Chapter 1: Prologue

Hazel

At long last, I found Percy, after I'd been looking for him for quite a while. I did not expect to find him in such an obvious place: right at the helm of the ship, sunken in thoughts while overlooking the sea. He looks pretty good. That is to say, in comparison with how he looked like we found him about a week ago.

'You're obviously the only one on this ship who does not believe I'm going to explode any second,' Percy says suddenly, without even turning around. I'm surprised he noticed that I was sneaking up on him. I do not ask why he made that remark, cause I already know the answer. Instead, I say: 'Indeed, I don't. What are you doing here?' Percy sighs. 'I don't really know, to be honest.' Another strange answer, like the ones I've been getting a lot from him lately. Guess I cannot blame him for acting strange, not after what he's been through. 'Can I join you?' I ask him. Without waiting for an answer, I stand beside him and follow his gaze across the water. I never really understood what people like so much about the sea. Most people describe it as nice and blue, but according to me, it's all dirty and it smells horrible. But I get why Percy must like it so much, it's his territory and probably it's also the closest thing he has to home right now.

After a few moments of silence, I start to believe that Percy's not going to say anything to me. In an attempt to start a conversation, I fill him in on what the others are doing, although he doesn't seem very interested. Maybe I'm just a bad storyteller - I got to admit that my story about Leo's attempt to do the laundry is actually not half as funny as it was when Frank told me about it.

'So,' Percy finally says when I'm done talking, 'nobody seems to be doing anything interesting today.' He gives me a halfhearted smile. 'Means I'm not the only one who's being rather useless,' he adds. I shrug, 'Everyone seems to be a bit distracted lately. According to me, only coach Hedge is having a good time... He's watching Game of Thrones right now, and he thinks it's the best series ever – he's kind of addicted to it. Probably that's the reason he's not often around anymore, or at least he wants us to believe that. To be honest, I think he just wants to be alone. Things have changed on this ship, ever since you where, you know…'

'Gone.'

'Dham you, Hazel,' I tell myself, 'No more talking about the Percy-was-gone-period.'

'I don't know why he finds that series so fantastic.' I say quickly, in an attempt to avoid the subject I just brought up, 'He's also been naming characters after us and he considers that to be an honor. He even named one after you!'

All of a sudden, a large wave makes the ship rock and I hardly manage to keep my balance, so I grip the railing of the Argo II. Percy, on the other hand, did not even move an inch, but he's the son of the Sea God after all.

'I'm flattered,' he says flatly, 'Which one got the honor of carrying my name from now on?'

'Davos Seaworth, or something like that. The coach actually got the name wrong. He thought he was named 'That lost Sea God'.' Right after I spoke those words, I truly wish I hadn't, cause Percy turns away from me. In an attempt to make up for my stupid mistake, I stammer:

'I think it … it means that he missed you.'

Percy walks away, and I feel a little disappointed. After a few steps, he holds still and turns around. To my surprise, he's smiling. 'Is that Davos a good-looking guy?'

I sigh, relieved. 'Not really, he's kind of old and going bald, but he seemed nice. I guess the coach chose him because he was always walking nearby the sea, and he had a nice boat.'

I wink at Percy, and when he returns the favor with a small grin, I decide that this could the right moment to bring up the subject nobody's been wanting to talk about for too long.

'He also got captured in an attempt to save a friend, later on.'

'Like I was.'

'Like you were.'

Percy slowly nods, 'I'm glad to hear that at least one person has missed me. I only hoped it would have been someone else than that old goat.' A shiver goes down my spine after he said that and suddenly I feel pretty bad for the torn up guy standing in front of me. So it's true, my feelings where right: Percy truly believes we no longer care about him.

'Don't be too harsh on the others. I believe they don't really know how to behave in your presence.'

It's a lame excuse, I know, but what else is there to say about this messed up situation? After all, none of us really knows what happened to Percy after we lost him and Annabeth at Arachnes lair – except for Annabeth of course. But she does not talk about anything either, she doesn't even talk at all. When we found her, she acted like she'd gone completely haywire, which was very un-Annebeth-like. Eventually she calmed down, but she did not want to talk to any of us. When Percy returned, all of us hoped that her condition would improve, but it didn't. Most of the time, she locks herself up in her room and often skipped dinner. At night, I can often hear her screaming and whispering in her sleep – but none of the things she says makes much sense. Without a doubt, something terrible must have happened to Annabeth and Percy during the time they spend at Tartarus. The entire mystery about the journey those two made and why they showed back up on earth separately, is eating me.

'I thought Annabeth would…' Percy's voice trails off and I'm sure he's at the edge of breaking down. I walk up to him and give him a hug. When I let go, I look up at him. His bright, sea green eyes stare back at me. I remember the first time I saw them – they looked vivid, gentle and courageous. Now they look tormented, hollow and ghostly. Eyes that have seen too much, eyes that have seen things they were not supposed to see. 'Eyes are the window to the soul', they say. I genuinely hope that doesn't apply to Percy. Because if those eyes mirror how torn up his soul really is, I'm afraid Percy Jacksons is beyond fixing.

'Maybe we should talk to the others, about how you feel. Would it make you feel better?' I propose. Percy gives me a distracted look. 'Tartarus changes people, I kind of feel I lost a lot of things down there,' he replies hesitantly

'But talking might help, it helped for me – so I could deal with my, er… problem.' I give Percy a gentle push against the shoulder, hoping it would encourage him a bit.

'Maybe it does, Hazel. But recently I started to believe that some things I've lost down there, better stay hidden forever. I think I need some time to figure out what memories I want to dig up again… And when I'm done with that, we'll talk. I promise.' By those words, Percy turns around and leaves me behind on the deck, pondering about what he just told me.