It's Always Back To You

Silence (A Piper Oneshot)

If you can tell, I'M NOT OVER THE DEATH OF JASON GRACE WELP

Piper woke up early, six a.m. on the dot. She took a glance at the clock, took a quick shower, and forced herself to smile. When she neared her bedroom door, she was met with an unusual sight.

There was a prettily made letter hanging on her knob by a single thread. Suspicious, Piper sneaked around it, waiting for it to blow up. A couple tense moments left her wondering if it actually was a trap.

She quickly slashed at the string with Katoptris but nothing happened.

Piper watched the letter dance onto the floor like a predator stalking its prey.

Numbly, she gently opened the letter and read it out loud一almost as if someone was out there, listening.

"Dear Piper,

Hi! It's me, Lacy! Do you remember me? I'm your half sister一the blond one with braces! I'm not twelve anymore一I'm fourteen isn't that cool? I just want to check in on you, Pipes, and I guessed you weren't feeling better so I got you a gift!"

Piper paused, skimmed to the bottom, and read: "Go to the woods, take a left, and then follow the footprints."

Piper closed her emotionless kaleidoscope eyes and pondered for a moment. Would she? Should she? Yes, she could.

Piper glided over to the closet and took out a feather parka and put on an expensive looking pair of snow pants. She tied her not so choppy long brown hair back, and wrote out a note.
"Going on a walk. Be back soon." Piper read out loud again.

With one last look at her room, Piper closed the door and left her cabin.

It was a cold morning, so Piper continued on with her brisk walk. Soon, she could feel some tingling in her ears, and her nose had turned cherry red. As she was walking, Piper didn't spare a glance at the beautiful scenery, and hurried on.

"To the woods, my darling," Piper sang suddenly. It was as if the woods had turned alive.

There were sudden motions, animals singing, and the forest looked as if it had lit up.

Piper smiled thinly for the first time in a long while.

"To the woods, we go, my love," Piper belted out once again. It had a lingering effect on the animals and they looked so happy一content一the opposite of Piper Mclean, daughter of Aphrodite.

"I'm going to the woods for you, my dear," Piper exclaimed. She ran towards the fork in the tree and veered left, singing the whole time.

Emotions stirred, cheeks rosy, eyes moist, she walked一breathlessly一towards the footprints.

They were small, delicate, and looked like the prints of an angel.

There were a row of them, side by side, across the clearing and towards the small hut at the end of the woods.

Wearied, Piper's eyes turned back to ice and the forest quietened again.

After a few minutes of excruciating silence, the sun smiled. A warm, yellow glow fell upon Piper and she felt as if she had gone to the beach for a fun day with her friends.

"Do you want to go to the beach with me?" she asked.

Silence.

Absolute, terrifying silence.

Snow started flying around, and Piper silently cursed Zeus for his inconsistent weather.

Screw Zeus, she thought bitterly.

As she reached the hut, Piper briefly suspected it was a trap. She didn't care, and as soon as she was within touch range, she cracked the door open.

The hut was a homely, vintage looking place with quilts, flannel, and the comforting smell of hot chocolate. The most beautiful thing about it was the comforting crooked smile of a not twelve year old girl. Her bright blue eyes were the same, but she had gotten taller一really tall.

"Piper!" Lacy exclaimed and jumped up to hug her.

Piper stood stiffly as she returned the hug.

"I'm here, sis," Lacy patted her on the back, giving her a pitying look.

Piper stood silent.

"Do you like it here? It's called the 'Welcome Cafe' and their hot chocolate is yummylicious!"

"Why are you here?" Piper asked bluntly.

Lacy bit her lips and looked as if she would cry. Piper's heart melted and she could feel again.

"I'm sorry一" Piper hugged Lacy.

"It's okay, Pipes, I know why you're acting this way," Lacy gently pushed her off. "I'm here to help."

"Really?" Piper's unbelieving eyes didn't make her any more inviting.

"Really. It's sister code," Lacy stood solemnly. "I pledge to thee that I will help all my siblings during their hard times."
Smiling faintly, Piper repeated that. "I pledge to thee."

"They have the best hot chocolate, and the owner is really nice," Lacy cried excitedly. "She's also a full fledged DEMIGOD therapist!"

Piper's smile fell.

"She has a degree in helping grief and I just KNOW she'll help you!"

"You think I'm someone who exists for someone else to fix?"

"Piper, she can help you. You'll be better!" Lacy defended. "Your dad told me how you repeat and read things out loud for J一"

"DON'T. SAY. HIS. NAME."

"I know you're not over it, but please一give me a chance!" Lacy pleaded. "She'll help you! You'll understand yourself and一"

Lacy was cut off once again with a jolly looking lady entering the hut.

"Okay." Piper said meekly.

"I'm sorry?" The lady asked.

"I'll do my part."

Lacy clapped excitedly.

"For Jason." Piper said softly.

Silence.

Absolute, terrifying silence.

I somehow got over my extreme writer's block, so enjoy!

Wash your hands and stay safe!

Joyce