Chapter 10: A Hand Let Go
The Labyrinth Arc IV
They sat in silence, eating the food Nemesis had left behind. The forest was peaceful, almost too calm, yet the hatch nearby served as a constant reminder of what lay below. Every so often, they'd glance toward it, uneasy, as if it was calling them back.
Percy finally broke the silence, his voice quiet. "So… you really don't think the gods are worth it?"
Thalia looked at Percy, the weight of his question still hanging in the air. She hesitated, her brow furrowed as she glanced away, as if weighing how much to say. Finally, she muttered, "Sometimes... I've felt abandoned by them. By my father. It's like we're all just... expendable."
Percy blinked, surprised by her admission. "When?" he asked gently, leaning in, his tone soft but curious. "What do you mean?"
Her eyes met his then, a mix of frustration and sadness, but there was a deeper hurt there too, something old and unresolved. "My sacrifice on Half-Blood hill," she said, her voice tightening with emotion. "It's not some heroic tale they tell to the campers, Percy. It wasn't noble or brave—it was desperate. It was me, out there on that hill, with my life slipping through my fingers."
Percy's expression softened, realization dawning. "Oh... gods, Thalia, I'm sorry," he muttered, suddenly feeling the weight of her words. "I didn't mean to—"
Thalia shook her head, cutting him off. "It's okay," she said quietly. "I don't talk about it much. It just... feels like no one really understands what I went through."
She took a shaky breath, and when she looked back up, her electric blue eyes shone with a pain that ran deeper than he'd ever seen. "You've heard the story, sure. But not from me." She paused. "We'd been running for days. We were exhausted, starving, and just so close to the borders of camp. It was right there. But none of that mattered because there were just too many."
She stared at her hands, almost like she could still feel the blood and dirt caked on her skin. "I told them to go. I thought if I could hold the line, they'd get away, that maybe I'd buy them just a little time. I gave it everything I had. I didn't hold back. I couldn't. Every ounce of strength, every bit of power—but it wasn't enough."
Her gaze darkened, the light in her eyes seeming to flicker. "I knew it was over. I knew I was going to die there."
She swallowed, bitterness creeping into her voice. "But then Zeus turned me into that tree. Not because he cared, but because I was the 'daughter of the prophecy.' He saved his investment, not his daughter. They didn't come to save me or Luke or Annabeth. They came because they needed their pawn."
Percy took a breath, his gaze steady. "That's… a lot, Thalia. I had no idea." he said quietly. His hand hovered just above hers, the worry clear in the slight furrow of his brow. "But if you're doubting all this now... I get it. I just don't want you to feel alone in it."
Thalia's eyes softened, but there was a flicker of something else—something raw and unresolved. "Thanks," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "But that's just it, Percy... I do feel alone in it. I've felt alone for a long time."
She glanced at Percy, frustration and doubt clouding her blue eyes. "You know, sometimes I wonder if I made the right choice. Back on Mount Othrys, when Luke told me to join him, when he said we could change everything..." She hesitated. "For just a second, I thought about calling the Ophiotaurus. I thought about joining him."
Thalia looked down. "I just felt so much anger then—like I was just so tired of being their pawn. For a moment, what Luke said almost made sense. What kind of person hesitates to save the world? Who thinks, even for a second, that maybe we should let it all fall apart?"
A heavy silence hung between them, the words lingering in the air. It was as if neither of them dared to break it. The weight of her confession settled in.
Thalia shook her head and broke the silence. "It's not just about the hill or what Zeus did. It's that even now, I don't know if I can keep fighting for gods who don't fight for us. I tell myself I have to do the right thing, that I can't let Kronos win... but I'm not sure if it's because I believe in the gods or because I don't know what else to do."
Percy let out a slow breath, his brow furrowing. "I get why you'd feel that way. After everything, it's hard to keep fighting for something that's never really fought for you." He glanced at her, his expression softening. "You're not wrong to question it. You've got every reason to."
Percy hesitated, then reached out and gently took her hand, giving it a small, steady squeeze. Thalia didn't flinch or pull away; instead, she let out a quiet, sigh, her fingers lacing with his like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Guess we're making a habit of this whole hand-holding thing," she said, glancing down at their intertwined fingers, "and here I thought it was just a survival tactic in the Labyrinth."
Percy glanced down at their intertwined hands, a small, thoughtful smile tugging at his lips. "Guess we're a little better at this whole 'staying alive' thing together, huh?" He gave her hand a light squeeze. "And maybe… maybe it's not just for us."
He looked back at her, his expression softening. "Maybe it's not about whether the gods are good or bad, or if they deserve your loyalty. Maybe it's about everyone else—the people back at camp, the ones who are counting on us. They shouldn't have to do this alone, and they don't have the same choice we do."
He swallowed hard, his voice dropping slightly. "I'm scared to go back in there, Thalia. The Labyrinth... it's like a nightmare you can't wake up from. But I also know we can't just walk away. If we don't do something, who will?"
His eyes returned to hers, a steady warmth in his voice. "So, if we go back... let's do it for them. For the ones who still believe in something better. Figuring out where you stand with the gods… that can come later. You don't have to have it all decided now. One thing at a time, remember?"
Thalia gave a somber smile, a hint of weariness in her eyes. "Just like crossing a street."
She gave a small sigh, her expression softening. "You're right. We need to go back in, stop whatever Kronos is planning before it's too late." Her eyes flicked back to the hatch, a hint of resolve mixed with reluctance. "Besides," she added with a faint smile, "we've come this far, haven't we? Might as well see it through. I'm not about to let a creepy maze get the last word."
Percy let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, giving her a nod. "Yeah. But before we go diving back into that nightmare… we should rest up." He glanced around the peaceful forest, taking in the warmth and the rustling leaves. "I don't know about you, but I could use a little break."
Thalia's smile grew a bit more genuine as she glanced at the sunlight filtering through the trees. "A short break," she agreed. "But just enough to recharge. I don't want to get too comfortable."
"Agreed."
They lay back in the grass, listening to the soft rustle of leaves and distant birdsong, letting the quiet of the forest wrap around them. Time passed, and the warmth of the sun and the rare peace filled the silence between them, and for a moment, they could almost forget the weight of what lay ahead.
Thalia glanced over at Percy, a small, wistful smile tugging at her lips. "Remember when you said back in the infirmary, after all this, we'd have a normal day together? Pretend we're not demigods?"
Percy's eyes flicked open, a smile breaking across his face as he looked at her. "Yeah. A day with no monsters, no prophecies... just us being, well, us."
Thalia chuckled softly, her gaze drifting to the treetops. "Guess we're getting a small preview." She paused, the warmth in her expression unmistakable. "Once it's all over, I'm still holding you to it."
"Fine by me." Percy said.
After a while, they sat up, the peaceful quiet lingering between them as they prepared to face the Labyrinth again. When they turned toward the hatch, however, something caught their eye—two sturdy-looking backpacks, propped up side by side, as if waiting for them.
Thalia raised an eyebrow, exchanging a look with Percy before moving closer. She crouched down, unzipping one of the bags. Inside, there were supplies: ambrosia, nectar, flashlights, bandages, and a few other essentials that practically screamed survival gear.
Percy grinned, recognizing the touch. "Guess Nemesis decided we could use some more balance."
Thalia gave an uneasy smile, glancing at the supplies. "If this is Nemesis's idea of balance, then whatever's waiting for us down there must be pretty bad."
They both turned to the hatch, its dark opening seeming even more ominous now, as if it was daring them to come back inside. Thalia's hand tightened on the strap of her backpack, a flicker of doubt passing across her face as she stared down into the shadows.
"Feels like stepping into a death trap," she murmured, almost to herself. "Again."
Percy nodded, sharing the same unease. "Yeah… but we're in this together. Whatever's waiting down there, we'll handle it. Somehow."
Thalia gave a slow nod, squaring her shoulders. "Together," she echoed, a spark of determination flickering in her eyes. With a final glance at the peaceful forest around them, they stepped forward, side by side, and descended into the Labyrinth once more.
The air seemed to change the moment they dropped back inside, instead of the narrow dirt tunnel, they found themselves in a corridor of old stone. The narrow walls closed in around them, jagged and uneven. Their flashlights pierced the darkness in narrow beams, cutting through the thick shadows but barely revealing anything beyond a few feet ahead. The reassuring sense of life above faded, replaced by a pressing, familiar silence.
Still holding hands, they moved forward with determined steps. But as they pushed deeper into the winding passages, the atmosphere around them seemed to shift. The stone walls blurred at the edges of their vision, and the air grew heavier, as though the weight of the maze itself was pressing down on them. Time once again began to lose its meaning; minutes stretched into what felt like hours, and every turn seemed to lead them in circles. For all they knew, they had been walking for hours.
Thalia's grip tightened on Percy's hand, the steady rhythm of their footsteps the only sound echoing through the corridor. "Is it just me, or does it feel… different this time?" she asked, her voice hushed, as if speaking too loudly would disturb something lurking just out of sight.
Percy nodded, a shiver running down his spine. "It's like it's shifting around us," he replied, glancing at the walls, which seemed to pulse with the faintest breath of movement. "Trying to confuse us… wear us down."
Thalia exhaled, her breath unsteady. "Well, it's working."
The air grew eerily still as they continued down the corridor, a faint rumbling beneath the stone floor the only indication that something was wrong. Percy's steps slowed, his instincts prickling with unease.
"Do you hear that?" Thalia asked, her voice low. She glanced around, her grip tightening on her spear.
Before Percy could answer, the ground trembled beneath them, the vibrations rapidly intensifying. He saw a crack forming just ahead, snaking across the floor, and his eyes widened. "Move!" he shouted, lunging forward.
The stone beneath their feet gave way, the crack widening into a jagged chasm. Percy leaped to the other side just as the ground crumbled beneath him. He landed on solid ground and spun around to see Thalia balancing at the edge, the gap growing wider with every second.
The floor under her feet continued to tremble and split, stones tumbling into the darkness below. "Jump!" Percy yelled, his hand outstretched. "I'll catch you!"
Thalia's gaze flicked to Percy's outstretched hand, and without a second thought, she sprang forward. Her boots dug into the crumbling floor, launching her into the air just as the last solid piece fell away. Her leap carried her across the widening gap, but not far enough—her fingers just barely reaching for Percy's outstretched hand.
Percy lunged to meet her, catching her wrist just as she began to drop. The sudden weight wrenched his arm, nearly pulling him over the edge, but he braced himself as Thalia dangled over the chasm, her legs kicking at the empty air below.
"Don't let go!" Thalia shouted, her free hand scrabbling for a better grip on his arm. The ground beneath Percy trembled, and loose rocks tumbled down into the darkness.
"I've got you," Percy grunted, his voice tense with effort. Inch by inch, he pulled her up, the strain burning through his arms. With one final heave, Thalia swung onto solid ground beside him, landing hard as they both collapsed onto the rocky floor, gasping for breath.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, the sound of their ragged breaths mingling with the faint echoes of the collapsing stones below. Thalia glanced at him, a flicker of gratitude and relief in her eyes.
"Nice catch," she said with a breathless grin, giving his shoulder a light shove. "This maze is going to have to try a lot harder to separate us."
After a few moments of recovering, they decided to press on. As more time passed, each step becoming heavier, as if the ground beneath them was dragging them back. The Labyrinth felt alive, twisting reality with every turn. It was as if the maze itself was reaching into their minds, distorting time and distance, and making them question how long they'd been walking, or if they were even moving forward at all.
Exhaustion weighed on them, stretching the hours until they became indistinguishable from days. They had fallen into a routine of silent survival, each taking turns to sleep while the other kept watch. In those quiet moments, one would lean against the jagged wall, eyes barely holding to the shadows, while the other drifted off into restless, shallow sleep. It wasn't true rest, but it was enough to keep them moving.
As they walked, their flashlights pierced the darkness in narrow beams, casting shadows that flickered and twisted along the jagged walls. The further they ventured, the thicker the silence seemed to press in, suffocating and heavy. As they rounded a bend, Thalia's light swept across a figure just ahead—a flash of blond hair and a familiar face. Her breath caught in her throat.
"Luke?" she whispered, her voice a mix of disbelief and hope. But as quickly as she saw him, he vanished, dissolving into the dark like a trick of the light. Thalia blinked rapidly, her heart racing, unsure if her mind was playing tricks on her or if something more sinister was at work.
The maze felt alive, its stone walls seeming to shift and pulse as if reacting to her confusion. She saw him again a few steps later, just at the edge of her vision—a glimpse of Luke's silhouette slipping into a shadowed corner. Thalia's skin prickled as unease washed over her. It was as though the maze itself was taunting her, pulling her deeper into its depths by preying on her past.
Percy's light flickered ahead, and for a split second, it caught a flash of gray eyes staring back at him from the dark. He froze, his breath hitching. "Annabeth?" he called out, his voice cracking. But when he shone his flashlight directly on the spot, there was nothing there—only empty air and stone.
He tried to shrug it off, but the flashes continued—Annabeth's form retreating around a bend, her face just out of reach in the beam of his flashlight. It wasn't just once or twice; it happened again and again, each time leaving him with a hollow feeling in his chest. The glimpses seemed more real with every step, as if the maze was pulling threads from his mind and weaving them into the shadows.
Thalia glanced at Percy, her grip tightening on his hand. "It's getting worse," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "He's everywhere, Percy. Every time I look around, I see Luke." She took a shaky breath.
"I know," Percy interrupted, his own voice tense. "Annabeth keeps showing up, too." He shook his head, his jaw clenched. "It's like the maze is hitting us where it hurts… deliberately."
Thalia nodded, the flicker of fear in her eyes matching his. "How do we fight something like this?" she murmured. "What if... what if we can't?"
Percy stepped a little closer, his hand squeezing hers as though anchoring them both in the present. "We can," he said, his voice softer now. "Because it's not just me or you—it's us. And as long as we're together we'll find a way."
For a heartbeat, the darkness around them seemed to fall away, and all Thalia could see was the look in his eyes—steady and reassuring, but carrying a softness that made her chest tighten. Her breath hitched, a mix of fear and a sudden clarity tightening in her chest—she wasn't just afraid of the maze. She was afraid of losing him, of how much he had come to mean to her without her even realizing it. "Percy, we... I can't lose you," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I need you with me. Right now... I need you."
Percy's heart thudded in his chest, his gaze flicking between her and the shadowed corridor around them. He squeezed her hand tighter, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're not going to lose me," he said, the words carrying a depth he hadn't intended to reveal. "I'm right here, and I'm not letting go."
He took a small step closer, his eyes locked on hers. "Whatever happens, we'll face it together," he added, his thumb gently brushing over her knuckles. "I need you too, Thalia. More than you know."
Thalia's breath steadied, a faint smile tugging at her lips despite the fear in her eyes. "Good," she whispered, her voice soft but steady. "As long as we're together."
They continued walking, but the unsettling glimpses of Luke and Annabeth clung to their thoughts, shadows lurking at the edges of their vision. The dark passages of the Labyrinth felt alive, almost as if they were breathing, and every small sound seemed to echo endlessly, amplifying the silence. Thalia followed Percy, gripping his hand as if daring the maze to separate them, a deep sense of unease gnawed at their nerves. It was as if the air itself carried whispers, tempting them to look back, to doubt, to lose focus.
"Keep your eyes forward," Percy said, though his voice was tight with tension. "It's trying to get inside our heads. Don't let it."
Thalia gave a quick nod, though her heart raced faster with every step. She tightened her grip on his hand, seeking comfort in the steady warmth of his touch. But despite the reassurance of his presence, the maze seemed to grow darker, as though drawing them deeper into a place where light and hope dared not reach.
Then, in the stillness, a voice drifted through the air, soft and urgent. "Thalia..."
She froze. The voice was unmistakable—Luke's, clear and real. It came from behind her, calling out with a mix of desperation and familiarity. She could almost feel his presence, just a few steps away. Without thinking, she turned, her hand slipping from Percy's as she instinctively reached back toward the sound. "Luke?"
"Thalia, no!" Percy shouted, his voice sharp with alarm as he felt her hand pull away from his. But it was too late. The second their connection broke, the ground beneath them trembled, and a sharp crack echoed through the passage as the floor split apart.
Thalia spun back toward Percy just in time to see a wall of jagged stone shoot up from the ground, a violent rumble shaking the very foundations of the maze. It shot up like a barrier between them, pushing them further apart.
"Percy!" she yelled, lunging forward, her fingertips brushing against the cold stone as it rose higher, closing off the space where he had been. "Percy, I'm right here!"
"Thalia!" His voice was muffled and distant, and she could hear the thud of his fists pounding desperately against the stone. But it was as if the maze itself was sealing him away, reshaping its passages to force them apart.
The ground continued to tremble as new barriers erupted, splitting the tunnel into multiple winding paths that snaked off in every direction. The passages seemed to stretch endlessly, warping and changing before her eyes, as if the maze were alive, gleefully taunting her with its cruel game.
Thalia slammed her fist against the stone wall, panic rising in her chest. "Percy!" she shouted again, her voice echoing through the twisting corridors, only to be swallowed by the darkness. There was no response—just silence and the low, rumbling groan of the maze's shifting stones.
She stood there for a moment, breathless and cold, staring at the spot where Percy had just been. He was gone, and now she was alone in the eerie silence. The air felt heavier, the darkness more oppressive than ever. She took a shaky breath, her hands clenching into fists. She wasn't sure if she had let go because of the voice, or if the maze had somehow manipulated her instincts. But it didn't matter.
She was alone.
Uh oh... separated in the Labyrinth again... something tells me its going to be a lot harder (or even impossible) for the two of them to find each other. The maze is alive, and it knows exactly how to twist the knife, doesn't it? Writing this chapter was both thrilling and heartbreaking—exploring the emotional vulnerabilities of Percy and Thalia while throwing them into the chaos of the Labyrinth was such a wild ride. Let me know what you think, and stay tuned… because things are only going to get darker from here.
Don't forget to follow and favorite if you're liking the story! As always, thanks for reading and see you next update!
-pjowriter27
Review Responses:
PhantomFuryJP: For sure! Thalia definitely made a couple big decisions, to go back in and to let go of Percy's hand, it'll be interesting to see what happens next ;)
anaklusosdude16: I appreciate your support, thanks for reading!
SD2901: I think you're right about Luke and Annabeth. Percy and Thalia haven't really confronted or gotten over what happened so there is definitely need for some closure there. I wonder if that closure will happen soon...
merendinoemiliano: I'm glad you liked it! Thank you for your continued interest in the fic!
Guest: Thank you!