{𝟒) 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐟-𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬 | 𝙻𝚞𝚔𝚎 𝙲𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚊𝚗

30.

⚔︎Ψ 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 Ψ⚔︎

𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤, I was trying to calm myself down as Nico rested up. We decided to go home, once he regains energy we will leave and I'll hide him away myself, away from Camp and the Gods and Kronos.

It's not going to be a simple task, but I'd rather hide him then let anyone else decide what his fate is, at least with me I'll let him make up his own fate.

So, before we were about to head off, we thanked Eurytion, more like I thanked him as Nico stood by the side.

"Thank you for letting us stay on the ranch for a bit, Eurytion, Nico needed this...we both did." I spoke.

He smiled at me and joked, "Come back anytime, Orthus will miss you."

I smiled and the dog stared at us panting and smiled as I patted both its heads and gave a small scratch behind each of its four ears, Nico took my arm and we said goodbye one last time before walking off.

But as we began to walk only a few steps ahead that stupid mist began to appear, of course it had to be Minos who came around.

His ghostly apparition unsettling.

I pulled Nico back but as the mist began to appear more and more, Minos looked panicked which drew Nico's attention further as the mist began to talk in a panicked voice, "master! Master! Percy Jackson is in trouble!"

With hesitancy I looked at Minos as Nico spoke, "r-really? Are you sure?"

Minos nodded looking at us and saying, "in the Labyrinth he is not going to make it far if he continues on his course of terror and danger, go and find he who seeks help."

I grabbed Nico's arm drawing him back asking the stupid spirit, "how do we know you're telling the truth?  You don't exactly have a good reputation..."

He scoffed at me and turned to Nico, "never would lie to master..."

Nico pulled at my arm and said, "why would he lie? He has nothing to gain from Percy's death, he is already dead."

"That doesn't mean anything Nico, what if he just wants us back in the labyrinth for us to go through something worse?" I argued but Nico spoke, "let's find Percy and save him. Please? To apologize to him...I...I need to do this."

His begging did pull at me and while my mind said no, my heart always stupidly won, "fine...we will go. But if anything happens to you, we are turning back, I will not let both of you die."

Relief came over Nico's face and he smiled at me, and we began our adventure back into the Labyrinth to look for Percy.

We began making the walk, I held onto Nico's hand in my right and my left hand gripped my dagger fiercely in case anything wanted to jump out.

***

"Do you think after this is over can we have fun?" Nico asked out of the blue.

I looked his way and shrugged as my gaze focused ahead, "I'm not sure Nico. It's probably safer if you go back to camp where no one can grab you."

He argued with me, "but it's dangerous, isn't it?"

While I wished to say no, I'd be lying but...Nico needed to be looked after. My mind raced as I thought about this, maybe I can run? I could take Nico and we could go on the run far away from all of this.

Somewhere no one can find us and if they do, I'd make sure I'd protect him from anyone's grasp, especially Kronos.

We stopped for a moment, more like I did, and Nico tried to move ahead but turned back to look at me and I sighed looking at him as I smiled fixing his coat.

"When we get out of here...let's go on a little road trip, we're safer on foot then in one place." His grin widened and he nodded persistently and excitedly.

I sighed and told him, "My mom had said once when I was maybe your age...no fear is to come if you look ahead. It only appears when you look back...remember that okay? Never look back at the past but continue to move forth to the future that you want and that you shall make."

Nico nodded listening to me as I smiled, holding back his hand for us to continue walking.

And it was true, Nico did his best to take my advice as he grew into a young adult, always looking forward to setting his own path and to never look back. But the only time he did look back was because he wanted that feeling again, the feeling of motherly love, sisterly love... because he couldn't have it the way he wanted...

You know when you think about it, I try my best to look forward, but I cling to the past even though my mom says I shouldn't.

She never looked back, I mean...she left her abusive parents, she had me and took care of me even though she knew it would be the most difficult task to ever do in her life.

My mom moved past the fact I was a Demi-God and only wants the best for me.

Perhaps the only thing she is looking at and not seeking fiercely for change is herself, her self-worth and happiness is what she draws back.

I suppose having Thomas was a first step, but really, I would feel happier if I knew about her having another kid after me, perhaps I was this huge burden that she had to take care of when she was just a kid herself and had no help.

But now she has Thomas, she has this safety net that she can go back to and feel comfortable with; unlike the times she had me when she was just a teenager and couldn't do much but help me out because of course I took away her childhood cause I messed everything up.

Hopefully she may have a new course, a new better and happier life...

A normal...child...

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

Of course Hayley is always going to doubt herself because this is just how her life has always been for herself, is she good or is she bad? Is she perfect or not? Is she right or wrong?

And it will continue to go on...