Chapter Text

Chapter 12: This Is The End

Travis

I left Camp Half Blood, but I didn't get far.

Because right here, right on this very spot, Annabeth judo-flipped me and rolled me back down to camp.

She spun around from Thalia's Pine out of nowhere like a ‘Nico’, grabbed me by the shoulder, lifted my butt into the air like I’m not 20 pounds heavier, and slammed me back down to the ground.

Oh Riley, the way Annabeth was leering down at me... my life sorta flashed through my eyes. My birth. My childhood. My pranks. My list of pranks that still needed to be done. My secret vault of snacks I never got around to finishing.

From the corner of my eyes, Connor came behind the tree and marched towards us with this angry look. He started to say, "I told you not to judo flip hi—"

Then Annabeth interrupted him, "Connor told me everything. You're staying here, Travis, even if I have to glue your hand to mine and drag your butt to all my missions."

Then she kicked me down Half-Blood Hill.

It was gentle, though. It wasn't like a strong, as-hard-as-you-can kick. It was like a nudge.

Annabeth and Chiron grounded me indefinitely for my little 'attempted escapade.'

Gods, the way she kept an eye on me for the rest of the year was freaky. I couldn't even go to the restroom without Jake or Will outside my door. It’s nice though in a way. If I forgot my towel or something, I can make them go fetch it!

If Annabeth wanted something done, she's going to get it done.

But I'm glad. If she didn't, I would have been fighting on the other side come the Battle of Manhattan.

Connor

Annabeth scratched her band-aids, frowning. "Connor is strong. But he's too dependent on Travis. Everywhere he goes, Connor will follow. Whatever he does, Connor will do. When it comes to his brother, his morals go out the window. It's great that he loves his brother so much but–" Annabeth paused, eyes darting to Percy before coming back to mine. "This willingness to do anything, to sacrifice anything is bad. This independence will be good for both of them. It'll strengthen their own individual identities. Now, if you excuse me, I have an old friend to hunt down for stealing my baseball cap.

Wait, that smell. Percy, did Connor make that?"

Percy nodded and Annabeth slid off the bed despite Will's exclamation, "Wait! I'm not done with the ointment! Annabeth!"

Annabeth didn't heed his word. She accepted the bowl from Percy's outreached hand and taking a whiff with a smile. "Gods, Connor can really cook."

She handed the bowl to Will. "Here. Have some of Connor's chicken noodle soup. It's awesome and great for stress."

"After I apply the ointment."

Annabeth shrugged and slurped a spoonful as Will rubbed the solution on her arm. He rattled off his orders. "Remove the band-aids when you're done trampling through the forest. Don't apply them again so they'll heal quicker. But as the camp's doctor, I really do advise you not to go trampling through the dirt with open bites. Because you will get an infection and it will hurt."

Annabeth gave an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Will."

But that was all and Annabeth slurped another spoonful of soup.

Will sighed in resignation and went to the cabinet to put away the supplies.

I watched from the sidelines, feet fidgeting before mumbling, "Was it worth it? You ruined your relationship with Connor."

Annabeth paused mid-slurp. She turned towards me with an amused half smile. "You really don't know him, do you? Connor is a big softie. You just have to keep nudging him a bit and he'll forgive you. We've had bigger quarrels in the past. Did you know he once accused me of being a spy for Kronos? I didn't speak to him for months afterward and twice dislocated his shoulder in training, but we're still friends. We'll always be friends."

Lou Ellen

No matter what I do or say, it's always there.

I live in fear.

I live in lies.

And I'm tired of it.

I'm living like a coward. I don't want to die a coward too.

[The shadow raised a shaky hand, curling around its chest.]

So... so... this is why I'm doing this.

I'm facing my fears head-on, as a daughter of Hecate.

I refuse... refuse to–

[The darkness dispersed slowly from the bottom, revealing purple sneakers.]

I refuse to cower anymore!

[The tips of the orange shirt.]

I know what I did was wrong and I'll atone for them.

[A beaded necklace.]

I would rather live a life in shame than a life in cowardice.

Chris

Connor hates me, I think. Travis, probably too.

I can't blame them.

They have every reason to hate me.

But I'll do whatever it takes to regain their trust, to make up for my mistakes.

I'll make it right between us.

Pollux

There was the pit-pat of shoes on wood board and Pollux rounded a corner. He speaks first without looking at anyone, eyes darting uncomfortably to the ceiling as he stood partially behind the door frame. "Chris, let's go canoeing together while Clarisse is busy. I can't swim so I need someone to save me if—" then his eyes drifted down, "Oh, you're busy."

Chris turned around, eyes widening. "Pollux? You want to go canoeing? With me?"

Pollux nodded and scratched his head. He's already leaning back. "Yeah, but if you're busy—"

"No! No, no, no. I'm free. I'm always free if you want to hang out." Chris stood with a wide, unbelieving smile. The med packs laid forgotten on the table.

"Great." Pollux smiled back, but it looked unsure compared to Chris's beaming smile. He turned around and let out a shaky sigh, tense shoulders relaxing somewhat, unseen to Chris but not to me. He noticed my stare, frowning slightly as recognition dawn on him. "Riley, right? From Hermes? I'm sorry for being rude earlier. It was uncalled for."

Then he turned to Chris, smiled awkwardly, and pointed outside, "Come on, Chris. I want to get to know you a bit better."

Katie

Miranda hugged her knees, glaring at the sky in defiance.

"It's not over yet.

Katie is strong. She’ll get through this.

But at her own pace. We'll be here for her every step of the way."

Malcolm

I hid in my cabin for a few weeks after the war.

But shame brings nothing but pity and undeserved worry.

Annabeth fretted constantly over me. Pollux had to check up on me often. Miranda, even though she had more troubling matters, made time to visit me.

I troubled everyone.

I thought about leaving camp, but that's the coward's way out.

After everything I didn't do, I can't let that be my leaving gift for the camp that gave me everything.

Jake

I know I'm pretty average compared to the seven. Even to Will and Clarisse, I pale in comparison.

But even so, even when I thought no one cared, when I don't matter, Beckendorf waited for me.

He said he wouldn't move out of Hermes Cabin unless I came with him.

Father claimed me the same night as Beckendorf and we moved into Hephaestus together.

He changed the world for me, made me realized that the Gods don't really matter. What does matter is your friends, your companions. They're the ones who'll stand up for you. They're the ones worth fighting a war for and they're the ones worth dying for.

Will

Will tossed the roll of gauze between his fingertips, countenance solemn. "Had it been anyone else I'm not sure there would even be a Hermes Cabin left."

"Do you really mean that?" Travis said, leaning outside the infirmary door with a wide grin.

Will spun around in his chair so fast he almost tipped over, cheeks reddening, "Ahh! Travis! Wh—what—how—oh gods—how much did you hear?"

Travis's smile widened. "All of it. I wanted to see if you have any band-aids but saw you were busy. So I waited."

"I-I'm really sorry about what I said. I meant all of it," Will said adamantly.

Travis rolled his eyes and swung an arm over Will's shoulder. "Dude, I told you to forget about that. That's in the past and you're already forgiven."

Will knocked the arm away. "Not by Connor, I'm not. As far as I know, you could still be mad at me too. I've seen you act and lie."

"Hahaha! Do you see this, Riley? This is why he'll make a great counselor, so virtuous and stubborn. Come on! We're having a party for the leaving seniors. You need to come and make sure we're all behaving."

"Don't change the subject, Travis. I know you're — wait." Will pouted. "You make it sound like I'm a party-pooper."

"You are one, Mr. Leave-Money-Even-Though-We're-In-A-War."

"Hey! Those are small businesses we're stealing from. They can't afford to lose supplies."

Travis rolled his eyes again. They met mine and he mouthed, 'Can you believe this guy?'

But the creases in Will's eyebrows were gone, replaced with a slight smile.

Clarisse

I'm trying to repent for my mistake.

I was an ass back then, but I'm changing. Camp Half Blood doesn't need a counselor like me.

Don't let your pride take over your morals. Don't ever let things end on a bad note. Own up to your mistakes. This is my advice for you.

And I swear if we come back from college to find camp a mess, I'll beat up each and every one of you.

I have to go.

Training's over! Everybody get out.

There's someone I have to visit at Thalia's Pine.

End