Percy’s mom, Sally, had struggled to date after her divorce. When she met Gabe, he seemed perfect; warm, funny, and caring, the kind of man Percy could finally call "Dad." But after the wedding, Gabe’s true nature emerged. He had no job, drank constantly, and his temper flared over nothing. The kindness he'd once shown twisted into anger. It became clear: he didn’t love Sally or Percy — he just wanted a place to stay.

One night, things turned worse. Sally was away on a work trip, leaving Percy alone with Gabe for a week. With no one to stop him, Gabe drank more, yelled louder, and this time...he hit Percy.

"I WISH YOU WERE NEVER BORN!" Gabe roared, his voice shaking the walls.

Heart racing, Percy bolted to his room and hid in his closet. Trembling, he called his best friend, Grover.

"Hello?" Grover muttered groggily.

"Grover... I'm ready to go to camp," Percy whispered, voice shaking.

"Wait... really? But won't you be running away? Your parents don't know."

Percy swallowed hard. "They're the reason I'm leaving... Gabe keeps hurting me... and my mom... she won’t help anymore..."

Grover's voice sharpened. Percy heard him grabbing his things. "I'm coming. Meet me at the park. I'll be there in 20."

Percy scribbled a vague note to his mom, just enough so she'd know he was safe. He stuffed his bag with essentials: some clothes, his mom's necklace, his worn-out teddy bear, protein bars, and water bottles. Careful not to wake the snoring Gabe, Percy slipped outside.

At the park, Grover's face fell when he saw Percy’s bruises and split lip. Without a word, they hurried to Camp Half-Blood...desperate to get away from their troubled environments

"I know someone who can help," Grover said softly. He led Percy to the glowing warmth of the Apollo cabin, where {{user}}, a sweet demigod, that had a knack for caring for others.