Untitled (Second Chance)

My eyes are opened wide.

He felt his grip tightened around the hilt of his sword. Riptide had never failed him before. They had faced some impressive monsters and Riptide had not failed him.

Until now.

He wanted to throw the weapon away. It had been a waste, all this had been a waste. They were losing so terribly, his comrades were falling around him faster than he could account for them.

Jason to a giant, Frank to his own fire, Hazel—what had happened to Hazel? Where had Leo vanished to? Was he still aboard the Argo II when Gaia tore it from the sky? Piper had been near Jason, had she escaped the giant's ambush?

And Annabeth, she had been at his side, now he could not see her.

By the way, I made it through the day.

Was he the only one left? Of all of them that sailed from New Rome, after all of those adventures, fights and close calls, was he the only one to have survived? His breath caught in his throat, his fingers growing numb.

Pain lanced through his back, through his ribs. Slowly he turned to face the monster that had bested him. Gaia, Mother of the Earth. Her wicked smile showed ghostly pale against the earth body she was using to fight.

By the way, I'm leaving out today.

What was there really left to fight for? He was just one hero amid thousands upon thousands of monsters. His companions had fallen, and unless Nico and Reyna had reached Camp and the Romans agreed to the truce, no backup would be coming. He had done so much to help everyone, and they had left him to fight this battle alone.

Tell my mother I've done the best I can. This is my life, I hope she understands.

Percy's grip tightened around the worn hilt of Riptide. His green eyes steeled over as he looked upon the earthy form of Gaia. He may lose this fight, but he was going to take the entire Giant army with him; including their slumbering leader.

I'm not angry, I'm just saying.

"Sometimes good bye is a second chance," he looked to where he had last seen Jason and Piper fighting.

They had given him this chance to finish this.

Percy looked to where the Argo II had been swallowed by the rolling earth.

Leo had given Percy this opportunity to defeat Gaia.

He looked to where the fires had burned away legions of the giants, where Frank had made his final stand.

Frank had believed in him.

Percy glanced down to his side, where Annabeth normally fought, her blonde hair tied back to keep it from her face, her stormy eyes narrowed in fury.

He would avenge them all.

"What was that, little Hero?" the form spoke with the sleepy voice that had haunted Percy for weeks. "Are you sad that all your little friends abandoned you in this fight?"

"They didn't abandon me," he replied, calling the water from the river to come to his aide. He could not fight with a gash up his side.

Please don't cry one tear for me. I'm not afraid of what I've done today.

"Then where are they, little Hero?" Gaia asked drowsily. "You are the only one still standing before me."

"You might have cut them down, but you will never defeat them," Percy growled. "They'll reincarnate and fight you again. We will never allow you to rise Gaia, never!"

He lunged at the being, cutting through the loose soil and charging deeper into the enemy encampment, Riptide tearing through flesh as he passed the Giants still looking for opponents.

Where were the gods? How could they have abandoned their own children so easily? Of course they had run when things grew too difficult. Gods did not meddle in the affairs of mortals, and were too frightened of the slumbering goddess to stand up to her.

He was not. Percy Jackson was no coward.

This is my one and only voice, so listen close; it's only for today.

A roar of rage rose from Percy's chest as he reached the center of the camp, where the body of Gaia had been raised for her awakening. His fingers curled around the hilt of his sword, knuckles stark white against his grime and blood covered hands.

Tell my father I've done the best I can, to make him realize this is my life, I hope he understands.

He stalked up to the altar, his breathing steadying with each step. His purpose defined by the dark world falling around him. The casing around Gaia shattered as Percy approached, his sword raised for the final blow.

Sometimes goodbye is a second chance.

He took a deep breath, opening his eyes. He could not remember how he got to this place, but it was cool and fresh. Lifting his hands he could see the scars of his life fading quickly, like the cuts had never occurred.

"What is this?" he asked the void, turning to try and see. All around him was a white light. How did he get here? What was this place?

"It's safe to assume you're going to try for the Isles of the Blest?"

"Hades," Percy turned to the Lord of the Dead.

"All your friends have already agreed, they've gone on ahead again."

"Annabeth?"

Hades nodded, "yes, she's trying for the Isles of the Blest; said she'd be waiting for you, on the other side." A smile pulled at the god's lips.

"I won't remember them, will I?" If he had a new life he would not remember the others, and they would not remember him. He would never see them since they had gone on ahead of him.

"There are some things, even gods can't do," Hades winked at the young demigod, a knowing smile dominating his face. "When you find them, be sure to stop Gaia."

Percy nodded, a smile pulling on his lips.

Sometimes goodbye is a second chance.