Not Everything Is As It Seems

Chapter 17 - Part A

I stare at him, even more confused. Is he really still going on with the riddles he likes to say? He chuckles, probably reading my thoughts.

"We are in a place between life and death. Similar to a limbo, but not quite. This is a place that has many more options than what a limbo has. A limbo only has two paths. This place has four." Void says pausing for a second to make sure I get all that. "This place can be located anywhere. Inside an atom, a tree, someone's mind, or it can be located and entered from everywhere. Not many can enter this place and leave. Most people who enter this place have done what you have, let your emotions out into the universe. Only about half of those who do what you have, enter this place. There are four paths you can now take Perseus Jackson."

This surprises me, as I am now dead.

"You could stay here." Void says gesturing all around us with his arms. "Or you could take one of these doors somewhere else."

I look at the doors that were gestured to. I now see that they have taken on an aqua tinge around the frame. One door has more aqua then the other two.

"Where do they lead?" I ask.

"You are the first to get all three doors. One of the doors leads to the Realm of the Faded. The Realm of the Faded is where all those who Fade go. Another door leads to the underworld, where all besides gods and other full immortals go. The last door, that is the one that has never been given to anyone else."

"Why? Where does it lead?" I ask.

"You are the only one to get this door for a reason. Because of who you are." Void says pointing at my chest, completely confusing me. "When you marched into the centre of the battlefield, a single tear dropped out of your eye and absorbed into your cheek. This tear was in the shape of a crystal, it didn't reflect any light into a rainbow full of colours though. This tear was an aqua colour. You created this colour because of how pure you are, even after everything you have went through. You are still trustful, loyal, truthful, understanding, soft, calm, sincere, protective and so many other things. Percy, when I saw that tear drop down, I was so surprised and proud of who you are."

"There is something else to it, isn't there?" I ask when it becomes apparent that he isn't about to explain any more.

"Yes." He replies, gaining a spark of mischief to his tone. "You have a new power, one that I'll let you figure out on your own."

With that Void turns around and starts to walk away.

"Where does the last door lead?" I call after him.

"Back to the place you left. Back to your life. If you go through the door, you will be alive again." Void says to my complete shock. "Beware though, if you go through that last door and choose to be alive again, you will be in a coma for a while due to pain. This is your choice Perseus Jackson. The choice you make now, will affect you for the rest of your life, though a different way for each choice you can decide from. Each choice will affect you differently."

At that, Void disappears to leave me to decide.

After thinking for a while, I remember that he didn't tell me which door is which. At thinking that, I walk towards the doors, to just see that they have writing on. The writing: Realm of the Faded,The Underworld and Back to Life.

I just blink. Okay, that makes it easier, unless the labels are wrong. I hear a chuckle from out of nowhere, coming from all around me but from no one I have ever heard, and the labels disappear. Okay then, the labels were wrong. No new labels appear.

Wait, what was that chuckle from? I nervously look around. I can't see anything though, so I stay on edge, just for the safe side.

I just decide to continue to think on my answer.

After choosing my decision, I walk closer to the doors. I stop in front of them and using my instincts, I open one of the doors and walk through.

3rd Person POV

On the battlefield

It's deadly silent on the battlefield, everyone mulling over Void's words. They are trying to figure out what decision he meant. They just don't understand. How can Percy make a choice when he is dead, and they can't even reach his spirit?

Suddenly, Percy jerks upwards, making everyone jump and some to scream out in surprise. He starts coughing violently, dropping back down onto the bed. When the coughing stops, Apollo quickly runs towards Percy, being the first to get out of shock.

Apollo does his thing, using his powers, looking utterly bewildered at the same time. He's concentrating very carefully, his eyebrows are creased together, thinking. He makes an oxygen mask and a breathing tube appear, and places it over Percy's nose and mouth, making it easier for him to breath.

Everyone has been watching him.

"Can you explain what just happened?" Hades asks when it appears that Apollo has finished his check-up.

"Somehow, I don't know how but I believe that it was the choice that... Void mentioned, -" Apollo looks confused here when explaining, obviously wandering what to call the Void Star, "well, because of that choice, it seems that Percy is alive again, physically breathing and heart beating again."

"And the mask is for... what exactly?" Someone from the field asks. "If you say that he's fine now..."

"I didn't say that he is fine, just alive." Apollo buts in, stopping the person from continuing.

"What do you mean by that?" Hestia asks, clearly worrying.

"He's in a coma, can't figure out why, -" Apollo looks confused at this, as he should be able to figure out why, "he's having trouble breathing, his heart rate is slow, like really slow, slower than it should be, but the pace is steady. I'm not sure what to do for his heart, as if I change a thing about it..."

"It could cause more problems." Chaos realises. "Especially as no one before has ever survived what he just did. We don't know what would happen if we got his heart beating faster, it could cause him harm."

"Correct." Void says, telepathically talking with everyone on the battlefield. "If his current heart rate is changed from what it is now, it would cause him more problems. Be extra careful with him until he wakes up."

Void leaves everyone's mind, leaving them all looking at Percy, wandering how long it would take until he wakes up. 

AN: 

I'm doing this chapter in parts, but I don't know how long it will take me. 

I'm not to sure what to write for the rest of this chapter, so that is why I'm putting it in parts. If you have a suggestion, I'll see if it will work for this book. If it does, I'll put it in. 

Also, I need a name for the place Percy woke up in, as I'm not sure what to call it. Any suggestions will be helpful. 

I'll have the next part up as soon as I can!

PS: If you don't understand something, let me know and I'll try to explain it in more detail.