Moving On | Percy x Artemis

six

P E R C Y

When I first ran away the dreams tormented me every time I closed my eyes. They were so crowded, either with memories of Annabeth or messages from the gods and loved ones, trying to get me to come back home. None of them understood that Camp Half-Blood wasn't home if Annabeth wasn't there. For months I hardly slept, trying to escape the dreams. 

But now it's rare for me to get messages from the gods and everyone else. One day I hope I will be so far out of their reach it will be impossible to hear from them. Not tonight it seems. 

Another nameless street, another dark corner where I can get some rest. 

I am not expecting a message, I haven't had one in over a month. The second my eyes close I hear a voice. 

The voice is soft and sweet, like music in my ears. It says my name. 

"Perseus Jackson, are you listening?" 

The blackness around me fades into light and I am in a forest. I can smell the pine needles and I can feel the leaves crunching under my feet. I turn to see who is speaking to me. 

A girl. I've seen this girl before, only she's older now. Her long wavy hair is in a complicated braid, and her eyes are silver. They make me think of the moon, or uncut diamonds. She studies me, and I think she's probably looking at my ratty clothes and messy hair. I must look like a homeless person to her, and here she is without a hair out of place. 

That's when I remember I'm dreaming. I am a homeless person. And of course she looks perfect, she's Artemis, goddess of the hunt.  

"What do you want?" I ask.

"To know where you are," She says, her pretty voice hardens. 

"Why do you need to know where I am?" 

"Because you're valuable." 

"To who?" I'm already over this dream. 

She doesn't answer my question. "You are powerful, and for some unknown reason, loved.  A lot of people want you to come home." 

I laugh a little, "So they can use me again to get what they want. You gods only ever want to use us, and when we fulfil our duties, you dispose of us. Why would I go back to that?" 

Artemis studies me for another long second and then shrugs. "Because if you don't come home, I am coming to get you." 

"Is that a threat?" I ask, glaring at her. She can't hurt me through a dream.  

"It's a promise," Her eyes bore into me. "You are being stupid, running away like this. You can't outrun the gods." 

"Well, I've been doing it for years and so far it's working," I am a little unnerved by her. It's hard to take her seriously when she looks younger than me. Only by a year or so, but still, it's hard to remember how powerful she really is. 

"Your friend Thalia is with me, it will not take us long to find you." 

Thalia. Memories flitter through my mind. I miss her. Then I shake my head, "I look forward to seeing you try." 

Her eyes narrow and her hand tightens around the silver bow she's holding. It's as if she doesn't know how to respond. I surprise her, with my arrogance probably. But I have no respect for the gods, not anymore. If it wasn't for them, Annabeth might still be here. 

Finally I feel the dream beginning to fray at the edges. 

"Catch me if you can," I smirk as the dream falls apart, my eyes opening to see the sun. 

If only Artemis knew that the dream only made me want to run away faster. I pick up my stuff and begin to trudge along the road again. I am going nowhere, but it's a nowhere that doesn't have any gods or part gods or giants or creatures, and that sounds pretty good to me.