I DON'T OWN PERCY JACKSON AND IT'S UNIVERSE. YOU ALREADY KNOW WHO THAT BELONGS TOO.

BUT THIS STORY IS MINE SO DON'T GO COPYING IT, I HUMBLY REQUEST YOU.

ANYWAYS ENJOY THE STORY.

CHAPTER 11

July, 18 2008

Camp Half-Blood

Luke

There was increase in level of bustling of activities than usual this morning. Demigods hustled in every direction, some in hurry but others were just really…excited. They were so hyped up that many of them were, actually, merrily skipping away like there were springs under their feet. I don't blame them, I was too. I mean why wouldn't they? It was Friday which meant game of 'Capture of Flag'. You would have to be stoned to not light up that day or are not demigod or…you were Luke.

Yes, you got that right. The only person who was grumpy and being miserable that day was Luke. Even Annabeth had excited mad gleam in her eyes that day also holding slight almost evil smirk on her face which gave me chills every time whenever it landed on me.

Demigod observed deterioration of Luke's mood as days gone by. He got paranoid too. It was funny to watch at first, I thought about scaring him once or twice but discarded it immediately. That wouldn't have helped me forming a trusting friendship with him and also because something seriously was wrong with him, my intuition warned me. There are generally never wrong except some….exceptional situations.

Anyways,

The Grumpy 'Mood-Dampener' Luke made his way towards training arena where he knew Clarisse was practicing right now. Campers gave him wide berth because all they needed was look in his malignant gaze promising harm and misery if they crossed his way. Luke wasn't even being subtle about his mood which was saying something. He's a type of guy who would pile up his emotions until it's too much to contain and burst out like a balloon.

Clarisse was pluming someone with electric spear to his head, knocking him to ground when he got there. Luke didn't even flinch; he saw many of her duels already and he didn't expect anything different from her either especially today. She gets riled up in her own way like many others on game days like this one and someone would have to be fool to cross her path. One of daughter of Apollo came and started checking for injuries.

"You couldn't have refrained from breaking my ribs today, you Beast!" A very familiar voice wheezed at her. The figure of person lay groaning and only when he turned towards him that he recognized the groaning figure that Clarisse took pleasure of pluming to ground.

"I took easy on you. Otherwise you wouldn't be alive to nag at me!" Clarisse fired back at Mark.

"You broke my ribs!"

"You didn't break any ribs." Daughter of Apollo corrected him.

"Izzy! You were supposed to take my side, not ugly sister of your boyfriend." Mark replied. He whispered the last part. Elizabeth, the daughter of Apollo rolled her eyes at his antics with small amused smile.

"What did you say?" Clarisse asked menacingly.

"Just how you almost gave me bed rest on game day, you beast!"

"You should have known that before challenging me to fight!" Clarisse replied, "And call me that again I'll punch you to coma, and then see if you can be part of any more games"

"Challenging you to fight? You dragged me here from my sleep because you couldn't find someone strong enough to fight! I was not fool enough to voluntarily fight you today; you threatened me to hide my candies!" Mark grumbled.

Clarisse crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him.

"Be glad that I didn't give those candies to Katie."

Mark gasped dramatically.

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Girls you are both pretty, now hug each other and make up." Elizabeth interrupted their bickering. Mark's eyes widened in clear exaggeration and big smile materialized on his face. On other hand, Clarisse's eyes widened and she spluttered

"That's a good idea," Mark then turned towards Clarisse "Big sister! Come here and give your younger and more handsome brother a big-"

"No! I won't!" Clarisse recoiled back as if seen something really disgusting or Aphrodite's cabin.

"Now now don't be like that. You hurt me so it's only fair that you make up for it." Mark said in fake disappointment as if guilt-tripping a child.

Clarisse was getting red and Luke knew that she was going to blow up anytime soon, so he decided it was time to make his presence known.

"Mark, don't antagonize your sister." Luke told Mark.

Mark's head snapped in his direction.

"Luke!" He shouted, must happy with his arrival thinking he now had partner against this atrocity of humanity from his so called monstrosity of half-sister. Luke shooked his head and sighed.

"Tell Clarisse to apologize and give me kiss on cheek like a good loving sister."

"I won't do such things, you pig!" Clarisse snarled and started to come at Mark with tight grip on her spear, ready to smear him to pulp for asking to do such nefarious things. They were both clearly exaggerating. I mean, they are both children of god of exaggeration.

"I value my life unlike yours." Luke said in calm serene voice as if fight wasn't about to be broke out between children of Ares.

"You too!" He said, faking painful gasp and clutched his heart. Luke rolled his eyes at his antics.

"There's no-one by my side, not my girlfriend and not even my best friend! I am alone against such monstrosity of bully. What this world has come to." He said, wiping away imaginary tears.

"Why you little-" She made motion with her spear to electrocute him again, making him yelp and cower behind his girlfriend.

Elizabeth shook her head and was now helping him stand up so she could take him to her cabin and put some salve on his bruises.

"Let's go big boy." She interrupted before things could go out of hands. She knew Mark was having a go at her but she was not so sure of Clarisse. Clarisse looked serious to her and that was not good for Mark. She wanted him in one piece for a good make out session. She has needs after all.

"See if I agree with any of your plans again!" Mark whined as he leaned against Elizabeth before turning away and limp away with the help of his girlfriend towards her cabin.

"You need help you can come by later." Elizabeth added with small smile, before they went on their way. Luke just nodded at her.

If it had been any other day, Luke would have chuckled at his childish frolics. For now he watched him walk away with his droopy eyes before turning to Clarisse.

"You know he was joking, right?" He asked or teased, Clarisse didn't know with that grumpy look marred on his face. She contemplated on directing attention towards his looks but thought better. If he was not masking that look then something was wrong with him, Clarisse deduced. She knew feeling when someone pester for something she didn't want to talk about.

"Ofcourse I knew. I live with him." She said, collecting her things. "But that doesn't mean I would tolerate it. He's infuriating."

He nodded. That he was, Luke agreed with that. Mark was the odd one out of his brothers and sisters whom were serious, beat-the-shit-out-of-anyone-for-no-reason kind of people. They rarely joked around openly. They are the epitome definition of Spartan warriors. All buff and shouting for no reason subtracting the smart part of their personality.

("You make them sound really dumb." Said the man wearing purple jacket and yellow shiny pants.)

('Ok they are not that dumb…they show some intelligence occasionally.' I grudgingly said.)

(You're just mad she broke your nose. Chaos giggled remembering my embarrassment.)

('It was not my fault!')

("What was not your fault?" Man asked confused having not heard Chaos's jab at me.)

('Oh nothing. Something that would come at later part of story' I waved off. 'Now back to story.')

Mark was funny, he was quirky, he had no problem embarrassing himself infront of others, and he was friendly and very social. There was no one in this camp that Mark didn't know which is exact opposite of what children of Ares and Ares himself stood for. That's why demigods liked him because he was different. That's why Luke liked and respected him. He was different from his father, not whole but mostly.

"You care about him." It was a statement which made her look at him with eyes narrowed.

"And how would you know that again?" She asked him, frowning.

"You didn't drag him to arena for practice because you couldn't find anyone, did you? I find it hard to believe." Ignoring or not acknowledging her question, making her huff.

"I don't care what you believe or not." She said.

"Then you know about his mother. I think he's grateful for your distraction."

"You assume great many things."

"I only assume those that I think have more than 90% chances of being right."

"Now you sound like Annabeth."

"I spend most of time with her, it was bound I would pick some things up from her." He said like it was an obvious thing.

"You are a big softie, aren't you?" Luke said as if commenting about weather, which earned him glare. If it was anyone other, she surely would have broken his or her ribs by now.

"So what insane plan of yours did idiot partake in?" Clarisse asked changing the topic, having collected her things and started walking towards infirmary. Luke joined her; he didn't come here all the way from his cabin just to see their bickering. He had reasons to come here after all.

Luke let it go. He knew she cared for him for then she let on but she would never admit that.

"Nothing, just asked for his help in my class a week ago." He said nonchalantly.

"With Percy?"

Luke looked at her, his eyebrows raised. How she knew, Luke wondered. Did Mark tell her something because he knew it wasn't him, he was being careful.

"Oh don't give me that look, I saw the match that day. Only the last part and then Charles started avoiding you like plague. I knew you did something." She said, as she nodded to Chris as he passed by. Luke gave him nod too.

"Just some disagreement, that's all."

"Related to Percy." It wasn't a question. Clarisse was catching up. Luke was not comfortable with it. He would feel ok if that contained with Annabeth, him and Charles.

"Like you ignoring Selena?" He counter-attacked. His and Charles's beef wasn't the only one. Two or three days ago, Selena and Clarisse had a fight about something and since then both were ignoring each other.

Clarisse gave him side glance, not once stopping and said, "Ok fine I won't press." She made a deal. "You didn't come here just for small talks did you?"

"No, I came here to ask if you decided which team your cabin would join already."

"I didn't." She replied, "Who's gonna be there in your team?"

Like children of Athena, Children of Ares have huge pride and egos. They don't like lose in anything ever, if lost it would have huge dent to their egos and pride. They'll hold that forever until they beat the one who beat them. They are hard workers and very persistent; they would be a huge asset to whichever team they decide to join. Their only setback is that they are not team workers. Each one of them are lone wolfs and don't do well in teams. They also join those whom have most chance of winning. Like I said, they love to win so; they refrain from joining weak ones. Luke knew that and he decided to exploit that.

"Athena's, mine and Aphrodite's."

But there was one problem, Clarisse beef with Selena hence their whole cabin. As I said before, like Ares they hold their grudge forever. So, you know why that was a problem then.

"Nope, I'm not joining you." As expected, she decided. Luke was already ready for that.

"Are you sure about that? I mean we've got Athena and I'm not bragging Hermes's. Aphrodite's are also good with what they do since Selena's leading them and we more experienced with sharp brains of Athena's children. We've got more chance of winning."

"Still not joining, you. Hephaestus's with Charles and Apollo's are good, with me joining them, we would definitely win." She replied.

"Percy also."

"Charles hasn't asked yet."

"But he would still join him. They are practically buddies now."

"So what? From what I have seen he's decent swordsman, he could take care of himself with one of two campers,"

"You're grudge with Selena is clouding your judgment, Clarisse. I though you liked to win…Are you sure you want to join them. I'll arrange you and Selena in different place. You don't have to work only with her. But if you join Charles, he would definitely pair you with Percy."

That made her hitch in her steps a little. He knew he cornered her. She just needed a little more push. She was contemplating now.

"How do you know that?"

"As you said, he's a decent swordsman who defeated Mark in duel-"

Clarisse opened her mouth to argue but he held up his hand to let him continue.

"-and almost defeated Chris. So, he would definitely be on front lines with you, if you decided to join them. Is it better option to pair with Percy than me?" He asked. They were now at gate of infirmary.

He made me sound like a leach. That asshole but no matter I had my revenge countless of time since then.

Clarisse was contemplating seriously.

"I talked with rest of your brothers and sisters you know, they won't be happy to join, I should not say this but I'm just quoting them, 'weaker team'." Now she was pushed more back.

There was no way to get out of this. Luke knew that and Clarisse knew that too.

"They would join me wherever I decide."

"But would they be happy?"

As I told you earlier, Children of Ares are lone wolf unlike their counterparts in New Rome. Them not happy meant doing things their way, even if it meant against captain's decision. Clarisse couldn't have that. She was their cabin's councilor for god's sake. If she couldn't manage them and make them work as a team like many other times she did in past, then she didn't deserved to be a councilor. She's warrior and a leader after all and has pride as large as Olympus. She couldn't have her ego hurt….again.

"It's best time to take your revenge too on him-" He added.

"Yeah ok I got it. I'll join you! Now get out of here before I electrocute you with my spear."

Having her revenge on me was just icing on the cake.

"Ok" He said, giving her small smile, it came out more as a grimace than smile, before turning away and went on his way.

Clarisse felt the weight of someone's gaze. She glanced around but couldn't pinpoint whom. Something about this gaze gave her chills…it was malignant, hateful…malevolent. Her heart rate sped up. Suddenly she was not so sure about this game day.

Luke cornered Stoll twins in their cabin after his routine practice. They had been disappearing more than usual. They had their own… project to implement after the game and were running some errands for the game; they were busier compared to day before like any other person that day. They were hard to corner but luckily Luke knew them better.

"How's your project going?" Luke asked.

"Going good. We would need some of your things too…you know, to make it look more authentic. We can't have our own councilor get spared." Travis said, mischief twinkling in his eyes and smirk on his face.

"Ofcourse, anything for a good prank." Luke said with smirk of his own. "Did you manage to find anything on Percy?"

"That guy is one tough bird to crack." Connor answered, chuckling, from where he sat on his bed tinkering with something. "We couldn't enter his cabin; I don't know how he did that by the way. We then approached him, started easing ourselves to him. He's a good and funny person. We didn't make friends with him just for prank."

"Ofcourse." Said Travis. "We're not savages."

"Anyways, it was going good. We became good friends but…we can't not prank him you know, he's newbie after all. He needed to be prank good to fully integrate with us." Connor said as if preaching a bible.

"Yes, Ofcourse." Added Travis like a broken recorder. He was collecting few personal things off his bedmates…for prank.

"We couldn't find anything that was worthy enough to be taken but then few days later, we found it." Connor said with a smirk.

"That we did." Travis said, making his presence known.

"Found it?" Luke asked.

"Yup, Found it." Travis took from there. "You wouldn't notice at first. Actually, you wouldn't notice it at all if you're not looking for it. It was concealed in plain sight…in his pocket."

"I don't get it…concealed how?"

"That's a good question." Connor said. "We don't even know how."

"Then how did you know, that diary was somehow concealed, then?" Luke asked, baffled that a ten years old managed to conceal something from tricksters like Twins.

"He showed us." Said Travis.

"We knew about diary when he accidently dropped it, while we were talking to him. He picked it up and put it his pocket. Some part of diary should have been out in open but…it just disappeared." Said Connor. "At first we thought Percy somehow nicked our bottomless pocket and asked someone, maybe Charles, to fit it in his pocket."

Luke grunted at the name of Charles and motioned for him to continue.

"We were about to ask him but then we noticed shimmering around his pocket. That's how we knew that diary didn't disappear. It just shimmered out of our views." Travis said, dumping things in their mentioned bottomless pocket, a gift from their father.

"We couldn't even nick it. It won't even budge." Connor said, tinkering with whatever he was tinkering with. Luke didn't pay attention to that.

That baffled Luke. How was Percy able to manage that? He didn't know anyone could do that. Then again, there was no child of Poseidon for almost a century. Was it something that only children of Poseidon could do?

"We then asked how he did that. He won't tell." Travis sulked.

"But that won't deter from our prank. We'll prank him, we'll prank him good." Said Connor with self-importance and conviction. As far as he knew them, they would. If there was one thing they were extremely good at, it would be pranking people. Gods only know how they even managed to prank him countless of times.

Luke nodded slowly, his mind going far away. Percy (me) was proving to be more mysterious since he arrived at camp. He kept musing and obsessing about me when, suddenly something caught his attention that made him double take.

"Connor..um, what is that thing?" Luke asked, hoping it wasn't what his hormonal part of brain was telling.

"Oh, this…I call it a multi-tasker!" He announced, holding that thing like a trophy. Luke was too shocked to comprehend whatever they were babbling about.

"But why does it look like a…a….a…"

"Like a what?" Connor asked, again started tinkering with it, not understanding Luke's question or acting like it. They were pranksters, you couldn't tell the difference.

Travis understood what Luke meant because he was sporting a small amused smile. Luke looked at him, motioning for him to explain.

"He meant, why it looks like a…penis." Travis said, chuckling a little.

Connor glanced at Luke with mischievous smirk, "Oh I knew what he meant." He then laughed at Luke's frustrated expression.

Travis took pity on Luke and explained it to Luke, "Like he said it's…multi-tasker. We can't tell you as it would ruin our prank. You'll have to wait for after the prank." Ok, not much of explaining.

Luke looked at them with wide eyes for few moments before letting out a little laugh of his own. He couldn't fully appreciate their sense of humor that day, because of all shenanigans that happened with him which in turn ruined his mood. But he could appreciate their brilliance when it comes to prank. Leave it Twins to lighten his mood even though it's little.

"I can't wait for this prank now." Luke voiced his thoughts with a smirk of his own.

"Glad you're on board brother. They won't know what hit them, I can promise you that." Travis said his eyes were practically shinning with mischief and mirth.

That's when they heard horn blow. They knew what that meant. It was time for Capture the Flag.

Luke and Stoll twins made their way towards woods on the western hills. Western parts of the woods were comparably harsh than eastern parts where it not only house Grooves but council of Cloves and very nasty dryads which only adds to its appeal for games such as this one. But they stopped by Zeus's fist where demigods stood waiting for Chiron to start the game.

"You have what I asked right?" Luke asked, as they made their way for the game. Several demigods were also going the same way, most in clusters except few…lone wolfs. Yes, I was talking mostly of children of Ares. They are not very social.

"Ofcourse, we plan to win tonight." Connor said.

"Good, I want you both to set those traps as soon as teams are finalized before Chiron and then come straight back."

"Yes, we don't wanna poke the dragon." Travis said. Who was this 'dragon' wasn't missed by any three of them. For your reference, they were talking about Annabeth.

("Ofcourse I got that reference, I'm not idiot." Huffed the grown man infront of me.)

('I was just making it easier for you.' I reasoned.)

"Good." Luke said.

They reached the meeting point soon. Several demigods were clustered around talking and stuff. Luke made beeline for Annabeth as soon as he saw her at the edge of woods with her cabin mates.

Annabeth perked up as soon as she saw him. She was already crushing on him hard. Luke didn't miss her confused and little alarmed look she was shooting that poor plant few feet away from her.

"You ready, 'Beth?" He asked when he reached her.

"I am always ready." She said haughtily, rolling her eyes as if saying 'you need to ask that?'

"I suppose." He said chuckling, "But you looked confused a moment ago. Something is bothering you?"

"I'm just feeling a little…edgy today." She whispered her confession to him.

Luke shot her odd looks, "Don't over think about it. It must be excitement for the game."

"Yeah…I suppose." She said, glancing around.

"It will be alright. We'll definitely win this game." He said in an attempt to ease her nerves, "And maybe you could have your little revenge for all the grief he gave you." He added the last part slyly as he saw me on the other side with Charles, Katie and Elizabeth.

Annabeth followed his line of vision. As soon as she saw me, devilish glint returned in her eyes. I met my gaze with her as soon as I felt her watching me, I felt shiver run down my body at the looks she was shooting me. I meekly waved at her.

"Oh yeah, how could I forget about that?" She said, looking at me with devil smile. Luke felt a little bad for me then. Just a little.

"So I take everything's fine with him now?" He asked after taking in her change in attitude as soon as she saw me.

"He's still a seaweed brain." She huffed, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes at me but there was no sharp edge to it now, Luke noticed. I threw my hands up comically when I saw her eyes narrowing at me and mouthed 'what did I do now?' Edge of her lips twisted a little.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Luke said, narrowing his own eyes at her display of unusual behavior. Clearly this week had also been eventful for her, just not like him. Whether he should be worried or be amused, he couldn't decide. After all he was the one who encouraged her to befriend me.

Annabeth didn't take notice to his musing as she was busy 'glaring' at me. After few moments she shooked her head at my antics. Was that affection in those eyes? Luke wondered.

Her grey stormy eyes focused on him, looking worried now, "You feeling well?" She asked. How girls could display so many feelings in such a short time he could never understand. Me too, buddy, me too.

"Yeah, that potion helped a little from Elizabeth."

"Maybe, you shouldn't-" Before Annabeth could start fussing over him, Luke cut her off by hand over her mouth.

"Annabeth, I'm ok, really. Nightmares can't make me stop living my life."

"But you were-"

"Hey it was just nasty nightmare, 'Beth. I can handle it."

"But it's been going on for well, Luke. You're looking paler than usual and you're not eating as usual too. You didn't think I won't notice it?" She furiously whispered.

Luke heaved a heavy sigh.

"'Beth-"

"Don't 'Beth me, Luke! You are not taking care yourself."

"Ok, calm down." Luke said, putting both of his hands on her shoulder calmly, "Take a deep breath."

Annabeth glared at him and opened her mouth in rebuttal but Luke cut her off again.

"Take deep breath, Annabeth!" He said sternly.

She complied and took a deep breath but her glare's intensity didn't dim down. She was waiting for him to continue. Actually, now I think about it, she was acting more like his dog.

('Hahaha' I laughed but then focused at the man infront of me and said as intensely as I could, 'don't tell her I said that')

("My lips are sealed." The man said, gesturing zipping his lips.)

"How about it, I'll have a nice stress free rest for rest of the day after lunch?" He said, complying with her wishes. She wouldn't have let go of it if he hadn't.

"Fine." She grumbled, "You'll go straight after Lunch got it?"

"Yes maam!"

"By the way where are those infamous twins-"

"CHILDREN DEVIDE INTO YOUR TEAMS! YOU KNOW THE RULES! NO MAIMMING AND KILLING!" Chiron bellowed as soon as he reached them, cutting off Annabeth again, making her huff in irritation. Luke chuckled at how adorable she looked then. He will himself to not pinch her cheeks then and there.

Annabeth gave one last glace around when she felt weight of someone's gaze. Malignant, malevolent gaze promising pain and misery. It was so intense that chills ran down her spine.

It's just a game right? She was not so sure about that anymore.

Luke with fifteen of her siblings including The Twins and unclaimed , Clarisse with ten of her siblings including Mark and ten of Athena's children calmly trotted through Southern woods with Luke heading them. Southern woods are not dense, housing only around fifty to hundred trees. It was enough to hide various traps without applying additional efforts to hide them. Just behind these woods, by Archery range they had set their flags, protected by few demigods. To give you figure, there were around eight demigods, two of Athena, three of Ares and three unclaimed protecting the flags.

They had to choose this side mainly because other team chose the other side. It was not the bad side as this forest gives them good advantage in hindering coming enemy team but it was not their chosen side. It was only because of me aka Percy again. It warms my heart every time when I hear how much I affected them. Second reason was Charles. Luke suspected that Charles now had a trump card up his sleeve. Since the day his talk with Charles, something had changed within the other guy. He was not so self-centered to believe that it was mostly because of him….Percy had something to do with it too.

It was funny how most of the problems he comes across to past month rounds back to Percy. It could be because Percy aka me is mostly on his mind, so his brain automatically put blame on me.

Luke glanced at his team members who were making their way forward with him. With brains of Athena's, brawn of Ares's and sneakiness of Hermes's kids, their side has better chance of winning the game, Luke theorized. It's not that he was downsizing or even underestimating his enemy at all; he knew enemy team had more experience than them as most of them had went to quest, they have advantage of Hephaestus's techs, long range attacks of Apollo and then there was me. It was his confidence in his teams and on Annabeth, which prompted him to theorize that.

Annabeth was unusually fired up that day, Luke though I had hand this too somehow. I am not going to comment on that, you'll know soon enough. Luke didn't give it much thought as this gave them more boost and advantage. Fired up Annabeth is a beast which is true. My most of quest was with her so I know that quite personally having experienced up close. Luke intends to take advantage of that.

"You know what to do guys." He said, looking at his team members.

That prompted some of them to settle on their assigned position, few followed Twins example and started setting up traps. When they were done, those were left divided themselves into two groups. One headed by Clarisse and other by Luke. They then waited for Chiron to conch shell and start the game.

Mark looked at him from corner of his eyes.

"I think this game would be different than before, you can feel it too, right?" Mark whispered only to Luke as he stood beside him keeping look at the horizon where they knew enemy team would come as soon as game would start.

"Hmmm." Luke said giving Mark amused glance.

"Charles and Katie seemed extra energetic today." Mark commented.

"Ofcourse, who isn't?"

"You." Luke gave him sharp glance as his immediate answer but Mark kept talking, "But when I saw them today…I could feel fire burning in their eyes, different kind of fire. It wasn't same as last game."

"I suppose."

"Do you think it was because of your fight with Charles?" Mark asked, sounding genuinely curious.

"Nah, that won't the case." He knew that because argument they had was on different things that won't have any factor on exacting revenge or something. If it was the case then it would for only one thing- Protecting Percy.

"Is it weird that I'm feeling more hyped up than before?" Mark asked with excited grin on his face. Anticipation mixed with excitement must have hyped him up. There was crazy static energy in the air this time around, that one could actually feel them through goosebumps that seem to be appearing every few minutes.

"Nah, you're not the only one here." They both turned and looked at Twins with big crazy grins on their faces, few feet away from them. They were practically bouncing up and down as if there was string under their shoes. When Twins saw them looking at them, they waved and gave them shaking thumbs up. It seemed there was sugar rush mixed with their excitement. It was really bad sign.

"Enemy won't know what hit them." Mark commented as soon as they turned back. That broke them into chuckles.

"Yeah, you're right." Luke said.

"You know I wasn't joking when he I said, you were the only one not excited for this match." Mark said, this time sounding very serious and concerned.

Luke turned his head and look at his one of the close friend. There was sympathy and concern in those eyes that warmed his cold heart a little.

"I had rough week." He said, turning his face away from him, afraid to show his vulnerability. Mark may be a little dumb but when it concerned his closest, he would be one of the most insightful person and somehow develop eyes of hawk.

"You know you can count on me right?"

"Yes." Luke forced a smile on his face and looked at his friend trying to assure him, he was ok. "Don't worry I'm ok and if you're gonna give whole 'I'm not ok' talks, then be assured I already promised someone that I'll take nice rest for rest of the day."

"Must be smart person." Mark said with a smirk. He knew who that person was. Luke exhaled in relief at not being prodded and gave him a nod with roll of his eyes, prompting Mark to chuckle.

Mark then looked ahead and after few moments of silence, he said, "Today's gonna be different."

How right he was. Luke could feel it too. It definitely would be a very different day.

That's when Chiron blew the horn, signaling the start of the game.

As demigods rushed past him and onto the enemy territory he can't help but contemplate what his intuitions were practically screaming, screaming that something terrible is gonna happen soon… very soon.

(Sigh!)

His intuitions were not wrong. It was worst that could have happen to the camp.

Tranquility of peace that had blanketed the camp for so many decades was broken by a terrible scream that rattled the demigods to their more than ever.

So how did you like this chapter? Let me know in comment section. If you like this story then like and follow the story to keep updated and share it with your friends.

I know i'm taking time to upload these stories but somehow this lock-down had increased my work load. I could only find very little time to write this story but rest assured I'm definitely gonna finish this story.

Percy's love(s) interest is still debatable. I'll let you know when I have decided.

And also I would also like to point out that I following Rick's camp sketch as much as I could but I mad some changes around for the convenience of my story.

So anyways, hope you enjoyed this story.

Until next time!

Stay safe and stay healthy, guys!