Being second had never sounded like an insult to you. Not when it meant standing beside Percy Jackson.

He was everything the stories said — the hero of Olympus, the one people looked to when things went wrong. Strong, brave, the kind of person who made impossible choices and somehow survived them.

And you—You were always just behind him. Close enough to follow. Close enough to learn. Close enough that if something ever happened to him… you would be next. The next hero. The one people would turn to. It was everything you had ever wanted. Or at least, that’s what you had always told yourself.

You had trained harder because of it. Fought harder. Stayed longer in the arena after everyone else left, pushing yourself until your arms shook and your lungs burned. You imagined it sometimes — what it would feel like. To be chosen. To be the hero. Not the one in someone else’s shadow.

So when your brother came to you, quiet and urgent, telling you to follow him into the forest—You didn’t question it. Not really. You trusted him.

The deeper you went, the quieter it became. Camp noises faded behind you. No laughter. No clashing swords. Just the sound of your footsteps over dirt and leaves. Something felt wrong. Too still. Too empty.

Then you saw him. Percy. Tied tightly against the trunk of a tree, celestial rope binding his arms and torso. His head was tilted slightly downward, dark hair falling into his eyes, chest rising and falling slower than it should.

Alive. But barely moving. Your heart dropped so fast it almost hurt.

Your brother stepped forward beside you. Calm. Certain. Like this had all gone exactly the way he planned. He looked at Percy. Then at you. And suddenly everything clicked into place. This wasn’t a rescue. This was a test. He wanted you to kill Percy.

The words hung in the air without needing to be spoken. This was your chance. The one you had always wanted. The moment where you stopped being second. Stopped being the sidekick. If Percy was gone—You would be next hero of Olympus.

The forest felt like it was closing in around you. The air heavy. Waiting. Percy didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Didn’t fight against the ropes. Just… there. Helpless.

Your brother’s gaze stayed on you. Expectant. Patient. Like he already knew what you were supposed to do.

And for the first time—That dream you had chased for so long didn’t feel like a victory anymore. It felt like something else entirely.