Disclaimer: I do not own Hero: 108 or Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Chapter 6:

Eagle looked to the ones who were currently sitting quietly beside her. They were at a cafe having lunch. She tilted her head at them. "What bothers you?"

Percy looked up, eyes dull. "What happens if we fail? What happens if Hawk doesn't come back?" Eagle shook her head.

"No. I know Hawk. He will come."

"Yes, but what if we fail?"

Eagle sighed, smiling slightly wistfully. "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."

Nico tilted his head. "Huh?"

Eagle laughed. "That was Hawk's favourite quote. You should heed its words. We should not worry about what will happen in the future, or in the past and forget to live our lives to the fullest. Instead, we should worry about what we do now." She smiled at the group, then glanced at the clock. "We'll leave in an hour."

Aiden scowled, listening to the sharp whistles of the whips. Already it had been a week, and he still hadn't gotten anything out of the mortal. A tear leaked out of his eye at the thought of his younger brother. No. He shook his head.

It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.

He smiled. That had always been Hawk's favourite quote.

He looked out of the window, before composing himself and walking into the room. The mortal stood there, his eyes dull and glassy, but they focused when he walked in. The shadows stopped, retreating at the sight of their master.

The boy was looking weak. He was thin and pale from malnutrition, and his whole body was covered with cuts and slashes of some kind; some of them were still bleeding from the recent whipping. His clothes were tattered and torn, and his neck was surrounded by a darker colour, indicating he had been electrocuted before.

Aiden approached the mortal, who looked up weakly. "So, have you decided yet?" The mortal looked up, his expression hardened.

"Why?"

Aiden stopped, surprised. "Why?" He echoed.

"Yes." Lin Chung nodded. "Why are you doing this? Do you think Hawk would return and like to see you joining the one who created the weapon which harmed all of you, and killed him?"

Aiden hesitated, before looking at him cautiously. He frowned. He was still not going to get anything out of him. Yet. He walked out but stopped at the sound of a strained voice calling out to him.

"Aiden…please."

Eagle rushed down the dark corridor, easily tearing apart any shadow that came at her. The mortals and demigods were behind her, swinging their weapons around and either slicing the shadows or causing them to attack one another.

She soon realised a pattern. The shadows allowed them to run to some places, while others were heavily protected. She smiled grimly to herself. They just had to go in the direction the shadows didn't want them to go.

As she ran, the others followed behind her, covering for her as the shadows suddenly stopped, retreating back into the dark. The demigods and single mortal still had their guard up as she forced the door open.

Aiden was kneeling in the corner, his face haunted. It was easy to tell, since she grew up beside him. He looked absolutely shell-shocked. The only time she had seen him like this was after Hawk's death.

Aiden turned around, hearing Eagle come by. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of her brother, and she pulled out her blade, ready to fight, when he surprised her. "Go on. Take him."

Eagle looked stunned, slowly picking the boy up. She looked at Aiden, but he wasn't looking at her, his eyes glassy. She left the room, immediately transporting her and the group back to camp as she suddenly felt the barrier preventing anyone from getting in and out drop for her.

Lin Chung looked down as Zhu Rong healed his body. However, the damage was too extensive to heal all at once. He turned, tilting his head at the dark haired boy who also stood there. "Why?"

The boy sighed, already understanding the question. "Because you were made for it. You were made to host him."

Lin Chung nodded bitterly, understanding the words. He looked down again as Eagle spoke with Zhu Rong, neither of them knowing he was there.

"Nothing else?"

The boy sighed, his coppery tanned skin making him look like a Native American. "Because you went to my favoured animals. You befriended them and you learned under them. The Destroyer was not used to my style of fighting, and, so, he was not used to yours."

"But why now?"

"If Twin Masters can get enough power to summon the Destroyer once again, it is serious. I have to help."

Lin Chung looked at the unblinking eyes of the boy, before sighing, looking down. "Very well, Hawk."