Can you see in the Dark?

Morning Arc: Apollo has deep music

Yes I'm finally ready to re upload this after a year. You're welcome. Also

TRIGGER WARNING: SUICIDAL THOUGHTS ARE MENTIONED!!!

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~Now we're in the ring, and we're coming for blood~ Lorde

It was a warm day in Manhattan, a sunny day. The trees were swaying in the wind and the birds chirping some melodic song of nature. Even the usually congested streets of the city seemed more peaceful than normal. But Percy Jackson was having no such day.

"I'm really sorry for your loss. Trina was a very inspirational camper. Even though she arrived at camp late, she still looked on the brightside of things. I guess, it comes with the territory with being a daughter of Elips." Looking at the devastated face of the woman as she nodded in agreement, the voice continued, "Camp's offering free therapy sessions so feel free to come when you need to talk. Okay?" The young warrior asked.

The stout lady stared at him for a while. He decided to do the same. Trina's mother seemed to be about thirty five. Her short curly hair was disheveled and the bags under her eyes were intense, indicating a severe lack of sleep. She had this air of sadness around her. It was understandable considering the dire circumstances. "O...okay. I'll drop by sometime. Thanks for checking up on me Percy."

He smiled. "Its the least I can do, Ms. Davidson." The demigod began walking down the hallway until he paused. "Also, please get some sleep. And stay hydrated!" She tiredly chuckled and nodded. Walking away from the door, the hero sighed. That was the last parent on the list, he'd check up on them next month.

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Perseus Jackson walked down the flight of stairs of the apartment complex. It has been three months since the Giant War in August.

Most of the campers were going to camp a week before Christmas to help rebuild and decorate camp for the festivities. The godlings never really never really cared about Christmas enough to decorate the place, and it was seen as blasphemous to celebrate another pantheon's holiday in camp but after the last few years, Chiron decided that it was best to partake in the holiday for the sake of the campers. Everyone liked the idea well enough, so they set a date after school closed to officially start decorating.

The hero of Olympus opened the door of the Delphi Strawberry van and slid into the passenger seat, the stiff cushions that he had parted from seemed to welcome him. "Ready." He announced to the multi-eyed driver as he buckled his seatbeat. Safety first kids.

Argus nodded and begun driving, putting on some random radio station. Rolling down the window, Percy allowed the wind into the car, breathing in the somewhat putrid city air. Brushing across his face, his raven hair became even more wild on his head. Percy focused on the song playing.

As a random jazz song began to blast through the speakers of the vehicle, the son of Poseidon found himself on the all too familiar battlefield. All the fighting and screams rang out throughout the glade that outstretched before camp. Bodies dropped on the floor like flies that were hit with insect spray, some disintegrated into gold dust, others remained in their original forms. In multiple occasions, Percy had to sidestep to avoid crushing one of bodies. He saw some detached limbs too. A gruesome, nauseating sight it was. Many of the mutilated bodies had shared meals and stories with him. Many of them only stole glances at him on in the mess hall. He remembered frantically running through the war zone searching for his beloved Annabeth, the blood still flowing down his nose, the very same blood that caused this mayhem.

In every direction he swung his sword, decapitating the monsters that charged at him, inhaling deeply. The effect of breathing in the fiery air of Tartarus were in full affect. The coughing spasms weren't terrible, but they were annoying. His eyes frantically darted in every direction. Where is Annabeth! The ground constantly shook below him, occasionally putting him off his balance, reminding him of the foe. Mother Earth herself. To this day Jackson could still remember the smell of the air that was a mixture of iron, fire, and sulphur and the shouts that vibrated the souls of the young soldiers, an upsetting moment he probably would never forget for the rest of his life.

Percy realised that he was crying, though he couldn't remember when he started. You would expect him to be used to this by now. Everyone did. I mean he has been doing this for a large portion of his life. But he wasn't. It drove him insane, to point of insomnia and a fucked up sleeping schedule. The nightmares that met him everytime he tried to rest but he just got worse with everyday, so he just didn't sleep often. It was the same for Nico and Annabeth. But he had Annabeth, and Nico just didn't want to confide in anyone, until recently that is. Percy still worried for the little ball of death. But he wondered if he should worry for himself more. He didn't want for this to be his life forever.

There were moments when the thought of Elysium compelled him so much that he wanted to expirence it for himself. Oh, how peaceful it must be. But he went against the feeling; the urge. This was his birth right. As shitty and unfair that it might be, it was predestined. This was his reality. He was the hero of Olympus. The hope of his peers and his family. The holder of the world. This was his burden to bear.

He was okay with it. For the sake of his mother. For the sake of his sister. For the sake of Annabeth. He had to be okay with it. But sometimes he wondered what it was like to be an average mortal. With no clear sightedness and a loving family. A decent childhood and a partially sheltered life. No wars. No distant father. No death threats on a daily basis. No nightmares with premonitions of the future and the doom that was awaiting you around every corner you turned. Just normal.

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When Percy finally turned back into the present, the van had already come to a halt at the front of his mother's New York Apartment. "Thanks Argus." He said, while exiting the van. A simple nod was given to the demigod before his silent companion drove off. Sighing, he started walking towards the staircase. He realised he was doing that alot. His mom's room was on the sixth floor but no way in Tartarus was he going to use the elevator after his last encounter with them. Never again. He eyed all of the Christmas decorations that were placed on the staircase, the reds and greens contrasting beautifully.

During the peaceful, slow trek up the stairs, the hero started recalling the good moments of last year. Like when his friend Keisha had taught him how to play a song on her piano. Or when he was made captain of the Goode Swim team. Or when Annabeth surprised him with a visit right after he had finished a math test. He chucked. That was probably the first laugh he had in six hours.

Maybe things would start to look up for Percy Jackson.

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Word Count: 1204