Happy New Years Eve! Yet another oneshot about Thalia. I just can't help myself. Hope you like!
Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or Thalia. The lyrics are from the song Merry-Go-Round by Versus. And technically, the inspirational merry-go-round belongs to a church playground near where I live; but they got rid of it, so I guess that's up for grabs.
Around We Go
Thalia was streatched lazily over the merry-go-round.
She stayed perfectly still, if she moved, the metal might now be hot enough to sear her skin. Her usual layers of clothing had been shed due to the arid weather. She was left in a thin black t-shirt and dark wash jeans that had seen better days. She had even taken off her faithful combat boots. Her hair had grown out, and it fanned out around her head like raven-colored peacock feathers. Her cheeks were flushed from the summer sun; she could feel the high noon heat burning her skin. Her eyes were closed, but the light passed through the thin skin easily. Blue and violet dots speckled the orange background of her eyelids.
In the park, passers-by came and went, and if they happened to glance in Thalia's direction, she wouldn't have noticed.
The other Hunters would be ahead of her now, but she could catch up when she felt like it. She didn't feel like going after them now; she wasn't sure if she ever would. They knew to leave her alone. And now she might just be stuck on this corroding hunk of metal for all eternity.
Bare feet thudded against the dry dust in repetitive beats. Kicking at the ground, Thalia propelled herself around in endless circles. While the thoughts she was thinking were not so lovely, she relished the feeling of warm sunlight on her neck and shoulders. It was something she hadn't had much a chance to enjoy. Silently, she thanked Apollo and his sun chariot, but the pleasantness ended there.
Luke was gone. He disappeared with his army somewhere, that stupid traitor. Somehow, in Thalia's mind, she had deemed it her own fault. She should have known it would come to this. Maybe it would be better if she stayed there, never worrying about what side to choose. Neither would she have to bear the weight of losing him, nor would she break her vow and be forced to take on the consequences. If only it was that easy.
She hummed the tune mildly despite her situation.
Time is running out.
And now I gotta go back around the merry-go-round.
To circle back around.
She hated him.
She loved him.
That was the continuous circle she had thrown herself into. She wasn't sure she would ever be able to open her eyes and accept the dizzying world laid out in front of her. Only there, time wouldn't run out; she would have all of forever to lie on her back, feeling what she felt. Making an unmakeable decision.
Going round and round and round forever.
