Percy POV
Chaos and I entered the Chaos Cabin, only to be met with with an uproar of shouting and screaming. For a while we both just watched on in sheer and utter surprise. We looked over at each other and seemed to know exactly what we both wanted to do.
Together, we got their attention by screaming, "SILENCE!"
Everyone in the room, Davis, Selina, Mason, Jackie, Nyx, Kronos, and Zeus, turned to look at us. They finally seemed to acknowledge us when we stepped farther into the room.
"Ummmmm... yeah, now that we have your attention... Chaos has something to say," I said rather hastily. I gave her a sheepish grin that I tried to convey to say sorry and that I would take the fall next time.
"Wow, thanks Percy. Anyways, we have much to discuss. I don't want the same babbling and squabbling that I heard earlier. I want serious plans. I don't want this to end badly like it almost did the last battle. We have to be prepared. That... Shadow Kronos we saw was probably not the last of the recreations this enemy has created. Now, Percy has found out some information about the leader of this Shadow Army. He is the strongest opponent all of us will have ever faced. I warn you now that most of you will probably die. If we don't take a stand though, this being will win.
"I also guess I have put it off long enough. This being is Mayhem... my brother. I used to have two brothers, Mayhem and Order. Order and I created everything and were basically the bringers of peace. Our brother was the opposite. He got spiteful that we had the power to create, and he could only destroy. He turned mad... insane. Order and I knew we had to lock him up. We should've killed him, but we couldn't. He was still our family. We decided to lock him up in the deepest pits of Tartarus. The only way he would stay in there though was if something was locking the cage and making sure it stayed closed. My brother, Order, used his essence to do that. It made him fade. I never got to see him again. I always thought that the evil that is Mayhem would stay asleep and locked up forever. I was wrong. I'm afraid also that he got stronger during his time in prison. He learned things, very dark things, that I probably don't even know. I fear what he may do with this knowledge. I also hope you understand that none of you can face him alone. We all need to work together. I will make sure you are all ready, even if it kills me," Chaos finished somberly. I just watched like the rest of the people in the room. Then, I decided to make things a little bit more interesting.
"WELL... on that happy note, why don't we get down to business? Also, could someone get me a pizza or something? I'm starving. You have no idea what being in a coma does to you. I would also like to point out that we are seriously screwed if we don't come up with a plan. I mean, we are all gonna die if we don't think of something."
They all just looked at me and shook their heads. I just flashed them a smile and walked over to the head of the table.
"So, who thinks they can oversee the training?"
No one raised their hand. I sighed in annoyance, "We need someone to do it. If we don't have a trainer, we are, again, all screwed. No one wants that now, do we?"
Everyone looked around at each other, and Davis and Jackie slowly raised their hands. I nodded at them showing my appreciation.
"Now, we need someone who can look over all the battle strategies. Volunteers?"
This time, Kronos and Zeus raised their hands.
"Great, okay, two more things. We need someone who can try and pinpoint the enemy. They would need to probably collect together a group of people to search. Again, any volunteers?"
This time around, Mason and Selina volunteered for the roll.
"Great, now, this is very important. We need to get together a group. A group that has the highest chance of dying. Nyx, Chaos, and I will choose the people for this group and train them personally. We need to send a group into the enemy base as spies. We need to find out as much as possible about this group. I need to have full trust in these people. If you have anyone in mind who you think would be good, tell me. We need the most trustworthy people of our army," I said seriously. I could feel the tension in the room rise just a bit higher. I watched them all gain thoughtful looks on their faces, "They need to be strong willed too. They need to be strong. You must choose the right person. We can only choose about three to five people."
They all nodded their agreement and to show they understood. Everyone was quiet for a moment, thinking over their roles and their responsibilities.
Eventually, Chaos spoke up, "So, when are we going to get started?"
I looked around at everyone. I noticed their determination, and I smirked a little bit, "I don't get why we can't start now."
They all smiled and nodded. Everyone split up into their groups and entered into their own conversations.
I walked up to Nyx and Chaos before saying, "Do you have anyone in mind? I might have a few suggestions. I just want to run them by you first."
"Okay, sure, go ahead," Nyx told me.
"For one, I thought of using Nico. I don't want to put him in harms way, but I trust him with my life. That's all I got for now. Who do you think should be a part of the infiltrating group?"
"I don't have too many ideas as of right now. How about you Chaos?"
Chaos looked up after she had her head down, "I don't have anyone at the moment. We need to find them soon though. We need to get them in the enemy area as soon as possible."
I looked at both of them and nodded, "Of course, let's just go and see what the others are thinking of doing."
I looked around at everyone. I noticed their determination, and I smirked a little bit, "I don't get why we can't start now."
They all smiled and nodded. Everyone split up into their groups and entered into their own conversations.
I walked up to Nyx and Chaos before saying, "Do you have anyone in mind? I might have a few suggestions. I just want to run them by you first."
"Okay, sure, go ahead," Nyx told me.
"For one, I thought of using Nico. I don't want to put him in harms way, but I trust him with my life. That's all I got for now. Who do you think should be a part of the infiltrating group?"
"I don't have too many ideas as of right now. How about you, Chaos?"
Chaos looked up after she had her head down, "I don't have anyone at the moment. We need to find them soon though. We need to get them in the enemy area as soon as possible."
I looked at both of them and nodded, "Of course, let's just go and see what the others are thinking of doing."
As we were walking towards the other groups, I noticed a couple of people who seemed to make perfect sense in my mind for the group. I thought the idea of having Nico was a good one. I just needed to make his turn more... believable. As we passed the group, I saw the Stolls about to set fire in between Katie Gardner's legs. We got closer to the other groups we were heading to, and I thought of something that could literally give me a heart attack, but I had to do it.
We reached all the three other groups and asked them how it was going. Davis and Jackie were first to speak:
"We put them on a new training regimen. They are-" Davis started.
"They are doing awful. Slowest start I have ever seen," Jackie finished.
"Okay, well keep at it. Hopefully, they will get better. Zeus, Kronos, any ideas in the slightest on what Mayhem may be planning or thinking or anything?"
"We are working on it. We aren't for sure. He is... too unpredictable. If we did know anything, we would tell you. I'm sorry that's all we can do for you now. I wish there was more but-"
"No, that's fine. I honestly wasn't expecting you guys to come up with anything yet. If you did, the ideas you would have come up were probably trash, so I'm glad that you are taking this seriously. Without your serious participation, we will lose.
"Now Mason and Selina, found your group yet? 'Cause if you haven't, you need to quickly."
"We have most of our group. We chose a lot of kids from the Athena cabin and a few kids from the Ares cabin, who usually plan their attacks."
"Good, good. What else we got? Anything else someone wants to share? A penny for anyone's thoughts?"
Davis looked at me suddenly, "Uh, yeah, what about you? Do you know what you are going to do?"
I looked carefully at Davis. I could see the way he was staring at me, expecting me to have the answer, the right answer. My only fear was that I could be making a huge mistake. I just didn't know what to do. I wanted to answer his question. I just didn't want to hear my idea. I didn't want to hear about the plan that I had. I didn't want to do it, but I had to. I had to... right? It was the only way... right? I... ugh... even now I don't know if I made the right decision, but my thought process was that it was war. We had to do whatever it took to win. No matter the sacrifice. I looked to Davis, then to Jackie, then to Mason, next to Selina, after her I moved my eyes to Zeus. I looked at everyone one in the room and knew what I had to do. I at least thought I did in that moment. I thought... I thought that it would work. I just wish that... never mind. I watched the people, my family, look at me, patiently awaiting my response. The more I sat in silence, the more they seemed to grow skeptical. I don't blame them. I would too. I watched them move their eyes nervously over each other. I watched some of their breaths coming out short and quick. I noticed that everyone seemed tense. I noticed that everyone was just sitting there, waiting for me to say something. I didn't know what to say though. So, I just watched them. I watched them slowly freak out, assuming the worst. Well, what they thought the worst was at the time. I couldn't answer them. I was in a stupor. I was just sitting there along with them, getting more and more nervous along with them. I hated myself for this idea, but I had to do it, so I finally spoke up:
"I have a few ideas for who should be in the infiltration group. There will only be four people. I know who they are going to be. This will be hard on them, but I trust them. I trust all of them. I hope you have the same faith in them as you do in me," Suddenly, my mouth felt very dry. "I... I... The group is... the group consists of Nico, Connor and Travis Stoll, and..."
"And who Percy?" Chaos asked me gently.
"I... It is... Oh my gods... Why am I doing this?"
"What do you mean?" Nyx said worriedly. She hurried to my side and held onto my arm.
I wrapped my arm around her for support and then said, "I think the last one to join the group should be... Reyna."
Everyone basically stopped breathing for a good half-a-minute there. They all looked at me in shock. I held back slight sobs at the idea, but I knew that I trusted her with my life. I also had the perfect way to make it believable.
Everyone was staring at me in disbelief. They all just kept staring at me like I was insane. I didn't want that anymore than anyone else, but it was the only logical choice that made sense to me. I needed to do this. I had to. They didn't understand. No one did. I just had to make it convincing. I guessed it was time to work on the group and it was time to get the group together. It was time to work, and no one was going to stop this plan. It was in full action and and rolling. I kind of wish someone could have stopped the monstrosity that would appear from the plan that was in motion.
"I think we need to call in the group members I just listed off. We need to get them prepared. I need to get them prepared. This is my idea, so I should tell them the news. I will give them all a choice, but I believe that they will all accept. If I need help, I am going to rely on you. Can I count on all of you?"
They all nodded their heads in response.
"Good... good... now, let me go get them," said I as I hurried out the door to release a breath I had been holding for way too long. I took a second before heading off to find the group members. I looked around the camp for a second and spotted the Stoll brothers in-between two cabins, probably scheming about another prank they were thinking of doing; I walked to them in a hastened manner and strode towards the twins.
I watched them notice me and turned to me in confusion, "Uhhh, Hey Perce, what're you doing? Do you need us for something?"
"I... yeah, I do need you for something. Could you go to the Chaos Cabin and wait for me to arrive?"
"Yes, yes of course."
"Great, I'll meet you guys in a few minutes."
They walked off towards the cabin, and I watched them go for a minute before continuing my search. I looked around for Nico and Reyna before deciding that I should probably go check places they liked the most. I thought of the Hades Cabin for Nico and headed towards it. I walked up to the door and knocked. I waited for a minute before the door swung open. There stood Nico looking disheveled and tired.
"Hey, uh, Nico, why do you look so tired. It's like, midday."
"Yeah, my dad kept me in the Underworld all night to help him with sorting out some spirits."
"Oh, well, I need to speak with you. Is that okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, that's perfectly fine. Just give me a minute alright?"
"Of course, once you are done just head over to the Chaos Cabin, and if I'm not there yet, I'll be there soon."
"Okay, what ever you say Percy."
"Great," I said as I walked away from Nico to go and find Reyna.
I couldn't find her anywhere. Everywhere I searched, she wasn't there. I decided to start looking through the forest and started searching for her there. I came across the area where Mayhem took me and other areas that held some slight significance. I finally came across the area where I found Hazel and Ryena when Hazel was crying over Frank. I noticed someone sitting on the same log they sat on. I then noticed it was Reyna.
"Reyna?"
"Yes, Percy?" she asked curiously as she turned around to face me.
"Reyna, I need you for something. I have to tell you this in person because it will be a big decision, and I think it's important you hear it from me in a one-on-one conversation."
"Okay, Percy, you are starting to scare me a little bit. Is it really that big of a deal?"
I just calmly shook my head yes.
"Okay, so, what is it?"
"It's a mission I want you to go on. It involves you infiltrating Mayhem's base and reporting back to us. It will be extremely dangerous, but there is no one else I would trust more to go on this mission."
Reyna just looked at me for a second before tears started to collect in her eyes. She looked away for a moment. I slowly put my head down, thinking she wouldn't do it. I looked back at her when she put her hand on my cheek.
"Of course, I will do it, Percy. If it matters that much to you that I do it, I'll do it in a heartbeat. I love you, and I always will."
"I love you too, Reyna. Gods, I love all of you girls."
"We know, Percy. We know."
We just sat there on that log. Both of us were crying slightly and holding onto each other for comfort. After a few minutes, I finally spoke up, my voice coming out slightly hoarse and weak:
"Come on, let's go tell the other recruits what they have to do."
"Who else is coming?" she said curiously.
"Nico and the Stoll brothers are both going with you. They can accept or deny my request. It all depends upon them. I would never force any of you to do this. I couldn't do that."
Reyna just smiled at me, pecked me on the lips, got up off the log, and held out her hand for me to get up with her too. I smiled a bit and pulled myself up with her help. I smiled down at her once I was up and wrapped my hand around her shoulders. She leaned on my shoulder and we walked towards the cabin together and happy. We were reveling in the moment, not thinking about the horrors that were soon to come.
(A/N Yep, another cliffhanger. I've been looking through this story and realized I love cliffhangers. I do. There is no denying it, but also, it can be frustrating. Next chapter will also probably end on a cliffhanger, but the one after that should be fine.
Okay guys, I know you all hate me, but oh well, I finally posted. I'm gonna try my hardest to post next Sunday, but I'm not going to make any promises. I don't want to be that cruel just in case I can't. Again, I do hope you all enjoyed, and I'll see you guys in the next chapter, BYE!)