ALEXANDRA81Please respect copyright.PENANAjay2Tr9MHM
"I promise I won't fail you like Mom and Dad failed us." That's what he told me when we were running. Five years later, he was packing his bags. Failing me just like he "promised" he never would.
"Luke, please stay! I need you!"
I beg, sitting on the edge of his bunk.
"You'll have AnnaBeth, Thalia, and Percy. You'll be fine."
He responds, shutting his suitcase. "You promised!" I retort. It wasn't the greatest response, but it was the only thing I could think of. "Dad's a jerk. Mom's a psycho. Just accept it." I follow him out of the Hermes cabin. "Luke, please!" I cry. He turns to me. "Goodbye, Alexandra. Oh, and, uh, watch your back." I try to run after him, but Thalia catches my hand.
"Don't."
She says softly. "He can't—!" I sob. "Shh. It'll be okay. Let's go to the Big House." I sniff. "Come on." She urges gently.
In the Big House, I saw Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, talking to our activities director, Chiron.
"Alexandra, are you okay? What happened?
Percy asks, noticing my tears. He was like another brother to me. "Luke.....h-he...left. He joined Kronos." I sob. Percy hugs me tightly. "It's alright. It's gonna be okay." He murmurs. People kept saying this, but I didn't know how. My brother was gone, and he sure as heck wasn't coming back.81Please respect copyright.PENANALpMsJj9lGP
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"Did Luke say anything suspicious last night?"
Chiron asks after I calmed down. "Not really. He asked me something about if the Titan lord asked me to join him, what would be the first thing I'd do. I laughed and said that I would kick his butt. I didn't think he was serious." I was sitting in between AnnaBeth, who had come as soon as she'd heard, and Thalia. Chiron was across from me in his wheelchair, and Percy was sitting next to AnnaBeth. "Anything else?" He asked. I sigh. "Told me to watch my back. As if he was going to hurt me." AnnaBeth and Chiron share a coded look. I hated it when they did that. I look to Thalia. "Luke wouldn't hurt me, right?" I'd seen him fight with a sword many times. I had yet to beat him, but he was even more ruthless with his fists. I'm his sister. I find it hard to believe that he would hurt me, even though he was capable of it, but Thalia didn't seem so sure. "I don't know, Alex. If he joined Kronos, everything—including you, is thrown out the window to him. If he followed through, you're just another obstacle in his way. That goes for me and AnnaBeth, too." I sigh. "I can go after him." "No, child. You need to train. Your emotions will cloud your judgement if you set out now." I stand up and storm out of the Big House, AnnaBeth and Thalia not far behind me. "Alexandra!" I hear them call, but I ignore them and run past Thalia's pine into the real world. Looking back on it, I really should've listened to Chiron.81Please respect copyright.PENANADTAg5aVofD
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THALIA
The night I met Alexandra and Luke was like any other night for me. I was on the run from monsters. Hidden behind boxes, I heard quiet voices. "Just a few more minutes. We're close." It was 14 year old Luke. "Okay." The girl? That was Alexandra, just 8 years old. "You need to sit. Save your energy. I'll be back." His voice got closer to me, and I activated my shield, Aegis. Jumping out from my hiding spot, I attacked him, thinking that he was an enemy. Luke was quick even as a teenager. He dodged my strike and guarded his little sister. "Who are you?!?" He asked, ready to brain me. "Not an enemy." I replied, deactivating my shield. "Thalia, daughter of Zeus." His defenses dropped. "So, you're like me?" I nod slowly. "I'm Luke. That's my little sister Alexandra. Our dad is Hermes." Little Alexandra looked up at Luke with wild blue eyes, braving the pain she was in and scouting monsters from her hideaway made out of old tires and cardboard boxes. "Hi." She says shyly. Then, her eyes get wide.
"Cyclops!" She yells. Luke and I turn in unison to see a three headed Cyclops heading for us. "Alexandra, can you—?" Before Luke could finish his sentence, the little girl drew her knife, ran, jumped onto a light post, swung around it, and got on the Cyclops' back. I look at Luke in disbelief. "You let her do this, too?" He laughs briefly, while holding off a hellhound. "She is an amazing fighter. The only trouble is that when she realizes what she's doing, she's going to panic." I look up and see Alexandra grab the horns of the Cyclops and stab it. Needless to say, that made the Cyclops mad. It bucked and threw her off. Not wasting a second, Luke flew over to her. She landed with a yelp and blood gushed from her wrists. The Cyclops seemed to be satisfied and disappeared into the woods.
"Hey. It's gonna be okay. I'm right here." I hear Luke murmur to her. Alexandra's wrists were bent outward and her leg was definitely broken. He picks her up bridal style, careful not to touch her wounds. "Want to tag along? We have a safe house along the river." "A family," I thought. "I'd finally have a family." "Sure!" I replied. Alexandra started to squirm in Luke's arms, her eyes still shut. "I know, Alex. I know. Don't worry. I promise I won't fail you like Mom and Dad failed us." He murmured. Luke was such a great brother to her, but like her wits and boldness almost got her killed five years ago, those same things could kill her now.
I look at AnnaBeth. We ran into her in a similar situation a few weeks later. She was almost 12 at the time, so between the three of us, Alexandra had a pretty hard time getting away with things. "What should we do?" I ask worriedly. "First off, we need to tell Chiron and Percy." I nod and we return to the Big House. Chiron and Percy were still talking. "She left." AnnaBeth says, already pacing. "Left? As in left to fight Luke?" Percy asks. I nod. "That child never listens, does she? Alright. Alexandra can handle for a bit. Now, we must call a meeting to discuss what to do." I bite my lip. "She's going to get herself killed, Chiron. We don't have time." Percy stands up. "Thalia's right. Alexandra's a warrior, but this is her brother we're talking about. Luke is our enemy now. Her enemy. Brother or not. He'll stop at nothing to kill her. We have to help her." Chiron sighs. "Alright, then. You three will leave at dawn. Go get some sleep." I look at AnnaBeth and Percy and nod slightly. I will find you, Alexandra. You are going to be okay.81Please respect copyright.PENANAywJgwi46w6
81Please respect copyright.PENANAHexH3Kdpv9
ALEXANDRA
Imagine eating a whole box of pizza by yourself and then running a 5k. That's how I feel right now. I knew I needed to rest. On my left, I saw an old barnyard. On my right, was an ocean with a boat port. One boat was docked there, but that wasn't what compelled me. What drew me in, was the old barn. It seemed oddly familiar, so I walked towards it.
I tried to open the door, but it was either locked or just extremely rusted. I kick it with the tip of my boot just to check and hear movement. In a moment, the door flung open.
"Alexandra?!"
I couldn't believe it. After all these years, he was still here. "Grover?!" We hug. "What're you doing out of camp? Get in here!" I laugh as he shuts the door and looks me over. "Oh, my Styx! You got so big!" He remarks. I shrug. "Five years. What do you expect?" He sits down and I lean against the wall. "So, do you want to tell me what your really doing here? I got a feeling it isn't to see me." I sigh, willing myself not to cry. "Luke joined Kronos. I have to find him." Grover's mouth drops open. "Kronos? Alexandra, Kronos isn't anybody to mess with. If Luke took an oath to him—." "I know. I'm nothing to him. Thirteen years can't just go out the window!" Grover sighs. "Still stubborn. Well, how are Thalia and AnnaBeth?" "They're good. I don't understand why you won't come back to camp, though!" He laughs. "My camp days are over. I stay here until a new demigod finds their way in and I become their new protector. Like I did with you, Luke, AnnaBeth, and Thalia." I raise my eyebrows. "No. This was our safe house first. You just crashed it." He shrugs. I wanted to keep going. I didn't know which way, though. Talk to my protecter that I hadn't seen since I was 7 or go after my brother that probably is plotting to kill me, but it didn't matter now. I felt my knees buckle beneath me. "Woah, hey!" I hear Grover say, catching me as I fall. My eyes start to close. "No, keep your eyes open. You can't die! You can't leave us!" I feel something warm go into my mouth. Nectar. I groan softly. "I know. I'm going to put you on the bed and try to find the poison, okay? Just relax." I try to relax, but it was hard. Pain shot all through my body, so I had to move somehow.
I must've fallen asleep. When I woke up, everything hurt. "Grover, what happened?" Thalia. I wouldn't have been happy to see her if everything had went as planned, but it hadn't and I was terrified. "I don't know. We were talking and she just collapsed." I make a quiet groan. "She's waking up." Grover murmurs. Instantly, I feel Thalia by my side. I reach for her hand. "Hey, it's okay." She says, holding my hand. I groan softly. "I know, Alex. I know. You're okay." I try to lean into her like I used to when I was little. It always calmed me down. Thalia'd play with my hair and hold me until I fell asleep. "Hey." She says, playing with my braid. Since I had a hard time talking, I decided to just lay there and fight the pain. "We should probably try to get the poison out of her as fast as possible." Grover suggests. "Yes, but how did the poison get in her in the first place?" Grover sighs. "Luke, I'm assuming." I curl into a ball, trying to stop the pain. "Have you tried ambrosia?" Thalia asks. "Yep. She won't take it. Still too stubborn for me." Thalia grabs something from the table beside me. "Alex, if you eat one ambrosia block, I'll get you a new sword. Deal?" I make a quiet noise and bury my head into her chest. "Is there any other way?" She asks. "Well.....have you ever heard of the Death Maneuver?" Thalia continues running her fingers through my hair. "No." Grover sighs. "It causes a bunch of pain and it takes a few hours nonstop, but it works." I whimper. "Will you eat the ambrosia?" Thalia pleads. I look up at her and shake my head. My whole life, ambrosia was one of the nastiest things that ever existed to me. I mean, I would choose to eat fertilizer over ambrosia. "Alex, you know that this is going to hurt like crap, right?" Grover says. I nod. He sighs. "Alright. Thalia, help her get on her stomach."
With 15 seconds of Grover touching my back, I was screaming in pain. "I'm right here. It's going to be okay." Thalia murmurs. Grover dug into my spine with a machine and I scream bloody murder. "Pull over that trash can, Thalia." I hear Grover say. Without question, she pulls it over. No later do I start coughing. "It's alright." Thalia promises, leaning me over the trash can. Gosh, I felt like crap.81Please respect copyright.PENANAHgTgrmdaWD
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LUKE
"What beef do you have with this girl, Luke? Was she an old girlfriend or something?"
I laugh. "No. Kelli, Alexandra is my little sister. She's 13." Her eyes light up. "Yay, I get to hit a kid!" "Well, yes, but I get to do most of it. I can't wait to see the pain and fear on her face! It'll be priceless!" If I was right, Alexandra would sneak onto the ship any minute now, but I had monsters everywhere, guarding each entrance. "And no. I just need her out of my way." I clarify.81Please respect copyright.PENANArMkZEP59z2
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ALEXANDRA
"Stay here, please! I need to do this alone." I beg Thalia. "Alexandra, you may still have poison in your system. You need to rest!" I look at Grover for backup. "Thalia, let her go. She's got this." She was quiet for a while. "Okay, fine!" Then, I was granted the biggest hug. "Remember your training." I hug her. "Don't worry, Thals. I'll be back." "You better." I pull back and look to the harbor. "There's the boat. If I scream, you'll hear me. Easy." I back up and turn around. Little did I know, I was running to my death.
ALEXANDRA
I made it to one of the entrances and easily disarmed a monster. If these were Luke's henchmen, my mission would be a piece of cake. I walk up to a security alarm and start to disable it (yes, I can disable security systems. Thank you, Connor and Travis) to cause a distraction, but something behind me moves. I turn around to see two monsters staring at me.
"You must be Alexandra."
"You must be stupid!" I try to disarm them both at the same time, but that didn't work. "Nice try. Luke has been waiting. You are coming with us." The mention of my brother's name made me put my guard down for a split second. In that second, one of the monsters threw me over his shoulder. I almost get free of his grip when I hear his voice. "Stop struggling, Alex. There's no point." Luke. My Luke. I flip over the monsters and land on my feet in front of him. "Luke!" "Hey, Ankle Biter." I squint at him. I earned that nickname when I found out Luke was two heads taller than me. 3 years ago. I had a special nickname from everyone. From Chiron, I was Trouble. From AnnaBeth, I was Lightning. From Percy, I was either Lex or or Allie. From Thalia, I was Fighter. From Grover....well Grover just called me Alex. "What are you doing here? You used to be one of us! Don't you remember our trio? You, me, and Thalia?" He smiles bitterly. "Then I woke up. Come here." I step closer. "Dad doesn't care about us, Alexandra. Mom was just a pshyco-path. Join me. We will get revenge on Dad. If you don't, I'm going to kill you." I raise my eyebrows. "Dad talks to me, Luke. He loves me, weather or not he knows how to show it. I'm not going to join your evil demonic army. I'm not dishonoring Olympus like you have." He sighs and smiles. "Okay, then. Matthew, do it!" I didn't have time to react. A needle plunged into my shoulder and I collapse. The last thing I remember is Luke looking down at me and laughing.
In my dream, I was on a mountain. By the looks of it, it was Olympus.
"Alexandra."
I turn towards the voice. In the distance, I saw a tall man with strawberry-blonde hair like my own. "Dad?" I wonder. "Hello, Alexandra." I run up and hug him. "W-what's going on? I don't understand!" Dad studies me for a second. "There is no getting Luke back. He is your enemy now. I know you don't want to accept it, but it is true. I'm communicating with you through a dream, which I can do periodically with all my children. Listen, you're waking up, but I have to tell you this. What you are about to feel will be the worst pain you have ever experienced in your life. It may kill you. The only way you can escape it is to fight it. So fight it, Alex. Fight like you never have before."
My eyes flutter open. Luke was standing over me. "Finally, you're awake!" I stare up at him. "You won't hurt me." He laughs. "Really?" I hoped my confidence was right. "Yes. I'm your sister." My hand curls around where my knife used to be. Like AnnaBeth, I preferred to use Celestial Bronze over a sword. "Looking for this?" Luke holds my knife out. I reach for it, but he pulls it away. "You think I can let that happen? I can't. Enjoy your final peaceful moments, Alexandra." I didn't have time to register what was happening. I only saw the silver gleam of Luke's sword, Backbiter as it came down on my head.81Please respect copyright.PENANACWzXLJVlTp
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PERCY
I burst through the door of the abandoned farmhouse ready to annihilate anyone and everyone that came close to my Allie, AnnaBeth not far behind me. "We've gotta go get her!" I nearly yell. "Right?! Come on!" Thalia says. "No, Thalia," Grover replies, grabbing her shoulder. "she can handle for a while. She's got 5 years of hardcore training under her belt. We need a plan." All of our eyes drift to AnnaBeth, who was already thinking hard. "Between the 4 of us, we could take down a few monsters at a time. Depending on how badly Alex is hurt, though.....Percy, you could call Blackjack and Mrs. O'Leary. Blackjack can fly Alex to camp and Mrs. O'Leary can help fight." I sigh. "It could work, but we need more. Luke's probably already started hurting her and he has a demon cheerleader with him that does way worse than high kick you in the face." "Cheerleader?" Thalia asks disgusted. "Long story. We need a better plan, though. All the help we can get. Um...Thalia, do you think you can round up the Hunters?" She nods. "I'm sure Lady Artemis could work it out to come too when I tell her the situation." "Alright. AnnaBeth? Anymore ideas?" She smirks. "So, you actually do have a brain underneath all that kelp." "Whatever! Let's just go to Olympus."
As we entered the throne room, we all became stiff. We wanted to make our parents proud, but our most important priority was Alexandra. Thalia stepped forward. "My Lady, we need help rescuing a friend. Alexandra Castellan. She's a daughter of Hermes. Her brother, Luke, joined Kronos and has taken her prisoner. The Hunters have already agreed and are scouting out soft spots, but we need all the help we can get. Would you like to join us?" Artemis smiled warmly.
"Of course, Thalia."
"You better hurry. Luke's already started with her." We turn around and Hermes was standing across from us. "Uh, lord Hermes. What is he doing to her exactly?" He sighs. "Terrible things. At this rate, she will be gone in two days." I run out of the throne room, leaving everybody else behind. She couldn't die. I just got her. Before I could get out of Olympus, my dad, Poseidon, caught up with me.
"Percy. Don't emotionalize your situation."
I turn to Dad, anger boiling. "I can't not emotionalize it! Alexandra is the closest thing I have to a little sister. I'm not letting her die!" "Come on!" AnnaBeth says, jogging up to me. Alright. Time to get Alex back.81Please respect copyright.PENANACKsKxswp4b
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ALEXANDRA
"Luke, stop!" I scream in pain as a glass whip falls on my back. "Ha! Are you crying, Alexandra?" He sits me up and roughly grabs my shoulders. "Ah! Stop!" I demand, trying to get away from his grip. "5-4-3-2-1!" Luke counts down. On cue, I start gagging. "Oh, I know, Lex. I know." He says, holding me down.
Once I stopped, he made me run. 6 miles. I collapsed onto the floor coughing and in pain. "Good job." Luke responds. "Water!" I choke out. "Nah. You don't need it." I lay my head down on the floor. I hated to admit it, but I needed my people. I needed Thalia's hugs. I needed Percy's comforting voice. I needed AnnaBeth's commands for me to keep going. I missed the way my head would come to Thalia's shoulder and she would still sometimes pick me up since I was so light. I missed Percy's voice. The way he would say, "It's gonna be okay, Allie. I promise." I missed AnnaBeth's "threats." When I'd even start thinking about giving up, she would sit me up and give me an hour long lecture about how no one is going to see her mom's pantheon before her. I hated it, but now I desperately needed it. "You were stronger when you were little. Seems like Dad made you weak." Luke announces. I cough. "Water....please!" I beg. My throat felt cracked and I hadn't drank in hours. "In a second. Kelli, come on!" A girl with red, glowing eyes walks in. "Yes, Lukie?" Oh, that's just gross. "Take your flirting out of here, demon creep!" I didn't regret anything until Luke snapped my wrist. I yelp. "Silence, Alexandra! Kelli, you have 10 minutes. If she doesn't fight you, get her a bottle of water." I hear the door shut and I figured Luke had left the demon and I alone. "So. You are the one." I didn't know what she meant, so I stayed quiet. "Coward." The demon spats, digging her claws into my shoulders. "Ah! Stop!" I plead. "Water. If you behave, you get water." I cough. "My friends will find me and they will annihilate you." The demon laughs. "Yeah, and they will be too late. The only thing left of you will be your dead body." I groan in pain. "Good. Luke at least taught you to obey." She taunts. I sigh and give up.
"Water." Luke says, putting the bottle to my mouth while I chugged it. I drank it all in 20 seconds. "More." I say, swallowing the last of it. "Nah. You're fine. Listen, I'm in a good mood today, so I'm going to let you rest for a few minutes. You're gonna need it." I struggle to the back wall and fall asleep. Of course, falling asleep meant a visit with Dad.
"Alex!" I hear Dad say. "Daddy!" I cry. "How are you holding up?" For the first time, I saw his face. I had his eyes and his hair color. I run and hug him tightly. "I-I-I-!" I finally allowed myself to cry. "Hey. It's going to be okay. What has he done to you?" He asks, stroking my strawberry-blonde hair. "Um....a-a whip to my back, he somehow made me vomit. He rubbed my back extremely hard, and then got a demon...an empousa, I guess, to dig into my spine. He made me run 6 miles and only gave me one bottle of water. I don't know how much longer I can do this." Dad looks at me. "Your friends. Percy, Thalia, and AnnaBeth, they are coming to get you. So, just hang on a little longer. I wish we could talk longer, but you are waking up. A heads up, Luke is in the room, waiting for you to wake up." With that, my dream ended.
"Rise and shine, Alex!" I hear Luke say. I groan, already in pain. "Go to Tartarus, Luke." Well, that made him mad. "Oh, boy am I going to enjoy this." He flipped me over his shoulder and carried me to the upper deck. Before I could register what was happening, Luke had me tied to a pole. "It's time to practice hitting, everyone!"
ALEXANDRA
By the time they were done, I was bruised, bleeding and barely conscious. Luke carried me to a room, dropped me, and left. I thought I was alone and that the worst was over, but then I saw a guy that looked about Luke's age out of the corner of my eye.
"Alex, Alex, Alex. Always getting into trouble."
I recognized the voice to be Charles Beckendorf, son of Hephaestus. He joined Kronos a month before Luke. I try to say something, but my words are swallowed in pain. "Ha! I don't even have to touch you! You're killing yourself." Even so, he kneels beside me. "Brought you some water." Something seemed sketchy about this, but I was so thirsty, I didn't care. Beckendorf put the bottle to my lips and I was content after half the bottle. I try to tell him to stop, but he wouldn't listen. "No. Drink it all. Get the poison in you good." Poison! I felt my head fall back and I was suddenly freezing cold. "Luke! It's done!" Beckendorf calls. Luke walks in, briefly grinning at me before turning to Beckendorf, who was forcing the last of poison down my throat "Thanks, Beckendorf. I can do the rest." I watch him leave and Luke puts his hand on my forehead. "The poison's working already. You're burning up. Let's make things a little worse for you." Luke's hand goes to my neck while his other hand goes to my throat. I knew what he was doing. No. No. No. No. My neck snaps, but I didn't have the energy to scream. Something breaks from above and an arrow flies through the door. Thalia's arrow. The door breaks down, but it wasn't Thalia in the doorway. It was Artemis. "Down here!" She calls, loading another arrow and pointing it at Luke. In seconds, Thalia was by my side. Percy and AnnaBeth were guarding me and fighting off Luke's henchmen while Artemis took care of Luke.
"Alex, look at me." It took everything in me to meet her eyes. I was sure every bone in my body was broken, if not severely bruised. "You're going to be okay. Just hold on." I try to speak, but it came out as a yelp. I lean into Thalia's side. It was comforting knowing she was there. "It's okay. You're safe."
A few minutes later, everything was down. "Allie!" Percy cries, sliding on the ground to me. By now, I was barely alive. "We need to get her to camp." I hear AnnaBeth say. "I've got that covered." Percy says. Before I knew it, I was on Blackjack the pegasus in Percy's arm. "Blackjack, fast, but easy. Alexandra's hurt." I squeeze his hand. "I know, Allie. Just hold on."
When we got back to camp, it seemed like all my siblings were there. "What happened?" "Did Luke do this?" "Let me through! She's my sister!" Those were just some of the things I caught. Nonetheless, Percy pushed past them and carried me to the sick room. "You're going to be okay, Alex. Just breathe." For the first time, my eyes opened a little. "Seaweed Brain." I say weakly. "Hey." He replies, gently brushing the hair from my eyes. I cuddle into his side. "Everything hurts." I mumble. "I know. You'll be okay." I seriously doubted that.
"Alright, Alex. I'm going to try and reform your bones." I hear Chiron say. I grab Percy's hand and grip Thalia's hand, who was on the other side of me. AnnaBeth was going to help Chiron with the next thing, which I was positive would be worse. I feel Chiron's hands on my back, pressing down and trying to pull my bones together. I grit my teeth to keep from screaming, even though I could have passed out right then and there. "It's okay, Alex. We're right here." Thalia murmurs.
I was laying in the sick room with a curtain around me, one sign that I was in critical condition. "Hey, Alex." Seaweed Brain. I squeeze his hand, since I couldn't talk.
"Perry Jackson, I told you that you couldn't be back here."
Of course. Mr. D. was always trying to freak the younger half bloods out. In truth, I let it work too well. "If you can't get my name right, I don't have to listen to you." Yay. Percy wasn't going anywhere. "Oh, please. Alexandria Caster-man will be fine." Ugh. "It's Alexandra Castellan." Mr D laughs, but leaves. I try to open my eyes. "Mhm." I groan. "It's okay. Don't push yourself. I'm not going anywhere."
"Where the heck did she go?!"
My brother, Connor Stoll asks, running into my room. "She tried to talk to Luke." Percy responds.
"And you let her go?!"
Travis, Connor's twin brother demands. "She ran off. Chiron told her she couldn't, but she didn't listen. Thalia, AnnaBeth, and I tried to stop her, but you know once she sets her mind to something, it doesn't change." Travis sighs and sits on the end of my bed. "Alex, can you hear me?" I make a small noise. "That was not what I meant when I told you to follow your gut. Your curiosity got you in trouble...again. So don't ever do that again." With that, they leave. I put my head in Percy's lap. "It's alright. I promise." I let my eyes close and fall into a dreamless sleep.
ALEXANDRA
(5 years later)
"There we go!" I open the locked cabin door and flop down on my bunk. A full day of demonstrating kills, let's just say that. "Alexandra?" I shoot up and draw my knife "Luke! What do you want?" "Put the knife down. I come in peace." I cautiously put my knife away. "Give me one reason why I should trust you?" He sighs. "I messed up, okay?" I snort. "Uh, yeah. You almost killed me." "I've changed. Give me another chance. Let me redo my promise." I bite my lip. "Fine, but if you so much as lay a hand on my campers, you will regret it." "Your campers?" He asks. I nod and the dinner bell rings. "I have to supervise. Do I need to send Thalia in here or will you keep to yourself?" Luke laughs. "Geez, Alex. You are crazy." I click my tongue. "You tried to kill me, Luke. I can never be too careful. With that, I run off to the pavilion, passing Thalia. "Are you hungry or something?" She asks, laughing at me. "Not really. Do me a favor, please?" "Sure. What's up, Fighter?" I smirk at my old nickname. "Luke's in my cabin. He says he's changed, but....""You don't trust him?" "Yeah." She nods. "I got you. Go stop a food fight!" I laugh and run into the pavilion. I didn't trust Luke completely, but maybe he was telling the truth this time. I don't know, but I had my brother back, even if it was only for a little while.
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