in his head that told him to go to the pool would sounds very odd. Besides, he'd been in detention enough that year.

"Alright, lady, I'm here. Now what?"

Don't call me lady, that's what.

"Hey, you call me Perseus. Besides, you never gave me your name..."

You can call me whatever you wish, Perseus. As long as it doesn't offend me.

Percy looked thoughtful for a moment before speaking. "You seem like a Karen. Karen?"

No.

"Oh, okay... Leslie?"

No.

"Uh... Anna?"

No.

"How many times am I going to have to try to get a name out of you? Gods, you're stubborn..." Percy thought about stubbornness and people he knew that showed that trait. There was Gabe, in his own way, but obviously Not-Karen-Leslie-or-Anna was not a dude. Now that Percy thought about it, he didn't actually know that many people. He was suddenly sad.

Do not feel bad, Perseus. You will meet your friends soon enough.

"What?"

I said, you will meet your friends soon enough.

"You're confusing me even more than I already am..." Percy's mind raced, and suddenly a name popped out of his mouth. "Lavender."

Lavender?

"Yeah, Lavender. That's your name now. Sound good?"

Yes.

"Well, now that that's settled." A crooked victory grin appeared on his face. "What the Hades am I doing here?"

What do you feel, Perseus?

"Annoyed."

Close your eyes, and listen to your thoughts. Embrace them.

Percy figured it couldn't really hurt to do what Lavender said. He closed his eyes, and listened to his thoughts. Names ran through his head; Chiron, Annabeth, Luke, Thalia, Bianca. Faces swirled around the names, but he couldn't put a face to any of them. He felt like he should know these people better than himself. The fact that he didn't upset him greatly – but he didn't know why.

These people are your friends. Well, most of them.

"I don't understand. I've never seen these people before in my life... Well, Chiron looks a lot like Mr. Brunner – but Mr. Brunner isn't a horse. Is he?"

You are correct, Perseus. In your life, you have not.

If it was possible for Percy to be any more confused, nothing could exceed it anymore. "What the heck does that even mean, Lavender?"

Percy, you are intelligent. Or, at least, you were. That knowledge should be coming back to you. Think.

Percy thought, alright. He stood, thinking and staring at the pool water for about an hour, and didn't realize how much time had passed.

Until his legs decided to stop working.

You know how you when you trip going down the stairs, and you don't realize that you fell until you're at the bottom?

That's what it felt like. Except it was a hell of a lot more painful.

Percy felt like someone was performing brain surgery on him with a chainsaw. Everything was in pain. But, through the pain, he was remembering – Annabeth was the chick with blonde hair and startling grey eyes, who he quickly realized he never wanted to see again. Mr. Brunner was a centaur, Thalia was a daughter of Zeus, Bianca was someone who he couldn't save, and many other names, battles, all memories of a life that apparently belonged to him – but most startling was his own blade protruding from his chest. By her hands. Her grey eyes.

Author's Note:

Hey guys! First actual fanfic. My previous one was almost worse than Justin Bieber's latest single, but, this will be different, I promise. I have the entire story mapped out, the characters, everything. All I need to do is type it out. I want every chapter to be at least 1k words, which isn't much, but it's something. I also plan to keep this an ongoing fanfic – meaning I will not ditch this. Meaning, if anyone actually likes this fanfic, follow it! There will be more, I promise. If you don't like it, then tell me what I did wrong, and I'll see what I can do about it. Retro signing off. :)