Chapter Text
PERCY POV.
After years of wars, prophecies, and near-death experiences, Percy Jackson has changed. Been changing.
He still smiles for his friends, but inside? He feels hollowed out.
Disgusted by the fact he exists. (How many had died? Just so he could stand here?)
Sleep? A curse whenever he gets it.
Water? Speaks to him sometimes. Not even in a good way.
He has begun fearing silence because silence means thinking. And thinking means seeing the memories.
(Blood.Blood.Blood.Blood.Blood.Blood.Blood.Blood. Where was she? Where was HE?)
He walks to his cabin.
Something catches his eye.
A shadow.
It moved. Its motions too jerky. Too sharp. Too unnatural.
He ignored it. Just like Annabeth ignored him now. Just like da- Bruce did. Just watching, filing imaginary files and looking away.
ANNABETH POV
"Perseus is connected to an ancient imbalance child.", Nyx wispered
Sacrificing him is the only way to stop the awakening of Ouranos
If you refuse, everyone dies."
Annabeth fights it constantly.
Some days she wins.
Some days she loses hours of time.
But she never imagines she would hurt him.
That becomes her oversight.
One night Annabe-Nyx finds Percy alone near the shore.
She’s pale. Shaking. "And pathetic." Nyx adds.
“Percy… I need your help.”
And it’s Annabeths body,
because Perseus would follow her anywhere,
he goes.
She leads him to ancient ruins hidden beneath the earth.
The deeper they go, the more the air feels oppressively less breathable.
Perseus realizes too late that the symbols on the walls are primordial.
Then Annabeth whispers:
“I’m sorry."
And Nyx hits him with Annabeth's drakon bone sword.
Knocking him out cold.