Chapter Text
I lay on my bed inside of Cabin 3 and stare up at the ceiling.
So much has changed in the year since I found out I was a half-blood. At first, it was exciting. Yay! My father is one of the Olympians! That’s awesome! But now? I wish that I was a normal kid and that I didn’t have to worry about killing monsters and saving the world.
I look over at Tyson, snoring on the other bed in the room. I don’t know how to feel. Angry? Mad?
The gods treat everyone like they’re insignificant to them. Powerless. Weak. Like bugs to squish or dolls to play with.
At some point, I get up and walk outside. It’s nighttime-about 1 or 2 am. The air is crisp and there’s a slight breeze. Nights during the summer in New York are amazing. It’s warm still, but there’s usually a refreshing breeze.
For some reason, I decided to walk toward the woods. Trees softly move in the slow wind and it’s really dark out, so I can barely see. All of a sudden, I bumped into something. Then, it started to move.
Who would be out here this early? Why would they?
“Percy.” A familiar voice said. My heart sank.
“Luke.” I said, pulling my pen out of my pocket. Great, this is just what I needed tonight. Another all out battle. How many more of these will I have to suffer through?
I uncapped Riptide and the sword illuminated a Luke in front of me.
“Percy, relax.” Luke said. “I don’t want a fight.”
“Our last encounter seems to differ.”
“Yes, I-I know about last time. Kronos-he wants me to try again.” He said.
“What?” I asked.
“He and I believe that you will be an asset to our cause. The last time-we both reflected and believed that the reason you declined was because you saw your father that day. That he decided to save you for some reason. I don’t know. We decided to give you a year.”
“You both want me to join your team still?” I asked.
“Very much so, actually. Percy, last summer, it was very hard for me. I became your friend and you became mine. I really thought you would accept my offer. I should’ve given you more time and put some thought into it.” He said, running his hand through his hair. “Please, just think about it?”
“I-” I paused. I couldn’t. What would Annabeth think? Grover?
As if reading my mind, Luke said “Percy, think for yourself. Don’t think about what your friends will think.”
He’s right. I know it. My brain racked all of the possibilities.
“Look, I don’t know.” I said. “Even after all the crap I’ve put up with, I just-don’t know. Last year I said no because they’re our parents, but-”
“Now you’re having a hard time sticking by their side and putting up with their bullsh*t?” He asked.
“Yeah.”
“Okay, look. I’ll give you a day. I’ll come back here tomorrow, same time-2:25 am-and you’ll tell me what you decide?”
“Deal.” I said.
“Percy, real quick, please make the right decision. I would look forward to working with you. With you on our team, Percy, we could really do anything. Overthrow the gods. Start a new age. Like I told you last year, I think it’s time that their reign be put to an end.” He paused. “But think about it. Please, promise me you’ll consider?”
I already am.
“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow, Luke.” I said.
“Thank you.”
“I haven’t joined you yet.” I replied.
“You’ll think about it. It’s better than your reply last year.”
“See you tomorrow.”
I walked back to my cabin and layed down on my bed. Tyson was still fast asleep. Good.
I remembered last year and how I immediately declined Luke’s offer. They’re our parents, I thought. We can’t just overthrow them. We can’t just go to war with them. We can’t put aside the fact that they-love us?
But do they, though? They would toss us aside and walk all over us without even a second thought. The Hermes cabin is full of that. Children that they sired, but never thought to claim. It’s messed up. The way anytime they want something done for them, they get a half-blood to do it instead of just doing it themselves. They’re more than capable, they just don’t want to. Thousands of us could die. They would not care.
All of a sudden, I got refocused back into reality.
“Percy!!” Tyson exclaimed, jumping onto my bed.
Light seeped into the window. Hours passed since Luke and I were in the woods.
“Good morning.” I said, making a pretend yawn and running my fingers through my hair.
“I missed you.” He said.
I was exhausted. I stayed up the entire night, plagued by my thoughts and decisions I needed to make.
I got up and out of my bed. “You hungry?”
He nodded. We walked out of the cabin and went to the breakfast tables.
For breakfast, you didn’t need to sit with your cabin. Most of the cabins did anyway, though. I got a bagel with cream cheese and sat down at the Poseidon table with Tyson. I stared at the Hermes tables, which were so overfilled that they needed to add extra tables. I get that Hermes is the god of travelers, but come on, this is insane.
But then, it’s not just him. The Aphrodite cabin-they have insane beauty standards. They think it’ll impress their mom. They shouldn’t have to worry about impressing their parents that way. None of us should. Our parents don’t make time for their half mortal kids, so we have to go out of our way to get their intention?
My brain started to seriously wander. I started to think about the possibility of me joining Kronos. Half-bloods would be treated better. There would be a better world.
No one would have to do this again.
The golden age. That’s what they called it when he ruled. That’s what Luke said.
There would be a new golden age.
Besides, if I don’t accept, it would come, anyway. Only, I’d be dead and I wouldn’t see it.
I think I knew my decision.
At 2 in the morning I quietly crept into the woods. No one saw me, thankfully. I packed the little belongings that I brought to camp into a backpack, because after this, I’d probably want to leave Camp Half-Blood and not return, if possible.
Luke was already there when I arrived.
He laughed. “You’re early.”
“Yeah.” I said. “I’ve been thinking about this literally all day long.”
“And…?”
“I-uhm-accept.” I said, quickly.
“Really?”
“Yeah. You’re right, this, it’s messed up. The entire system. The gods? They need to be taken care of. Somebody’s gotta do it. Besides, let’s be honest-it’s gonna happen. This is going to be the winning side, and I’d rather not die.”
“Exactly. You get it. Finally.” He said. “I’m proud of you, Percy.”
My breathing turned heavy. I don’t know why I was so nervous to be out here.
“Now, let’s go see him. Tell him the good news.” Luke said.
“What? Really?” I asked.
“Of course! Don’t worry, he won’t be mad about last time, you were young. He’ll be so happy!” Luke exclaimed.
“Alright then.” I said. “Are you sure he won’t-kill me?”
“Very. Like I said, you’re going to be an asset to our cause!” He said, hugging me. “Look, and I’m sorry about last year. The scorpion and all that. I was a little angry and embarrassed that you declined me. But it doesn't matter! Because you’re with us now.” He said.
I hope I made the right choice.
