Chapter 3: The Dark Echo

Chapter 3

The Dark Echo

||Camp Half-Blood, Long Island Sound ||

*Annabeth Chase's Point Of View*

~A year later~

It's been a year since I've made the biggest mistake of my life. I've let the only person that I love go. I don't know what made me go to Timothy. I still don't know how but it was like I've been controlled by an eidolon which isn't possible. No demon could enter it. Our best guess is that he had some potion that made him control us. Hecate and her children suspect it strongly and began investigating. Everyone is furious at him. He became an outcast and hated but still he remained arrogant as ever.

Every day, every night, every second of the day Percy's betrayed and angry face etched in my mind. His coldness seeping through my bones. I regret what I did and I don't know if he'll ever forgive me.

Everyone had started looking for him since then. Troops after troops coming back with nothing. A week after I've gotten over the shock, I jumped up from the bed with determination to find him and went to Chiron. He gave me permission knowing he couldn't stop me, besides he's also worrying about Percy. He was like a son to him. I travel all over the country, looking for him. I come back to Camp Half-Blood once in two weeks at least to take a break for maybe about three days then I'm off again.

A cloud of sadness and shame hung over everyone for driving the greatest hero to live away. Every day of not finding him is driving me insane. He could be out there somewhere, in trouble even if he can handle himself, but there's a churning feeling in my stomach that I can't get rid of.

It was like a switch has been flipped for the Gods too. Suddenly, they're around their kids more. Poseidon however, is worse. His guilt heavily weighing down on him as he sends troops looking for him. In the ocean or around the world. He looks the same, but you can tell by his posture, slacked and the jolly Poseidon we know is gone.

His disappearance changed everyone for the second time around.

He will and always be a hero.

Percy couldn't be dead because if he is, Hades would tell us, but his soul wasn't in the Underworld. Nico spends his time with the Underworld more than the Camp now. His hatred burning bright for us, probably like Percy. I can't blame him.

The hunters too are looking for him, getting frustrated each day pass and no trace of him. The Roman Camp are furious at us but is helping nonetheless.

"Do you think we'll ever find him?" Hazel asked me once, her brown eyes brimming with tears. My throat clogged up, unable to answer because honestly, I have no idea.

I didn't answer.

Blackjack had retreated. He wouldn't let anyone approach him unless for food, or he'll bite your head off with the exception of Nico. Mrs. O'Leary had suddenly gone quiet, but then a month later on she followed Nico. I guess it's better with him than at the place where the people who betrayed her master stayed.

The camp had become more gloomy. Nothing was ever the same since that night. And will never be.

I miss him.

'Oh, Percy. '

~

*Thalia Grace's Point of View*

Each passing day was frustrating than ever not being able to find one of my best friends. He doesn't deserve this. He deserves better. I should leave and give up and let him live the life he chooses but I'm worried about him. The monsters are attracted to him like magnet and what if he's hurt and dying somewhere?

I can't handle that. Not after Luke.

"Oh, Percy," I muttered, "Where are you?" The air had suddenly turned colder, and the wind suddenly became brisk, the leaves dancing with the wind, gracefully even if they fall from the branch. I look up as if I might find an answer above me, but there was none. It was almost fall, about the same time Percy disappeared. A year.

Rika, my wolf companion, growled behind me. I readied my bow, and waited, my heart beating in my chest. Why did I have to split up with the others? Suddenly, a manticore hobbled towards us. I pulled my string back though what shocked me was that he was battered and bruised.

"Oh, Hunter! Save me. I will serve you for as long as I live if you just save me! Help me get away from him." He pleaded, dropping down in front of me, shaking.

What the hell is happening?

"What are you talking about?" If a manticore is pleading for you to save his life is a serious thing to even sell his life to me. "Who is this 'him'?"

He crawled towards me while I stepped back, baring his teeth to me. A sheer look of desperation on his face, "The--" he stuttered "They call him the Dark Echo! He-" The manticore shrieked, his actions freaked me out. Is this guy also the reason why we couldn't find any monsters? I saw a dark figure walk towards us, silently. So silent that he was the definition of silence. The shadow gathers around him as if he was the master.

He was no doubt Dark Echo.

He wore a black cloak that covers his face except the mouth, and he wears an armor. Two blades strapped at his back, and yet he does not wield them. He stood firm and confident with an air of eerie calmness

I released my arrow to hit him but he grinned, the arrow stopping in front of his hand as he raised it and took it, twirling it around examining it. A cold smirk graced his mouth, that sends shivers down my back.

"I believe that is my prey, Lieutenant of Artemis," He said, his voice as cold and calm. So nonchalant as if he didn't stop my magical arrow from hitting him. His voice sound familiar but yet it wasn't. The air turned colder as if the wind answered to him instead of me, the daughter of the sky God.

"Please," the manticore begged "Don't kill me."

The hooded man cocked his head, "Pray tell why I shouldn't?" he asked though his tone was mocking. Why does he sound so familiar? "It is not like you would die, you would just end up in the pit of Tartarus." His voice turned venomous, a venom no snake could compare. "Right. Where. You. Belong."

"Who," I said shakily but swallowed to cover my fear, "are you?"

His head turned to me, a light smile played in his lips as if sensing my fear and relished in it. "Ah, for some reason they had decided to call me the Dark Echo. Quite interesting really." He said. My eyes drifted to the manticore, wondering why he wasn't running yet but he seemed frozen. "Don't worry. He won't run away." He assured me, reading my mind and doing me a good thing because no words can escape my mouth.

"Please." The manticore's voice cracked.

The hooded one's lips tightened, "You killed 4 tree nymphs and 3 satyrs for fun. You deserve it." He said, and snapped his fingers. I watched in horror as the manticore scream in agony, his face in horror and thrashing around and all at once, in front of me, burst into golden dust and Dark Echo didn't even move. No one touched the manticore.

No one could obliterate monsters that way unless they have seen the original form of the gods. So, how could he?

I looked over him, fear evident, as I see the satisfied grin on his lips.

"Wha--," I said, stepping back. Rika following me but whimpering.

The hooded man stepped forward while I do the opposite. He grinned. "Would you look at that," he said, suddenly appearing in front of me. Too close. Yet I still can't see what's under the hood. "The fearless Thalia Grace, afraid." His voice was merely a whisper, but it carried so strongly over the beating of my pounding heart.

I glared at him, to cover up. "Who are you?"

He leaned forward and whispered in my ears, "It has been a long time, hasn't it, Pinecone Face?"

Then he disappeared. How in the world did he do all that?

Why is Dark Echo so familiar but I can't place a hold in it? How did he know that nickname? Did Percy talk to him? Why? Maybe....No. No. Percy is not like that. He isn't like that.

But it's possible.

That night, I told the Hunters about Dark Echo and what he can do with the monsters, how they feared him and what happened. I didn't tell them about my suspicion that Percy is Dark Echo. I won't tell them until I'm sure but still, I will not give up until I find Percy Jackson.

I owe him at least that.

~

DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything except for what I have created. All belongs to Rick Riordan.

How you doing?

So, I know this chapter isn't much, but I wanted to write about the aftermath of his disappearance, not just a hundred or so years later on.

This chapter is dedicated to cakelover76 for commenting and the follow! Go Cakes!

Anyway, How did you like it? What do you think happened to Percy?

I hope you enjoyed it and continue to support this book.

Don't forget to vote or comment, (follow maybe?)

Thank you so much! Have a good day!

---Leanne xo

P.S: I'll give you a hint about the next chapter. We will see our favorite primordial who was not on the brochure in Tartarus for the tourist + her husband.

Look forward to it.