The Combination

Chapter 2- Meet Tris Prior


"Tris Prior, huh."

"Yep." She replied, popping the p extra loud, as if no one would hear.

Their voices echoed into the empty room. It was almost evening, but surprisingly, Percy wasn't hungry at all. He thought that he would miss those blue hot wings on the Argo. The whole crew would have ice cream afterwards, and Percy would dye blue ice cream sandwiches and they all got one, except for Frank. He got a blue apple.

Percy was already starting to feel homesick. He didn't want to be ungrateful that he already had someone to talk to, Tris Prior, but she was barely a friend, they had just met. But they felt like they had been friends for a long time, like they already knew each other, like they were both in the same situation. And that was true. Percy and Tris were both deceased.

So they talked amongst themselves. It wasn't like they had anything else to do to pass time. But again, what time is there in this place? An entire year on Earth could have passed ever since he had arrived in this, well, afterlife. Percy spoke of his adventurous 17 years of life. He humorously thought that his life was so interesting, it could be written as a book! But of course, if there were an book about Percy, he would probably pictured as an awkward ugly baby man and not get any of the fangirls. Yep. That would be the case.

"Wow! That was really long!" Tris exclaimed when Percy finally finished his fearsome fable (A.N. Alliteration is Awesome!)

"I know right!" Percy replied with the same enthusiasm. "It could take up about two whole series!"

"I bet the movies suck." drawled Tris. "I would bet 20 bucks if I had money."

"You're on!"

Silence fell on the room. Percy knew that the sun was setting even though there was only that small little opening in the corner of the room. He stood up and walked over to that square-shaped space. And carefully stretching his arm out, Percy was barely able to squeeze his hand through the tiny opening, reaching out to the rays of sunshine, the fresh air leaki-

"OWW!" Percy shrieked as he took back his hand. Blood was dripping on the hard cold floor. Percy looked back at his hand.

There was a huge gash running right through the middle of the palm of his hand, the cut was spurting out gushes of crimson liquid, the drops of it falling like acid rain incinerating the gravel it plopped upon.

"Why did that happen?" Percy whined. He was used to pain, but not this. There was a weird tingling sensation, and Percy's hand began to tremble. The cracks in his hand began to bristly mend, forming new skin over the deep cut. It was all gone now, except for a long scar that formed as a result.

"If you try to exit this sanctuary, a.k.a. my bedroom, before the visiting time of 24 hours is over, your body will be temporarily be punished. And thank goodness it was only your hand this time. The scar reminds you of this." Tris said.

"But I thought I was dead. I can't be injured."

"I told you already. Your soul is seeking answers and is restless, so you have to speak to other dead souls to get advice, and once you figure out the combination of life, you may pass into Elysium. Trust me, its not easy. I'm still trying to figure it out too."

"So all I need to do is to converse with other dead guys to get advice from them because my soul isn't mature enough to enter Elysium, so I can figure out that 'Combination of Life'. Oooh mysterious." Percy summed up. "And after that, I can enter Elysium once and for all."

"Yes."

"Sooo, what's your advice?" they asked at the same time. Percy and Tris chuckled.

"Okay, so I'll go first I guess." Percy said. And he thought of all that he did in his life. What was the lesson? The moral? Then he thought of it.

"Every kid should have a home." he said firmly. "Back at Camp Half-Blood, all the unclaimed demigods were stuck in the Hermes Cabin, it was very crowded there and Luke-" he stopped.

"He was the one that died." Tris said.

"Yes, he was the one that passed away." said Percy. "Luke's final wish was that all gods should have cabins, Hades and minor gods included. Jason, one of the seven of the prophecy was just starting to rebuild some cabins right before I was killed. He was the building supervisor."

"Do you know how you died?" inquired Tris. Percy thought for a while.

"I have no idea. I was probably sword-fighting intensely. That's a lame way to die if you went through my troubles."

"You don't say. I was killed by a bullet in the back. But there was a cause I was protecting."

"Was it really that important for you to die?"

"Sometimes you need to learn how to be truly selfless, and know what it means to sacrifice yourself for someone or something." Tris continued. "It has to be necessary. It has to be about love. And to me, it felt like I was finally understanding what my parents were trying to teach me in Abnegation and finally understanding what it means to be an adult and make a grown-up decision because you have to, not because you particularly want to. So, to me, I am proud of myself. I am so proud. It was like I finally became a grown-up."

Percy applauded.

"Did you practice that little speech you have there?" he jokingly asked.

"I hate to admit it, but yeah." Tris laughed.

And as they laughed together, a small mark appeared next to his SPQR tattoo. It was a seal of two hands clasped together in peace, like the symbol meant agreement and peace and love in the community. Under it was a name- Beatrice Prior. Tris seemed to notice the mark.

"Once you get a tattoo on your arm, your soul is a little less rowdy. Some people need more advice than others, resulting in more markings. But I guess I'll see you soon." she said.

"When will we see each other again?" Percy asked.

"Soon enough when we reach Elysium." Tris smiled and she took off her hoodie to reveal her left arm. They were covered with all sorts of symbols, but the one Percy seemed to notice the one on her left palm. It was a trident. Under it was Perseus Jackson.

"I think I only need two or three more. But I'll make sure to keep your advice in handy. Every kid deserves a home." she whispered. Then Tris pointed towards a door that Percy hadn't seen before. It was golden and it had very exquisite and intricate details.

"Enter through there to go to the next sanctuary. There will be another person waiting for your wisdom."

"I have wisdom?" Percy was baffled. "Yeah right!"

"Then how come there's a tattoo on my wrist?" challenged Tris.

"True."

"Bye, Percy!" she waved at him serenely and happily.

"Goodbye, Tris." Percy smiled full of sorrow.

And he turned her back on her and turned the crystal handle to venture to a new sanctuary. Percy entered the doorway to find himself in complete darkness.


DUN DUN DUNNN!

Who is Percy gonna see next?

-beluga0827