A Blast from the Past

What Now

Chapter 2

Hope you enjoy. Not quite sure if it's up to your expectations, nor if I did a good job.

Percy's POV

The same words floating through my head.

'What now'

The 2 words circled, around aimlessly without an answer. What words seemed to be insignificant yesterday, meant the world to me today.

Settling down into the murking water, I laid my head down in the cold, soft mud at the bottom of the river. The current snatched at my tears carrying them farther downstream. The gentle sound of rushing water above my head soothed me. Though the mud was cold, it comforted me with a warm hug.

The river cleared my head. It was just me and the steady flow of the river. It was this sort of thing that made me glad to be me. My connection with the water was a mystery to the world, something I wouldn't want to live without.

I don't know how long I stayed. It could have been hours or maybe just a couple minutes. But soon I realized I couldn't hide from life problems. I could play hide and seek all I wanted, I would still have to confront myself eventually. But like a baby hiding behind its hands doesn't actually make it disappear, hiding in a river, no matter how peaceful, wasn't going to give my friends back.

Remorsefully, I slowly pulled myself out of my spot and swam toward the top. Quicker than the eye could follow, I was pulled into a tight hug.

"I'm so glad you didn't do anything stupid down there, Kelp Head." the girl mumbled into my ear. Pulling away, Nico took her spot but a different approach. He slapped me.

"What in the world were you thinking, jumping off Olympus like that? What are you? Nuts!" At that, I smiled and pulled both Thalia and Nico into a much-needed hug.

Thalia was the first of us to break down. Sitting down in a circle we comforted each other. If you had asked me later what was said I couldn't have told you.

That night was the night we not only mourned for our friends, but our futures together with them. The way we spent the past with them. And of how now in the present we sorely missed them.

Our hearts were shattered pieces of glass scattered in unknown places. Our thoughts roamed together as one like a breeze merging with blasts of cold air.

As we walked home on a beautiful starlit night. I thought of the people we passed on the street unaware of the emotional traumas the three of us had suffered. I thought of the days of other people. Today might have been the best day of someone else's life. Today might have been the day of major accomplishment to someone that I hadn't spared even the blink of an eye.

We walked to my apartment in comfortable silence. No words were spoken just memorable peace.

Knocking on the door and seeing my mom. Sitting on the couch next to Paul. Exchanging stories and many tears.

Tears of many kinds were spilled. Most were in the name of sadness and memory. Some were of joy, the ones that had fallen in the receiving of the news from an expectant mother. My mother.

The memory of that night was captured in my mind forever but not really the details. I just remember spending the night with my family. A family who loves me for who I am. A family who listens. The moment was special to all of us. I wish I could have had more moments in the future to look forward to.

It was not to be.

~the night of Percy's birthday~

Thalia and Nico insisted I spend some time with mom and Paul alone on my special day. For the weeks leading up to my birthday, we had been inseparable.

My mom suggested eating out like a family date night. My eyes sparkled at the prospect. Already had we eaten cake and opened presents.

With Thalia and Nico waving us out the apartment door, promising we'd return to a clean household, mom, Paul, and I clambered into the car. I never found out if Thalia and Nico kept their promise.

There was music playing in the car as we neared our destination. Happy smiles that would soon seem bittersweet. Random conversation lost to memory's hold.

The sound of a sudden screech on the pavement and sickening crunch started the moment. The booming crash and ever following blackness ended it.

- Daughter of Poseidon, Legacy of Apollo, Hunter of Artemis signing off.