The waters of Chaos ~ A Percy Jackson Fanfiction (editing)

(EDITED) Oops.

"Why is everyone acting so strangely?" Grover asked. It was the day after the attack on Juniper's grove and her home was growing back, with the help of the Demeter cabin and a couple of satyrs. Grover and I were sitting on a cliff near the beach, away from everyone else.

"I don't know. Henry turned up and the next thing I knew, everyone went crazy!" I was staring out to sea. I didn't want Grover to suffer whatever was happening to me, so I'd been avoiding him. He knew this, so naturally, he'd been trying to find me. After a couple of hours, he found me trudging towards the beach and dragged me up here.

"I can't believe it! Annabeth, Thalia, Chiron... everybody! How could this have happened?" Grover complained into the strong wind blowing against us. I looked up. The sun was nearing the horizon.

"Better start heading back buddy. Want to be there before the others start suspecting I did something." I stood up and offered Grover a hand. He took it and pulled himself up. We started walking down the hill behind the cliff.

"Hey man, I know everything's... crazy right now. I've got a small job picking up a demigod from New York tomorrow, if you want to come along for the ride, just to get out for a bit, you're welcome to come with..." Grover stopped walking and stared at the scene in front of us.

Annabeth was standing on the beach staring at the sunset. Henry was standing next to her, holding a small, silver box. She glanced fondly at him. We were standing close enough to hear them talking.

"Here Annabeth, this is for you." Henry presented Annabeth with the box. "Will you do me the honor of being my girlfriend in public, finally!" he declared. "Oh, Henry! Of course! I'm sorry we had to wait so long for that fish-breath to realise that I didn't want to spend time with him." Tears glistened in her eyes. This time, I supposed, they must be from happiness.

Suddenly, Annabeth pressed her face up against Henry's. It honestly looked like they were trying to eat each other. My whole body went numb.

"Why?" Grover said, just loud enough for them to hear. Annabeth spun around, alarmed at the disturbance. She glared at me, even though her eyes were still glassy.

"Because he's the only real hero here. There was never anyone else. I doubt I could even tell you what love was before I met him." She smiled at Henry once more.

"Besides, who wouldn't want him? He's strong." She stroked his face. "He's manly." He reached up to cup her face in his hand. "And he's smart. Smarter than you!" she scowled at me. Tears were catching in her lashes now, slowly falling down her face.

"How could you do this to him? He's standing right here!" Grover exclaimed, gesturing to me. I was gaping at Annabeth, unable to move.

"What about him? What about poor Juniper! Or have you forgotten who set her fire in the first place? Attention seeker." She blew me off and went back to admiring Henry.

"Let's go, man. We obviously aren't needed in the terrifying kissing department anyways." Grover turned towards the camp. I looked at the ocean, then started running across the beach. Just as the sun skimmed the horizon, I dove into the water.

That's how it started. Unfortunately, it has yet to end.

•time lapse back to the beginning of the book•

I didn't realise I'd sat down again. Hauling myself up, I continue walking back along the sea floor towards Camp. I feel as if there's a weight on my shoulders that wasn't there before. Maybe it's just the ocean. I'm not so sure.

I walk up to the beach. No one's here. 

I start walking towards the cabins. The sun only rose about a half hour ago so it's still pretty early.

A tearful Annabeth sits on the steps of the Athena cabin. Next to her is Henry. Her boyfriend.

She sees me and tears start falling again. Henry glares in my direction. I look away and start walking towards the Poseidon cabin.

When I get inside I decide to Iris-message my mum. I hope whatever craziness here hasn't reached her as well.

"Oh Iris, goddess of the rainbow, please accept my offering. Show me Sally Jackson."

The fountain in the middle of the room shimmers to reveal Sally crying, next to an exhausted Paul.

"What's wrong guys?!" I call through the mist.

"Percy, get away! It's not safe here, he'll get to you!" my mother yells, tears streaming down her face. "He's changed them, he keeps trying to change us! He's nearly taken Paul!"

"Calm down, tell me who he is!" My mother was now in hysterics. She was hyperventilating, but Paul didn't move to help her. He just sat there looking helpless and dejected.

"It's him, Percy. He- Henr-" my mum stuttered, struggling to finish the word. Suddenly her eyes clouded and a calm expression washed across her face, as did Paul's.

"Percy, how could you," they said in unison. They looked straight at me. "How could you do this to us?"

I swiped my arm through the mist, cutting the link. He'd taken them too. Now I knew who it was.

•••

I walked outside to see Henry gazing deep into Annabeth's eyes. I marched up to him and pulled him around to face me.

"What are you doing, Percy?" Annabeth cried.

"What did you do to them? All of them." I said to Henry.

"Excuse me Annabeth, I have to go and deal with this sorry excuse for a demigod. I'll see you later."

Henry stood up and walked into the forest. I followed.

"For your information, all I did was confirm what they already thought. They all thought you were a stuck-up little prick, so I just amplified that. Besides, you deserve it." Henry smirked at my horrified expression.

"No. My mother changed and she wouldn't think that. Not in a million years." I growled at him.

"Well, you might just get to wait that long, where you're going." Henry grinned, then laughed as I collapsed in pain.

"What did you do to me?" I whispered. He crouched down and pressed his foot against my face, not unlike his kissing style I noticed.

"All I did was inject that fountain of yours with pit scorpion venom. Nothing that you shouldn't be able to handle. Anyway, It's your friends that you should be blaming. Don't you hate them yet?"

"No. It's not their fault. I don't blame them for anything. It's all my fault." I whispered, in too much pain to care if he heard me this time.

"Oh come on! Don't you hate them?! Isn't it time for you to stop taking the blame?! They abandoned you! They ditched you! They left you for dust!"

"That was all you." I flinched as the pain intensified.

"Well then. I think I'll just leave you here with your thoughts for the last 30 seconds of your life. Let's see if you're so willing to forgive them then." Henry disappeared off through the forest, a new spring in his step.

I crawled toward the creek. I couldn't move very fast, but eventually, I collapsed into the cool water, letting it seep through my clothes and onto my skin. I knew the water couldn't save me, but at least I had more time.

'Dad?' I asked, rippling the water.

'Percy. You have behaved appallingly these past few weeks.' I sunk deeper into the water, the words barely registering.

"Perhaps... Perhaps you should find a new father. Don't try and speak to me again."

'It's not your fault, dad. Don't blame yourself for anything. I've already forgiven you, for everything.' I relaxed, smiling at my last words before everything went black.