𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐗𝐗.
left my past life on the ground

ᯓᡣ𐭩

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐅𝐄𝐖 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 went by in a blur. There were celebrations for the quest mates who put Atlas back where he deserved and saved the goddess Artemis, and Annabeth in the process.

Maisie's body was present in the celebrations, but her soul felt like it had travelled to a whole other world. She engaged in conversation, thanked whoever told her they were glad she was back safe, and ate the celebratory meals.

However, her mind kept going back to the mountain.

She kept pondering whether there was something she could have done to prevent Luke from falling, to prevent Thalia kicking him, to prevent him dying.

But, no matter what scenario she played in her head, it ended in the fall. There was no saving him from his own burden.

Having no control over her body, Maisie let it lead her to the forest, the place where she and Luke used to walk, during sleepless nights or when they wanted to get away from the loudness of the camp.

That was what she was doing now, as she passed through the snow-covered grass, tiny snowflakes falling in her let-down hair. She greeted the cold, letting it burn through her, tugging her back to reality.

A single tear escaped from her eyes, sliding down her cheek, a miracle that it didn't freeze right on her face.

Maisie swore that she could feel his presence with her still, as if he never left, as if nothing bad ever happened and he didn't end up falling.

Right as she was letting another tear fall shamelessly, since there was no one around to see, she heard footsteps on the soft snow, making her turn abruptly.

She couldn't hold in her gasp once she laid her eyes on him, a face she could recognize anywhere, a voice she had memorized, which resided in a special place in her heart.

"Oh my gods," was all she could utter as she ran to Luke, wrapping her arms around his body. She was trembling, her lips letting out uneven sobs as she took him in. His scent was strong and for a terrifying second, she thought she'd forgotten it.

"It's okay," Luke whispered, alternating between rubbing her back and caressing her hair soothingly, as she cried in his embrace.

"I thought..." she mumbled, her voice breaking. "I thought-"

"I know. I'm sorry."

Maisie buried her head in the crook of his neck. "Don't leave me again. Please." Her voice was barely above a whisper, struggling to maintain the slim-to-none composure she had left.

"I won't," he promised.

No matter how many times she'd hear that promise, her gut couldn't fully believe it.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

After Luke left camp, since both of them knew he couldn't risk being seen there, Maisie knew she had one more responsibility left.

She made her way back to the cabins, where everyone was finishing up dinner. Her feet took her to the Apollo table, and her eyes immediately fell on the person she was looking for. Ronan.

He noticed her too, seeing as he was standing up to leave once she arrived. She attempted a smile, though she wasn't sure how it came out. His eyes were concerned as he got up from his table and made his way to her.

"Can we talk?" she asked as soon as they were eye to eye.

"Of course," Ronan agreed, a cautious smile pulling at his lips.

Maisie led him to a quiet place away from the dining pavilion, where they could talk privately.

"Is everything okay?" Ronan asked, settling down on some stone steps.

Maisie took a seat next to him. "Pretty much. Listen, I... I'm sorry."

His brows furrowed. "What for?"

Her throat itched with the urge to tell him everything, to confess to her sins. But she knew she couldn't do that.

"Just... for disappearing, I guess. It all happened so fast. You were probably really worried."

"I was," he confirmed. "But it's not your fault. It's all Luke."

Maisie fought to keep her wince to herself. She pursed her lips, composing herself.

"Point is, sorry for the fright. And... um. I'm going back home," she admitted.

"What? Really? Why?" Ronan questioned, his expression more confused than ever.

"It's just... I don't know. I feel like this place should be home... But it doesn't feel that way anymore. All it seems to cause me is more trouble. I want to live without all this in my head, at least for a few months. Don't worry, I'll come back in the summer," she rushed out, before he could argue. "I have friends here, anyway."

"Oh," Ronan said, his voice low. "Oh, okay. Yes, I understand."

Maisie let out a relieved breath. "Thank you."

"So, um... Does this mean we're... Like, done?"

This was the part she didn't want to reach.

"Yeah," she admitted. "Sorry for that too. You're great, Ronan. I'm just... This stuff isn't for me right now."

Ronan's expression looked undertstanding, but also knowing. He knew what she wasn't telling him.

"Are you sure that's it?" he pressed, almost sounding salty about it.

"Um-"

"Listen, Maisie, I get it. It was different for you with him so you'll never truly get over it. I'm just glad you got this over with so we didn't have to lie to each other anymore."

"I never lied to you. I do like you, Ronan. I told you, I'm just not ready to move on like that. It's better for everyone if I'm left alone for a bit." Her head was starting to hurt with the explanation that she had to repeat, begging Ronan not to leave her on a bad note.

He sighed. "Okay. If you think that's what's best for you. I only want you to be happy."

"I will be," she promised. "Thanks for understanding. You're good. You have always been good. Don't lose that."

Ronan could only nod at her words, shooting her one last smile.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

There Maisie was, twenty one years old, standing on the doorstep of her childhood home, where her father probably wasn't, contemplating whether to enter.

She was back to the mortal world, back to reality, after having said goodbye to everybody who mattered. The demigod life hadn't treated her fairly (when had it treated anyone fairly?), so she couldn't bear living it for the rest of the year.

She had switched between year-rounder and summer-only in camp many times, she didn't even know what felt right anymore. All she knew was that she needed to get away, if only for a few months, and live a normal life, where she didn't have to lie to everyone about engaging with the enemy.

Maisie crouched and found the key her dad kept under the welcome mat (he had no sense of danger, honestly) and unlocked the front door. As she had expected, the house was empty, her dad most likely at work, or even on a business trip.

She brought her luggage to her old room, which had remained the same since she'd left, all those years ago. Her bed, her closet, her desk, the pictures of her old friends she had hung up, everything was still there. The pink walls were starting to fade, seeing as they hadn't been painted in years.

It had really been so long. Seven entire years since she was first introduced to the half-blood life. Once, she thought she'd have no regrets about detaching herself from her home. Now, she wasn't so sure.

She didn't bother unpacking her things. She didn't plan on staying there long-term. As soon as she could, she'd find her own place, like the adult she was supposed to be.

Back to normal life it was.

───────

dear reader!

one more chapter for act three, i swear act three has been taking years off my life