Hey Guys! Zi here! I wanted to write this fic so badly since I started Fanfiction. Just to make something clear, I don't plan on continuing this since I already haver to work on BIM and some other stuff which I will be posting later, but if you guys like it, I will release a second part of this fic after I have completed like 4-5 chapters of BIM. I am not going to update it soon, maybe after I complete my junior year.
Also A quick note: This a MORTALAU story. I know the first part of the fic says otherwise but that's the only part where Greek Mythology is referred. Percy IS NOT a demigod. And that's it! Hope you all Enjoy! :)
Special Thanks to Knight Buggy at Discord for beta-reading this fic!
Disclaimer: I do NOT OWN Percy Jackson Series or Heroes of Olympus Series. If I did, Percy would be an Olympian and married to Artemis with triplets on the way.
Caution: Use of swear words and rated T just to be safe.
PS: If you find any grammar mistakes or corrections, please let me know. English is my second language, so I may tend to make some mistakes.I am not an experienced writer so please feel free to leave suggestions to improve my writing style.
Enjoy
Summary
The life of every single human being is built upon Hope. It's a strong emotion. The one feeling that pushes us to move forward. A person with a good amount of it can do anything in his life. He can accomplish wonders. Change the world for the better. But once a blow is struck in the base, it all comes falling down. Cracks start to develop. Our whole life crumbles down in an instant as we are left behind trying to gather the pieces.
Perseus Jackson stood amidst the wreck and contemplated the most important decision in his life—whether to give up or not?
The Flame Of Hope
Twelve thrones were arranged in an inverted U around a central hearthstone. A young girl sat near the hearth, stoking it and poking the coals with a stick. She had mousy brown hair and fiery red eyes that radiated warmth and coziness. She wore a simple brown dress with a scarf over her head, giving her a look of a pioneer child. Her flaming red eyes were focused on a single piece of Coal in her hearth. A lone tear fell from her eyes as she watched the piece of coal burn out.
For years, the piece of coal had burned brightly, spreading heat and warmth to other coal pieces in the hearth, but now it was all alone, dying out slowly. Determination filled her face as she extended her tiny hand and slowly caressed the smouldering coal.
Her hand lit up in blue flames as she stroked the coal. The coal burned brightly in blue flames as it started to spread, making the entire hearth burn with a blazing blue inferno.
A small smile spread through her face as she said,
"You have the blessing of Elpis, Perseus. Ascend above all."
Perseus 'Percy' Jackson stood in front of the mirror of his bathroom, taking in his appearance. A huge violet blob adorned his forehead. Scars marred his face. His bloodshot eyes let out tears that streaked his pale skin. Blood leaked through his many wounds, and his white shirt was almost completely tainted with it. His skinny body was covered with bruises and scars. He ran his hand through his disheveled hair, trying to tame it, even though he knew that his hair was as stubborn and rebellious as himself. He sighed sadly and an empty chuckle left his mouth. His eyes which once held an unfathomable amount of mirth was replaced by something else.
A sense of emptiness.
The events of the past month had exhausted him quite heavily. The bullying, taunts—they all got to him. It just became unbearable for him to continue. He hid his tears with laughter; hid his pain behind a smile; hid himself away from them. He tried to fight back. He tried to get up, only to be beaten down again.
He couldn't take it anymore. He wanted to just lay down, in peace. He just wants to end it, once and for all.
He shakily picked up the razor blade from his pocket and brought it against his neck. Tears were freely falling as he shut his eyes tight and took a deep breath.
He didn't want this. He never wanted to end it this way. All he wanted was a happy life with his friends and family.
Was that too much to ask?
How did it get this far? He should have stopped this. He should have stopped him. But it was too late now. It's all over.
He lost.
"Sorry, Mr. Jackson, but she did not make it. We did all we could."
Perseus's world broke as he saw his mother's pale corpse in the hospital, blood dripping from her fingertips.
"Perseus, meet your half-brother—Orion Jackson."
Percy's face contorted in rage as he turned to his father, missing the sinister grin on Orion's face.
"Perseus, you will not be participating in this tournament. The roster is already filled."
"What?! Why, Coach Brandon?"
"We got a better Striker." Coach Brandon said, his eyes darting to someone behind his back.
Perseus turned to find himself staring at the sea-green eyes of his brother.
"Detention, Mr. Jackson. Meet me at my office during the break."
"But he threw the first punch—"
"I would advise you to stop spouting lies, Mr. Jackson or I would have to contact your father."
He glared at the smug smile on Orion's face.
"I am disappointed in you, Perseus. I thought you two would get along very well. Orion is upset and sad. Go apologize to him."
"The hell he is" Perseus grumbled.
"You are grounded, young man. And you better apologize, if you don't want your things to be taken away."
"You are turning to a bloody prick, Percy. Orion is your brother. It isn't his fault that your father cheated on your mom."
"You don't understand. Orion is turning everyone against me. I'll bet anything that he has evil intentions."
"Your actions are what makes everyone turn against you, Percy. You would do well to control them."
"Fuck you, Jackson. How dare you badmouth Bianca?"
Percy visibly reeled as he looked at his best friend. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't play coy with me, Jackson. Orion told me everything."
Percy's face morphed into anger. "Orion is feeding you lies, Nico. I would nev—"
Percy staggered back with the force of the punch Nico threw at him. He could only register confusion and shock among the many emotions rushing through him when Nico, glaring hatefully, said
"I am not your friend, Percy. Not anymore. And Don't ever call me Nico again"
With that he walked away from Percy, walked away from their seven-year friendship, leaving behind yet another broken part of Percy's heart.
Perseus turned to see his girlfriend of two years, Artemis Olympia, glaring at him.
"Perseus," she said, her voice colder than ice, "We need to talk."
Percy nodded, unease forming at the pit of his stomach. 'I've got a very bad feeling about this.'
They walked down the beach, with Percy's uneasiness growing with every passing minute.
"Is this anything about what Orion said? I swear he's ly—" He started, deeply troubled by the cold behavior of his girlfriend.
"Stop right there, Percy! Orion is a good guy. Everyone can see that, except you. And no, this isn't about him. This is about us."
"What is the matter, Arty?" Percy asked her, his face full of worry and concern.
Artemis stopped abruptly and faced the ocean. "When I first laid my eyes on you, I thought you were perfect. Loyal, Kind, caring, mature. I loved every part of you, and losing you would have killed me." Nothing could have contradicted what she said more than the emotionless tone with which she spoke.
"But you have changed, Perseus. You shunned your friends. You've become distant. Cold. You even hate your own brother."
"He isn't my brother." Perseus gritted out.
"See! You have changed Percy. You are not the man I fell in love with. As much as I want to stay with you, I think it's time to break it off." Her voice trembled at the end, finally showing her emotions.
"Wha-"
"I wish I could keep loving you, Percy but I can't."
"Arty-"
Artemis spun upon him, and Percy took a step back in surprise at the hurt and raw anger in her silver eyes. "Don't you 'Arty' me! We are breaking up, Percy Jackson, end of the story!"
With that heartbreaking sentence, she stormed off, leaving Percy all alone.
"Hey, It's the loser!" Perseus was roughly slammed into a locker by a group of students. He blinked back his tears as he was subjected to the glares and taunts. His life was flipped upside down in a matter of weeks. Gone was the prideful, strong, soccer player. Now he was just a meek, skimpy kid with no friends.
But what hurt him the most was that his former friends were the ones on the front line to taunt and bully him. It just made things even harder. Each broken friendship felt like a hammer blow to his heart as cracks started getting bigger. Tears began flowing as he gingerly picked up his books. What did he do to deserve this?
"Perseus, you need to reign in your behavior. It is unbecoming of you. He is your brother." Poseidon said, his face filled with disappointment.
"He isn't my brother. He will never be. He destroyed my life."
Thwack!
Percy cupped his cheek, his eyes wide with shock as he looked at his father.
"You are an embarrassment to the Jackson family. Picking fights with your own brother. I just wish that you were never born."
Perseus hung his head down as he blinked back tears furiously. He will not cry. He will not show weakness.
Percy walked out of another detention, his shoulders slumped and his head down. He saw a lot of commotion and walked over there to see Orion, Artemis, and his former friends. It appeared as they were cheering Orion on for something.
Then the words he heard from Orion, made his heart skip a beat.
"So Artemis, will you be my girlfriend?"
Surely not…She couldn't have moved on too soon...
What he saw next broke his heart, mind, will, and spirit.
There Artemis was, kissing Orion passionately, muttering 'Yes' over and over again.
And with that, his heart completely shattered.
Orion stood before him, grinning as he watched Percy stumble back to his bed. "Look how the mighty have fallen.'
"Leave me alone, Orion" Percy mumbled.
Orion's grin turned feral as he locked his room and said, "Now where's the fun in that?"
It was an hour later that Orion exited his room, with a cruel smile etched across his face.
Perseus slowly got up, staggering due to the cuts and bruises Orion gave him, but it wasn't that what hurt him the most. He winced in pain as he recalled the words Orion so graciously left for him to ponder.
"You are just a nobody."
"No one wants you here."
"Even your father hates you."
"You are all alone in this world."
"I destroyed everything that you treasured and held close to your heart."
"Your father, Friends, Girlfriend—All mine now."
"Give up, Percy. It's all over. You haven't got anything left in this world."
Perseus opened his eyes, the bright light in the room making him squint slightly. He sighed sadly as he clenched the blade tight against his neck. A solitary drop of tear fell from his eyes. Words echoed in his head as he prepared to take his life.
"You are just another loser."
"We are not friends anymore, Jackson."
"We are breaking up, Percy Jackson."
"I wish you were never born."
"She did not make it."
"You are all alone."
Percy trembled. He took a deep breath and smiled sadly and said, "I wish I wasn't such a failure. I wish I was a better son. A better friend. A better boyfriend. I am sorry I wasn't what you wanted me to be. I am sorry for failing you all."
And with that, he slashed his neck.
Orange haze filled his vision. 'Where am I?' Perseus thought as he tried to wipe his eyes. Memories filled his head. He saw himself, playing with his friends. He watched as his mother narrated stories to him. Of Dragons and Heroes. A particular memory caught his eye.
"And after defeating the evil king, Perseus and Andromeda returned to Argos and lived happily ever after."
"A young Percy looked up and asked his mother, "Momma, why was I named after Perseus?"
Sally cupped Percy's cheek and said, "Because Percy, no matter what you do, no matter how many obstacles block your path, your story will not end in a tragedy."
Tears glistened his eyes as he listened to his mother. A gentle voice echoed in his mind.
"Heroes don't have an easy life, Perseus. Their paths are filled with pain and suffering. But remember, the fates give you hardships only because you are strong enough to carry them. Your scars aren't signs of your weakness. They play an important role in shaping who you are. They show that you don't run away when things get difficult. Gold has to be heated and melted to become the beautiful metal it is today. Embrace your destiny, Perseus. Don't run away from them."
"You have the blessing of Elpis, Perseus. Ascend above all."
The blade fell from his hand and clattered on the floor. His sea-green eyes burned with determination and hope.
He would not give up. He would never be the same but he would still live on; for the Flame of Hope burns bright in his heart, and it can never be extinguished.
Hope you guys liked it!
Love, Peace and Tekkerz,
Zi