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{:Previously, on The Soul Dragged From heaven:}
Percy took off flying into the air and flapped his wings as fast as he could whilst dodging arrows flung at him and he stuffed the paper into his back pocket with Frank held tightly in his grasp.
This, was going to be a lllooonnnggg night.
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Percy sat silently in the woods within the safety of a strong tree branch and out of sight, he'd settled here no longer than 10 minutes ago and had set up a small fire beside him, the woods around him were gloomy yet dark due to the sun close to setting, he wasn't quite sure what to think as he glared down at the old piece of paper within his fingers and read over the prophecy countless times to the point he could say it off by heart.
Was he to return to camp to a freaking out Annabeth?
What had he done to annoy her?
He was real...as far as he knew anyway.
Choas would never lie, the fates perhaps but Choas definitely not, he is wise and loyal and surely he wouldn't allow the fates to act upon such cruelty towards a hero.
Percy glances over to his other hand and noticed Frank was slowly begining to wake up and Percy immediately put him down and shuffled a few cm's away from him.
Frank groaned awake and rubbed his head with a short stubby cockroach leg and glances up to Percy, the sight of Percy made Frank immediately shift back to human and lunge at Percy.
Percy made no attempt to stop him and glared at Frank who was holding Percy by the scruff of his shirt and frowns
"Alright Perc- whatever you are. You better tell me what the hell is going on!" Frank growled as Percy gasps and fluttered his wings with annoyance
"Funny, that's what I was just about to ask you. Frank. I have no idea what you lot are going crazy about, I come back to life and got back from some weird skull guy and this is the welcome I get?!" Percy hissed and Frank frowns before letting Percy go and sitting down with his head placed on his palms.
"Perce, it's... it's not you who should be blamed but...there's been so many others...others like you." Frank mutters as Percy sat down Infront of Frank and glared at him
"Frank. I need to know the details. Enough of these clues and hints, I DONT know whats going on. Please Frank, your my friend." Percy mutters as Frank sighs and combed his fingers through his hair and grumbles a few curses to himself
"...fine, there's been three others like you-" Frank began and noticed Percy was about to speak again and shushed him "shh! No questions until I'm finished." Frank snaps, Percy closed his mouth and lowered his head
"Sorry."
Frank huffed and made himself comfortable as leant against the tree, now just noticing the lowly lit fire infront of him and flicked off his shoes to exposed his feet to the flames.
"Three others like you, sorta like...clones? The first one that came here went crazy and threw himself into the camp fire and died. The second didn't know who we were and it didn't help him by the fact we didn't truth him like we would normally do...and then they were in a capture the flag match and a few campers disagreed with having another Percy and sliced off his wings (which were later burned) for a prize, although some think it was for the Prophecies line saying
'winged but bound will be safe and sound' but I highly doubt since they never knew about the paper, they then killed the clone and threw him into the sea. And then, there was you...and we thought if we took your wings away then maybe you wouldn't...go like them."
Percy just stared at Frank with confusion and horror before he glances over to his wings that he twitched experimentally as though to see if it was true, as if he himself held the truth.
A clone?
But he was the REAL Percy.
He died and came back. It all made sense!
"How...how did they come to camp? I came out a grave." Percy muttered as Frank nods and twiddled his thumbs
"The first clone came from Sally. She called us from one of Leo's new phone booth and said you'd somehow come back. The second washed up on the shore of the camps sea beach..." Frank answered as Percy frowns deeply and glances away
"...am I a clone?"
Frank shrugs and leant onto the tree more behind him
"I don't know. You hold much more common sense then the other two. Your more stable and...understanding I guess. The others were like loose chains," Frank muttered and Percy nodded but lowered his hands to his pockets and pulled out the piece of paper that held the Prophecy
"I suppose we assumed you'd end up just like them. Crazy and a 'threat' for what Zeus says."
Percy read through the paper and sighs
"Frank. I need your help-"
"Woah, woah I never said I trusted you. We. Are going right back to camp for the Gods to deal with this." Frank replied quite accusingly and stood up, Percy remained sat down and glared up at him.
"I'm not going back. I'm real Frank. Not a thing." Percy growled and folded his arms across his chest stubbornly. Frank rolled his eyes and walked past Percy whilst grabbing him by the back of the shirt and lifted him up easily like a small puppy. Percy yelped actually stunned by his friends increased strength and squirmed.
"H-hey u-uh maybe we can talk about this. I-im your friend Frank! I'm the real Percy!" Percy snapped causing Frank to glance over with his eyes darting straight into the smaller boys eyes. Franks glare caused shivers to crawl up Percy's spine but Percy kept his glare and let his wings flutter uncomfortably.
"Until I see proof you are nothing but another clone. Now make yourself useful and cooperate." Frank hissed and Percy glances around for any possible escapes
"B-but it's dangerous to travel at night. Maybe we should set off in the morning." Percy urges and placed on a fake smile to present he was being cooperative and obedient. Frank bites down on his lip and contemplated on the suggestion before nodding and dropped Percy next to the fire.
"Fine. But i'm taking first watch." Frank growled and flopped down onto the ground whilst shifting to a large grey scale skinned dragon and sat down just staring at Percy with upmost guard.
Percy let out small sigh of relief he hadn't realized he was holding and shuffled away to the other side of the campfire away and opposite from Frank and curled up into a small ball.
Me? A clone? He thought and glared ahead to a rock what had suddenly become the most interesting thing in the world for Percy.
Why would Choas and the fates bring a clone back?
Am I not already dead?
Is this heaven?
Hell?
A dream?
I can't be a clone.
Everything feels so real!
Can clones feel emotions? Is that why the other two were messed up? Were they just failed attempts for the perfect Percy?
Am...am I a failed attempt?
Percy groaned to himself flipping himself over and wrapped his fluffy warm wings around his body which seemed to calm him to feel like he wasn't alone.
Percy finally allowed his eyes to close and let sleep invade his stressed and confused brain.
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In dream:
Monsters.
Monsters ran at Percy with rage and horrid roars.
Percy obviously dodges but was oblivious to the hammer that ran directly into his back and let out a yelp as it crashed into his spine and pinned him to the floor. Nico came marching from the smoke and flames that had spared up from the raging and mob of monsters that wanted nothing but Percy's head.
Nico pulled out a syth and held it to the back of Percy neck ready to slice it off before
"Nico at ease!" Percy heard a familiar voice yell causing both Percy's and Nico to freeze up with shock and fear. However Percy was reluctant to show it and Nico was unable to present his fear and simply stopped his attack and stood up straight like any soldier would.
Percy pushed the hammer off of his back using both his wings and back strength vefore he sat up only to come fact to face with Mr Skully's right hand warrior.
William.
Percy was moments away from ripping out this monsters throat until William put his hands up in surrender and laughed nervously
"Hey, hey watch with the glare. I come in peace." He muttered as his left wolf ear twitches before he let out a hand to help Percy up
"And I should believe that how?" Percy snapped and stood up on his own and ignored Williams offer to help and pulled out Riptide.
William bites down on his lip and waited a moment before shrugging
"Meh, I got nothing. But. I'm not here for a fight." He replied and waved a hand towards the mob of monsters and they disappeared into dusk and flew away followed by Nico.
"Then what are you here for then? For a damn lecture?" Percy snarls causing William to let out a sick chuckle but suddenly become serious and clench his fists
"Listen, I can help you. Join us, we are not foe. Sure the Boss man took a beating on you but I'm sure he had good reason." William muttered and took a step forward to Percy.
However Percy immediately pointed Riptide at him and staggered back into a defence stance.
"Stay away from me! Whatever you or your boss want I'm not, ever! Joining monsters like you." Percy hissed and slashed his Riptide at William. However William simply disappeared into the air and reformed behind him and let out a large zap of ice to go under Percy's footing cashing Percy to freeze and almost slip
"Insolent as always. We all are like you and there is nothing that can change what you really are. You are a glitch! Join us. Join your own kind who will NOT judge you!" William hissed as Percy rose a hand and made the ice melt and form into spears at his aid.
"I am NEVER joining you." Percy growled before he froze the water into small sharp bullet and flung then towards the monster. William yelped and disappeared at the last second.
"Please! I don't wish to hurt you! I wish to help." William muttered within the air besides Percy's ear causing Percy to stumble back and glance around
"And I don't want your help! I am no clone. I am real and I WILL prove it to the gods." Percy sneers as he heard a low sigh
"Oh really? How do you plan to do that hmmm?" William almost snapped as Percy lowered his head and stance and though through his options.
And to be totally honest...he had no idea how he was to prove it.
Was he the actual Percy?
Were one of the other two the REAL Percy's and he was the clone?
Percy shone his head and huffed
"They WILL believe me, I have Choas on my side. He will help me." Percy muttered as William chuckles
"Oh dear kid. That's what they all say, and they all end up either dead or tortured with the reminder of life."
Percy jabbed his hands over his ears and yelled
"Stop! Stop it! I am real! I AM AND I WILL PEOVE IT!"
William reappeared Infront of him and grabbed Percy wrists and knocked Riptide away.
"Look, do you even know if you are real? Do you have any proof?" William asks as Percy chewed his lip and glances away. William huff's and lets Percy go
"That's what I thought. Come with us Perseus, we won't kill you. You can trust us," William urges and let out a hand for Percy to take, Percy glances up at William with watery eyes but refused to show weakness
"Please Percy. I know how it feels to be scared and alone. But you don't need to go through this alone."
Percy was about to take Williams hand before he suddenly stopped himself and glared up at William and tugged his hand back
"I am not scared and alone. I dontwant your help now leave me alone." Percy muttered as William sighed and takes away his hand
"So be it, I am in no position to force you into anything. But remember, my offer is always open for you Perseus." And then William disappeared along with Percy's dream.
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End of dream:
Percy jolted awake and shot up from were he was lying down breathing heavily as he gasps for air. His lungs seemed so eager to squeeze out as much oxygen out of Percy and suffocate but Percy hunched over and took deep breaths.
Calm it Percy.
Just calm down.
Breath slowly like in Tartarus.
In through the nose.
And out through the mouth.
In through the nose.
And out through the mouth.
Percy continues to do this for about 2-3 minutes before he finally settled his breathing and was able to focus on his surroundings. It was still night time, perhaps about 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning.
Frank was sound asleep and curled up against the tree he had claimed earlier and his snores were as loud as a boars and his large wings fluttered and lifted slightly due to the wind. Percy slowly stood up carefull not to wake up Frank and slowly backed away from the campfire.
He could make a run for it.
Escape.
Be free without his friends or the enemy.
SNAP!
Percy almost screams in shock but quickly jammed a hand over his mouth and immediatly glances down to the source of the noise.
Percy see's a stick beneath his feet and he slowly lifted it to reveal he had snapped it with his weight.
Frank snorted slight and shuffles slightly and let out what sounded like a grumble, Percy stayed still and watched as Frank flipped over groggily and lay on his side with his back facing Percy and snorts out a huff of smoke through his nostrils. Percy let out a small cheer of relief before he continued to back away- this time watching where he was stepping- and was by the time he was out of sight and earshot he quickly leapt into a sprint.
Well then...there's a few clues and answers to questions.
Now id like to thank all those who follow me and support this book and i was to tell u that if it wasn't for Ur encouragement this oil probably wouldn't have been done
THANK YOU ALL!
please inform me of spelling or gramma mistakes!