Captured
A PJATO Fanfiction
©- Rick Riordan; PJATO
Summary:
It's been nearly a year since the Second Titan War, and Annabeth Chase has a problem. A HUGE problem. Her boyfriend, Percy Jackson, recently went missing. Who took Percy? As if TLH never ever happened. An OC is added, and Nico is 15.
AN: Ah, this story is almost over. :( It's been a long road for me. And before ya'll ask, no this is NOT the last chapter. The last chapter is the next chapter, plus an epilogue. :)
Chapter 35
Thalia
I have been dreading this day ever since we got back from our quest. That's right, today is Percy's funeral. Today, mortals, demigods, satyrs, nymphs, and gods alike gathers together for the burning of the Hero of Olympus's shroud.
It was depressing. I mean, I've always known that Percy would die before me, considering I was immortal. I just never thought he would die this early. Percy had so much life to live. He should've been able to get married (to Annabeth, preferably), have kids (again, with Annabeth, preferably), grow old with a woman (Annabeth, again), and finally die peacefully in his sleep. Percy didn't deserve to die like he did, but at least he was with the people he loved the most, minus his mom, Grover, and Tyson.
Oh gods, Tyson. The poor Cyclopes was a wreck. When Poseidon told him that Percy had died, Tyson cried a waterfall. And, he was underwater. I usually don't like his kind, but Tyson was different. He wasn't like the others.
And, gods. If you thought that Tyson was bad, you should see Mrs. Jackson. The poor woman has been crying her heart out ever since Poseidon broke the news to her. I mean, I would cry a lot too if my only child died at such a young age.
Grover, well he's different. Annabeth said she's only seen Grover this upset when I, well, you know, got turned into a tree. The poor satyr can barely contain himself anymore. He's so fragile about this, considering he is one of the closest people to Percy.
Annabeth, is, well a touchy subject. Her emotions are raging wildly right now, according to Grover. See, Percy broke his empathy link with Grover, and Annabeth and Grover created one. Annabeth, for one day, may act like nothing happened. It's as if she's avoiding the subject. But the next day, she may break down sobbing, or want to stay in her cabin all day. Other days, Annabeth simply threw herself into her work.
I glanced at the ocean. Waves were crashing against the shore, as if the ocean was also mourning Percy's death. It had been like that for days now. The earth trembled slightly underneath me, an aftershock of the huge earthquake Poseidon unleashed on New York.
That was just one of the natural disasters going on right now. The entire city of Minneapolis had also faced Poseidon's wrath through a 10.0 earthquake, the first ever created. Japan experienced a large tsunami while Florida experienced a disastrous hurricane. It was so disastrous, that people have nicknamed it Hurricane Katrina 2.0. Poseidon must have really loved Percy.
I glanced at Annabeth. She looked like a wreck. The daughter of Athena had bags the size of Alaska under her puffy, red eyes. Her hair was messily thrown up into a ponytail, and she was wearing a black dress. It was a lacy, black, strapless dress with a satin trim. My jaw dropped. I have never, ever seen Annabeth Chase in a dress.
I guess, Annabeth was finally letting go all of her emotions. The daughter of Athena didn't seem to care that her tears made her look weak, because tears were flowing freely down Annabeth's face. She looked like she hadn't gotten sleep in a week.
My friends stood next to me, looking down. All of us wore black shirts and or black jeans. The entire camp had at least one visible black garment on.
I walked over to Annabeth and wrapped her in a hug. "It'll be alright, Anna." I murmured. Anna was Luke and my nickname for Annabeth when she was a little girl. She simply cried into my shoulder. Never, ever have I seen Annabeth this hurt and empty. I vowed to myself that I would avenge Percy.
Someone tapped my shoulder, and I released Annabeth from her hug. In front of me was a very familiar daughter of Demeter wearing silvery Hunter's clothes.
"Uh, hi, Thalia." Jackie greeted. I gave her a small smile.. "I-I took your advice and joined the Hunt."
"That's great, Jackie." I said, trying to be happy for her. "Um, Jackie, this is my best friend, Annabeth Chase. Annabeth, this is Jackie Vienna. Annabeth?" I turned around, and she wasn't there. "Where'd she go?" I muttered.
I scanned the crowd for Annabeth and spotted her right in front of Percy's, ah, coffin. I motioned for Jackie to follow me.
"Why'd you have to leave me?" Annabeth asked, tears dripping down her face. I cocked my head and realized she was talking to Percy.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid. I should've known. I should've stayed with you, Percy. It's all my fault. All my fault." Annabeth whispered. I placed my hand on her shoulder.
"Anna?" I said softly. "Are you alright?" Annabeth glanced back at Percy.
"Yeah," she lied. "I'm fine." The biggest lie in history. There are so many things you can hide behind that lie.
I forced a smile for Annabeth. "I obviously don't believe you, Chase, but I'll, uh, leave you alone." I said. I gave her one last hug before turning back to Jackie.
"So," I asked the daughter of Demeter. "Have you met all the Hunters?" She grinned, then shook her head. I pulled Jackie over to a group of adolescent girls wearing silvery clothes.
"Girls!" I said loudly. All the Hunters turned to me. "This is Jackie Vienna, daughter of Demeter. She just joined." The girls all smiled welcomingly at Jackie, who smiled shyly in return.
I turned to Jackie. "Jackie, this is Nolli, daughter of Nyx." I said, gesturing to a girl with black hair and blue eyes. "She's been a Hunter for about as long as our last lieutenant, Zoë Nightshade."
Nolli nodded and smiled. "Yup. Nyx was one of the main goddesses back then, but now she's more of a primordial goddess now." she explained. "I joined Lady Artemis when I was about fourteen."
Jackie raised an eyebrow. "Really? That's awesome."
"And this," I said, interrupting the two. "Is Phoebe, daughter of Deimos, not to mention our best tracker." Phoebe, a tall girl with dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes, grinned and waved at Jackie.
"That's Justice. She's a daughter of Dike. Ironic, huh?" I added, pointing to Justice. She was a petite girl, physically about thirteen, with brown hair and green eyes. Jackie waved at them.
"That's Sophia, or Sophie, daughter of Athena." I introduced, gesturing the Sophie, who has blonde hair and gray eyes, just like Annabeth.
Chiron stamped his hoof on the ground, trying to get our attention.
"Uh, I'll introduce everyone else later. I think the funeral's beginning." I said, running over to Annabeth. I sat down next to Annabeth and squeezed her hand reassuringly. Annabeth looked at me sadly, tears falling from her eyes.
Basically, Chiron performed the short funeral. I zoned out about five minutes into the funeral, because the centaur was just retelling all of Percy's deeds I had heard before.
Near the end of the funeral, we got ready to say our goodbyes to Percy before Annabeth burned his shroud and body. We all agreed ashes to ashes, dust to dust. "Percy's closest friends and family will be the last to say goodbye." Chiron added.
So, we were stuck waiting for at least a hundred people to say goodbye. We being Annabeth, Mrs. Jackson-Blofis, Poseidon, Mr. Blofis, Grover, Tyson, Rachel, Nico, Clarisse, Chris, Jess, and of course, me.
Finally, we were able to go up. Clarisse, Chris, and Jess went first, considering they weren't as close to Percy as the rest of us. I hate to say it, but the waterworks started as I got closer to Percy's body. I always thought Percy would be able to live his life after that life-threatening prophecy, but I guess not.
I'd always been close to my cousin. I may not want to admit it, but I care deeply about Percy. Yes, he can be really annoying at times, but he's not that bad of a guy once you get to know him. Percy cared about me, and I care about him. If only I could've told him that.
At long last, it was my time to say my final farewell to Percy. I stepped up to his coffin sadly.
"Hey," I whispered. I stared down at my cousin, who once was so full of life. Now, Percy was dead. I touched his cheek slightly, only to find that it was freezing cold. Then again, what did I expect? For him to be burning up? "I-I never told you this, but I really do care about you, Percy." I admitted quietly. "I'm sorry, Percy. I really am." With that, I walked away from the casket, allowing Grover, Tyson, Mrs. Jackson-Blofis, Poseidon, and Annabeth to say their goodbyes.
After all the goodbyes were done, the time came for the burning of Percy's shroud. Before she burned his shroud, Annabeth was going to say the final words.
The daughter of Athena took the torch in her hand shakily. "Uh hi." Annabeth started softly. "Um, my friends, they were convinced I should be the one who burned P-Percy's shroud, despite the fact I'm only his girlfriend." Annabeth took a deep breath. "He didn't deserve to die, you know. Percy deserved so much more than this. He deserved to marry the woman he wanted, to have kids with her, and to grow old with her. Percy had his whole life ahead of him, but the Fates took it away from him." Annabeth sighed. "I'm not really sure what to say, but I honestly loved Percy. And this, is the second time I've had to burn his shroud, as many of you recall. Part of me is still hoping that Percy will stumble in here, and interrupt the funeral, like last time, but the other part knows that he's already gone. What I have to say that Percy was, and always will be a great guy. His kindness in indescribable. Coming from a daughter of Athena, that's definitely a compliment." Annabeth said, slightly smiling. "He'll always be remembered; I'll make sure of that. Goodbye Seaweed Brain." Annabeth whispered, dipping the torch down.
Percy's shroud caught fire, as did his body. Smoke floated to the sky as his body continued to burn. It's terrible to watch things like that. Facing a hellhound, or the Minotaur, or even a drakon is nothing compared to watching a close friend's shroud burn.
Finally, Percy's body was fully burned, along with his shroud. His closest friends, Annabeth, Grover, Tyson, Nico, Rachel, and I, gathered up his ashes, put them in a chest, then gave them to Poseidon. We all agreed that Percy wanted to stay in the ocean.
The god of the sea reluctantly took his son's ashes, but eventually complied. As my uncle left, I couldn't help but stare at the little chest Poseidon was holding. The last thing left of the great Hero of Olympus, Percy Jackson.
Third Person P.O.V.
Unbeknown to everyone at Percy's funeral, other than Hades and Nico, Percy Jackson stood in the woods, watching everything. The ghost smiled faintly as he flickered, then disappeared.