"So hang on: You're saying you ARE the light??" Rachel asked incredulously. They were all 4 packed into the SUV, Micah and Percy in the far back seat, and the 2 girls in the front. Micah shrugged genuinely.

"What are the odds that you are looking for the "light", and my last name just so happens to be a homonym?"

"Very unlikely, seeing as though the ring also led us right to him. " Annabeth commented. She looked at Micha right in the eyes, tring to figure out why she felt like she had seen met him before. qHe didnt seem to notice as he looked at the blade still in his hands. There was an inlaid hole in the middle of the guard. He stuck his ring finger into it, and in a flash of purple light, it became a ring on his finger. He looked up and smiled.

"That's just sick!" he said excitedly.

"Reminds me of how your blade works, PJ." Percy nodded, then pulled out his ball-point pen.

"Its called Aνακλυσμός."

"Riptide." Micah translated. "That's wicked cool man!" Percy smiled and nodded.

"Hey, what's this ones name?" He asked. Percy shrugged.

"Guess you get to name it."

"Hang on." Rachel said as she reached over impulsively and touched the ring on his hand. She closed her eyes and focused

"It has a name." She said, her eyes still locked shut.

"Δήμιος" Rachel finally said after a few seconds. Annabeth's eyebrow raised in surprise.

"Executioner. Wow. What a name for a sword." she commented. They all sat in silence for a few moments before Percy spoke up.

"So, Micah, tell us a little about yourself"

"What do you want to know?" he asked unenthusiastically

"How old are you?"

"18."

"Where's your family?" Annabeth asked.

"Won't they be worried about you?" Micah began twisting the ring on his finger, his eyes glued to the floor.

"I don't have a family." he said quietly. Both girls turned around and looked at him shocked.

"I've... I've been on the run since I was 8. My mom died around that time. Ex - military. She got me through high-school by the time I was 8. She taught me martial arts. She was a Seal, so she knew how to fight. She was the best." he paused, regaining his composure.

"One day, she goes to work, I go to school.Not that I needed to, but why pay for a babysitter when I can just go to school. It seemed to be another normal day. Only when I get home, the house is locked. Mom's not home. The back window was always unlocked, so I climbed in, figuring Mom was just working late. She… she never came back. A lady showed up at the door.Really old. When I saw she blinked sideways, I freaked out and tried to escape out the back door. She kicked the door down, and I could tell she was a monster. She said something about ending it right then, and how they had gotten my…my mom already , then she tried to slash at me with her claws.I covered my eyes and waited to be sliced. After a few seconds, I chanced looking. She was still there, still swinging at me, only she seemed frozen in place. I looked around and everything seemed almost stopped. I looked at my hands, and they moved just fine, only with every move I made, I gave off this purple light. I remember thinking it looked just like when you wave a glow stick back and forth really fast. I took a step, and felt like I flew forwards. It took some time to learn to control it. Once I realized what was happening, something replaced my fear. Anger. Hurt. I carefully walked back over to the she beast. It had still barely moved. I clenched my fist and hit her with all of my might. Everything seemed to go back to normal after that. I saw her head whip back like I had just taken a baseball bat to her. I heard its neck snap, saw it hit the ground and disintegrate into dust. That's when I realized: I had to run. I couldn't trust anyone. I still wasn't sure if my mom was alive or dead, but I knew one thing: I wasn't safe anymore. So I ran, quite literally. I would hide from the police, hoping no one would notice the small 8 year old boy with no parents around. I learned to control my abilities, and use them to keep me alive. No one could hire a small 8 year old boy, but."

Again he held up Percy's wallet, then handed it back.

"They aren't exactly opposed to serving them either. For the past 10 years I've been running, never trusting anyone. Then I met you guys, so willing and ready to fight the good fight. When Percy asked me if I knew where the light was, I saw a look in his eyes. Genuineness. And when you guys took on those creatures, I knew you were different. I knew I could trust you. So here I am." he finished, staring out the window. For the next 5 1/2 hours back, they all rode in silence.

They were tired covered in sweat, dirt, and monster dust, but hey; they got what they came for. Argus pulled up to the same place he had left from, the SUV barely hanging on after being hit multiple times during the battle. Rachel got out and immediately walked around the car and hugged Micah. At first, he stood unmoving, but then he let himself hug back.

"You're not alone anymore. You've got us now." she said shakily.

"Thank you, Rachel." He whispered. When she let go, Percy threw his arm around him and smiled.

"Welcome home, Micah. Camp Half-Blood. Come one, we'll give you the tour, then you've got a prophecy to fulfill. Actually , let me introduce you to the showers first." He chuckled. Together, the 4 walked into camp. The Lyte had been found. The War had begun.