Chapter Text
“Percy?”
The question faded into the background along with everything else. You know when an old TV turns off and the colors shrink to the middle before the screen goes black? Yeah, that’s what I was feeling. I couldn’t even give a sound as an answer. What would I even say? Help, I’m fainting. Help, my arm feels like someone poured acid on it. Help, my head is so foggy if you measured the humidity it would be at 100%. I don’t even know what anyone could do. I just hope someone will catch me before I hit the ground.
But what I saw next wasn't the ceiling of the MossSMP Community House. It was the sky, empty and blue. Then a face I thought I’d never see again popped into view, “You’re finally awake, Percy!” My younger brother, Jay tried pulling me to my feet, “C'mon you’re gonna be late for dinner! You don’t want to keep Dad waiting.”
I just stared at him, “But you’re- but he’s- you’re both dead!” I tried focusing my eyes on his face, but it was all fuzzy for some reason. He looked younger than I remembered though, he still had his lamb ears that I use to like to poke because they'd stick up at odd angles. I looked around and lo and behold we were on Apherion, the kingdom in the sky I thought I left a year ago. It was beautiful. Water was flowing down from the farms. Flowers had bloomed along the barriers. The grass was the greenest I had ever seen it. The tree at the heart of the islands was bursting with life, the leaves thick and prosperous. I almost didn’t recognize it.
I looked back at Jay. He huffed in annoyance and gave up trying to lift me, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but we are gonna be dead if we don’t go home. Race ya, last one there is a rotten egg!”
Then he took off and skipped across the bridge to our house. I wanted to chase after him, but the moment I got up and tried to dash forward, my vision swam even more. At least my arm isn’t hurting anymore, I thought. Wait, why did I think my arm was hurting? Did it ever hurt? Maybe I just made it up.
-
I walked into my house and saw my father and Jay sitting down. They were eating already and had a plate out for me. I went to greet my dad. Daimon! My mind supplied, but the name was quickly suppressed. Daimon? Who’s Daimon? The man sitting in front of me was the only father figure I could remember, Ivory Mars. He wore his thick, curly hair in a high ponytail today but it still spilled past his shoulders. His face was slightly blurry like Jay’s, but I didn’t stress about it. Maybe there’s something in my eye…
“So nice of you to finally join us.” Ivory jests, “Your brother beat you home tonight. Again.”
“YEAH, YOU'RE THE ROTTEN EGG!”
“Jay stop shouting with food in your mouth,” Ivory looks back to me, “Fall asleep?”
“Yeah sorry…Didn’t mean to.”
“Mhm yeah. Thought so. Eat your dinner before it gets cold.”
And so the night went on. Dinner itself wasn’t anything to write home about, just some bread and butter. Afterward, we helped Dad clean the dishes and then we had time to ourselves before bed. I opted to explore tonight, usually I just pick a book from Ivory’s small library in the basement, but I was still so confused. Was the place I was in before just a dream? I decided to go and find Avi and Zoey, my best friends who were also like siblings to me.
Spotting them wasn’t difficult, I saw them playing on a small floating island of grass on the other side of the bridge. I called over to them and raced across the bridge with ease this time- maybe my head was getting better. They were watching the sunset, which is one of Zoey’s favorite activities. Zoey can’t see much at all but she can see light. I liked sitting next to her, so she could feel the warmth from my hair and so that she could see me when the sun goes down fully.
“Hi Percy!” Zoey squeezes my hand and Avi waves.
“Hey guys! Enjoying the sunset?”
Avi grins, “Yeah, come here to watch with us?”
“Yeah but um, there’s something I wanted to ask you guys.” My tone makes their smiles drop instantly.
“Everything okay? What’s wrong?” Avi tries searching my face for my thoughts before I say them. I look away.
“Yeah just… Didn’t we…Um…Wait sorry hold on,” Didn’t we what? I just had it in my head- the question is just on the tip of my tongue why can’t I remember? I glance at their worried faces and put on a smile, “Never mind, if I forgot I’m sure it’s not important.” I laugh it off.
“O…kay Percy.” Avi smiles but I can still see their eyebrows knit together, “Hey, if you remember you know where we live.” Zoey pulls us into a hug and we fall over and start laughing.
We hung out until the sun dipped below the foggy horizon. It became dark fast and I helped Zoey walk back to her shared house with Avi. We hugged, said our goodbyes, and I watched as the lantern in their house was put out. As I walked back to my house, I distracted myself by looking at the stars. On Apherion, the stars were perfect. I loved looking at the sky, it brought me so much comfort seeing the Moon replace the sun and seeing the stars twinkle as if they were waving hello.
But tonight there was no moon and not even a glimpse of the Milky Way. I tried to enjoy it, really, but as I walked into my house and put out the lantern downstairs…I couldn’t help but compare the sky to the darkness of a cave.
-
“Percy tell me a bedtime story pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeseee,” Jay whined as I changed into my night clothes.
“Yeah of course if you quit your whining.” I flicked his nose and he huffed and sat back on his pillow. He looked at me expectantly.
I thought for a moment, “Once upon a time, there was a beautiful kingdom that spread for miles upon miles. The kingdom had no borders, no worry of food shortages, and life was prospering. It was the Kingdom of…Kaspia. And there in the Heart of it had four kids. The four made a village on the tallest hill they could find and called it Apherion Hill.”
“Like our Apherion!!”
“Yes, like our Apherion. But unlike our Apherion, these kids could explore to their hearts desire. They would go on adventures together and play with the Gods.”
“The Gods? Like in Dad’s myths?”
“Mhm.”
“Man…I wanna go there,” Jay yawned, “Where’d you hear that story?”
“I just made it up,” I watched as Jay closed his eyes, “Maybe one day we can go there together.”
I tucked him into bed and smiled. For a moment everything was okay. I laid in my own bed and turned the last lantern out. I wasn’t tired, but I closed my eyes anyway, “Goodnight, Jay.” I whispered.
I glanced over at him, having the sudden urge to see him sleeping and safe. But what I saw made me almost scream. For a second I saw him sprawled in his bed, covered in some purpley sickness. His eyes were cloudy and his chest was still. I sat up sharply and rubbed my eyes and stared at him again, but now he was just smiling peacefully to himself, eyes closed.
I watched him breathe all night long.