A scream, a flash and a thud. Just like that she was yanked out of the mess of a life she knew. Just like that, Thalia Grace was dead. And the worst part was she didn't even fight back.
Weeks of endless nightmares and sleepless nights, years of doubt and regret, millennia of what ifs … it had to be done – right?
Darkness swallowed her whole and the cold crawled up her arms like vines, trapping her in ice. It felt like falling, but not exactly. It felt like drowning, but not quite. There were no words to describe what she felt, what she went through, what she tasted, what she smelled, but one thing was certain. There was nothing left for her to do except to close her pretty blue eyes and … die.
Memories raced across her brain. Each, another dagger to her heart. There was one memory though, that put knots in her stomach. Jason. The world came crashing down on her. What had she done? She had just found him, and now she permanently erased herself from the picture.
More faces came. Annabeth, Percy, Nico, Grover, Piper then- Luke. A fire lit up inside of her. Warmth spread through her body – a warmth she hadn't felt in years. Was it hope … or love? Whatever it was, she didn't care. All she wanted was for it to stay and never die out again.
But no. That wasn't all she wanted. There was one more thing – one more person. Luke. His eyes, his scar, his hair … his lips. She wanted that too. In fact she needed it. She needed him.
Tears rolled down her cheeks. Her hands shook like leaves. Thalia was a ball of nerves, and all it took was one boy. One perfect, sweet, incredible boy.
A powerful voice whispered in her ear "Open your eyes dear Thalia." She hesitated, almost scared to see what had happened. "You will be fine. You may finally rest my daughter." Zeus. It had to be. Slowly she opened he eyes and realized she was in the Underworld.
She handed the Ferry Man a gold drachma and sailed across the Styx. Her knees were held close t her chest and her arms wrapped tightly around them. The ride was unnerving and rickety. The rest of her journey was a bit fuzzier. She remembered Cerberus, the hall of judgment and being sent to Elysium.
Seeing the golden gates of Elysium brought back the fire, brighter than ever. Though she would never admit it, she was hoping, hoping so hard that he waited for her. Hoping he didn't try for rebirth. Hoping he still felt the same way. Hoping … they could start again. But what if he didn't remember, what if he didn't wait? Was this just another lost cause?
The vines were back, wrapping around her arms tighter and tighter, getting colder and colder. The gates opened and he wasn't there. The vines crawled up her neck, up her cheek, then they just disappeared. Suddenly she could breathe again and then she couldn't.
He did wait … but did he remember?