Jason III

"Hurry!" A soft voice was heard from behind Percy. Percy's face was extremely grim and no light radiated from his face. His eyes were stony green and his lips quivered, shock and frustration gripped him.

"Well..." Piper stuttered, unable to speak. It was her fault; she did not think of it earlier.

There were six versus one and all but three were knocked to the ground. How could simply two, two! stand a chance?

"Hurry!" Frustration was added to Percy's voice, and Piper could sense it: fear.

"She said..." Piper closed her eyes and her lips pursed and quivered. She did not dare say.

She could feel eyes trained on her, for the ones who heard those last words of that damned demon were her and Leo.

She really hoped Leo could speak for her but tinkering sounds of the watch continued to echo behind her and we knew that the Repair Boy will not be helping her in this.

She sighed out loud and opened her mouth, voice was going to escape from her larynx.

A male voice sounded from behind Piper.

"'For the world have allowed me, I will haunt the Son of Poseidon and Daughter of Athena in Tartarus. You have killed me well. Be warned. And hell will crush them both.'"

"Leo?" Jason turned. Leo's face was grim and his eyes were staring straight at Percy's hollow eyes. The entire scene scared Jason. Jason was… afraid. Anyone would be. Leo was not like himself. That voice of him when he said those lines… His voice was deep and eerie. Yes, eerie.

Piper looked down. She looked guilty. Jason felt her emotions change and patted her on the back. Piper smiled a little and this kind of warmed Jason. He really liked her smile. It was warm. Really warm.

But good things never last long.

Percy spoke. His voice was different, like his life had been sucked out of him. His green eyes were echoing those of the Tartarus walls. It was evident he was lost. They were lost. Lost in directions, lost of hope. Jason was told that Percy was given the Pandora's box once. Jason thought that Percy looked as if he had opened it and given up Hope.

"Hmm, I thought so," Percy said.

"Are you alright?" It was sudden, but Jason could not help but ask. He wanted to know if he was alright and… he does not seem to be. Jason had to ask, even if he knew the answer. Even if he knew that Percy would lie.

"Yes, sort of," Percy answered; it was a blatant lie.

Jason nodded his head, not feeling a little assurance. Piper placed her hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Perce," Nico interrupted, seeing that he had not spoken for a few minutes. Percy shook his head and wanted to raise his hand to pat Nico, but he held his hand back. Percy looked weary; He was lethargic, like he had not slept for days.

"What happened there?" Leo asked, sounding rather serious. Jason turned his head and glanced at Leo. No doubt he was his best buddy, he asked what he wanted to ask. However, it seemed like a bad question to ask.

Percy shivered. Percy glanced backwards, supposedly at Annabeth. Where was Annabeth anyway?

"Dr. Thorn attacked. I mean, that manticore," he bit his lips, "he stabbed his point through here," he hit his chest with his index finger," and went straight to Annabeth."

"Are you…" Hazel interjected.

"Yes. I'm okay. I should be. He was… killed by Annabeth," he bit his lips even more," but before he… he stabbed Annabeth…" Tears streamed down his face and he brought up his hands to cover that tear-stained face.

Jason's heart shattered. Into pieces, small little ones and each and every of those bled. His very own eyes tear up when he heard the sobbing noises of Percy. The room grew silent. Only Coach Hedge's television programme could be heard.

"I'm sorry…" Percy looked up, tears stopped but his eyes remained watery, "Annabeth's ankle is now broken again… She can't walk." He turned back and glanced at Annabeth again.

"She's sleeping?" Jason asked.

Percy nodded. "She didn't want me to tell you guys but… I'm scared. If another monster comes.. I don't think I can do it anymore. I'm tired, guys. I want to give up, but I can't. I must not… But I don't know when my hand can no longer grip hold of Riptide and stab through the monster. If I die, what will happen to Annabeth? What will happen…"

Jason laughed. He felt eyes turned on him but it does not matter.

It was ridiculous. Percy said all those? Percy? The hero? His cousin?

"Don't make me laugh, Perseous Jackson. You're injured and all you care about is Annabeth and her broken ankle? Your chest is bleeding pails and your back is broken! AND ALL YOU CARE IS ANNABETH AND HER BROKEN ANKLE? DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH!"

Piper shouted, "What…!" Jason raised a hand. Percy's eyes flamed.

"If you were in my shoes…!"

"IF I WERE IN YOUR SHOES, I'LL THINK OF WAY TO GET HER OUT OF THAT BLOODY HELL!"

"Do you think it is that easy…?" Percy's lips trembled with rage, "DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD-"

"Yes I do," Jason answered coolly, "I know it is hard but you need to get yourself together, cousin. If you're this scared just because she broke her ankle then how is she feeling? She is scared. She is in pain. Her boyfriend is gravely injured but lied to her! Telling her she was alright when he is obviously not!"

A thunder rumbled in the distance. The mess hall's temperature went down a few degrees.

Percy's eyes were hard. No longer those hollowed eyes. But his green eyes screamed rage; it was scary. Jason wanted to cower, it was not cowardly but he would not. This was Percy's survival. He had to say this.

The sky and the ocean crashed. The war. The battle.

"I know it's hard, Percy. I know. But you can't give up. You cannot hold Riptide thinking you will lose. You will if you think like that. Percy please. We all need you. We do. So please… Don't give up. Don't be a coward. You are brave. We all know that. If you give up there, what will happen to us? If you die, Annabeth will cry buckets. She will die with you. She will make sure you are back no matter what happens, perhaps even selling her soul. Do you want that?"

Percy bit his lips. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.

"I'm sorry… I know. I won't give up. I promised you guys, we'll be there when you guys close that door. We will be there together."

Jason's lips curled into a smile. His heart was once again warm.

The sky and the ocean was at peace again. No more war. No more battle.

"How's your injuries?" Frank asked.

"It's…" Percy looked down.

"You mentioned a secret just now…" Hazel asked.

Percy masked his face with a smile. "I'm-"

"Shut up and say the truth."

Jason was tired of Percy's lies and his mask. It was obvious those injuries hurt. And what secret? There was no secret! It was just him hurting and he just did not want others to be worry.

"It hurts… The poison of the manticore is coursing through my veins. My back… It is numb."

"Then how…" It was Nico.

"Water."

The simplicity of that word. But exactly how…?

Percy closed his eyes and raised his hands above his head. Water droplets dripped onto his back and his chest. He clenched his fist and those tiny droplets froze. The blood flow from his chest was stopped.

"That's the secret. I made use of the air's moisture and froze them on my wound. The bleeding will stop and my own blood will try to stem the blood flow with the forming of fibrin threads and everything. When the ice melts, the blood stops flowing but the pain comes back," Percy gave a small chuckle and scratched his head, "well, I'll just have to deal with the pain."

"That's…" Leo started.

Piper continued, "Amazing!"

Jason was stunned too. His mouth hung agape from the genius of the sea god's son. He may seem dense but the cleverness was there.

Nico laughed, "That's so you! I'll bet Annabeth helped you."

Percy pouted a little, "Hey, I did this myself! I deserve compliments! I tried to not use the leftover ambrosia and nectar so I thought of water. Tartarus is like a volcano, no water! I tried to get water out of myself and water responded. Moisture of the air just dripped into my hand and I allowed them to go over my wound," Percy looked slightly flustered, "I don't know how but they just froze and stemmed the blood flow!"

Jason asked, "Then you didn't do that to Annabeth?"

Percy chuckled softly, "I asked her to eat Ambrosia and Nectar."

Hazel's lips pursed. Jason understood her feelings: If Percy is doing all these… The pain must be great, he is really brave.

"But if it hurts real bad, please eat Ambrosia and pour Nectar on your wound."

Percy nodded then as if like an animal that heard noise, he looked backwards.

"Percy…?" It was a girl's voice.

Percy turned back to us, "We'll be there. Annabeth is awake."

Jason nodded his head.

"Take care, guys."

"Take care," Jason said, biting his lips.

"If you let Annabeth get hurt again, I'll personally slaughter you when you get back on Argo II! So you better come back!" Piper shouted, pointing her finger at Percy. Jason laughed.

"Yes…"

"We'll go home together," Percy smiled.

And the connection was gone.

We'll go home together.

I'm sorry for the long wait. I'm currently writing a special for the next chapter and it should be up by next week.

Drop a few lines.

-Milo