Once we were heroes, but everything has changed since then. Once, we were seven, but people have died since then. Once, I was happy, and I had a home, but the world has crumbled since then.
The minute I closed my eyes to enjoy my happiness, everything burned to the ground.
Now, I hold my breath and wonder if I will live to see tomorrow. The very seconds I live on now are borrowed. From my hiding spot, I can hear the thump and drag of a monster's footsteps.
One of the monsters that destroyed my perfect world. The only time that the heroes didn't prevail. When the underdogs didn't come out on top. The only time these demons broke us beyond repair.
One death kept us fighting. A hundred more sent us running. The entire world is chaos, anarchy, a hellish nightmare to us few survivors. A flaming paradise for the monsters.
"I know you are there, demigod scum," the monster's voice hits my ears like a thousand sharp razors. It sends shivers down my spine.
Never, through all the trials I've been through, would I have ever traded my new life at Camp Half Blood for my safe, old, boring life. Now, with everything I love in ruin, I'd give anything to be back, surfing at the beach, or at school, or anywhere, really, just not in this abandoned convenience store, crouched under a cash register.
"There is nothing left for you to live for," the voice calls out again. "I can give you a great gift. I can reunite you with your friends in death."
The promise leaves me breathless. Death would be a release for me. No more worrying about how I'm going to survive the next few seconds. I don't even know why I've fought this long. It's almost as if I feel some kind of duty to remain living.
But why have I been fighting so long? My siblings in the Aphrodite cabin; my boyfriend, Jason; my father; and three of my closest friends all died in front of me. And after Annabeth's death, Percy gave up. I think he gave the illusion that he was still fighting for my sake, but I knew he was gone before it even happened.
And yet, I live on.
"You're wrong," A different voice behind me says. The voice is familiar, except the joking, playful tone is gone, leaving the rare serious Leo Valdez speaking. "I do have something to live for. I'll live to fight for what I've always fought for: A good world for the people who still think life is worth living. Just because everyone I care for is gone, doesn't mean that everyone that deserves a happy life is gone. So I'm going to keep fighting. For them."
End of Part One
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After Everything (Heroes of Olympus)
FanfictionHeroes of Olympus fanfic that takes place after the Giant war. Monsters have risen stronger than ever, and for once, the demigods failed to stop them. With most everyone dead, and hardly any heroes left, the world is in chaos and ruin. The few demi...
