Hey guys. So it's been a while, I know. And I think that it's only fair to say we're heading towards the end of the story. There'll probably be another two chapters, maybe only one, maybe three. I'm not completely sure yet. Anyways, Chapter Eight.

I don't own any rights that have to do with the Percy Jackson and the Olympians/Heroes of Olympus Series.


Leo did not feel safe wandering camp with only Piper as back up. It wasn't that she wasn't good back up. It was more that this killer was experienced at killing, therefore a real dangerous threat (as everyone already knew). And Piper was pretty skilled with her knife, but just her and him against some ridiculously powerful murderer just didn't seem to be all that great of chances. After all, this person had managed to kill the strongest campers.

And Leo didn't really consider himself one of the strongest people here. And with how Piper had been depriving herself of sleep and food, he really didn't think she was the best person to have tailing him around as his "bodyguard". This was crazy. It was completely insane. Crazier than what they had done in the past. They had fought Gaea, beaten her and an army of giants, but this seemed twenty times more dangerous and- dare he say it- frightening.

They were pathetic insects to this foe, and both he and Piper knew it. It was obvious. Everyone knew; it was why they had all pretty much given up. Which just put more pressure on the two of them. Leo and Piper were practically the last defense this camp had, and they weren't even really a defense at all. In short, the fate of Camp Half-Blood and all the demigods in its borders depended on an ADHD son of Hephaestus with fire powers and a tired daughter of Aphrodite with charmspeak.

They had some fantastic chances. So wonderfully in their favor. If only one of the gods would take some of their time out of their busy schedules filled with seducing (or in Artemis's case, hunting) to help them out. Of course, Leo didn't have such good luck.

Now, maybe if Piper asked one for help. But there weren't any gods around to help. They didn't have that good of luck. Nope.

So Leo had been walking around Camp for about three hours straight now, only being allowed short, little breaks by his dear friend lurking in the bushes. If he sat for too long, she'd throw a stick or rock at him. Even though throwing rocks was not smart at all. In fact, throwing rocks was considered a safety habit. If she hit in the head, he could get a concussion. Granted, that hadn't happened yet, but one got a bit too close for Leo to feel too safe with Piper keeping an eye on him.

"Will you stop throwing rocks?!"

"You're not supposed to talk to me!" Along with this reply came another rock. Where was she even getting this unlimited supply of rocks? Did she have a bag of rocks with her? And if she did, where would she have the time to collect the rocks? She didn't have another kid get them for her, did she? She couldn't have.

However, with how she had been slipping in and out of sanity for the past three weeks, Leo didn't doubt that she had Mitchell get rocks for her to throw. Or she might have had some weird rock collection in her bunk.

"I'll stop talking to you if you quit throwing things at me!"

"You keep resting!"

"It's been three hours! I'm tired!"

"So?! I've been walking for just as long!" Piper's logical mind was working right now. That was pretty bad luck for Leo. That meant that she wasn't going to be fooled or anything. At least she might be a little bit more reasonable.

"Can we just have lunch?!"

"Lunch time's over!" This was crazy. Just because she was starving herself didn't meant that Leo didn't have to. Sure, he was just as worried as she was about this whole thing. But he was hungry. And there was no way in Hades that she wasn't. If she kept this up, she was going to kill herself, which was something Leo really didn't want to happen.

But what was he supposed to do? Knock her unconscious or force-feed her? He wasn't going to do that. That's not the type of thing you do to a friend. Anyone with common sense would know that. Still, he should be allowed a break for meals. This was ludicrous. How was he supposed to fight correctly if he was tired or hungry? And then since Piper's been doing terribly, how would she be able to last much longer?

Crack! Was that the killer? Over there, near the Big House? Instead of giving a warning to Piper about his plan, Leo rushed right into it, just like he did with most of his plans. What was the fun in actually planning plans anyways? There wasn't any fun, so why bother? Why was he asking himself a bunch of random questions? He had no clue whatsoever.

It had just been a rabbit. That was a real let down. Okay, rabbit was better than killer. Unless it was a killer rabbit, but the chances of the rabbit being the killer were slim. Before Piper could catch up to him, Leo ran off to get some food. That way, they could eat and act as bait at the same time. It made sense. So much sense that Piper didn't even argue when he handed her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He probably could have given her a ham sandwich and have her not notice, not with how she devoured the sandwich.

Leo was a good friend though, despite the voice in the back of his head telling him that it was probably Piper all along. Probably Piper killing everyone, out to kill him too. After all, Drew had died right after she and Piper had a fight. But…that was illogical. Piper was the one most dedicated to the catching of the murderer. She was killing herself indirectly through her obsession.

Piper wouldn't have killed her friends. That wasn't like her at all.

"Leo."

"Yeah, Beauty Queen?"

"I'm tired."

"Well, I'm not surprised." Piper's head drooped to her chest but then snapped up. "We've got to keep going!"

"No, calm down. You know what? You take a nap. Just take a nap. I'll be sitting here. I'll watch out for you, okay?" Piper nodded drowsily. And then she stretched out without actually stretching out. So she pretty much went from sitting up with her knees pulled to her chest to lying down with her knees to her chest. "Everything will be just fine when you wake up. I promise."

"Alright. I believe you." And with that Piper almost automatically fell asleep, snoring softly.