Okay. Here's the next chapter. It's like, still short, I'm gonna try to make the chapter after this one longer. I'll try. :P
A couple weeks later of training undetected was successful. Percy had excelled in every class except two–the oceanic class and the darkness class. Of course, he had improved, but that was it. Thalassa and Erebus wouldn't give up on him luckily. Tartarus wasn't coming to training anymore, to Percy's dismay. Something came up. He had to leave, for bad vibes were stirring in the air.
Now, Percy was strong in body and spirit, but not mind. Thalassa and Erebus were relentless. They beat down on him everyday, but not being able to crack the wall that surrounded his mind. Percy memorized what he was supposed to do, but he couldn't do it. He knew what he had to do, but it wouldn't work. It was so frustrating!
Someone should've known. With all of Elysium knowing about the Primordial camp, Percy should've suspected that someone would rat them out.
A week after Tartarus's leave, Percy and all the other residents of Elysium were awoken by a deep rumbling. It shook the ground and echoed across all realms of the Underworld, awakening those who should be sleeping–those who were waiting for it to come–and those who should have been less oblivious to the upcoming future–namely Percy.
Most were startled and frightened by the earthquake, not knowing of its source, but Percy knew all too well where it came from. He felt the power course through the land in veins, pulsing like waves to a heartbeat. Houses fell and children cried while the adults tried to calm everyone down. For the first time, the sounds of the Fields of Punishment were heard from Elysium. The screams and the moans mixed with the cries and shaking. Too much noise. Shut up. Shutupshutupshutupshutupsh–
"Aaaaaaaah!" A scream fell in the air, where Percy knew not. He had heard the voice before. What was his name?
"Aaaarg!"
Percy was pretty sure 'Arg' was not the name. Who was–
A streak of lightning burst through the darkness, lighting up things better left unseen.
"Aaaaaaaag!" Nope. Ag wasn't it either.
Percy shifted a bit on the cold metal ground right when another shout of agony turned his vision red. "Aaaaah!"
Something wet was on his face. It was warm. Percy couldn't tell if it was tears, sweat, or blood. Perhaps it didn't matter.
"Uurgaaa!"
Stop screaming, person. The rumbling and moans of the dark were enough.
Percy moved again. "Aaah!"
He stopped moving.
A shot of blue arched Percy's back and burned his eyes. There was more wetness.
"Shut up, will you? I thought you would have more stamina, Perce. Get up."
Percy tried to sit up, he really did. "Ah!"
"I thought I told you to stop screaming! It's hurting my eardrums."
"Sh-shut-t up-p-p," replied Percy through chattering teeth, when he realized the screaming person was, in fact, himself.
"Talking to yourself now, eh? I always knew you were crazy," the voice said happily. "I was right."
"I'm n-not... crazy!"
"Are you? How would you know?"
"When did I–"
"Become mad, wonkers? Lemme tell yah somethin, bro. Everyone's crazy. Sometimes," he whispered, "Sometimes it just doesn't show. Now get up, lazy butt."
"I'm not crazy! I-I'm not mad! I know I'm n-not! I-I–"
"Would you be having a civil conversation with yourself then?"
"You call this civil?"
"I once read a book."
"Like I h-haven't."
"Stop interrupting me, idiot!"
Percy grimaced, then groaned at the strain in his face. His throat was sore. He moved his arms. "Arg!"
"I thought I said be quiet! I'm trying to tell a story!"
Percy closed his eyes, engulfed in a blinding light once more and a flare of pain shot up his spin. He was quiet. No use talking to a figurative voice.
"I once read a book. It was called Alice in Wonderland. I myself find the movies for it much more interesting. The book was short and meaningless, save for one thing. You remember, don't you? Feeling the pages between your fingers as the stirring inside you grew stronger. It was the madness, Perseus. That was its first awakening, for it awoke to recognition. Alice was not in her right mind! Non compos mentis! Can you feel the similarities? The cat, of course, cheshire cat, was a form of her common sense, but even then, her sense wasn't logical. For you, I'm your cheshire cat. I will guide you. Follow me."
Percy lay still. He did remember reading that book. At the time, it did seem pointless to read a children's book.
"I said, follow me! We'll go places curiouser and curiouser."
"Shut up! Shut up!"
"Shut up!" Percy yelled.
And shut up, everything did. Percy opened his eyes that had closed during his flashback. It was soundless all around. It was not peaceful though. It was just as if everything was hushed, compelled to be inaudible until next command.
But the ground still rolled and rumbled and the people around him still took cover, maneuvering around Percy, like he wasn't even there. Their mouths were all open in a silent scream.
It was Percy that was the problem. He just couldn't hear. He whipped around, trying the get a grip of the chaos around him.
His hand passed through Reyna, who looked desperate, through Leo right behind her, who shouted a name that died on his lips–maybe his mother's– through Connor as he ran passed, through everyone. They couldn't see him, hear him, touch him, or smell him. He was completely isolated.
Percy kept turning in circles, reaching every once in awhile, just to see if something changed in the atmosphere. Nothing did. Percy was just a loner for the time being.
He wasn't rooted to his spots, so he followed Reyna, Leo, and Connor, who were sticking together. Everyone was leaving the world of the dead, for the gates were opened and hellish creatures were released.
All were walking back into to the life where the living dwelled. The trio stopped at the entrance, with everyone around them pushing at them and running straight through Percy. They stepped through the barrier after a moment's hesitation. Now Percy was riveted to the earth beneath him.
All of a sudden, gravity had a sudden attack on him and Percy crumpled to sitting position, legs crossed. He put his hands on his knees.
If in doubt, meditate. Calm yourself, Erebus had said before.
He closed his eyes, then opened them in fear of coming to another flash to the past. When none came, he proceeded to close them again.
Concentrate, Perseus, or are you losing your touch? commented his brain.
"I don't need your input. Be quiet," Percy retorted out-loud.
I just think you should stand up. There's someone r–
"Why should I listen to you?"
The voice was silent.
Percy sighed. Finally it was quiet. Breathe.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
In–
Having trouble, adolescent?
"I don't need you here, head."
Oh, it's not yourself this time, Perseus.
"Who's there?" Percy spun around, looking for the source of the voice.
Just your great grandfather. No one special.
"Show yourself!"
My, my. You are hasty, young one. But, if you insist...
A light shadow loomed overhead. Smoky features formed empty eye sockets and a mouth similar to that of the mentioned before Cheshire Cat. Deja vu.
Its expression was grinning crazily, in a wild, chaotic way. The dark empty sockets glared down upon him. The misty stuff floated around Percy.
I should assume you know my name, the haze said gruffly.
"I feel like I should recognize you, but I can't place my tongue on it," Percy explained crisply, not liking this figure.
Of course you should know me. I implanted chaos in your insignificant head, anyways. Just a small part of me. It grew inside you since you were fourteen. Insanity. Confusion. Remember me now?
"Well," Percy began, taunting. "I didn't think the great and mighty Khaos would be so unthreatening."
You will regret that foolish boy! I will get vengeance upon you! But for now, I just relay a message from the big guy: Beware, Jackson. Know your enemies or not see them at all. Khaos then paused. I don't suppose I know why he's giving you a hint, especially since it is crucial you understand it. Perhaps he thinks you are too dull to see plainly put things, Jackson, when they are right in your face. We will meet again, boy, and it will not be pretty.
Then, the mist disappeared and Percy was left alone by the gates with only his thoughts for company. Big guy? Probably the boss or whoever. The rumbles abruptly halted. He hesitated by the entrance and looked back over his shoulder as if one were watching him. He saw nothing. For once, all of the Underworld was quiet, for not even Hades had stepped foot into his realm for months. It was, however, and eerie rather than relieving quiet. The dead were gone, returning to life. No one was here. Percy calmed his heart rate. No one was here.
Percy's foot wavered as he was about to step through. Should he dare do it? All the others did. Who knows what happened to them, for Percy couldn't see past the blinding white light that shone through the grand open doors. What if there was a bloodbath on the other side? Monsters waiting? Hades, even gods waiting for the perfect moment to strike?
Percy put his leg down, inside the line. He would wait. He ran back to Elysium and into his cottage. Skipping stairs as he ran, he burst into his room to find his backpack. He had prepared a survival pack just in case this certain thing happened. Inside it was a water bottle, a loaf of bread, matches, a light jacket, and a watch. No weapons. Elysium was forbidden to make any, for peace must ensue. Percy hopped down the staircase three steps at a time.
At the porch of his home, he looked up at it. For four months he lived here. Time to say goodbye.
He laid a hand on the door, then turned away and hurried off to the gates, muttering under his breath in Latin, "Post mortem, audeamus."
After death, let us dare.
The results for the vote:
Percabeth: 7
Preyna: 3
Leyna: 3
So here's the dealeo, people. I KNOW Annabeth isn't evil, and she won't be, I promise. The vote stands so it will be a Percabeth story, but don't worry, it won't be mushy or anything. I'm going to have a lot of bonding moments between Percy and Reyna, though. Reyna and Leo will become like a good best-friend scenario. Connor... weeeeelllll... (SPOILERS) he won't have a very good ending (not that the others will *laughs evilly*). So, I hope you enjoy! I'm not sure when I'll post the next chapter, seeing as I'm kinda on writer's block... but it will be soon. Stay tuned!:)