CHAPTER 08

Misplaced and Management

For the first time, Percy felt free. He couldn't quite placed it but he felt like the entire weight he's been carrying was finally lifted off. He understood that feeling because he carried the weight of the sky before. Now, he's somewhere on an unknown place. Floating around without a care. Percy knew he was dead. Every time he looked at his hands, it was mostly translucent. Those effect served as a reminder. Percy didn't care. He's already accept the fact of his passing. He only worried about his mum, Paul and his trustworthy friends- Nico, Thalia and Grover.

Although free, he was stuck in this place. He waited and waited for something to happen. Percy figure he could just float around endlessly. Boy he was wrong. Even in death, Percy ADHD kicked in. He gets bored and impatient. A silly idea struck him. Percy did a swimming motion and at the same time, he voiced out to play the part of a commentator in sport event.

"Percy Jackson's racing for the finishing line, leaving a huge gap between the second placing and himself. He reached! There go the buzz! Percy Jackson won the all time championship!" Percy self-commented and then proceeded to imitated the sounds of thousands fan screaming wildly and cheering his name.

Percy started to chuckled before bursting into laughter. Soon, he quieted down. Percy kept changing positions. From hands on the back of his head as if he's lying down to some other position like he was meditating. Finally he just gotten more bored and started to do funny poses. One of them was pretending to be Superman- doing the flying pose. Percy chuckled at his silliness.

"Really, Percy?" a voice echoed out.

Percy hand instinctively went to his pocket to grab Riptide. Percy mental slapped himself. He left riptide at Thalia's pine tree.

"Come out! Whoever you are!" Percy didn't planned on saying anything but stuff just blurted out from his mouth. Stupid ADHD.

"Don't worry. I won't hurt you." the voice came out again, more sweetly and assurance.

For the moment, Percy let his guard down. The voice wasn't intimidating yet very enchanting. Kind of like he would agree to anything the voice said. Then he realized something. Gaia.

"Gaia?" Percy asked.

A sound came. It sounded like the voice was irritated.

"You compare me to that lowly creature of Earth?" the voice sounded annoyed.

"Well, sorry. Bad experiences." Percy stated. "At least show yourself." Percy asked, still unsure.

Further in front of him, the empty spaces distorted. A few second and a blinding light later, a woman stood on the same spot. She was wearing a clothes that looked like a mixed fashion of kimono, modern bridal dress and a bathroom robe. If it weren't for the silver lining, the clothes would have blended nicely into the background. Her face was pale although in a beautiful way. Cherry red lips and the eyes that reflect yourself. Her hair was black and they float around as if she was underwater. Only then Percy realized that her clothes were pasted with images of... his memories? The kept changing but it was definitely Percy's.

"My name is Khaos, I am known as a lot of thing. I am nothing yet I am everything. I can be the state of your mind. A reflection of your thought." Khaos stated.

"Reflections?" Percy asked, dumbfounded.

"I've been living in the spaces of void, Percy. It been a long time since I manifested into any forms of shape. My voice has been guiding the lost soul but you...You see. Hence, here I am. Tell me, Percy. What do you see?" Khaos asked.

Percy take a good look at Khaos. He couldn't really comprehend what Khaos meant. A reflections? Something about Khaos that melted his heart. The face. It wasn't any familiar faces he known but he felt very happy looking at it. Also, those memories that changes on Khaos robes. Percy felt a strange built up in his body. He brought his hands up. He looked at it. It was a little shaky. Suddenly a water dropped on his hand.

"I'm crying?" Percy was confused. Soon, more tears rolled down. Percy started crying. "I don't understand." Percy said.

When Percy tried to looked up, he was embraced with the warmest hug.

"I..." Percy chocked.

"Your regrets. This sadness you're feeling now. You miss the love from your mother. The sense of role model from your step father and lastly, sharing the good moments with your best friend. What you want now is to not feel the pain. Do you really accept the fact that you're dead, Percy?" Khaos asked softly.

Percy couldn't respond. The tears spoke everything for him. Percy wanted to be alive. He want to do more as Percy Jackson. Not just being a savior. He wanted everything back. He didn't want to die. At that moment, Khaos hug grew tighter and Percy just let everything out as he too accept Khaos embraces.

"In the end, you just couldn't let go, right? Percy?" Khaos thought.

Camp Half Blood, Infirmary;

Grover eyes shifted, trying to fully opened his eyes. As soon as he could, the first thing he saw was Annabeth and Chiron. Moment later, he realize that the whole counsellor were present.

"Grover, what happened? You caused panic." Chrion asked.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to." Grover sent an apologetic look to everyone.

"So? What happened?" Annabeth asked.

"The link. It's dead..." Grover sounded shocked and worried.

"Dead? Like cut off?" Annabeth questioned.

"No. Dead... gone. It's no longer there." Grover explained. "Percy... something wrong."

"No... that can't be. If Percy... what about you. You still alive so..." Annabeth started getting shaky.

"Well, I hope that's the case." Grover said, unsure of himself.

Out on the corner. The shadow began to dance in the light. Nico appeared with Thalia who was on her knee, eyes gazed over the floor.

"Nico? What's wrong with Thalia?" Katie asked curiously.

"He's gone... he's gone... he's gone..." Thalia mumbled.

Katie bent towards Thalia and put her hands on her shoulders.

"Who's gone?" Katie asked as she look at Nico.

A tear rolled down on Nico face. "Percy... He's dead..." Nico said.

A collective gasped was let out.

Few days later...

It was a beautiful day. The sun shone with brilliance and the sky was as clear as the blue ocean. Underneath those weather, a group of people in black was standing around a grave. The ceremony was over but those few who waited kept staring at the tombstone without saying anything.

Here lies, Perseus Jackson

Beloved son, a caring brother to many.

A true savior and inspiration.

R.I.P.

"Mrs Jackson. I'll take my leave now." Thalia said as she hugged Sally.

"Thank you for coming." Sally said and Thalia turned to leave.

Sally turned to look at the other figure. A teen with no expression on his face. "Are you going too, Nico?" Sally asked.

Nico nodded and went to the shades of a tree and shadow travelled. All that left was Sally, Paul and Grover. Grover stood on a spot staring at Percy's tombstone. His mind was replaying the night when he felt Percy died.

"Grover?" Sally called out. Grover turned, albeit rather confused. "Let's go." Sally said.

Underworld, Charon Entrance;

The man in italian suit was straightening his sleeves, proud of himself that he finally get to wear a new suit. "Ah~ splendid!" Charon remarked.

"Where is he?" a voice which sounded pissed and full of authority was heard.

Charon stopped his action and turned around to lash out at whoever dared to disturb his moment.

"How dare-" Charon voice was raised but cut off upon seeing who it was. "Ah! The ghost prince. How may I help you, m'lord?" Charon switch to being all nice.

"Where. Is. He." Nico asked, more pissed.

"But who, m'lord?" Charon smiled.

Both Nico hands shot up and grabbed Charon by his suit. "Where is Percy Jackson!" Nico shouted angrily.

"M'lord?" Charon began to stuttered. "N-no one b-by that name was h-here..."

Nico released Charon. He let out a sigh through his gritting teeth which sounded like hissing. Nico backed away and shadow travelled. He reappear again in front of the judges.

"Where is Percy Jackson!" Nico demanded.

"Who?" The three judges said.

"Where is he?!" Nico shouted again, this time bringing out his Stygian iron sword.

The three judges shuddered.

"You're disturbing the trial, Prince. Please... if you causes more trouble, we'll have no choice but to use force." One of the judges said.

"I don't care! Tell me where's Percy!" Nico wouldn't budged.

"Then, forgive us, Prince." Another judge said as he snapped his finger.

Hellhounds came from every direction, growling at Nico. Nico slashed his sword and the hellhounds hesitated to move.

"Capture him!" one of the judges instructed.

All the hellhounds move in on Nico who slashed at all of them, returning their essence to Tartarus. The hellhounds kept coming and was starting to overcome Nico.

"Stop!" A voiced shouted.

The hellhounds stopped and look at the direction of the voice. They began to whimper and backed away. The three judges got up and bow.

"Lord Hades..." All three of them greeted.

Nico turned around, still angry and breathing heavily.

"What is the meaning of this, Nico?" Hades asked.

Nico just glared at Hades who slowly walked towards him and put his hand on Nico as they shadow travelled.

Cemetery, Percy's Tombstone;

It was already night time as both Hades and Nico arrived right in front of Percy's tombstone.

"Let me go!" Nico shouted.

Hades let him go and watched Nico spewing out curses to the gods and even Hades himself. Nico was full of anger. He finally decided to bring out his sword and attempted to fight Hades. Hades just dodged the predictable and repetitive movement of Nico's strike.

Minutes past and Nico was on the ground panting heavily.

"Why the anger, Nico?" Hades asked.

Nico just got up and ran towards Hades, who just whisk his hand as Nico flung backwards hitting the ground. Nico let out a long scream.

"Look around, Nico!" Hades shouted. "Do you even know where we are?"

Nico slowly got up on his knees. He looked up and was facing Percy's tombstone. A sudden realization hit him hard.

"Tell me, Nico... Why the anger?" Hades asked as he slowly approached Nico.

Nico took a long, hard look at the tombstone. "Percy..."

Nico punched the tombstone and then proceeded to punch the ground as hard as he could, causing a small hole.

"He's not supposed to die!" Nico shouted in anger.

"Is that it?" Hades asked. He was standing right behind Nico.

Nico started crying. Letting out all emotions that no child of Hades would have shown. "Percy left me... he just left..."

At the moment, Hades did something no one would have expected. He hugged Nico who just knelt there feeling exasperated.

A/N: I'm back! Hope the character wasn't to OOC. I tried... *shrug*. I know it's late but Merry Christmas to those celebrating it! My new nephew was born on Christmas eve.. two more hour before he's actually born on the day itself!

Also, sorry if it feels like I abandoned the story. Actually, I did. I assumed Chaos-related story isn't a good read anymore plus I was lazy and clueless on how to continue the story. I'll try my best but no promise.

I'm looking for a beta reader. Anyone interested please pm me!

Lastly! REVIEW PLEASE! yes... I'm begging... *shrug*