I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians but I guess you already knew that!

Prologue

He looked at the gun in his hand unsure as to what he should do. The cold metal felt foreign against his skin. Was it worth it? Dying? He could not say. But what was the point of living anyway. He was broken. An empty shell. A shadow of his old self. He was tired of fighting. Tired of living. After all what was there to live for?

Tartarus haunted him in his nightmares. Night after night he could feel himself being pulled into the abyss only to wake up in a cold sweat, arms flailing and shivering with fear. More than anything, it was the guilt that was eating him up from within. Guilt for leaving Bob behind, guilt for not being able to pull Annabeth out from Arachnae's cave in time and most of all making people believe that he was a hero although he wasn't.

To be honest he was just tired. Tired of playing the hero. Tired of being a pawn of the gods. Tired of going on quest after quest. He had tried his best to face whatever challenges had come his way but just when he felt that enough was enough life threw another curveball at him.

Most campers looked up to him. Wanted to be like him. Whenever they would look at him with hope and that optimism shining in their eyes, he wanted to scream. Ask them not to be a fool like he was. Not aspire to be like him. A hero's life was full of tragedy. It was true. The giant war was over but at a great cost. More than a hundred demigods had been killed. While the gods had just watched from the sidelines only to step in once the seven had reached Greece and the battle was already half won. And they took all the credit.

Typical.

He slowly raised the muzzle to his temple.

Shoot! His brain yelled.

He tried to find a reason to live but could not. For Annabeth? No. She deserved better. She deserved a person who would actually look after her. Someone not affected by the demons of his past. Someone whole. The camp? No. They needed a leader. An actual one. Not a person who was only pretending to be one. Moreover, he could not. He was sick of living up to others expectations. Doing what he was expected to do. His mom? No. Not even her. She was finally happy. Paul and her had just had a daughter – his little sister Susan. His mom deserved a happy life. A normal child. Not one who would put her in constant danger by their very existence.

This was it then. His finger inched towards the trigger. He took a deep breath. Would he go to Elysium? He hoped so. This was cowardly, he knew that but right now it seemed to be the only way out.

10... he pictured his Mom how happy she was when he had finally returned.

He swallowed hard.

9... how relieved he was on escaping Tartarus

A shudder ran down his spine.

8... finally meeting Annabeth at Camp Jupiter

A tear rolled down his cheek.

7... their kiss underwater

By now his had was shaking too badly to hold the gun steady.

''Percy?''

His eyes flew open to see Annabeth in front of him.

''H-hey."

She choked back a sob. ''I find you about to commit suicide and all you say is ''hey''? Please put down the gun Percy. Please. '' and she started sobbing. ''I need you. How could you think of killing your self? What about me? Your mom? Paul? Susan? How can you even think of doing something like this?"

The gun slid down to the floor.

''I'm sorry. I really am.'' He whispered. ''But I can't do this Annabeth. Not anymore."

''I had come to tell you the very same thing Percy. I want to leave camp. I cannot live here anymore.''

And just like that the two greatest demigods of the century left the only place they had called home never to return.

Hey! I am back! Now let me clarify in the beginning itself that Percy and Annabeth are NOT going to turn evil or go against the Gods. They are just broken after Tartarus and being at CHB is not helping them at all as everyone is expecting them to be as they were as it was before the Giant war which according to me is unrealistic.

Lastly please don't forget to review! It makes my day. Also please tell me if I should leave this as a oneshot or continue with the story.

- booklover1004