Nightmares

Percy was being held by King Porphyrion’s massive hand. He struggled and struggled but the grip wouldn’t lessen.
All around him was the carnage of his friends.
Frank laid off to his right with a dagger sticking out of his heart. Hazel and Arion were being tossed around between two giants. Percy could tell from where he was that their bodies were broken beyond repair.
Back by the Parthenon was the wreckage of the Argo II. A few earthborn monsters carried a kicking and shouting Leo Valdez out of the wreckage.
“I, LEO VALDEZ SUPREME, will kick your multiple arm grey freaky butts across this earth!”
His shouting was cut off by his neck being twisted at a sharp angle. Percy heard the pop of his neck from where he was.
Finally, Percy looked directly below him. Annabeth and Jason were being put on their knees in front of him. Annabeth and Percy’s eyes locked and an understanding of love passed between them.
“Execute them.” King Porphryion said.
A giant came up behind them and with one giant sweep of his sword Annabeth and Jason’s heads went flying.
Percy suddenly went weightless and then he was flying towards the ground. Percy smacked the ground and pain burst across his lower back. His spine was shattered. Percy had no use of his back or legs.
“Perseus Jackson your blood will wake the earth mother Gaea. We thank you very much for your donation.”
Porphryion raised his spear over his head and brought it down towards Percy.

*****

Percy shot upright in bed. He was covered in sweat and he was breathing heavy.
Percy realized he had drawn Riptide during the nightmare. Percy capped his sword and it shrank back into his pen.
He ran his hand through his sweat soaked hair and go out of bed. The sheets clung to his wet body as he walked across the room.
He pulled the sheets off and stepped into the night.
Torches lined the path that wove in between the cabins and to the lake.
Percy jogged down the path and dove straight into the water. Instantly he calmed. His mind slowed and he took deep breaths. These nightmares were coming to him almost every night now. This was the 15th time he had been woken and had to go to the lake to calm.
He figured that he would need to tell someone eventually. His first thought was to tell Annabeth, but he needed an older more knowledgeable opinion. He needed to find Morpheus. He needed to know why he was having these dreams.
Percy swam back to the surface and shot onto the deck and beelined for his cabin. He packed a small back with a change of clothes and ambrosia and nectar and wrote a note saying he needed to get away for a time.
Percy knew Annabeth would find it. He hated to do it this way, but he needed to get away.
Percy jogged across camp and to the hill and up it. He paused by Thalia’s Pine and looked over the valley. The sun was beginning to rise and he knew campers would be waking soon.
He turned and walked down the hill with the feeling he may never see Camp Half-Blood again.

Notes