Rising Storm (Percy Jackson Fanfiction)

Chapter 37

Chapter 37: LEO

My day wasn’t going too well, and falling through the floor only made it worse. Even though I saw Alex fall too, she was nowhere in sight. I knew Grover had saw what happened, and hopefully he had enough sense not to follow. Then again, both of them could be getting slaughtered by the undead. “Grover? Alex!” I holler, but there was no reply. Where was I? My hand burst into flame for some light, but what I saw was extremely uninteresting. It was just some deserted corridor, with a large round door at the end. I walk toward it, but as soon as I touch the handle, my flame went out. I tried summoning it again, but it didn’t work. I had nothing better to do, so I swung open the door.

For a moment, all was dark, but suddenly torches lit on both sides of the hall. “Hello?” a dark figure was standing in the shadows no too far away, his back towards me.

“Come.” It demanded. His deep, powerful voice just willed me to obey. “Follow me.” I chased it as it brought me through twists and turn. I tried to remember which way we were going, but I was too busy trying to keep up with him to think straight. Left, left, right, straight, wait no, that’s kitty-corner, left, right, right, wait no, left, or was that straight?

“Hey wait up!” I panted. He ignored me, and continued walking. Finally though, we stopped in some kind of deserted thrown room. Our own footsteps echoed as we walked through to a deep red thrown situated on a platform with a couple of steps leading up to it. A beautifully crafted crown was left sitting on the seat, just daring someone to pick it up. We just stood there, as I waited for him to say something.

“In the end, Leo, you will have to learn to just save yourself.”

“Excuse me?” I raise an eyebrow at the man. Who was this guy?

“You are going to have to save yourself when the time comes, and stop running around and trying to act like the hero. Someday soon, you will be faced with the decision to either save yourself or save the rest.  I suggest thinking about what they would do in your position. Think about it. Would Alex risk sacrificing herself for you, or would she just walk away and start over again?” I didn’t say anything. What would Alex do in that situation? Alex was different though. She is a person, but not exactly human, like there is a big chunk that someone stole from her. Love? Compassion? Sympathy?

“So what’s your point?” I say dryly, pushing the thought aside.

“In real life, Leo Valdez, don’t go looking for a savior because everyone is just trying to save themselves and they really don’t care what happens to you. Don’t go looking for someone to fight your own battles. You’re just a pawn. Sure, you may take a few lives, save someone now and then, but in the end your just a trade-in; someone to replace with a more important character.” What was this guy talking about? Was he seriously comparing my life to a chess game?

“But you’re just referencing a game,” I reply bluntly. He was still standing with his back towards me, but he tilted his head a little.

“Life is just a game. Anyone who thinks otherwise is just kidding themselves, trying to hide the pain. ”