"Luke."
The voice makes him jump a bit, knocking him out of his stupor. The night was silent, and the only sound that could be heard was that of the heavy rain beating against the earth and the waves angrily beating against the shore. Rain drops trickled off Thalia's tree, hitting the mud below with loud splats, and all of the forest creatures were running up trees and through bushes looking for shelter from the storm. Thunder boomed in the distance.
"Rose."
His voice was all but a whisper as he looked at the stunning girl before him. Her auburn hair stuck to her skin, so wet and matted down from the heavy downpour that it almost looked black. Her electric green eyes stood out in the darkness, and he watched as the beautiful orbs examined his own. She took a slow step forward, and he took a step back, the bark from the pine scratching at the back of his shirt.
"Give me the vile."
She spoke about the glass in his hand, which, as they both knew, contained a deadly venom that would kill Thalia's tree. It would destroy the camp's boundaries, and Camp Half-Blood would no longer be safe for demigods.
The pine shook a bit, triggered by a nearby squirrel in the large pine. The rustling caused loose acorns to hit the muddy ground, and a few rolled down the hill, disappearing into the shadows of trees. Lightning flashed through the thick woods.
"I can't," he said, his voice sounding strained. "He'll kill me."
An especially loud grumble shook around them.
"No he won't. He can't."
She said the last part a little quieter, as though she was reassuring herself that he would indeed be safe from the evil Titan.
He turned so he had a better view of the tree, and started moving the poison towards the massive pine.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
He turns around to find her armed, a sword on her belt and her wand pointed towards him, straight at his chest. Her face is void of emotion, but he can see slight trepidation behind her eyes. Her left foot was positioned in front of her right, which was a defense tactic that he'd taught her just a little over a month ago.
Another bolt of lightning flashed from afar.
"I have to, Rose," his voice was filled with a mixture to exasperation and guilt, and she could sense that he was slightly on the fence about poisoning the tree. His hands trembled as he held the vile up to the tree trunk. The rain continued to pour down from the sky, creating a hum throughout the thick forest.
"Expelliarmus." She mumbles the charm under her breath, and the vile of poison flies from his grasp into hers. "I can't let you do this, Luke."
Lightning flashes again, this time much closer to the tall pine tree, and electricity sizzles the air around them.
He takes a long look at her, not saying anything to the girl in front of him. He opens his mouth a few times, as though he wanted to say something, but didn't know how to say it. They both stood in silence for awhile.
"I'm sorry, Rose," he says so quietly that for a second she thinks she imagined him speaking. "Please forgive me."
In the flash of a second his sword is out, and he disarms her of her sword and wand, sending them toppling down the hill. He used the hilt of his sword to push her down. Grabbing the venom, he stabs it into the tree and runs off, leaving behind a broken girl and a life time of heartbreak.