No Strings Attached (Sequel to Puppets)

Thalia

here we go guys. second last chapter lol.

hey you know how in the first book i was like "lol cause you guys want more percy he'll have a bigger role" and then he got kidnapped in nsa?? lol this is what you get when you ask for your faves to have more screen time

so many deaths but please don't come after me. i mean, you do want TMG written, right?

ha. ha. oops.

[20]//THALIA//

It was Sunday, and Thalia was completely done.

She had been a pawn in their game too long. She'd been first to crack, first to try and leave everything behind and then get dragged back in.

Now, she was going to end them.

She formulated a plan. They didn't know she would make an attempt to overthrow them. She had the perfect opportunity to destroy them once and for all, and nothing was going to get in her way.

Piper had disappeared for the day. Hazel was having bonding time or something with her brother. Bianca was hidden in her cabin after the Angelica Banido incident, and Reyna was... somewhere. Thalia didn't question it.

First, she stole a microphone from the stage, smuggling it under her jacket and ignoring the weird looks sent her way. She went back to her room to prepare a bag. First aid kit, microphone, her phone. All she needed. She sent a quick text to Reyna, wherever she was.

To: Reyna

Do me a favour and don't let Jason out of your sight. You need to trust me.

She shoved her phone in her back as it chimed, probably a text back asking what the heck she was doing and saying that Reyna was coming to check on her. Thalia sent a follow up, saying that it was a matter of life or death.

Then, she went downstairs and pulled the fire alarm.

Everyone was dragged out of their dorms, moaning and groaning, some forgetting to grab coats and freezing. Once Thalia was outside and sure everyone else was too, she pulled herself up to stand on a picnic table and grabbed the mic, turning it on.

"Grace, what are you doing? Get down from there!" The principal screeched.

"I have news for you all," she said, speaking into the mic, her voice booming. "Someone's decided to make our school into Pretty Little Liars. There's a team of people calling themselves L. Calypso Ogygia was their leader and Stephanie Jaminson found that out. That's why Calypso killed herself and killed Steph. They have a new leader now. Rachel Elizabeth Dare and other people killed Zoë Nightshade. But Lacy Lovell saved Bianca Di Angelo. Bianca is alive, and they killed Lacy for saving her." Her strong words were met with incredulous looks. "They kidnapped Percy Jackson!" That struck a chord with them. Percy was popular for multiple reasons, and many people liked him. "Over the winter break, Reyna was kidnapped and brought to our hotel's abandoned basement when her and Piper were exploring. We separated to look for her, and when we got back, Percy was gone.

"I got a note telling me that I could release him. But if I do, they kill someone close to me. They are hiding among you. So you know what? Screw it!" Thalia raised her voice. "You can't control me, and there's no way in hell I'm letting you get to my brother!" She spotted his blonde mop of hair in the crowd and felt relief when she saw Reyna beside him. People were pushing away from Jason, leaving him and Reyna stranded in an open space. People were afraid that if Thalia was telling the truth, they could be killed alongside him. She took a deep breath before she said her final three words that she'd been dreading, but now she accepted them with open arms.

"Let him go!"

At once, multiple things happened. As the mic fell out of Thalia's hands, she heard a gunshot. She looked down to see people scattering and Silena moving in front of a bullet meant for Jason. The shooter- oh god, it was Leo Valdez- dropped the gun with wide eyes, disbelief that he shot his own teammate instead of his supposed best friend. Silena grabbed the gun and shot Leo, who promptly collapsed to the ground. Thalia stood on the table, frozen in shock, her mind having one ridiculous thought: there should be mmm whatcha say playing in the background right now.

Oh god, she was thinking about memes when two people had just been shot. Will Solace was panicking and searching for a first aid kit. Thalia snapped back to reality, opening her bag and tossing it to him. She dismounted off of the table and ran over to Silena. Clarisse knelt beside her, apparently trying not to cry. Will started trying to save Silena while Mr. Apollo worked on Leo.

"Silena, stay with me, please." Clarisse begged. She turned to Thalia with a sharp, teary glare. "Look at what you've done."

"No," Silena managed, before Thalia could reply. "It's not her fault. Thalia, the headset."

Thalia removed the silver headset covered by Silena's thick hair and handed it to Clarisse. "You told me you left them," the burly girl gasped.

"I'm so sorry," Silena whispered, clutching Clarisse's hand.

Thalia started backing away from the personal moment. Will screamed for Mr. Apollo about Silena being shot in the chest and going into being fatal. Thalia made her way over to Jason, who was leaning over Leo's body.

"Are we good? Me and you, are we friends?" Leo choked up. "I'm going to die, Jason. Please forgive me."

"Yeah," Jason whispered. "Yeah, we're good."

"You know," Leo started, staring off into the distance as Jason looked down at him. Thalia stood farther away, not wanting to intrude. "I never meant to do this. I was following out my orders."

"How long were you on the L team?" Jason asked.

"Too long." Leo answered. "My first task was destroying Annabeth's speech. It was all Calypso. I fell in love with her. Maybe I'll see her where I'm going."

Jason looked choked up, and Will yelled out, "He's burning up! Someone get me the first aid kit!"

"Of course I'm burning up." Leo choked out. "I'm the Supersized McShizzle. I'm always hot." Jason laughed and cried at the same time. But before he could respond, Leo's eyes glazed over.

"Leo?" Jason asked softly. He didn't answer. Thalia watched as Jason gently shut his friends eyes and stood up shakily.

Thalia enclosed him in a hug as the sirens blared around them and lights flashed. She could hear people screaming that both the victims were gone, dead, that they couldn't do anything.

Thalia just let Jason sob into her shoulder.

--

mmmm whatcha saAAAAaaaay

two deaths lol and btw leo's death doesn't follow BoO aka there's no way he's come back i can confirm that lol

the reason why you had to wait a week is because of my new superhero story, super six. check it out, leave a vote or a comment, and that's encouragement to update this sooner. chapter two was just posted.

next/last chapter: piper.
then two parts of the epilogue will be posted.
then the third part, and acknowledgements and the description for TMG (which I still haven't written lol)

sorry please don't kill me haha im just gonna hide under my desk now bye