Catch 22

"Join me child. Become like me. You've fought it all your life but you know you'll never be one of them. Or, watch your friends die slowly. And painfully. In agony . Choose my son." The evil look in Erebus' eyes glowed brightly as he grinned while watching the trap hang over a pit of despair and chaos worse than the upper levels of hell itself. A place where it is virtually impossible to even come back. Jake looked at his friends faces. "Hailey. Emery. Jessica. Ashton. Luna. Saraya. Carolina. So many names and people tied to me by fate. If I made the wrong move, their strings of life would be cut and their souls sent to the never ending pit of Kronos. Where the worst monsters and demons of hell roam free....." He thought silently, allowing the scenario to keep playing in his head for what felt like weeks on end ever since he received a prophecy beforehand. 'One shall take charge and rule all, but the closest spirit shall die to bring about the ruler's fall' and that's all he could remember from the small Herbie. She spoke so fast it was hard for him to comprehend. Jake was positive one of his friends would die. Bit by bit, he would push them away. It's better to have them alive and safe then dead because of him. Suddenly an idea popped in his head. "I have a proposition father. How about we let them go live with the underworld and you share some of your power with me?" he said to Erebus with a small smile. "no Jake! Don't give in!" Saraya shouted from inside the cage. "Jake! You fought so hard to go against evil! Don't give in to it now!" Luna yelled out of anxiousness and fear. "It's the only way... " he silently thought to himself as the others stood shocked as his father walked towards him and touched Jake's soul, transferring strength and wisdom throughout his body. Darkness formed around him. Almost enveloping him completely until he produced a burst of energy, dispersing the darkness everywhere. "How do you feel my son?" Erebus asked as he took a step back.

"Jake. I really hope you're still in there." Jane whispered to herself as she witnessed him slowly get up. But something was different. His eyes. They weren't brown... They were jet black. As black as darkness itself... "Never felt better." He said as he opened his eyes and clenched his fists. "I feel like I could crush the bones of every soul that stands against me." he smirked with an evil grin. Erebus smiled in pure delight and satisfaction at his son. "Rise my son! Let us show the world true chaos!" he shouted. With a flick of his wrist, Jake opened the cage holding his friends and gave them a look of pure evil "You may leave. Live in the world above for the little time left.... Before we bring chaos to your land." he said in a dark tone. "Jake! No! What happened to you!?" Luna screamed in fury and fear. "Luna run! We can't save him." Ashton said as he tried to pull her away. "Jake! Jake! Nooo!" the sound of her voice faded in the distance as the group ran towards the entrance of the upper world.

Reaching the upper world, everyone took a break to regroup and cope in their own ways over the lost of their friend. Luna's eyes were rimmed with tears. Saraya's eyes were already watering as a single tear rolled down the side of her cheek. "He didn't deserve this. He always warned us what would happen...." She said softly. "We have to fight for him! Bring him back!" Hailey said as she stood up defiantly."We have to save him!" Jessica said agreeing with Hailey. "but how? You saw what happened to him. I just met him a few weeks ago and I don't even know what the hell is going on." Carolina said softly as she sat in shock at the previous events. Throughout it all, only Emery was quiet. She knew of only one person who could help Jake. Silently pulling out her phone she texted Thaddeus, his best friend, for help. '911. Jake needs help. Stat.' sending the text she silently waited as the group argued. Less than 5 minutes later a portal opened, interrupting the group's conversation, and Thaddeus slowly stepped out of the portal and looked at the group in front of him. Quickly noticing Saraya and Emery, he knew the others were not a threat due to association. "Where's Jake?" He said with a serious tone. His emotions kept switching between rage and fear as he waited for a reply. "he joined Erebus..." Saraya said softly. "Why would he do such a....." pausing in the middle of his sentence, Thaddeus realized the only possible explanation. "he did it for you'll..." he said softly. The pain and anger that he felt inside became visible on his face. He had just lost his best friend to the dark side. Literally. The one thing they had both been fighting almost their entire lives. "We have very little time." he said to everyone. "put your differences away and work together to bring him back. It is the only way. I will be back to meet you by City Hall. I have to make a pit stop. Whoever can fight, tell the others throughout the city that an invasion is about to begin. Those who can't, find someone who can and stick by them. Be their second pair of eyes. Sea boy and your girlfriend over there." Thaddeus said as he gestured towards Ashton and Luna. "Send a message to camp halfblood. Tell them, they're camp is about to be under attack. Saraya. Bring whatever backup you can, because tonight you're going to be in the fight for your lives. And the rest of you. You know what to do." he said as he wrapped up his briefing. "and Em. We gotta talk privately...." he said softly. After everyone began to scatter, only him and Emery were left behind. "This isn't good Em. He gave his life.....for them. For you. I don't even know if we can save him from the darkness. It's powerful." he said softly "but we have to!" she said urgently as she grabbed his arms. "please! I'm begging you! Find a way!" she said as she gripped his arms even harder. "I'll try Em. I'll find a way." he replied as he looked into her eyes and returned the gesture.