The Chosen One (Earth 7)

CXXVI) Some Nights are Good.

"Now please don't go, most nights I hardly sleep when I'm alone. Please, don't go. Oh no. I think of you whenever I'm alone, so please don't go."

***

Choose. Choose! Faster!

Percy stood there, every second he wasted, Ethan was inching closer and closer to his death, yet even that couldn't seem to move him quick enough.

He didn't know what to do.

His eyes met Calypso's, and though they looked upset, they seemed much more conflicted than he would've expected.

But she wasn't stopping him. He had no excuses.

Though only seconds had passed, Percy felt like it had been hours as he stared at everyone.

He didn't want to do it.

But I have to.

He looked back at Luke. Despite the fact that he was grinning from ear to ear, his eyes looked tired, pleading, almost.

He didn't like having this much power. He never did good under pressure, and this just put it to the extreme.

He could feel everyone's gaze on him. Some pity, others anxious, waiting for him to commit yet another murder.

"Do it," Luke said.

He had said it before, but this time, it had a more serious undertone. That mixed with his weird, pained gaze only made him more determined.

At some point during the tense situation, Ethan was let go, but Percy could barely feel relieved.

He had his life in his hands, but even though he had a million reasons to kill him, something held him back.

It was a stupid thing.

He should've killed him the second he had the opportunity. Luke was sneaky, and could turn the tables easily.

But in that moment, with him on his knees, blood spurting out his cuts, his cold eyes holding more emotion than ever, Percy couldn't move a muscle.

"Kill me!" He yelled.

Percy almost winced at how broken he sounded.

You don't know what I've gone through. Luke's voice echoed in his head.

He really didn't.

After all those years, he thought he knew Luke, and his cruel ways, but he always seemed to surprise him with a brand new aspect of himself that he'd kept hidden.

Percy lowered his sword slightly, holding out his hand.

He could practically feel the others' terrified gaze on him.

Luke stared at the hand, his gaze looking worried. He shook his head. "Too scared?" He smirked, looking confident again. "Can't kill me- KILL ME!" Luke shook his head, closing his eyes before smirking again. His hand slowly inched towards backbiter, and right as he swung it, Percy stabbed him, hugging him, just like Luke had done to him in a different timeline.