Origin of a Hero - [A Percy Jackson Fanfic]

The life of a demigod is tragic.

You constantly have to look over your shoulder, worrying that some monster is about to pounce on you with the intention of eating you alive, leaving you to die screaming in pain and pleading in vain.

And if it's not that, you have to live a life where you know you're different from everyone else. You know you don't fit in anywhere you go, always feeling like an outcast someone who isn't understood because, at first, you don't even understand yourself. It's a life where you see things you can't explain, hear things you can't see. Every passing day, you wonder if you're going crazy.

A life in which you constantly ask yourself one question, Why am I alive?

That was the kind of life Percy had.

A boy who knew nothing. He was ignorant of the world he lived in and of who he really was.

But that never mattered to him.

He only cared about one thing, his mother.

He was her only ray of light in the dark and cruel world she lived in. As long as she was with him, she felt she could endure it all just by seeing his smile and feeling his warm embrace.

But… the life of a demigod is tragic.

He found out on August 18th when he turned twelve.

And today, almost four years later, on August 17th, hours before he would turn sixteen, he would find out again.

He would know once more how tragic the life of a demigod was.

The Evil Machine, the van that had been his faithful companion these past few months, covered in scratches and dents, stopped in one of the many parking lots along the beach.

The sunset over Montauk Beach was one of the most beautiful that Percy had seen in his short life, and he would remember it forever. The sky and the sea, the domains of Zeus and Poseidon, came together perfectly on the horizon something ironic considering the relationship between the two gods.

Montauk Beach was just as Percy remembered it, long, quiet, a little dirty from mortals who didn't take care of the beautiful place, but still held an irreplaceable charm for him. It had high sentimental value because many of his best memories were made here, especially in the cabin that stood before them.

"Well... it's not a five-star hotel with a jacuzzi and spa, but it will do," Luke said.

"As long as it has clean water, it's the Fortunate Isles for me," Thalia said, looking at the old cabin Percy had brought them to.

The rental cabin was on the south shore near the tip of Long Island. It was small, run-down, and looked abandoned. The curtains were worn, the wood cracked, and it was nearly sunken into the sand.

Percy walked quietly toward the cottage, feeling melancholy wash over him. He opened the old door, and the smell of the sea and wet wood filled his nostrils. Memories flooded back sand on the sheets, spiders in the cupboard, and most of the time the sea was too cold to swim in. He remembered feeding the seagulls with his mother and walking barefoot on the beach.

Percy loved this place.

The others noticed the sad look on his face as he took in the surroundings.

"Percy, are you okay?" Annabeth asked.

"Yeah, it's just…" He sighed as he walked deeper into the cabin, the wood creaking beneath his feet. "I used to visit this place a lot with my mother. We came whenever we had enough money to rent it. I'm glad it's still standing after all these years. The last time I was here, I was twelve."

That surprised everyone. Percy never talked about his past. They all assumed it was too painful for him to share, so they respected his privacy. But seeing him speak with such longing and melancholy made them feel a bit sad, especially Sammy, who came over and wrapped him in a tight hug.

"Then it's a good thing we came, isn't it?" she said, squeezing him. "We can make a lot of good memories here."

Percy smiled slightly at that.

"Yes, that's what we'll do…"

Even though they would only be in the cabin until dawn, Percy decided to clean the place up a bit. Doing so brought back memories of when his mom would clean while whistling a tune that he didn't know, but after hearing it so many times, it had become etched in his memory. So, while sweeping away the dust and dirt, Percy whistled unconsciously.

Thalia, who was shaking out the mattress by the window, heard him and turned around.

"That whistle... I recognize it," she said.

Percy looked at her, intrigued. "Oh really?"

"Yeah, it's from a band called Guns N' Roses, from the song 'Patience.' It's good. Where did you hear it? You said you didn't know any bands. Hell, you didn't even listen to music until I came along and brightened up your sad life."

Percy laughed, a little amused. "My mom used to whistle it when she was happy," he explained. "I didn't know it was from a band. Maybe I'll hear it later."

Thalia's eyes lit up with excitement. "I'll make you listen to them!" she exclaimed. "Their music is great! I know you'll like it! I could also show you other bands Guns N' Roses, AC/DC, Scorpions, Pearl Jam!"

"Pearl Jam? I think I heard one of their songs on the car radio. I really liked it. I felt very identified with it."

"Oh?" she said, curious. "What song? Maybe you'll recognize it."

"I think it was called 'Sirens,'" Percy recalled, glancing at Thalia. "It reminded me of the others, but... especially you."

"R… really?" she asked, her curiosity growing and feeling a bit embarrassed. "Maybe I should… listen to it when I get the chance."

Percy turned around quickly, but Thalia caught sight of the blush on his cheeks.

"Yes... Maybe... you should do it," he said, slightly stuttering.

"Now I'm definitely going to listen to it," Thalia thought.

The night passed without a hitch after they cleaned the cabin. They made a bonfire on the beach, cooking hot dogs and marshmallows Sammy's favorites. Grover, being a satyr, didn't eat any kind of meat but loved cans of soda. This puzzled the others a little, but when they saw how many Grover consumed, they accepted it as typical satyr behavior.

"Hey, Grover, what's that camp like?" Thalia asked. She had never specifically asked what it was like, only that it was a safe place for demigods.

Grover stopped eating his cans and looked at the others. They were all expectant, which made him a little uncomfortable. He wasn't used to being the center of attention, but he swallowed his embarrassment, along with pieces of the chewed can, and said,

"Well… it's a great place, in my opinion," Grover said, his eyes taking on a faraway look. "It's a quiet place, but also a lot of fun. Not only are demigods taught how to fight and defend themselves from monsters, they're also taught basic things for those who didn't have the chance to go to school as mere mortals."

"Ohhh, so it's like a school too?" Annabeth asked, excited at the idea of learning.

She always wanted to do it, she always wanted to study and learn more and more. Maybe it was because she was a daughter of the goddess of wisdom. So the idea of being able to study without worrying about monsters or teachers who hated her was very tempting.

"Yes. And it's the children of Athena who give those lessons," Grover said, giving Annabeth a comforting look. "Your step-siblings, Annabeth."

Annabeth's eyes sparkled with excitement, but not everyone shared her enthusiasm.

"Great, it's like a boarding school," Thalia said, disappointed. "I just hope I don't have to wear some ridiculous uniform."

Grover decided not to mention that the campers wore bright orange t-shirts with the name "Camp Half-Blood." It didn't seem to suit Thalia's style, considering her usual wardrobe.

"But that's not all," Grover tried to defend the camp. "We also do a lot of cool stuff. The kids of Ares have underground fights in their cabin once a week, where they bet on drachmas, dollars, junk food, MP3s, and stuff like that."

That seemed to catch Thalia's attention. She turned around, her expression shifting to one of interest.

Grover continued, growing more animated. "In Hermes' cabin, they organize games of chance or bets of some kind."

Now it was Luke who looked at Grover with interest, a mischievous smile spreading across his face the same smile all the children of Hermes wore that suggested trouble.

"Apollo's kids love to play basketball or volleyball. They even form teams with campers from different cabins to compete," Grover said, his excitement infectious. "And every Friday night, the most popular game is Capture the Flag."

"Really?" Thalia asked, amused. "It's a camp for children of gods, and they spend all their time playing Capture the Flag? That's kind of hilarious."

"Yes, but the game is like a pitched battle. The cabins organize into teams and fight using swords, spears, shields, armor, and even magical weapons. Honestly, it's quite dangerous. There isn't a single Capture the Flag night where a bone isn't broken."

"That's crazy," Luke said, though he sounded pretty excited about the idea of playing the game.

Grover just shrugged. "We're Greeks, what did you expect?"

Everyone laughed at that.

The night went on without a hitch. Grover regaled them with stories about camp antics, like the time they found a son of Apollo making out with a nymph, completely naked. He shared how the children of Dionysus had their own clandestine wine production, highly coveted among campers. And there was the strange tradition among the Ares kids, if one of them got a girlfriend or boyfriend, they had to run around the camp in their underwear, no matter their partner's gender, much to the amusement of the children of Apollo. When Annabeth asked why that was pleasurable for them, Grover confessed that the sons of Apollo were all closet perverts.

Percy listened with a smile, gently stroking the head of Ms. O'Leary, who was curled up on his lap. The camp sounded like an incredibly cool place, and he felt like he could get along with everyone, even the children of Ares who seemed like a bunch of savages. It felt good to think about making friends, doing things that a normal teenager would do, growing up, and… why not? Having a family of his own.

But all that felt like a distant dream a dream that would not come true.

He had accepted it, but he couldn't help but feel sad about it.

Luke woke up, uncomfortable from sand in his underwear. "This place may be cool and have an incredible view, but... it's not pleasant," he thought as he got up from the blanket where he had laid down to sleep.

Everyone was peacefully asleep. Annabeth and Sammy had completely taken over one bed, much to Annabeth's annoyance, as Sammy had strange sleeping positions. Right now, she was sleeping on her stomach, arms extended forward as if she were flying like Superman. At her feet, curled up in a ball, was Ms. O'Leary, her fur merging into a black sphere.

Thalia had settled for sleeping on the floor, lying under the window with a blanket over her. She seemed to be mumbling something in her sleep about mandrill butts and crabs.

Yes, Thalia had strange dreams.

Grover was asleep on the couch, his hairy goat legs dangling and moving erratically from time to time.

Luke stepped out of the cabin, needing some fresh air. The night air on the beach was one of the best ways to clear his mind. The sea breeze carried the scent of the ocean, acting like a muscle relaxer. He could finally understand the beauty of the place Percy had mentioned.

Speaking of Percy, the unofficial leader of their group, he wasn't on the porch of the cabin. Luke could see him sitting cross-legged on the sand, his back to the cabin as he stared contemplatively out at the dark sea.

As he approached, Luke could hear murmurs coming from Percy, as if he was talking to someone, but there was no one there.

"Hey, Percy, is something wrong?" Luke asked, making his presence known.

Percy tensed for a moment, muttered a few last words, then turned to look at Luke with a small smile. 

"No, it's nothing. I just needed to clear my head a bit," Percy confessed, gazing out at the sea that stretched toward the horizon. "Looking at the sea and the starry sky has always calmed me, although tonight I can't see the stars or even the moon."

Luke looked up at the sky. A thick layer of clouds blocked the view, resembling rain clouds. He just hoped it wouldn't start raining while they were driving.

It was because Luke was staring at the sky that he failed to notice Percy keeping a small square object in his pocket. By the time he stood next to him, Percy was gazing out at the sea with a melancholy air. Sad, Luke would say. His dark circles seemed more prominent than usual, his hair more tangled, and maybe it was just his imagination, but he looked thinner than before.

"Percy... are you okay?" Luke asked, concerned.

"Why do you say that?" Percy replied, not taking his eyes off the ocean.

"It's just that we're almost at this camp and the monsters are hot on our heels, but I don't see you worried about that. You barely spoke during the campfire, and you didn't even eat one of your potatoes."

Percy smiled at that, though his eyes still looked sad. 

"I... I'm tired, I guess."

"Tired?"

"Yes, tired of running from monsters. Tired of every mythological creature wanting to kill us. I haven't been able to relax since I found out about the camp. Since I realized there was a safe place for us. I haven't stopped thinking about how to get us all there."

"But we're close now. Just a little further to go," Luke said, sounding hopeful. "Grover told us the camp is only a couple of hours away by car. When we get there, we can rest, and this will all be over. We won't be running anymore. We won't be spending nights hungry and sleepless. Most importantly... we'll be safe."

Luke felt a surge of hope. After years of wandering the country aimlessly, he could finally see a way out a light at the end of the tunnel. He felt tired too, but he couldn't imagine how Percy felt. He always seemed to solve everyone's problems, maybe feeling a responsibility to do so. Percy had confessed that to him a few days ago. All Luke could do was be there for him and support him when he felt exhausted. That's what Percy would do, that's what a friend would do.

Percy smiled a real smile. His eyes sparkled, and even though there was still sadness in them, he looked touched.

"Thanks, Luke. I needed to be reminded of that. You're a great friend. I'm glad I met you and the others at that church."

"I'm the one who should thank you. If it weren't for you, I don't know if we would have gotten this far."

"Have a little more confidence in yourself," Percy said, giving him a friendly punch. "You're strong, and you'll be even stronger from now on if you train properly at camp. Make sure you do. There are people who depend on you. I won't always be there to save you."

Luke chuckled, a bit amused by Percy's words, but he felt a little confused too. He didn't want to ruin the peaceful atmosphere, so he simply sat down on the sand next to Percy.

In silence, they both looked at the sea stretching out before them to the horizon. The clouds cleared for a moment, allowing the silver moonlight to illuminate them both.

Now he understood why Percy always seemed contemplative at night, during sunrises, or sunsets. Seeing this landscape filled him with a strange feeling of peace and tranquility something rare in their chaotic lives.

He followed his friend's example and stared at the horizon without saying a word.

"A knot here and a twist there," Percy thought as he fiddled with the wires on the car's dashboard.

Luke had gone to sleep not long ago, which suited Percy just fine, it gave him time to prepare his backup plan.

"Dean, if you saw me, you'd be proud," Percy thought, pulling the cord into place. He had to be discreet with the wiring he didn't want the others to see it or, worse, accidentally cut it. Especially Miss O'Leary, who chewed everything within reach. The car seats were scuffed with claws and bite marks from her. He fleetingly wondered if there was a chew toy for a hellhound.

As he replaced the board to avoid arousing suspicion, a voice broke his concentration.

"I didn't imagine you as a mechanic," said Thalia from behind him.

Percy jumped, his head hitting the steering wheel.

"Shit!" he exclaimed, rubbing his head.

He turned to find Thalia chuckling, clearly amused by his clumsiness.

"What are you doing here, Thalia? There's no changing of the guard tonight," Percy said, getting out of the car.

"Yes, I know... I just had a bad dream."

"Nightmares?" he asked, concern creeping into his voice.

"I don't think being chased by Barbie dolls who want to do my makeup qualifies as a nightmare."

Percy looked at her, mockingly. "I think it would be in your case. Imagine yourself dressed in a pink blouse and a skirt... pfft, it's funny just thinking about it."

Thalia shuddered at the thought. She'd gladly face a pack of hellhounds before dressing like that.

"What are you doing?" she asked, curiosity piqued.

"Oh, just a little maintenance. I don't want any failures when we make our last trip in the Evil Machine."

"Oh, yeah. This baby's been through a lot," Thalia said, gently stroking the hood of the car, which bore scratches from a hellhound attack during one of their drives. Such fond memories.

She would miss this car. Briefly, she wondered if the camp would allow her to keep it.

"Yeah, I'm going to miss it," Percy said, stepping out of the car and lifting the hood to examine the engine. He was grateful to Dean for teaching him the basics of car maintenance. "The least I can do is give it one last service."

Thalia raised an eyebrow in confusion. His words seemed almost as if...

"Percy," she said, a little doubtfully, "you're not implying...?"

"I'm not implying anything," he interrupted without looking at her.

Thalia didn't like that answer. She grabbed him by the shoulder and forced him to look at her.

"Alright. Now listen to me and open your ears, Chief Seaweed," she said, her voice firm and serious. "We're finally close to that damn camp that's supposed to be our ticket out of this life we live. Everything we've fought for has been to be safe, to survive, to have a future. And now it's finally within our reach, so don't give up now... please," she finished, her voice softening slightly.

"Surrender?" Percy asked, feigning surprise. "Who said surrender?"

He walked until he was just inches away from Thalia, causing her to look up, swallowing to calm the fluttering in her stomach due to Percy's closeness.

"What's wrong with you and Luke?" Percy asked rhetorically. "You both talk like I'm going to break down under pressure at any moment. I'm not that fragile."

"No one thinks you're fragile, Percy," she replied, her tone gentler this time. "In fact, I think you're the strongest person I know. Everyone would agree you're our rock, our support the foundation on which we stand. Without you, we'd crumble like a poorly built house of cards. After all, you're our boss, Chief Seaweed."

Percy smiled at that, and Thalia admired the image of him in that moment his heartfelt smile, the sad but affectionate look in his eyes, and how his black hair swayed gently in the cold night wind.

"We lean on you," Thalia said, without thinking. "But you don't do that with us. You act like you have to be there for us, but… what about you? Who do you lean on when you need help? Let us be the ones you lean on… let me be that person. You can't do everything by yourself."

Percy looked surprised by her words. He turned and walked over to the car, taking one last look before slowly lowering the hood.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice low, his back to her. "I never meant for you to see it that way. I told you before, you are my strength, and I want to… I have to protect you, but… you're right." He looked over his shoulder at Thalia, smiling. "I'm not alone, Thalia. I have all of you. Especially you, who have always been by my side in battle. When things got tough, I could always count on you to watch my back. That's all I needed to know everything would be okay in the end. Thank you for everything, Thalia."

Thalia pressed her lips together, overwhelmed by a warm feeling in her stomach. A lump formed in her throat, keeping her from speaking. Her heart pounded, and heat rushed to her cheeks all caused by the boy in front of her. His words, his actions, his mere presence stirred something within her that was both new and exhilarating.

"Now or never," she thought, motivating herself.

Gathering her courage, Thalia reached out and grabbed Percy's shirt, pulling him down to kiss him firmly on the lips. It was a mix of sweetness and affection, meant to convey everything he inspired in her the feelings that swelled in her heart and made her feel special.

When they separated, both of them had deep blushes on their faces, Thalia's much more pronounced. She couldn't believe she had just kissed him, but she didn't regret it at all. In fact, she wanted to do it again.

Percy looked dumbfounded and visibly surprised by her bold act. His mouth hung slightly open, and his cheeks were noticeably flushed. He stared at Thalia, searching for an explanation, only to find her looking at him with a flirtatious smile and bright blue eyes that sparkled in the night.

"Your back is very neglected," she commented playfully. "Lucky for you, I'm here."

Percy was too shocked to respond. Thalia saw him as more than a friend? The thought sent warmth through him something he had never felt before. He found many of her qualities attractive, especially her beautiful blue eyes, which shone brightly with emotion.

Before he could find the words, a third voice interrupted.

"Thalia! Percy!" They turned to see Grover, panic etched on his face. Percy had gotten used to Grover's panicking, he did it whenever... "The monsters are coming! And there are a lot of them!"

That news hit them like a bucket of cold water. They regained their composure and shifted into serious mode.

"How many?" Percy asked, pushing aside thoughts of the kiss.

Grover swallowed hard. "Lots. More than a dozen. They're different monsters, but one scent is stronger than the others."

"Whose scent is it?" Percy asked, but he already had an idea.

"...The Chimera."

Percy narrowed his eyes. That bastard was back.

There was no time to pack their belongings. They left behind blankets, clothes, the tent, and the little food they had left, though Percy managed to stuff one last bag of chips under his shirt. The bulge in his stomach from his favorite snack was visible as the group climbed into the car and buckled up, knowing it would be a chaotic ride.

"Are you ready?" Percy asked from behind the wheel, determined to drive.

Grover sat in the passenger seat, ready to use his nose to navigate away from the monsters. The others piled into the back seat, bracing for whatever came next. Even Miss O'Leary looked serious.

They all nodded resolutely. There was an unspoken agreement, whatever needed to be said would wait until they reached camp. Safe.

"They're here!" Grover exclaimed, alerting everyone.

Percy glanced in the rearview mirror, and the others turned to look. Thalia leaned out the car window to see what was chasing them.

He wished he hadn't.

A block away, a battalion of claws, teeth, and fangs charged toward them hellhounds, Cyclopes, and Laestrygonian giants. They advanced, led by the Chimera, who appeared wounded, dried blood matted across her chest, and fury in her eyes. Sniffing the air, she turned toward the group of demigods, mortals, and satyrs who were close to wetting their pants at the sight of the monsters bearing down on them.

"Well, it seems we have a group of fans," Percy commented nervously, trying to lighten the mood. "Anyone want to come down and sign autographs?"

"If there was a pretty girl, I wouldn't mind doing it," Luke quipped.

The Chimera, or more specifically, its goat head, let out a thunderous bleat that put everyone on edge as the monsters began to charge in their direction.

Percy didn't waste any time and floored the accelerator. Filling the tank was a smart move, they wouldn't have to worry about slowing down now.

"Grover, you're half goat!" Thalia shouted, pointing out the obvious. "What the hell did it just say?"

"Eh… in simple words, it would be something like, 'They're over there. Don't let them escape, but don't touch the black-haired boy. He's mine.'"

"Great, the crazy girl likes me," Percy muttered, keeping his eyes on the dark road ahead.

The wind whipped against the car, and rain lashed at the windshield, but Percy pressed on, his foot heavy on the accelerator.

Thalia felt a twitch in her eye. She hoped the Chimera wasn't referring to her. Sure, she was a little crazy, but half of her was Greek and Greeks were known for their wild tendencies.

Luke whistled, impressed by Grover's translation. "You knew all that from one bleat? That's amazing! Can I learn to speak Cabranhol someday? Seems pretty handy."

"Now is not the time for that!" Annabeth exclaimed, her voice tinged with alarm.

"There's something up front!" Sammy called, leaning over the front seat.

In the headlights, they saw two hellhounds the size of lions growling threateningly at them. But Percy didn't care. He didn't stop, he shifted gears and pressed down even harder, running over one hellhound. It flew over the hood, crashing into the windshield, cracking it but not breaking it.

"There was..." Annabeth started to say.

"That's how you do it, Percy! That's how you drive!" Thalia shouted, exhilarated. "Who knew you had it in you, Vin Diesel?"

"Calm down a bit, Thalia!" Luke scolded.

She opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted by the unrestrained barking of the hellhounds chasing after them. Everyone turned to see a pack of hellhounds in pursuit, along with half a dozen Laestrygonians and Cyclopes wielding clubs the size of bus signs wait, they were actually bus signs and a few stop signs.

Percy cursed under his breath and accelerated even more, fighting to keep control of the car on the slick road.

"Turn left here!" Grover shouted.

Percy obeyed without hesitation, veering onto a narrow path lined with dark cottages and wooded hills. At least, that's what they could see through the rain and night.

"Just one more mile… just another mile," Grover recited like a mantra. "Please. Please. Please."

Everyone leaned forward, tension thick in the air. Thalia even pressed her head close to Percy's, marveling at how he could drive without hesitation in such conditions.

"Grover," Percy called. "How far is it to camp?"

The satyr didn't realize it, but this was the first time Percy had used his name.

"It's there!" Grover pointed ahead. "Over that hill!"

But the road stopped at the foot of the hill, blocked by trees. Water pooled around their tires, making it impossible to move forward.

As they got out of the car, the cold rain soaked them instantly, clinging their clothes to their bodies and matted their hair to their faces.

"Let's go!" Grover urged. "We have to get up the hill before they catch up! They're close, I can smell them!"

As if on cue, a loud bleat echoed through the air, causing everyone to tense up. They turned to see the Chimera, leaning on its front legs like a predator, flanked by a battalion of monsters.

"They're here," Luke said, panic evident in his voice.

"We have to get up the hill!" Annabeth shouted.

"They're a pain in the ass!" Thalia exclaimed, frustrated by their dire situation. They had no choice but to flee, it was clear they couldn't handle the numbers.

They all started rushing toward the hill but stopped when Sammy spoke up. "Percy, what's wrong? Why aren't you coming?"

Everyone turned to Percy, who hadn't moved from the car. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white.

"I have to do this," he thought, reaffirming his resolve. "If I don't, we won't get to camp in time, and the monsters will catch up."

"Come on in!" he called, not looking at them, his teeth gritted in anger. "I'm sick of these damn monsters. I'm not going to live oppressed ever again… I'm going to put an end to this once and for all!"

Before anyone could respond, he slammed the accelerator and drove back down the road, speeding toward the approaching army of monsters.

Percy could hear Sammy screaming his name, begging him not to leave. Through the rearview mirror, he saw Thalia holding her tightly, trying to stop her from running after him. His heart twisted painfully at the sight of Sammy, tears in her eyes.

"It's for their own good... it's for their own good..." Percy repeated to himself.

His frown deepened as he pressed the accelerator to the limit, with no intention of slowing down.

"They have always taken away what I loved most…"

Percy rolled up all the windows in the car and pulled aside the cloth covering one side of his seat, revealing a gas tank. He quickly unlocked it and opened the valve to its maximum, pouring out all its contents.

"The possibility of a normal life... my future... my dreams... my mother…"

He pressed a button on the dashboard with a picture of a cigarette on it, starting the countdown, he had one minute at most.

"If you want to take away what little I have left, then you will have to go over me..."

I was close, I could see the battalion of monsters getting nearer and nearer.

"Grover... Annabeth... Luke... Sammy... Thalia... I will give them a future! The future that was denied to me!"

When he was fifty meters away from the monsters, without hesitation, Percy opened the door and jumped out of the car, which was going over seventy kilometers per hour. His body crashed hard into the wet grass on the side of the road and rolled until he hit a tree. The impact knocked the air out of his lungs, and he let out a loud moan of pain.

The sound of a loud explosion deafened the rain for a few seconds, and the resulting fire illuminated the entire area, killing more than a dozen monsters instantly. Others screamed in pain from the fire that burned them alive or from the parts of the car embedded in their bodies.

A painful, triumphant smile spread across Percy's face. His suicidal plan had worked. With that, he would gain valuable minutes for the others to reach camp safely and hopefully alert the other demigods about the monster army at the foot of their hill.

With effort, Percy pushed himself up from the ground and began to run toward the camp as best he could while the monsters fell victim to the confusion. His progress was more of a slow trot, as his body felt slightly battered. But the rain revitalized him, and his tiredness quickly faded away.

He continued straight across the road. The monsters had emerged from the confusion and started running toward the demigod. The survivors looked very angry, some even had pieces of the destroyed car embedded in their bodies, while others had parts of their bodies still on fire, although the rain quickly extinguished the flames.

Percy moved forward as fast as he could, though his body, especially his ribs, felt sore. In the distance, he could see the hill where he had left the others, and hope filled him, giving him a strange strength to keep going.

And it was indeed that hill, for he could see his friends on it. Luke, Thalia, Sammy, Annabeth, and Grover were struggling up the steep, soaked incline. The rain and the darkness made it difficult for them to climb quickly, so their ascent was rather slow.

Percy started to follow them, but the scream of a monster rose above the others. He stiffened and clenched his fists tightly in rage, a rage that began to cloud his senses. He turned around to see the Chimera advancing slowly. Its body was slightly burned in some places and had several cuts where it was bleeding, but it still glared at Percy with a murderous intent.

As it advanced, the other monsters moved out of its way, as if they did not want to interfere with the confrontation that was about to occur.

Percy looked over his shoulder to see how the others were doing. They had barely made it halfway up, and if they continued at this pace, the monsters would undoubtedly catch up to them before they reached the top and could call the campers for help.

He gritted his teeth in annoyance, his distraction was not enough. He needed a few more minutes.

The Chimera growled to get his attention, feeling displeased at being ignored.

"Very well…" Percy said as he began to move forward to face the beast. He pulled out his knife and held it firmly. "You and me, as it was always meant to be. We will end this here and now!"

The Chimera growled again, accepting the challenge.

Percy was the first to make his move, unwilling to waste any time. He ran toward the beast, and when the snake head tried to bite him, he slid across the ground. It was fortunate that the grass was wet, making it easier for him to slide. When he got under the beast's body, he made a sharp, quick movement, slicing deep from shoulder to waist, further damaging the lion head and causing the Chimera to howl in pain.

"I'm not done yet, son of a bitch!" Percy thought, his face covered in rage and his enemy's blood.

Taking advantage of the slide on the ground, he advanced a little further, and with a quick, precise movement, he cut the snake's tail from its base. The snake writhed on the ground for a few seconds before turning into golden dust.

The Chimera howled in pain from the deep cut on its body, which was oozing blood, and from the loss of its tail. It swiped left and right in an attempt to hit Percy, but he was no longer within its reach.

The goat head sniffed the air for a second and then turned its body in the direction of Percy. In a move the demigod hadn't expected, the Chimera lunged at him with its claws extended towards him. The monster's massive body easily overwhelmed Percy's small, skinny body. One of its claws held him to the ground, lightly digging into his shoulder causing a sharp pain, while the other pierced the side of his abdomen, staining his shirt with blood. The disgusting goat head loomed over his face in a menacing manner.

Looking into its eyes, Percy could see nothing but the latent base instinct that every beast he had ever met possessed, the instinct to kill him.

Percy struggled under its grip, trying to free at least one of his arms, but it was no use. The monster clearly had greater strength than he did. He watched in horror as it opened its mouth to deliver the final blow, thinking the last thing he would see before he died would be its rotting teeth.

"No! I won't die like this!" he thought, determined.

Then something happened that Percy didn't expect. A black shadow lunged at the Chimera, pushing it off Percy and freeing the young demigod. He quickly stood up and grabbed his knife, watching as the Chimera shook violently, trying to dislodge the pitch-black figure from its back.

His attacker grunted with effort as it bit down hard on the Chimera's shoulder, which tried to grab it with its long arms, but the dark figure was too elusive.

Percy recognized the figure when a bolt of lightning lit up the sky.

"Miss O'Leary!" Percy exclaimed, surprised and worried.

The hellhound continued to bite the Chimera, shaking her head from side to side, staining her muzzle with blood, and trying to tear the flesh with a ferocity that Percy had never seen in her.

The Chimera let out a loud grunt of pain and managed to grab hold of one of Miss O'Leary's legs. A loud crack of breaking bones echoed in the area, followed by a pitiful whimper from the dog.

Miss O'Leary released the Chimera, and the monster took advantage of that moment to throw her several meters away, crashing onto the wet ground. The hellhound attempted to rise but quickly fell back down due to her injured leg.

The Chimera's menacing shadow loomed over her, intent on finishing the job. So focused on attacking the hellhound, she didn't notice someone appear behind her with a determined look on their blood- and rain-stained face until it was too late.

Percy was not one to waste opportunities. When he saw the Chimera throw Miss O'Leary, his instincts kicked in as he ran toward the beast and leapt onto its back. Wasting no time, he plunged his knife into the goat head. The Chimera's eyes widened in surprise, and it let out a pained scream as he twisted the knife for maximum effect.

The Chimera stopped struggling and lay still before collapsing. Percy stood up and pulled the knife out of its snout. Slowly, the beast's body began to dissolve into golden dust, which was quickly washed away by the rain. In the end, only a goat's horn remained, glowing faintly in the darkness.

The road fell into complete silence as the monsters watched the scene, stunned and unable to believe what had just happened.

But Percy didn't linger to reflect on his actions. He picked up the goat horn as a reminder of finally defeating the enemy that had caused him so much trouble and walked toward the hellhound that had saved him.

 Miss O'Leary...

It was incredible how he could become so attached to a being that was, by nature, his enemy. But none of that mattered as he carefully lifted the hellhound, using some effort due to his wounds, and cradled her against his chest, mindful not to hurt the injured dog any further.

It was at that moment that the monsters emerged from their stupor, screaming and howling. As Percy reached the foot of the hill, they resumed their pursuit.

He struggled up the slope. The rain had stopped, but the ground remained slippery and muddy. His entire body ached, his legs felt heavy, and he was breathing erratically. The pain in his ribs had intensified, along with the throbbing in his shoulder and abdomen. He knew he was bleeding, but he didn't let go of the dog, who was also breathing erratically and making pitiful moans.

As he pressed on, he couldn't see his friends, but he could make out the footprints they left on the way up the hill. It seemed they had arrived safely. A smile spread across his blood-stained lips. They had made it. They were safe. Sammy was safe.

He was halfway up when the hellhounds caught up with him. One lunged at him, but he managed to dodge it at the last second by diving to the side, narrowly avoiding the claws that would have torn his neck. He landed on the wet ground, cradling Miss O'Leary's body to prevent further injury.

Seeing that he was surrounded by half a dozen hellhounds, Percy gently placed Miss O'Leary at the foot of a tree. He held his trusty hellhound-tooth knife in one hand and the Chimera's sharp goat horn in the other.

"This ends here…" he whispered.

One of the dogs lunged at him, eager to kill the demigod who had caused so many casualties that night alone, but Percy was more experienced and faster. Seeing that the dog had aimed for the head, he crouched down and plunged his knife into the monster's stomach, disintegrating it in a cloud of golden dust.

Without waiting for the others to recover, Percy attacked the hellhounds, as they represented the greatest danger due to their agility, speed, and greater numbers.

In quick succession, he killed two that were closest to him. He placed himself between them and plunged his knife into the neck of one and his horn into the chest of another. Both of them exploded into gold dust. It was because of that burst of dust, the darkness of the night, and his tired state that Percy was unable to stop a third dog from lunging at him and biting him hard on the left arm, causing it to start bleeding.

Percy screamed in pain, but he didn't let go of the horn he was holding with that arm. He gritted his teeth, and before the dog decided to tear his arm off, he used his other arm and stabbed the dog's head with his knife, turning it into dust.

He began to pant heavily. His head was throbbing in pain, along with his arm, which was bleeding from where the hellhound had bitten him. But he had no time to stop or rest. His instincts warned him to duck, and he did, narrowly avoiding the bus stop sign that a cyclops swung around, intent on tearing his head off.

He frowned at the Cyclops. Ever since he had encountered them in that abandoned factory on Luke's mission, he had been overwhelmed by their size, so he decided to find a way to fight them. Now he would put it to the test.

Percy ran towards the Cyclops, who didn't expect a direct attack. He slid underneath him and gave him a deep cut on the Achilles heel, causing the large monster to grunt in pain and fall to one knee, unable to support his weight.

Not wasting the opportunity that presented itself in front of him, Percy quickly climbed onto its back and positioned himself behind its head. In one movement, he slit the huge monster's throat with his knife. The cyclops tried to stop the bleeding with incomprehensible gurgling, but it was too late.

He began to pant heavily. His head throbbed with pain, along with his arm, which was bleeding from the hellhound's bite. But he had no time to stop or rest. His instincts warned him to duck, and he did, narrowly avoiding the bus stop sign that a cyclops swung around, intent on hitting him.

He frowned at the cyclops. Ever since he had encountered them in that abandoned factory during Luke's mission, he had been overwhelmed by their size, so he decided to find a way to fight them. Now he would put that plan to the test.

Percy ran toward the cyclops, who didn't expect a direct attack. He slid underneath it and delivered a deep cut to its Achilles heel, causing the massive monster to grunt in pain and fall to one knee, unable to support its weight.

Not wasting the opportunity that presented itself in front of him, Percy quickly climbed onto its back and positioned himself behind its head. In one movement, he slit the huge monster's throat with his knife. The cyclops tried to stop the bleeding with incomprehensible gurgling, but it was too late.

Before dissolving into dust, Percy made a powerful leap toward the second cyclops, landing on its shoulder.

"What are you doing!? Get down!" the beast roared angrily.

"Make me, bitch," Percy snapped back.

The cyclops thrashed around, trying to knock him off, but Percy held on tightly. The monster was too big and clumsy for him to catch with its arms. The second cyclops swung its pole at him, but Percy jumped just in time, and the blow landed on the head of the first cyclops, knocking it out instantly.

The cyclops fell hard to the ground, crushing two hellhounds that couldn't retreat in time. A small, tired smile graced Percy's lips at that. Cyclopes were really idiots.

But that brief moment of satisfaction proved fatal. The one-eyed giant swerved, leaving him no chance to dodge due to exhaustion. All Percy could do was cover himself with his arms as the cyclops's massive arm sent him crashing into a tree. In that moment, Percy felt something penetrate his chest. He didn't need a doctor to know that his previously bruised ribs had punctured one of his lungs.

With a strength he didn't know he had, Percy managed to stand, but in doing so, he spat out a stream of blood that stained the ground. Blood began to pool in his lungs. He fell to his knees, unable to support his own weight. He looked up, and all he could see through his blurry vision was the cyclops approaching, laughing like a lunatic with its metal pole raised above its head, ready to deliver the final blow.

In the darkness of the night, Percy could see a battalion of monsters behind the cyclops, waiting to see what would happen.

"You're not so tough now, are you, little demigod?" the cyclops said mockingly.

Percy tried to get up, but his body no longer responded to his commands. He felt so tired, sleepy, and cold. He looked up, waiting for the cyclops to strike the final blow. He would not look away from his death, he would face it and smile.

The cyclops raised his makeshift club to bring it down brutally on the demigod, but before he could do so, an arrow lodged itself in his one eye. The beast howled in pain and tried to pull the arrow out, but five more came and embedded themselves in his head. The cyclops disappeared in a cloud of golden dust.

Percy looked up with difficulty toward where the arrows had been launched. At the top of the hill, he could see more than a dozen figures, all wearing what looked like battle armor and armed to the teeth with swords, spears, shields, bows, and arrows.

Among the group of strangers, Percy could identify several familiar faces. Thalia, who stood with her shield, Aegis, held high, had her spear in hand, emitting faint flashes of electricity at the tip. At her side, Luke held his sword, Backbiter, and wore armor covering his torso, giving him the appearance of a warrior of old.

"Attack!" a voice boomed from the top of the hill.

Without hesitation, everyone followed the command. The armored campers, whom Percy assumed were the ones Grover had mentioned, charged at the confused monsters. A small but bloody battle erupted that night. The moon bore witness, shedding a strong ray of light from between the clouds to illuminate the battlefield.

One might think that the monsters, being much more numerous and fearsome, would overwhelm the campers and kill them all. However, the campers acted as an impenetrable force. They transitioned from defense to offense with such precision that it seemed they had prepared for this for years, which was likely, considering it was an entire camp of demigods.

Percy could have watched them fight all night, but instead, he found himself facing a cyclops, apparently eager to finish the job his late brother couldn't.

He couldn't move, and despite gripping his knife firmly, he lacked the strength to swing it with the intent to kill.

At that moment, two familiar figures stepped in front of him protectively, preventing the cyclops from advancing.

"Get away from our friend, you monstrosity," Luke spat hatefully, pointing his sword at the cyclops.

"Unless you want to lose that one eye you have," Thalia threatened, her eyes shining in the dark night as her spear crackled with electricity.

"Demigods," the Cyclops growled angrily, "I will feast on your entrails!"

And he attacked.

Thalia raised her shield and blocked the Cyclops' blow. Percy was impressed when he saw that the daughter of Zeus did not budge an inch. She forcefully pushed her shield aside, leaving the Cyclops open for an attack, and drove her spear into the monster's stomach.

Lukea took advantage of the opportunity and quickly cut the Cyclops' ankle. The force was so strong that it severed the foot from his body and the Cyclops fell to his knees with a howl of pain. He looked up to meet the demigods, but the last thing he saw was the blade of Thalia's spear dripping with electricity before stabbing into his eye, piercing it and reaching his brain.

It all happened in less than a minute.

A wicked smile appeared on Percy's lips as he watched the impressive act carried out by his friends.

"That was great, guys..." he said before falling face-first onto the wet ground.

"Percy!" they both shouted.

They quickly rushed to their friend's aid and gasped in panic when they turned him over to see the wounds covering his body. His shirt, chin, arms, and especially his abdomen were soaked with blood.

Percy blinked slowly. Through his blurry vision, he could see that all his friends had gathered around him. Even Mrs. O'Leary had crawled over to rest her head against his stomach, moaning sadly.

He felt a tightness in his chest, his breathing was erratic and shallow, and when he tried to speak, he coughed up blood again.

"Percy, don't talk!"

He recognized Sammy's voice. He also felt her gently place his head on her small lap.

"We did it, we got to the camp. Don't worry, they've helped us. They'll heal you. You'll be fine. Don't say anything, you'll be fine, you'll be fine..."

Panic seeped into her voice, that much was evident. He could feel her shaking as she tried to wipe away the blood from her face.

All around them, the battle had ended. The surviving monsters fled in terror, overwhelmed by the combined might of the group of demigods. Many approached Percy and his friends, silently watching the scene a scene of a dying person.

Percy used all his remaining strength to raise his hand and place it on Sammy's cheek, wiping away the tears that fell from her eyes.

"Don't cry... Sammy," he said, his voice weak and choked. "You know I... hate... seeing you cry."

She tried her best to stop herself, even attempting to smile, but it only made her expression more pitiful.

"Why?" Annabeth asked weakly, her fists clenched and her knuckles white. Tears streamed down her face. "Why did you do it? Why did you decide to stay behind?!"

Percy smiled sadly at Annabeth, his breathing becoming even weaker.

"I did it... to give them... a future... one they deserve..."

"I don't want a future if it means losing you!" she burst out.

Her crying could be heard all over the hill, and she didn't try to hide it. No one could. Everyone was crying, even Thalia. Seeing that image in front of him tore at his heart. He wanted so badly to comfort them. They didn't deserve this. They deserved a future, a long life, and if it were for that, he would gladly sacrifice himself.

With the last of his strength, he searched through the pockets of his pants and found what he was looking for. Slowly and clumsily, Percy pulled out a small device. He was surprised to see that it hadn't been destroyed by everything that had happened, but he was immensely grateful for that.

"Th...lia..." Percy muttered weakly.

She looked up, shocked to see the object in Percy's hands a voice recorder. It was stained with grime and blood, but she quickly grabbed it with both hands, along with Percy's outstretched hand.

"Listen to him... later..." he said.

"No!" Thalia protested, her voice breaking. She clenched her blood-stained hands tightly. "If you have something to say, tell us later! There are still so many things we have to do! So many stories I have to tell you! Please don't..."

"I'm sorry... I would have liked... to spend more time... with all of you..."

At that moment, Percy realized one thing, he didn't want to die.

He wanted to live. After everything he had been through, all the suffering he had endured, he wanted a long life. He felt he deserved it.

"Luke..." Percy said, turning slightly to look at his friend. "Take care of them..."

"I... I promise, Percy." Her voice was shaking, but she did her best to keep a smile, even though tears were falling down her face.

Percy smiled at her words simple but honest. If there was anyone he could trust to keep others safe, it was Luke, the boy who had become his best friend.

He felt the little strength he had left drain away. The arm that Thalia held felt heavy, refusing to let go. He was cold and very sleepy. His breathing became lighter, and little by little, he felt no pain.

"Thank you..."

Those were his last words.

His arms lost all their remaining strength, and he slipped out of Thalia's grip.

"Percy!" Thalia screamed desperately. "Don't... Don't leave us! Please! PERCY!"

"It's... it's not fair..." Annabeth said between sobs.

"He did it... he did it to protect us..." Luke repeated to himself, closing his eyes, but that didn't stop the tears from falling.

At first, they were small drops, but then they began to fall harder. The rain started again, soaking everyone present, but no one did anything to stop it.

Thalia shook Percy's shoulders in an attempt to wake him from his eternal sleep as she screamed his name, her tears mixing with the rain. Luke covered his eyes as he cried for the loss of his best friend, cursing himself for being late. Annabeth sobbed loudly, her hands covering her face as her shoulders shook. Ms. O'Leary howled to the sky in a sad and pitiful manner.

But it was Sammy's heart-wrenching cries that could be heard over the sound of the heavy rain pounding the ground.

It seemed as if heaven itself was crying for the loss of the young demigod who died with a smile on his lips.

[T/N: I'll be honest, i have no idea of the quality of this chapter, if you find mistakes and you care enough, just comment it and I'll fix it. If you like this chapter then leave a comment, drop some stones, and write a review! If you want to read some advanced chapters then check out my Patreon!]

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