Pertemis: Chasing Time

Chapter 8: Our Tears

Percy's POV

"Percy..."

The voice made Reyna and I separated. Standing at the wide opened doors was a girl. She was about 16 with straight auburn hair, and silver eyes. She looked at us in shock as thunder rumbled outside. I could feel the pain she had. The feeling she was suffering. Her lips trembled as tears stared falling down. She covered her mouth and stepped back few steps before running away.

"Artemis wait..." I called for her. I knew that was the girl. The only person I wanted to find the most. When I looked into her eyes. A punch of memory just shot into my head like a bang. But I managed not to scream out from the pain in my head. I crawled forward and made it outside of the door. But she was gone, like vanished.

That night was a heavy rain night. Thunder rumbling outside as lighting flashing like they wanted to rip the sky apart.

I was sitting on my bed, trying so hard not to scream out. The memories have started to come back. I clashed my head together. Everything was starting to come back. The image of me arriving at the Hunt. How I was declared to be a god. Battle with Kronos. The most important thing, our first kiss we shared in the infirmary. The pain, sacrifice and happiness. It was all pouring back and I couldn't do anything more other than just roared out in pain.

The doors kicked open and Reyna ran in with a concerned face. She sat next to me while patting my back to calm me down from shivering.

"Percy, are you ok?" She asked.

"I know who I am, I remembered" I mumbled.

"Percy, what are you mumbling about? Don't scare me Perce."

I looked up to her as I grabbed her hand made her startle.

"Reyna" I said. "I need to tell you this."

So that I began to tell her. I told her everything from when I was found by Artemis and being betrayed by Zeus and dad took away my memory. Reyna remained silent the entire time while listening to my story.

"...so that's why I have to find Artemis" I finished my story. "She's the one that I love. I'm sorry Reyna. But since the first time I met you. You just reminded me so much of her. But now I've gained back by memory. I have to find Artemis because she's the only person I love."

I stood up and waited for Reyna to respond. Reyna closed her eyes and sighed. She stood up next to me.

"Well" she said. "I don't blame you Percy. I cannot keep you at my side, while your heart belongs to someone else. That would be worse than just breaking up right now."

I nodded at her. "Thank you for you understanding Reyna."

Reyna suddenly grabbed my collar shirt and pulled me down for a kiss. It was just a soft kiss, but I could feel she's put all of her passion and love in it.

She pulled away and looked at me. "Go get her."

I nodded and ran outside. I took out the pearl that Triton gave me. This pearl could teleport you everywhere, if you know about the person or place. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I threw the pearl on the floor and thought about Artemis. Artemis, I'm coming for you.

Artemis's POV

The kiss. That scene kept bouncing back in my head. I dropped on the ground as rain was pouring down on me. It drained some of the sorrow out from my head. All those time, I had been crying over for him. Zeus locked me inside a room for many months, scaring that I would end my life by grief. Night by night, when I laid on my bed and just think where the Fates would lead me to. I was dried from crying to much.

Then I heard of him still alive. That brought me hope. I thought we would come back together again. Be happy again. And when I found him. The only true love, the one that I believed and had my faith in, was kissing and be happy with someone else. That was like a knife that stabbed through my heart. I was shattered, broken at that time. He was my first. I thought I could trust him. I should've known, no male can be trusted, not even Percy...Percy.

"Whyy?" I screamed. What did I do to deserve this? Why must he do this to me?

I felt a presence behind and I turned back. Standing there was him. The least man that I wanted to see now. Percy Jackson.

"Artemis..." He started.

"Don't come close to me Perseus. I don't want to see you. Just get lost." I ranged at him.

"Artemis you have to understand." He pleaded. "Poseidon took away my memory. I couldn't remember anything. I really wanted to find you, but I didn't know how. I love you Artemis, I truly am."

"Then what about the kiss?" I pointed out.

"I-I"

"Don't you remember about our promise?" I stepped closer. "The pain and happiness we shared? We is it now? Do you know that I found hope when I heard you're still alive? Do you know how happy I was after 5 months being locked up and crying for you every hours? I still remember the tears streaming down your face when I said I'll never let you go. I still remember when you said don't leave me here alone. All of that Percy, I still hold it in my heart. But when I saw you laying there. Be happy with someone else. They just came crashing down on me. I just can't take it."

"Artemis, please. I know that I was wrong. I'll do anything to fix it. Just please come back to me."

"Just leave me alone Percy." I softened my voice and turned away.

"Artemis-"

"I...said...leave me alone" I materialised my bow in my hand and ready my aim at him. He didn't seem to budge one bit.

"I know I'm wrong, please forgive me." He pleaded, and got into his knees. I fired my arrow, and it passed through his face by an inch, leaving behind a cut.

"The next one won't be this close." I pulled back my string. It hurts. It hurts me so much, but I can't bring myself to forgive him. It wasn't his fault that I know, but... I don't know what to do. I've sworn off male and love for so many millennia for such reasons. No, I have to steel myself. I need to end this torture. It's better for both him and me. I can't be in a relationship where I have to worry for him all the time. No, I shouldn't even be in a relationship. I swore to be a maiden forever. I can't hold on forever. I'm trying so hard to control myself, to prevent myself from just running over and jump on him. It's... for the best. Leave, please perseus.

He closed his eyes. "If my death can bring back the happiness for you. Then just do it."

Rain was falling heavier. My arms were shaking. I couldn't control it. I threw the bow aside and cried on my palm.

"Arty..."

"WHY DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND Percy? I DONT WANT TO SEE YOU. EVER SINCE YOU CAME TO THE HUNT, MY LIFE IS MESSED UP! I FEEL MYSELF WEAKENING. I FEEL MYSELF STARTING TO BE DEPENDANT ON YOU. I DON'T WANT THIS! I JUST WANT TO HAVE MY OLD LIFE BACK! I HATE YOU PERSEUS!" I burst out as thunder rumbled in the distance. Just leave me be Percy. Find someone who will truly love you.

He got up slowly. Tears were already forming in his eyes. I don't want to do this either.

"I'm sorry." He tried to sound normal, but it was far from okay. It's not your fault, it's mine.

He capped his sword and walked away dejectedly. Don't leave me perseus. I...want you by my side. No! I can't break, at least not now. He walked under the heavy rain as finally he disappeared in it. My knee crumbled, sending me crashing to the ground. My tear duct just...burst. All that bottled emotion came flooding out. I love and hate that guy. I want him to stay so much, yet at the same time I want him to leave. I don't know what to do. I'm...lost. Confused. Why can't my relationship with Percy be a simple one? We two fall in love and just be together.

"Percy..." I cried out. There's nothing I could do now. I've cast the die. I've chased him away. My one true love, gone. And best of all, I'm the one who chased him away.

Percy's POV

She hates me. She...Hates...me. After all that we have been through, this is what I get? Her words stabbed right at the heart. I crashed down onto the ground. My mind still comprehending what she said. Does she mean it? Is this real? I give up. I'm tired of this live. I'M TIRED OF BEING THE GODS PLAY TOY! I wish to die, but I know for certain they won't let me, not when the Gaea and the giants are rising. So what am I now? Their choice of weapon? Is that it? I'm tired. It's not like it makes a difference to me who rules the world. Nothing matters now. I just want somewhere where I can just live without worry, but there's just a hopeless dream for a person like me. Why can't the Fates just live me be? Just let me stay in Goodge high school and have no clue about this miracle world. Why did they have to guide me to meet Artemis? That doesn't matter anymore. I don't care anymore. I'm too tired. I took out my second pearl and threw it on the ground and steam surrounded me.

I am now standing in front of a familiar place. I merely hoped it would work its magic like last time. I could simply trap myself in an eternal cycle. I would never die, and perhaps free from the Gods' reach. I stepped into the place. It hasn't change since I last came here. There were still limitless amount of games. A staff walked up and gave me a sliver card and showed me around. Yes, this place is perfect. After the tour, I was offered a flower, a lotus flower. I picked up the flower. If I eat this, I would be free. All the pain, suffering will be gone. I could stay and enjoy myself for eternity, with no worries about the outside world. I moved the flower closer to my mouth. This is it, I can finally put an end to all the suffering I've been through. Whatever the world would become, it would no longer my problem. Consider it as my early retirement. I put the flower into my mouth, and the last I saw was the staff smiling at me.

N/A Just to let you know I've lost my entire 62K readers in 1 book. I'm trying to rebuild it. I know it's hard though. Anyway, votes are really help guys and hope you enjoy.