Shadows of the Forgotten

Chapter 3: The Darkness Revealed

The forest around Percy's cabin was thick with an almost tangible tension. The Hunters had spent a full day scouring the woods, and whispers had spread through their camp about shadows that seemed to shift without a source, sounds that didn't belong, and a powerful, unseen presence. The rumors among the Hunters had reached Artemis, heightening her unease.

Eirene, the young Hunter who'd seen Percy interacting with something strange in the woods the previous night, couldn't let the matter rest. As she spoke in quiet but urgent tones to Artemis, her sharp eyes reflecting a mixture of awe and fear, Artemis felt her own doubts solidify. She knew Percy better than most, and yet here he was, more reclusive, more evasive, than she'd ever seen him. And if there was one thing she trusted, it was her instincts.

The campfire's glow flickered across her face, casting shadows beneath her silver eyes as she looked toward Percy's cabin. "Enough secrets," she murmured to herself before standing, her determination hardening. She would get answers.

Percy was on his porch, his fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on the rough wood as he scanned the forest, the comfort of Nyx's unseen presence a steadying force against his growing anxiety. He knew the Hunters were curious, but he hadn't expected them to probe this deeply—or for Artemis to be the one leading the charge. His heart skipped a beat when he saw her approaching, her gaze like tempered steel.

"Percy," she greeted, though her voice lacked the warmth it had carried the day before.

"Artemis," he replied, forcing a casual smile. "Didn't expect you to be up so late."

Her eyes narrowed. "I didn't expect to feel such... unease here," she replied, glancing around as if trying to catch the presence of something hidden. "Tell me, Percy—what are you hiding?"

He felt his stomach drop but kept his expression neutral. "Hiding? Artemis, I live out here in the middle of nowhere. There's not much to hide."

She didn't respond, her gaze piercing through him with a persistence that was difficult to ignore. "You're not fooling me. I've known you through battles and quests, Percy. I've seen you at your best—and your worst. You wouldn't choose solitude for no reason. You're not just 'taking time to yourself,' are you?"

The silence stretched, thick and heavy, until Percy forced himself to respond. "The quiet life has its appeal," he replied, sidestepping the question.

Artemis's patience wavered, and she took a step closer, her voice lowering. "Is it quiet, Percy? I think not. My Hunters have felt it—an ancient presence, a darkness that surrounds this place like a shroud. They're scared, and frankly, I can't blame them."

Percy clenched his jaw, carefully choosing his next words. "The woods have their mysteries. Isn't that what makes them beautiful?"

"It's not the woods I'm talking about," she pressed, her tone sharp and unyielding. "This is something else, something... wrong. Do you even realize what's happening? Do you understand the path you're treading?"

Percy's defenses began to rise, the weight of her accusations pressing down on him. "Artemis, I know what I'm doing. I'm not going down some dark path. You of all people should trust me."

"Trust you?" Artemis's tone was laced with both frustration and disappointment. "Percy, I've trusted you through countless battles, but this... This feels different. I can't ignore the darkness that hangs over you, and I won't stand by if you're making choices that will lead you to ruin."

He wanted to tell her, wanted to share the truth and prove that he wasn't lost. But the memory of Nyx's warning echoed in his mind, her quiet but fierce reminder of the consequences if the Olympians found out. He took a breath, struggling to keep his voice steady.