Sorry I haven't updated in a while, my step-father passed away recently, and I had to attend the wake and memorial. I was going to donate my liver to him, in order to save his life, but it was too late… enough about that though… probably don't want me spilling my heart out and all that…
Again, this chapter was inspired by a KSE song, and a friend, mentor, brother, and father of mine who will always remain in my heart, for eternity.
This one's for you, Gregory Alan Forgue, rest in peace.
Without further ado,
Chapter Seven: This Is Goodbye
"Percy." Annabeth whispered. She could hardly believe he was here, of all places. Her former boyfriend looked horrible, he had bags under his eyes, his once tanned skin was pale with sickness and he looked like he hadn't ate in a couple of days. So she was right all along wasn't she? Percy really was driving himself into a hole after all… Seeing him in this degenerated state… it wasn't how it should be. He should be moving on with his life, completing school and becoming a famous marine biologist with a new woman at his side, perhaps some children later in his life and settling down in a cozy home.
Her mother, Athena, always said that that was his weakness, his fatal flaw. Even in her death he was clinging to her. He needed to let her go and that was that, no two ways about it.
*Instrumental*
Annabeth swallowed back her need to shed tears, upon seeing Percy's broken state, "Percy, why are you here? You know the living shouldn't be venturing down into the underworld, it's against the ancient laws," she stated matter-of-factly.
This is my goodbye [x3]
But please don't say a word
I don't exist, I can't be heard
Each day is a new failure
Every trial is my master
Every step I gain, I only fall back faster
"Annabeth," Percy whispered, hardly audible, "I needed to see you, come on, let's go back home." Obviously the teen was being delusional, there was no escape from the hundreds of muskets, assault rifles, and spears aimed down on him at the moment. There was not going to be any escape if the Lord of the Dead had anything to say about that.
This is my goodbye
But please don't try to stop me
"Percy," Annabeth sobbed, "You need to turn back right now, I'm sure you'll be forgiven if you leave right now, but you have to hurry. You need to let me go. You can't live your life in the past, it will only consume you. Please, before it's too late," she hardly managed to get the last part out before sobbing a few more times. The dead around them seemed to even be affected by this touching scene, for a few of them shed a tear or two of their own.
There is nothing left
There is nothing left
Clapping began behind Annabeth as Hade's obsidian chariot rolled up, containing himself, and Queen Persephone. The Lord of the Dead gave an amused smile and a single chuckle, "Bravo Jackson, bravo! I didn't think you'd actually have the gall to do such a thing, invading and infiltrating into my realm of darkness like this. I really am impressed but really now, you don't think you'll be leaving here alive, or seeing your precious girlfriend at all, do you?" the god asked, his lips now in a half-grin, maliciously looking down on the demigod son of Poseidon.
"Lord Hades, please, he's been through a lot lately, I was the cause of his suffering, I beg of you, let him go just one more time, he'll eventually end up here anyways once his life is over," Annabeth pleaded, however futile.
Hades frowned and waved her request aside.
"Shall we fire, my lord?" one of the dead legionaries asked.
"Hmm… no not yet, let me savor this moment. I've desired to see him like this for so long. Finally I get to see him broken and desperate beneath my feet. Perhaps if he becomes my servant for an eon or two, I might just let his precious little Annabeth leave with him, what do you think, my dear?" He turned, asking Persephone.
It's over, please lay me to rest
Forgive me, let me go
It's my choice so please lay me to rest
Forgive me, let me go
The queen of the dead regarded Percy with a somber sadness for a few moments of silence. She closed her eyes, nodded her head, as if in understanding and then went over to the demigod, whose head was now bowed low. Persephone set her hand on Percy's shoulder, and with the other, lifted his chin to meet her eyes, "Follow me, Hero of Olympus, you do not belong here…not yet anyways" she whispered softly.
I am no martyr
This place overwhelm me
Once again I collapse
I see no way to be free
I search for the answers
Is there no solution?
I realize my reflection
My reflection is my demon
Percy glanced back one last time, as the goddess of springtime began to lead him out of the underworld much to the lord of the dead's displeasure. Annabeth ran up and turned him to face her. She offered him a sad smile, before slipping a piece of paper into his pocket. "Here, when you need strength, read this. I had a lot of time to think once I passed, and I knew you were going to wear yourself down like this… so I got to thinking, and came up with this little passage. It's not much, but maybe it will help you find closure… you really do need to let me go Percy, I'm just a spirit now, and besides, I'm free now so you don't have to worry about me anymore. If anything, I should worry about you, at least I have some of our friends down here, along with Daedalus and other scholars to keep me busy for eternity." She planted a light kiss on his lips, the last one she would ever give to him, and stepped back amongst the other dead, "I really do love you Percy, and it's because I love you that I have to make sure that you let me go. Find someone else who will love you and appreciate you more than I ever could, I know she's out there for you. Farewell, Seaweed Brain," She concluded, turning back to return to Elysium.
It's my blasphemy hoping not to wake each day
It's a nightmare, sleep is freedom
You gave but it was not enough
Your strength it was not enough, it was never enough
Once the pair reached the entrance lobby to the underworld, where Charon resided, Persephone spoke to the demigod son of Poseidon one last time before returning, "Well, this is as far as my lord will allow me to accompany you Percy, the rest of the journey is to be tread on your own." Percy nodded, refusing to meet her eyes, "If it's any consolation, Annabeth spoke constantly of you, and that she was worried for your wellbeing, so I believe that you should move on with your life, for her sake if not your own." With that, the queen of the dead vanished in a mist of flower petals and sweet scented perfume, leaving Percy alone.
It's over, please lay me to rest
Forgive me, let me go
It's my choice so please lay me to rest
Forgive me, let me go
Percy arrived back in New York several hours later and was welcomed by one of his mother's where-in-the-world-were-you-I-was-worried-sick bear hugs. Percy lied about his whereabouts, not seeing the need to make his mother think that he was suicidal and have him committed to therapy or anything. He told his mother and step father that he was tired from his trip, and just wanted to sleep it off. As he trudged into his room, and disrobed into his sleep clothes, he got under his comforter and took out the paper Annabeth gave him, out of curiosity as well as need. He read it in his head:
Percy;
When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom filled room
Why cry for a soul set free.
Miss Me A Little – But Not Too Long
And not with your head bowed low
Remember the love that we once shared
Miss Me – But Let Me Go.
For this is a journey that we all must take
And each must go alone
It's all a part of the Master's plan
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick of heart
Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds
Miss Me – But Let Me Go.
For the first time, in a long time, Percy smiled and chuckled lightly to himself, "Even in death, you still can read me like a book and know exactly what to say… how 'bout that… thanks Wise Girl, I'll be okay, I promise. I won't do anything stupid like that anymore, and I promise I'll carry out your last wishes for me… I promise..."
The next day, Percy woke early in the morning, well, early for him anyways at nine o' clock in the morning. He went to a nearby florist and purchased a bundle of roses. He headed towards the empire state building and traveled up in the elevator to the six hundredth floor. The doors opened and displayed a familiar scene, the home of the Olympian Gods, Olympus in all of its glory.
Wasting no time, Percy set off for a grey palace adorned with owls and simple windows, nothing flashy, but tactical and fashionable all the same. Gulping down his fear and apprehension, Percy knocked on the door. Silence. He waited about fifteen minutes before the door slowly creaked open, revealing one of his greatest feared people of all time, Annabeth's mother, Athena.
Before she could even utter a curse, Percy got down on his knees, bowing his head in reverence and holding up the roses as if they were some kind of offering.
"I know I deserve to be a pile of ashes for even considering this… but given how stupid I am at times, you of all people would probably see this coming. I know I don't deserve forgiveness of any kind from you, for what I said to you and how I treated your kindness before. I want you to know I am unbelievably sorry for what I did, and also, I wanted to ask you something…
…Lady Athena, will you help me?"
TO BE CONTINUED!
I know… even in my super depressed and energy-less state… I still manage to craft up an evil cliff hanger.
If you've read this far, then I have some wisdom of my own to impart upon you, dear readers. I never got the chance, or rather, I never took the chance to tell my step father how much I loved him and appreciated all that he gave to me in both material and sentimental value. I can only hope, as he lay dying in his hospital bed that my tear filled words reached his ears and so I say, if you love someone, don't bullshit around with it, tell them because they might just die before you get the courage to tell them in person. And let me tell you, you will forever regret it… please, for your sake and the one you love's sake, let them know before it's too late…
UNTIL NEXT TIME!
Oldspice2625
Review if it suits you, it helps me get better…