God of the Games - Percy Jackosn x Hunger Games

Chapter 8: I wish I could say bye to my shark

*It is a rare gesture of our district, used mostly when children were sent into war back in the rebellion, but is now only used to tell stories of said soldiers. It means goodluck, it means admiration, it means we are with you. But never goodbye. It means come home.*

I wait in the room I am supposed to say my goodbyes in. There are plush cushions on the couches and chairs, all blue. Hanging from the ceiling are nets. Clearly there's a theme. As I wait for someone, anyone, to open the doors, I pull out the pen Chiron gave me. It had the word 'Riptide' engraved on the side, like my sword. It was often a form of comfort. I fidgeted with it, spinning it around my fingers while I stared at the doors.

Grover and Mom come first. They rush towards me and Mom barrels into me. Hugging me till I feel like I can't breathe. We stay like that for a moment and I have to fight not to cry. I mustn't appear weak, I can't afford to.

"Percy." She mumbles.

"It'll be okay Mom." I promise hangs in the air, but I know I can't. I won't make promises I can't keep. Instead I play with her hair to distract myself from my predicament.

"Can you at least try for me?"

"Of course Mom. I'll try, just for you." She nods and slowly walks away, allowing me to see Grover.

"G-Man." I nod in his direction.

"Don't play tough with me Perce." He pulls me up to my feet and hugs me. His tears fall onto my shirt and stain the fabric. Once more I struggle not to do the same.

"Grover. Look at me." I pull him off my shoulder and force him to look me in the eye.

"I need you to promise me something," He nods. "I need you to continue going to the poor, I need you to stop children from getting in trouble. I'm not saying do what I did, that was stupid, but at least try to teach them how to stay in the shadows." He nods and looks away but I force him to look at me again.

"Promise me Grover."

"I-I promise." I hug him again, then turn to Mom.

"Percy, there's something I have to tell you." Her voice is solemn and I can tell she wanted to wait to tell me whatever the news.

"What is it?"

"Your father. He's-He's Neptune." Both Grover and I look at her in shock, but soon I am confused. Neptune was one of the greatest victors. Ever. He ended his Games in just 5 days, killing more than half the other tributes.

"Why didn't you tell me?" My voice is barely louder than a whisper. In an attempt to comfort me, she hugs me and wraps both her arms around my shoulders.

"I'm so sorry Perce, I was scared. I was going to tell you when you turned twelve, but when Finnick became a victor too, I knew it would only make you an even bigger target. I'm so sorry." The tears are even harder to hold back now, with the new information overloading my system.

"I love you." My voice is barely a whisper. She looks up, crying more than I could have imagined. She has to do this twice. She has to give her son away to the Capitol for their entertainment again. She has to wonder if she'll ever see her child again for a second time. And if I win, she'll have to watch her son break again.

"I love you too." Then she pulls something out of her pocket. It's a necklace I made as a child. Each bead was hand painted by the two of us. One bead has a blue trident, another with a golden sheep, the next a labyrinth, and the last a tall skyscraper. Most were based on my favourite Greek stories, but the last was the building in the Capitol Finnick had told me about.

"Use it as your token." I nod, and slowly take it out her hand, clasping it around my neck. The beads are warm from her hands' heat, and sit heavy around my neck. A reminder of what I stand to lose.