As Long As I Live

Prologue

Dear Leo,

Well, I just survived another day at Camp Half-Blood, although I don't know how I did without you. From my window, I can see the stars. They remind me of you, a spark of light in my darkened world. We all miss you here at camp. I know I do. You were, and still are a hero, Leo. I bet the history books will write about you. You aren't just the hero of the world though, you're my hero, and I'd give anything to see you again. I'll always remember you. Your warm smile, your awful, but hilarious jokes, your determination when working on a machine, your bravery. I will always keep these things in my heart. I swear it on Styx, I will keep you in my heart as long as I live.

Forever yours,

Y/n 

I set down my pencil, and sighed. Despite the fact that it had felt like forever since the war, only a couple of months had passed. Well, life goes on I guess. Around me, my cabin mates snored quietly, hopefully having good dreams, but knowing the lives of demigods, that was probably not the case.

I felt like crying. Like going back to my bed, and staying there forever. Maybe I could join Clovis in the Hypnos cabin. But deep inside, I knew that I couldn't do there things. Leo would want me to live my life to the fullest, even without him around. 

I couldn't sleep tonight. I was having too many bad dreams and eventually gave up. I was tired, yes, but I'd rather suffer from tiredness than those visions. They were just too much for me.

Gently, I picked up the letter that I had written, and read it again. Soon enough, tears were spilling out of my eyes and onto the parchment, leaving it speckly, like a melancholy design stamped on forever. 

I quickly took a deep breath to slow the tears. I couldn't risk waking up one of my siblings, especially in this state. My hand went to the heart shaped necklace I always wore. I remember the day I got it, as I rubbed my thumb across the imprints on the bronze heart. 

I leaned back in my chair, letting my eyes drift towards the window. Again, I saw the stars. The same ones in my letter that reminded me of Leo. I silently got up, and walked across the room to get a better look. As I opened up the window, a breeze of cool midnight air drifted into the cabin. I stuck my head outside. All the other cabins were dark, as well as mine. Everyone was asleep at this hour, and no one dared to go outside in fear that the cleaning harpies would gobble them up. 

Hastily, I turned my head to look at the forest. It was pitch black, like someone had spilled gallons of ink into it. Despite the ominous feeling that always wafted from it, I loved the forest. After all, it's where Festus is, and not to mention Bunker 9. I was tempted to run to the forest, but I would be hunted down by monsters for sure. Like Chiron said, "Never go out into the forest at night!" 

Suddenly, a noise caught my attention.  I whipped my head around, only to see a boy emerge from the shadows.

Nico! I thought to myself. I needed someone to talk to, and he was just the one. He swiftly walked into his cabin. What he was doing outside so late, I had no idea. Most likely, it had something to do with the dead given that fact that he was the son of Hades.

I decided then and there that it didn't matter if I was a cleaning harpy's breakfast, I had to talk to someone, and Nico would understand me the best.

Although it was summer, the nighttime air was surprisingly cool. I ran over to the Hades cabin, which was three cabins down from mine. On my was there, I slowed down near the Hephaestus cabin. It looked same as always despite the fact that their head counselor was.... absent. 

I shook my head sadly, and picked up my pace once again. I arrived at the Hades cabin, a dark colored door loomed in front of me. I knocked, hoping he would answer before the harpies, or even worse, Chiron found me in the middle of the night. Even though Chiron was a kind-hearted, benevolent centaur, he could be scary when he assigned four weeks of dish washing.

Fortunately, Nico opened the door. "Y/n?" He asked. "What are you doing up, and outside this late!?" He opened the door to let me in, and I entered. " I could ask the same for yourself." I replied. Nico rolled his eyes at my not so much of an answer.

"Y/n, is this about Leo again?" He asked, more gently this time. When I didn't say anything, he sighed. "I've told you this many times before, and it pains me to say it, but he's gone." I slumped back against a wall. This was definitely not the answer I was hoping for. Nico looked at me as if trying to figure out a complicated puzzle. Then, a bit of understanding played on his face. "Look, I know what it's like to lose someone close to you, but these things happen. Especially if you're a demigod."

I sighed, knowing he was right. I couldn't keep bothering others when it was clear that Leo was gone for good. "How about," Nico started escorting me towards the door, "You go get some sleep, and we'll talk in the morning." 

I nodded reluctantly. "Okay." I walked back to my cabin un the dark. I didn't realize how tired I was until my head hit my pillow. I almost immediately fell asleep, but before I could, a random memory popped into my brain. A memory of the days we half-bloods call 'the good 'ol days'. Or at least I call them that anyway.

I think that thought is what stirred me to have this dream.

Hey guys! This is my first chapter of As Long As I Live, and don't worry, it won't be this depressing all the time. You'll see immediately that the main character is genuinely a happy person before what everyone thinks is Leo's death. Be sure to comment down bellow what you think! Criticism is excepted. Welp, have a nice day y'all, and I hope you like this story so far!