=Chapter two=
•*•
The former life
=
I should've been able to get past this. I've done it before.
But the truth is.. I'm just tired.

That day when it all went down.. well we did it, like expected of us.
At the end of the war, most of us just stood in the silence. It was eerie. A cold breeze despite the summer season.

Blood.. friends and monsters.

"Percy.." Annabeth said next to me.
I turned to her, hugging her.
"Annie.."

She shushed me, although I could feel her sobs that accompanied mine.

"It's okay. We can rebuild.." she said softly.

"Who.. did we lose." I said, putting on a brave face and pulling away from Annabeth.

"Of the seven.. only Leo. He.. remember he sacrificed himself.." I nodded, not wanting to hear any more as I knew I'd fall apart again.

"The campers.. I see many familiar faces.. the older campers mostly.. a couple young.. but I think we lost.. a lot." Annabeth said softly, looking around.

"We need to prepare funerals.." I said gazing across the battlefield, my eyes landing on some gods and goddesses who were with their children.. alive or dead.

Annabeth held Percy back. "Percy.. you need to be checked. You're bleeding."

"Just.. need water.." I said, taking another step, before realizing.. yeah. I was bleeding. Was I.. was I stabbed..?

I looked down, my whole body aching.

Oh.

"Annabeth...I might.. I think.." I teetered, the mere action of looking down making me dizzy.

Annabeth held my shoulders, letting me lean against her. "It's okay. I got you. Let's go."

We hobble away from the ruin and death, and we see Apollo and his kids setting up a tent for first aid. Something I really appreciate happening.

My dad, Poseidon rushed to me.
"Percy, I'm so sorry. Let's get you to a cot.." he fretted over me for a bit longer before taking me up in his arms and carrying me to a cot inside Apollos tent.

Gently laying me down he called Apollo over, and I went in and out of consciousness.

"She'll be okay. Nothing water and maybe some ambrosia can't.."

Apollos voice faded out as my world went dark.

I'm so sorry.

I hope you all can forgive me.

•*•

I awoke feeling a lot better. But it didn't hide the sorrow I felt for my fallen campers.

Without really caring if I were well enough to leave yet, i pushed my legs over my bed and achingly stand.

I was in the infirmary back at camp.
The wooden floors creaked as I hobbled to a window, looking outside. Nobody was playing or talking. But I saw some kids on their porches. So whoever's around is in the cabins.

And.. they probably went home too.

Other than me, there were only three other kids in the infirmary with me, all asleep, and they had bad injuries that made my heart ache.

I shook my head, and stretched, and looked for the calendar one would usually find near the door. I walked to it, my body sore still, and I looked for the date.

August 5th.

I was asleep for five days?
I didn't have that bad of injuries did I?

I looked down at my stomach and lifted my camp shirt, and saw a scar over my stab wound.

I shouldn't have needed that much sleep.

But it was restful. And I had no nightmares.

I shook my head and moved to the door. My need to check on everybody strong. I remembered that Annabeth told me all of the seven survived.. except Leo.

I took a shaky breath and turned the nob on the door.

A warm breeze met my face as the door opened, and I took a step outside onto the porch.

The silence that was abnormal to this camp was unsettling.
I heard faint whispers of campers who couldn't go home talking to each other on the porches.

I figured the best place to go right now was the big house, and maybe talk to Chiron about what's been going on.

As I walked I got used to the aches and stiffness, and I found myself moving more easily as I approached the blue painted house.

I slipped inside, letting the door close softly behind me. For some reason I could tell Chiron would be mourning.

Who wouldn't.

"Chiron.." I said softly.

Chiron was reading in his wheel chair.
He looked up when I spoke and a soft smile graced his face.

"Hello child. I'm happy to see you awake.."

"Yeah.." I said softly. There was still a heavy sorrow in the air.

"So.. how is camp? It's.. so quiet."

"The good news.. is that we did not lose as many children as I feared."
He sighed. "However it does not mean that the amount we did lose was a good thing. I am.. still struggling to find a way to tell their parent.."

"I'll do it." I said, surprising me and Chiron both.

"You.. you want to deliver the news?"

"Yes.. I fought with them.. I want to be the one to apologize.. to.." tears burn in my eyes.

"H-how many..." I asked softly.

"About 26." Chiron replied, pulling out a list and handing it to me.

I took a look. 26 was a lot less than I feared. I noticed a lot of older campers names on the list. And I recalled how they did their best to take care of and protect the younger campers.

And of course, Leo was on the list too.

Along with the names, the addresses of the parent were put below.

I nodded solemnly.
"I'll take this burden." I said, folding the list and putting it in my pocket.

"Did you send everyone home early?" I continued.

Chiron nodded. "Yes. After all that.. I think the children need a rest at home... with parents who can take care of them one on one."

This made sense to me. There were far too many campers to take care of, and after that traumatic experience, nobody would be getting the proper care they needed.

"Is Annabeth still here?" I asked.

Chiron smiled fondly, resting a hand on my shoulder. "No. I sent her home. Although she fought me on it to the very end. She wanted to stay with you."

I nodded. "I should go home too.."
The thought of home.. mom and Paul, blue cookies in the oven and warm hugs.. I needed that.

•*•

It took me about a week to go through the list and inform the parents of their children's passing.
It was full of tears and sometimes anger.

I took it all, of course. I led them into the battle, and I take the responsibility of my fallen friends.

Who wouldn't be upset.

At the end of that, I went home. I had talked to Chiron previously and we agreed I would go home and stay for the remaining year.

I stood at the front porch, wondering how my parents would react. I know they love me... I should have nothing to fear.

I knocked, then stood back, my thumb tapping my other hand as I clutched them together in front of me anxiously.

My mother, Sally Jackson-Blowfis, opened the door, an aroma of cookies escaped the apartment.

She gasped, throwing the door open and pulling me into a hug. My backpack fell to the ground, and I wrapped my arms around her tightly, and my emotions finally overflowed.
"Mom.."

"Percy, look at you... and that silly grey streak.. it came back. Aw.. I missed you. You scared me, I was so scared.." mom rambled as she hugged me tightly, then pulled away to get a good look at me.
"Yes. You're my Percy." She pulled me inside.

"Mom.. you're pregnant?" I asked, seeing a bump on her stomach.

"Yes. It's a girl. You're gonna be a sister." Mom smiled happily.

Paul peeked in to see the commotion, and smiled with relief when he saw me.

"Percy." He had paint all over his clothes, and he was holding a brush.

"We've been painting his office into a room for the baby.." Mom explained.

"How far along?" I asked, still shocked that my mom was pregnant.

"Six months, only three more.." my mom's cheeks were rosie, she was glowing.

"I'll be here for you mom. I'm so happy.."

We cried a little more, and ate cookies.

I was home. And I was happy.

•*•

I stayed with my mom and Paul until they had the baby. Her name was Estelle. After, I helped out for a couple months, letting mom have a break to make dinner or just a date night.
Until eventually, a year past.

The monsters that hunted me made it dangerous for my parents and Estelle to be around me, and I realized that every close call that occurred.

I wanted to protect them.. and I needed to be on my own someday anyways.

It was a tough decision, I loved my family so, so much. But it was for their own good.

I'd visit as much as I could, trust me. I love them too much to abandon them.

I decided to move to Gotham. After a lot of research, I discovered the monster population in Gotham was so minimal it was close to zero.

The reason apparently was due to the pure filth and mist that darkened the city nearly every day. It made it very difficult for monsters to stand... and smell.

This seemed like a great place to stay for someone like me. I'd be mostly free of monsters, and all I had to do was stay out of the way of regular old criminals. Woo hoo!

I took a day trip down to see where I could find a job, and a place to stay.

Dad offered to donate a large amount of funds to me, but I didn't want to start out as a millionaire, so I passed up on his offer.

After a week of job hunting, I snagged a job at a small book store, it was adorable, and severely understaffed.

I was hired almost immediately, and I also procured a small sized apartment above the shop.

It seemed I had things lined up for now. And the sooner I moved out the better I'd feel about protecting my family.

It was a tear full parting, one year old Estelle not really sure what was happening, but she could tell everyone was sad.

Mom was proud, of course, but I was moving out for good now.

"I'll text as soon as I get a phone." I promised, giving mom one last hug.

Mom nodded, pulling away. "You better. Remember my number?"

I smiled softly. "Yup. Still embroidered into my backpack."

"Be safe out there. Don't go out at night.. and please make friends." Mom and Paul waved as I hopped down the steps, and boarded the bus.

I could've taken black jack, but I wanted a realistic experience for now. I was, after all, basically leaving the Greek world behind. I was in need of a good long break.

Only time will tell how long something like that would last.

•*•
=
Hey everyone! Extra long chapter.
I didn't want to split it into two because this is merely the back story. I won't dedicate more chapters to the past so this is probably it. Anyways, toodles. 💙