Percy Jackson and the Depths of Tartarus

Interlude: I Am Peter Johnson

Percy's POV

"I hate you."

The voice was familiar to me. It took a while, but I finally recognised it. It was mine.

"No, it isn't."

What the-? Did my thoughts just get read?

I turned; the pure darkness surrounding me seemed menacing. And that feeling only heightened by the level of contempt in Not-Me's voice.

I frowned. Where was I?

Suddenly, a person appeared in front of me, his expression twisted into a look of what seemed to be malice. Directed at me. He had brown hair, blue eyes…

"Peter Johnson." I said, more calmly than I felt.

His eyes narrowed, but he didn't say anything.

My own eyes wide, I reached up with my hand, which - I realised with a tinge of excitement - was more calloused than I remembered, and ran it through my hair, feeling it texture. For a moment, I paused before grinning happily. There was no doubt – I knew my hair anywhere. Which meant –

"I'm back in my original body." I said in wonder.

Peter snorted. I looked up at him as he turned away.

"What's your problem?" I asked, not unkindly.

He shook his head in disgust, "So you're Percy Jackson. I thought you had at least a drop of remorse in you."

The frown came back on me. "What do you mean?"

"What?" He said snidely, "You thought that it was coincidence? That you gained your memories the moment the time felt right?"

My frown deepened. What was he-?

I inhaled sharply in realisation. Horror and regret whisked into my mind.

"You don't mean-!" I took a step back, mouth agape. I paused, and bowed my head.

"I… I didn't steal your body, did I?" I asked quietly.

Peter sighed in exasperation, "Of course you did! How do you think I felt, suddenly woken up by being shoved to the back of my mind?"

I bit my lip, unable to look at him, "I'm sorry."

He shook his head, frustrated, "It doesn't matter now." He said bitterly, "We're going to die now anyway."

My head jerked up, "Of course," I murmured, "Kronos is…"

"Going to blast my body to smithereens," Peter snapped, "All thanks to you."

I blanched, then, suddenly, my annoyance came back in full force.

"Look, I asked Hades for me to be reborn, not to take over another living body! I honestly don't know what went wrong, but if I had the choice, I'd fix it." I told him, irritated.

Emotions ran across his face. Surprise, disbelief, anger, then, finally, resignation.

He sighed, but this time with weariness. "I… suppose I shouldn't be taking my anger out on you. I think I'm lucky that you dropped in. My life was a living hell beforehand."

My annoyance drained, and I immediately felt bad for Peter again.

"Why?" I asked, "Why was your life so bad?"

Peter replied sullenly, "I used to be beaten all the time by the bullies in my school. After Grover came along, the situation became better, but not by a lot. I just… wanted to have the power to hurt them back, you know? I was angry."

"That doesn't mean you can't be angry at them now." I suggested helpfully. I could almost hear Annabeth expressing her outrage about spreading bad influence.

Peter rolled his eyes at me.

"Nah," He said, looking away, "though you controlled my body, I saw what Camp Half-Blood was like. I reckon I would have liked it there."

I sighed, "And I took your chance to enjoy it fully…"

Peter only shrugged, and I suddenly brightened up with an idea.

"You could try rebirth when we arrive in the Underworld! I'll make sure of it with Hades. Besides," I continued with a grumble, "He owes us."

Peter smiled. The first true smile I had ever seen since meeting him. That smile wouldn't have come out if I were still controlling his body.

"I'm glad." He grinned, and I realised that it was nice talking with him without all the malice and whatnot.

"But first," His smile turned sad, and he gestured. A huge rectangular screen thing appeared in front of us, showing a scene I really did not want to see in my life ever again.

He continued gravely, "We have to find a way to fight off Kronos before the final battle."

Chapter Eighteen: Grover has a Swearing Spree

Yosh! So close to finishing! Just another five chapters or so till this story wraps up. Try to hold on til then! ;)

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