Percy Jackson: My Life is a Lie

Bits And Pieces Of Our Memories

I stumbled forward. My breath hitched and I could vaguely make out the murmurs of campers. I took off in a sprint, heading to my cabin. Campers yelled at me to stop and some even tried to pull me back. I swatted their hands away and continued running towards the Poseidon Cabin. 

The acrid smell invaded my nostrils; my eyes teared up from the smoke. The heat made me sweat heavily. Ash clung to my face as I ran, making me feel like my face was melting off.

I fell down to my knees as I rummaged through the ash for something. Some clue as to why--how--this happened. I was covered in soot and sweat but my searching was pointless. There was nothing for me to find.

I let a sigh of frustration escape my lips. I stood up and ran over to the Athena cabin next.

Unlike the Poseidon Cabin, there was one piece of paper stuck under a black notebook.

I pulled it out. I was hoping to find something important. Something that could help everyone regain their memories.

All I found was a bunch of nonsensical notes scribbled all over it. I clenched my eyes shut and slowly let my shoulders sag. I faced down and let out a sigh of defeat and resignation.

I shouldered on though. I got up and scavenged through each and every cabin but, alas, to no avail.

Lastly, I headed to the Hermes Cabin. Instead of searching, I sat down and let a tear trickle down my cheek.

I. Am. Not. Your. Girlfriend! Annabeth's voice rang again and again in my ears. A never ending tape recorder, cursed to torture me with a single, yet very painful, statement.

I placed my head on my knees. Silent tears ran down my cheeks.

A glint caught my attention. I hastily wiped my wet cheeks and crawled over to it.

It was a box--a cardboard box. I furrowed my eyebrows. It was strange; the box wasn't burnt or even looked to have accumulated any damage.

I attempted to open it, only to find out that there was a silver lock, disabling me from opening it. It was likely the reason for the glint. I tried to jingle it open but it was sealed tight.

I looked around. The gods must have pitied me and decided to give me a break. I spotted a hair pin. I used it to open the lock.

It was a lot harder than i expected but after a couple of tries I managed to access the box.

I lifted the lid gently. My eyes widened and I gasped. I was looking at a picture of me and Annabeth. It was our first underwater kiss...

Stolls, I thought fondly. I let a small smile grace my lips.

I should have known that no one would have left us alone.

The picture behind it was of the Seven, all of us. It was taken by...Leo. I felt tears pinprick my eyes. Gods, why did it have to be him? It should've been me. I know he promised to return to Calypso, but what will Calypso do now? She can't wait for someone who won't come back...

I quickly replaced the picture. The next one was of all the campers after the Second Titan War and another with Camp Jupiter after the Second Giant War.

Every picture reminded me of every single happy memory I had, from when I was on my first quest for Zeus' Masterbolt to the Giant War.

Each picture seemed to come back to life and allowed me to savor the sweet memories.

One was a picture of Jason, Piper and Leo underneath Festus the head.

Annabeth eating at the salad bar in Olympus.

Me asleep in my bedroom, my face caked with blue chocolate. How did they get this? I shook my head and simply accepted that the reason was: Stoll Brothers.

More pictures brought back bitter-sweet memories.

The next one felt like a stab in my gut.

It was Luke--Luke Castellan. He was teaching me to sword fight.

I placed that back inside the box making sure not to rip it or make it wet by crying. man, I was cryin a lot lately, wasn't I? Sooner or later I'll run out of tears.

But, the nest picture was worse...

It was the picture of Silena, Beckendorf, Castor, Pollux, Travis, Connor, Luke, Annabeth, Michael Yew, Lee Fletcher and Chiron. The one clipped behind it was a picture of the huntresses of Artemis a day before the quest to save Annabeth.

Zoe and Bianca...

There weren't any pictures of Ethan except a sketch drawn by Lexi, his half-sister based on how I described him. It was pretty accurate and I was surprised to find it in the box.

The last thing that made my heart melt. The replica of the exact promise ring I was hoping to give Annabeth before all this...craziness happened.

"Percy!" I heard Jason call out. I closed the box on instinct.

I didn't want to let it go.

"What's that?" Jason pointed at the box.

"Bits and pieces of our memories." I answered cradling it.

I'll never let it go.