Chapter Text
Percy glances up at the storefront with suspicion. The door had cracks in it, the windows looked like they hadn't been cleaned in months, and the 'Sams Electrics' sign was leaning so far sideways it looked like an arrow pointing to the door.
Percy wasn't ashamed to say he tried to pull his mother away from the creepy store and to something more presentable, like Walmart. Walmart was better than this. But Sally trudge on with percy in tow to buy a cheap new pipe for their sink.
"Come on percy." She gave him a thin lipped smile. "Just in and out baby that's all."
Percy nodded his head and they entered the store. They had only looked around for a couple of minutes when a grunt came from behind the counter.
"Can I getch' ya anything?" A large man leered towards them. His teeth were crooked and he looked like a walrus except way less cute. Percy recoiled at his pungent smell. Like a mixture of wet dirty socks and sour milk.
"Hello! I'm looking for a sink pipe. I'm not sure what the part is called but it's where the piping curves." Sally gave the store worker a smile. Percy wished she hadn't, his mom's smiles were beautiful and no one wanted to leave after receiving one. Not even percy.
The man's smile widened. Percy gagged as his eyes dragged over Sally's form. "I know what you need. Follow me." Sally nods and makes to follow the man but stops abruptly. She looks down beside she and notices percy digging his small feet into the floor with all of his four year old strength. "I don't wanna go back there." Percy pouted. He tried to hide behind his mother's leg when the man scowled at him.
"Oh it's not scary percy." Sally tried to assure him. "It's not even that dark." Percy grit his teeth. How could he get his mama to understand that it wasn't the dark he was afraid of? It was the suspicious store, and the leering man who looked at percy like he was an obstacle.
He couldn't explain. "No!" Percy yelled and burst into tears. He wouldn't be able to explain how he felt until years later. When his mother would cry in his arms about how sorry she was. About how she just wanted to protect him. Percy would cry too thinking about how much he loved her, to be silent for so long.
Percy practically screamed when the man stepped closer to them. His mother had a blush of embarrassment as she tried to calm him down. Right when the man opened his mouth a rumbling noise raced through the walls.
The trio looked around in confusion as a pipe burst behind the counter. The man cursed and went to go fix it. Percy hiccupped and sniffed as he watched him go. Sally slowly turned pale as a ghost. Then squared her shoulders and leaned across the counter. She let an easy smile cross her face.
"Do you need a hand there?" The Man looked at her. His face all red and puffy. He seemed like he wanted to scream at her but Sally's smile stopped him from making a fool of himself.
"Nothing a pretty woman like you should concern yourself with. Let the big man handle it." He gave his crooked smile until water sprayed his face. As Percy looked between his mama and the creepy man a sinking feeling settled in his gut. He had a feeling he'd see this man again.