part two:

horror

I woke up at midnight, and I could already tell that something was wrong. Something about the air, how it reeked, how my hands were stiff and covered in something that flaked off whenever I moved.

How there was this...this taste in my mouth that was frighteningly familiar, yet I couldn't place it.

I opened my eyes, just a bit. It took my brain a second to register the red.

And then I had to cover my mouth with my hand because oh god it's everywhere-

I looked down at where it came from and realized nonono this can't be happening-

And then I saw his bright blond hair, the color of sunshine, and I felt tears in my eyes because oh god Niles I killed him I killed him I killed him-

I resisted the urge to throw up when I examined the body closer and oh nonono what happened to his fave where is his fave why doesn't he have a face-

That's when I finally realized what was in my mouth. I finally realized what tasted so familiar.

Blood.

And I knew it wasn't mine.

-

I was there for an hour. An hour sitting there, my hand over my mouth, trying to resist the urge to scream.

I felt like I was drowning. I was the son of Poseidon and I was drowning.

I was drowning in the red red red it's everywhere-

I was drowning in Niles' voice which I had heard just yesterday what have I done why did this happen how is he dead-

I was drowning in my thoughts because what am I a monster I'm a monster look at it it's everywhere-

And then the voice appeared for the second time.

Interesting.

And I bolted up, picked a random direction, and ran. I realized that I was in the forest and that I was lucky that none of the tree nymphs saw what I had done and what am I thinking I killed him I'm a murderer-

But I kept running because I was terrified of what I had done because I killed him and his eyes were so bright and his smile-

I kept running because I was terrified of what I had done because of god, he was twelve-

I kept running because I was terrified of what I had done because if someone finds our I'm dead-

I eventually found my way back to camp. It was pure luck that I made it into my cabin without any of the harpies spotting me.

I just sat on the floor, for once thankful that I was the only resident there, and I sobbed.

I sobbed because I killed an innocent boy-

I sobbed because what have I done am I insane-

But I sobbed the most when the voicevoice came back.

You don't think you've been set up?

And I didn't think I'd been set up because my hands are red and I still have that taste in my mouth please no-

And I realized that no matter how much I was drowning, I was still alive alive alive while he was dead dead dead-

But I was alive. I was a hot mess. I couldn't think straight. So my body followed it's instincts.

Survive.

tbc

-

Yeah, that was pretty short. But this is a short story, so...

Anyway, if anyone's concerned over the run-on sentences, just know that I did that on purpose. It's supposed to be frantic and convey a sense of dread and horror. That's also the reason I wrote this story in First Person. This story is less about plot and more about Percy's mental breakdown.

Anyway, I think that's it for now. Remember to Vote if you liked it and Comment your thoughts! Until next time, this is SSSRHA, signing out!