Percy was pissed

Because of course this would happen to him. Who else would it happen to?

He must have scratched their car or something, because the fates absolutely hated him. They took so much from him. They took so many people from him.

Biance, Zoe, Charlie, Silena, Luke (that one wasn't too bad, Percy did feel bad for him though), Damasen, Bob, Small Bob, Leo...

Annabeth

That one hurt a lot. Sure, she did practically dump him right after going through hell together, but he still loved her. He had held out hope that it was just trauma that made her do that. But of course, any hope of getting back together had been dashed. Hard to date a dead chick.

He should probably be more in grief right now, but he didn't really have the time nor the emotional capacity. He was too busy being angry.

At least they had killed Gaea, that would have really sucked if she was still alive. Of course, killing her did lead to his current situation, but this was probably better than losing. Maybe.

Oh yeah, he fell into tartar sauce again. Real original Gaea.

"Lazy writing." Percy grumbled.

Just one time. Percy begged. Just one time I fall into honey mustard.

Percy got 2 weeks out of Tartarus just so he could go right back.

Percy stared up into the sky. The cloud of fire lingering in the sky for minutes. Leo had turned into a ball of fire and flew straight into Gaea. That was definitely the most Leo way to die. Doing something stupidly cool. He couldn't rip his eyes away from the scene. The sky having a second sun, Jason and piper falling out of the sky, an eagle picking them out of said sky, and tons of earth falling back to... well... earth.

He could still remember her expression of horror. Her eyes were wide, panicking as she swung her arms for any kind of grip. Screaming for help, her voice slowly muffled as the mud covered her.

She had been sucked into the earth with the other demigods, but was dragged much further than they had been, the others being only buried waist deep. Annabeth had been dragged completely under. Percy didn't have enough time to react to pull her out before they had separated Gaea from the earth. It had solidified right as he had reached her.

Of course, Gaea wasn't done.

He stood in shock. It was over, but he felt nothing. The love of his life was dead. Leo had sacrificed himself. But they had lived. He felt... fine. He definitely wasn't, but his brain needed to play catch up, so being in grief was put on hold.

He heard yelling.

Percy broke out of his trance to look around. He assumed the yelling was the others killing the few remaining monsters, but he saw them looking at him. Or rather, right below him.

Was his fly down? Bit of an overreaction if he was to be honest.

His fly was not down. Well... It was, but they were probably yelling about the giant hole right next to him. That makes more sense.

He didn't have enough time to react, the ground beneath him crumbled. He tried to run but it was too little too late. He felt himself fall back as the earth gave out underneath him. The yells of the campers fading as the light above from sky grew smaller.

How long had he been falling? The light from the top of the hole was long gone. Annabeth had mentioned that it took 9 days to fall to Tartarus, and it felt long last time, but he hadn't kept track.

How was he going to land this time? He seriously doubted he would be lucky enough this time to be near a non-terrible river.

The air got hotter and drier. The walls of the tunnel were a little bit brighter now, shaded in red. The familiar smell of sulfur filled his nostrils.

The tunnel's walls disappeared, opening into the large cavern.

Percy had a serious case of déjà vu.

Just like last time, he spotted a river. Its choppy waters splashing into the sky a few dozen feet, covered in violent riptides. So maybe lady luck wasn't completely against him.

"No fucking way"

He didn't usually curse, but this felt justified.

The ground was coming quickly. Time to lock in. Percy focused on the pull in his gut, tugging at it as he forced his will on the cursed waters. It resisted his will, trying to deny him control.

Percy would not be denied. He wasn't just going to go back to Tartarus and die immediately. That was not how he was going to die. He was going to die normally, like getting hit by a car, or choking on a piece of gum. Just not like this.

Percy screamed as he focused all his energy into pulling the river. He was triumphant. The water exploded upwards, racing to meet him before he added a little bit more red to the surface of Tartarus.

The water was freezing, shocking him. It was as if his soul had been soaked in the rivers water. Percy sputtered as the water surrounded him, draining his will power. He tried to breathe the water. Big mistake. His lungs filled with water.

He was terrified. The water's choppy waves making it impossible to escape.

Do you even deserve to escape? The river called to him. You belong here. Tartarus is where you deserve to be.

Percy felt his consciousness slip as he fell into the waters grasp.

They hate you. How could they not? Everyone around you dies eventually. It's your fault.

The voice had a point. The people around him surely had to hate him. So many had died because he failed.

You failed to save them. You promised Nico that you would protect his sister. You failed Bianca. Charlie didn't have to die! Silena didn't have to die! Their fates were not prophesized! The river was right. No prophecy said they had to die. But they did. All because he wasn't strong enough.

Annabeth. She surely hated you! She couldn't even trust you to save her!

He was a monster. The river only spoke truth.

She saw you for what you truly are! You're a monster! Monsters always return to Tartarus!

Percy felt himself fall into the words of the river. It was right. He was a monster. What else could he be to survive being down here?

His vision faded. There was no reason for him to continue. The world was saved. There was no big bad anymore. Him dying would mean nothing.

He felt a hand grip his shirt collar and yank him out of the water. He was thrown on to the beach, landing on his stomach. All he could manage was lift himself to his knees, bent over with forearms on the ground. He could barely feel anything, his mind was numb from the river.

Speaking of the river, he threw up. And coughed. The feeling of trying to cough and throw up at the same time was terrible. His stomach emptied first, but his coughing fit continued, the water much more eager to stay in his lungs.

He finished coughing, the last bits of water finally leaving his lungs. He rolled over onto his back, ignoring the sharp black glass that cut into him as he did so. He groaned as he finally felt the effects of the river wear off.

Percy wanted to curl up in a ball and weep. He wanted to sit down and hug his mom. He wanted to wake up in his bed and go to his mom's room, telling her that he had a bad nightmare.

The air burned, he hadn't had the time before to feel it. But now, it was clearer than ever. The water had stung his throat, but the air burned it. He could feel himself start to sweat.

Everything was agony. His whole body ached.

Acheron. The river of woe. That was what he had fallen into. Percy tried to remember what Annabeth had said about it.

The Acheron has a malevolent and mesmerizing effect on whoever comes too close too it, blaming them for egregious sins they never committed, and shows them their worst memories. It only affects someone if they let it.

He'd deal with the mental aspect of that at a later time, therapy wasn't very accessible here.

Wait, Percy realized. How did I get out of the river? I swore I felt a hand pull me out.

Percy's thoughts were answered when he felt the pressure of cold metal on his throat. His neck stung, the blade was pressed hard, drawing blood. Percy kept his eyes closed. He was resigned to his fate. He had probably angered more being than he could count, and he couldn't be bothered anymore. He guessed whatever it was wanted to kill him, letting the river do it wasn't enough.

"Thee expect me to believe thou art truly Percy Jackson?" He knew that voice. "Show thy true form monster and I will kill thee quickly. Otherwise thou shall suffer greatly."

Percy's eyes shot open. Why is she down here? How is she down here?

A/N

Greatly appreciate any reviews.