The Hero Gone Wrong

Chapter 15

My 16th birthday ended up being my worst birthday so far.

You know when the end of the world happens on your birthday and everything falls to you and you have to make the decision to save humanity or stay loyal to your friends? No? Well, consider yourself lucky.

***

It started at 10 AM. Kronos sat atop his skeleton horse and looked out over the army. "Today, we fight!" He said. He didn't shout, but his voice carried across the armies. "Many of you will be killed, but come back from Tartarus with honor. For you will be part of the generation that killed the gods!"

The army whooped and hollered. I even found myself smiling.

Until Kronos decided to tap me on the shoulder.

I jumped and turned to look at the Titan. Being in Luke's body, he was about an inch shorter than me. It was weird to be taller than an immortal titan who wanted to take over the world.

"So, you're Percy?" He questioned.

"Yes, uh, Sir." I nodded, "We've met before."

He nodded, "Yes, I suppose so. Luke has said good things about you. I would like you to stick around me for this battle."

"Me? Why do you want me to stick around you during the battle?" After seeing his angry look I added, "No offense, sir."

"Have you not heard the prophecy?" He asked, leaning closer to me.

"Yes sir! Luke told me the prophecy a few years ago."

I didn't get why the prophecy mattered. Why would a puny little prophecy matter to the titan of time?

For Olympus to preserve or raze.

It clicked. If I was a cartoon, there would've been a lightbulb going off over my head. He wanted to watch me and make sure I didn't do anything stupid, like save Olympus.

He tilted his head, then smiled, "I'm glad we agree, Perseus."

A shiver went down my spine.

"Yes sir."

***

The battle was strange.

At the orders of Kronos, I did very little actual fighting. And when I did fight, I felt so guilty. It seemed wrong to fight the demigods.

I guess it's good to know I wasn't some sort of monster.

Kronos watched my fights with a critical eye. It started to scare me. I'd heard the stories of him killing monsters or demigods for not doing good enough.

The worst part was when I found my mom asleep.

The mortals had all been put to sleep by the name of some god I didn't bother to pay attention to. Cars were stopped, doors were left open, and the world was silent.

I hated it.

I had walked by a light blue car, when I just happened to look inside. And, of course, in the passenger seat lay my mom, Sally Jackson.

I felt like crying. I had barely talked to her since the whole kidnapping incident. I had just let her know that I was safe and that I was with friends. A man was in the driver's seat. I remembered her saying something about a new boyfriend, Paul Blowfish (or something).

I wanted to pull them to safety, make sure they wouldn't be harmed. Instead, Kronos stared me down with his creepy golden eyes and I managed to hold back my tears as I walked away.

I passed all my friends. Mark was covered in blood (not mine!) And Pheobe was fighting with a girl who I recognized as Thalia. She wore a new silver crown looking thing on her head. I wondered what it meant.

She paused to snarl at me as I walked by, "Hey cuz, care for a fight?"

I stared like an idiot for a second before trying to be cool and walk away.

Judging by her laugh, I guess I didn't do a very good job.

Noah was using the mist and very much tricking two guys. They both had curly brown hair and brown eyes. Honestly, they looked like twins. They were arguing with each other and stabbing imaginary things as Noah laughed. He gave a thumbs up, which I returned.

Later, I would learn that the guys he was tricking were Connor and Travis Stoll, who were not twins, and were two of the best people I would ever meet.

Lucy and Lily had their bows. They were shooting down anything orange that moved.

Nico was fighting Annabeth Chase and Grover. I didn't want to know how that happened, but he was struggling a bit, so I decided to keep my promise and help.

Naturally, Kronos's eyes and ears followed me.

I ran over, unsheathing Current. Annabeth narrowed her eyes at my sword, probably thinking of Luke.

Nico smiled at me, "Thanks Perce!"

I blocked Annabeth's dagger as it snaked toward Nico's chest.

"Thank me without dying, please. I have a promise to keep here."

He nodded.

Grover was playing some sort of pipes. I didn't really know what he was expecting to do, then I felt the vines wrapping around my ankles.

I swiped my sword through them, glared at Grover, who shrugged and continued playing, and went after Annabeth.

She was good. Very good. I had a bit of trouble keeping up with her at first, but then my training kicked in.

It went on like that for a while, us being evenly matched.

Then, Kronos ruined everything.

He stepped between us, blocking Annabeth's dagger. Her eyes widened as she stared at the golden eyed figure.

"Time to end the kid fight." Kronos grinned, "Though you did well, Perseus."

I shivered again.

Grover had dropped his pipes in shock. He quickly scrambled to get them again. Once he had a firm grip, he began to play and vines rose from the ground.

"Foolish stayr." Kronos sighed, moving his eyes from Annabeth's. "Nico?"

Nico looked at me and I shook my head.

Kronos had turned back to Annabeth. Nico moved yoward Grover, who looked terrified.

"Nico, I'm sorry! I'm sorry about you getting attacked and your sister dying! Oh gods, why do the ones I find always end up on the other side? What's so appealing about Kronos?"

I didn't get a choice! I wanted to remind him, but I kept my mouth shut as Nico leaned in and whispered something to Grover before hitting his head with the butt of his sword.

I turned my attention back to Annabeth and Kronos. They were still locked in combat as Kronos whispered something, taunting her.

To her credit, she stood her ground. Her gray eyes were fixed on his gold ones and her face contained and expression of fury.

But when she spoke, it was pure grief.

"Family Luke," She drew in a shuddering breath, "You promised."

Okay, maybe I lied last time. There is one more chapter after this! Then 6 extra scenes!