Erased Memories

I Sign Away My Life

I Sign Away My Life

I slowly turned, shocked. A man stood in the middle of the cabin. I knew Chaos was my only hope of returning things to the way they were supposed to be, but deep down, I never expected him to actually show up. "Chaos?" I gulped, still not believing.

"That is me." Chaos looked exactly like he had in my dream. He was old, but not super old, as in grandpa old. He seemed to be in his fifties. He had a small gray beard and really was glowing with power. There was a light black glow around him. I knew I would regret it if I got on his bad side. "I understand you made a vow to do anything if I restored everyone's memories. Is that correct?" He walked over to my bunk and admired the Minotaur horn. "You killed the Minotaur with this horn when you were only twelve years old?"

I nodded in answer to both of his questions. "Please, I will do anything. I want them to remember. I will do anything you ask if you do that for me." I was already considering going down on my knees to beg if he refused.

"It just so happens that there is something I need. I will grant your wish." I almost hugged him right there. "But, you must become the commander of my team. You will have one year here until you must come with me and lead my team." He pulled out a black cord like the one that held my camp beads. It had a small clear ball hanging from it, which was filled with a grayish white light. "I will come for you in a year. If for some reason you would like to come before then, smash this on the ground. A portal will appear, and you must step through it."

That was not what I expected. Everyone will remember me now, but I will only have a year with them. But there was nothing I could do. I swore on the River Styx. And at this point, I didn't care what I had to do. I just wanted my family back. "Yes, thank you." I took the necklace and hung it around my neck.

A piece of paper appeared next to me. It looked like a contract. "Sign it," Chaos said. I did. The paper closed and disappeared in a poof of black mist.

Chaos concentrated and the room was filled with a black light. When the light faded, Chaos was about to leave. "They will remember you. And don't even try to get out of our deal."

I nodded. "Thank you, again." Chaos just waved it off and as he was leaving, I noticed that he seemed younger. Almost like a burden had been taken off of him.

As soon as he was gone I bolted out of the cabin and ran outside. I looked around, yet the campers still looked at me without recognition.

I ignored it though, pushing past them and searching for Annabeth. I spotted her at the volleyball court. I started to run over to her when I saw the phony me heading towards her. She looked at me and I saw disgust in her eyes. The fake me reached her and kissed her. She didn't pull away.

I slowed down and walked the rest of the way, in shock. "Annabeth? What's this?" She left PJ #2 and came over to me.

"Can I talk to you alone?" I nodded and pulled her towards the lake. I jumped in and sank to the bottom. When she didn't follow I formed a hand out of the water and brought her down next to me. I created an air bubble so she could breathe and talk.

"I thought you'd be glad. You remember me now, so, why replace me? With a terrible version of myself?" I was confused.

She sighed, "What are you talking about? Why do you keep talking to me like I know you, or should know you? Why? I don't know you."

That hurt. "What do you mean, you haven't seen me before?" I said, growing angry. Chaos had said he restored their memories.

Oh yeah, about that. I heard Chaos say in my head. I forgot to mention. They will only remember you when they are in a time of great need. Pontus worked hard. Not even I could reverse his work all the way.

I started to see red. I practically gave away my life, and I won't even get to spend this year happily. If the gods kept their promise that they made after the Second Titan War, we'd never be in a time of need again. They would never remember me.

I was so mad, I couldn't control what happened next. I shot her out of the water into the sky. Before she hit the ground I made the water catch her and set her down next to the lake. I wasn't that cruel, and I still had some control. I kicked up to the surface and saw Annabeth coughing and spluttering on the ground.

I started walking to my cabin and saw everyone crowded around the phony. Apparently they think he is better than training. Like they don't care if they die. Fine. No problem. I know what I'll do.

Once inside my cabin, I let out the tears. Tears of betrayal. I had finally gotten the girl, like every hero does in the movies, and I lose her a month after. She was everything to me.

No matter what they all thought, I was the one to destroy Kronos. And I will not cry over a girl. I will not turn my life into one of sorrow and pain. I'm a demigod, and demigods were made to be heroes.

I grabbed my backpack and stuffed it with everything in my cabin. The minotaur horn, the mangled watch Tyson made me, and all of my clothes. It was only about 2 pairs of jeans, a few Camp Half-Blood t-shirts and some from home. Lastly, I tucked Riptide into my pocket. All the important belongings I would need were now packed up into one backpack. I left the cabin and headed to the Big House.

I saw Chiron and Grover waiting on the steps of the Big House. "Percy! How did you find Chaos? We could feel the ancient aura coming from your cabin." Grover was happy for me, I could tell. Not for much longer.

I sighed. "I was in my cabin and I said 'this is chaos!' and he appeared. I made a deal with him. He would repair everyone's memories if in one year I become the commander of his team. I agreed, but there was a catch. Even he can't undo Pontus' spell all the way, and so they will only remember me in a time of great need."

Their smiles faded. "Well, that is unfortunate." Chiron tried to find something else to say.

"Yeah, well I'm leaving. Chaos gave me this necklace to smash if I want to come earlier. I'm going. I hope you'll understand. I'll try to keep in touch." I showed them the necklace.

Before Chiron and Grover could stop me, I smashed the necklace on the ground. A swirling gray portal appeared. I tore off my camp necklace and threw it down on the ground.

"Percy! No, don't leave! We'll fix this--" I didn't hear the rest of their pleas. I had already stepped through the portal.

The only thought that filled my head was, I'm sorry Chiron, Grover, and Blackjack. As the darkness swallowed me, I looked back at the camp. My old home. The one place I loved, yet now hate.

I turned away and the Camp vanished.