The group had come into some luck in Oregon, finding an old mechanic's garage with a working van. After Annabeth and Will siphoned gas from some of the rundown vehicles on the highway, they were able to travel much faster. In a few days time, they had reached northern California. They couldn't drive at night, so even though Annabeth knew how close they were to Los Angeles, she also knew she couldn't just power through and drive the eight hours. For now, they hunkered down in an abandoned grocery store.

"The canned goods are gone," Nico said, coming up to Annabeth. She sat on top of the front desk where she could survey the aisles from the cameras. "But the kitchen in the deli still works, and there's a bunch of dry pasta no one bothered to take. I can make some once we get set up."

"Thanks," Annabeth said, hopping down from the counter, putting her at eye level with Nico. He had grown almost taller than her in the past year, something Percy had made fun of her for. "The place looks clear. We shouldn't have any problems. Will said there's some old couches in the employee break room. It's in the back by an emergency exit."

"Perfect," Nico said. He had been in, what was for Nico, a good mood. He had found an old motorcycle in the mechanic's shop and because Annabeth had all but outright banned shadow travel for him since his entrance at the house in Idaho, he insisted on having it. She had thought that their conversation a few nights before would have made him distant, but instead it brought them closer than she had ever hoped to be with Nico.

"Have you heard anymore about him?" Annabeth asked. Nico nodded, leaning over to check the cameras. Annabeth knew he was looking for Luke on the screens. Nico didn't trust him farther than he could throw him and he didn't like to share any information with Luke. Annabeth couldn't really blame him. "He's in the back with Will," she assured.

"The communication is weird," Nico explained. "Normally the spirits just talk directly to me when I summon them. This one just kind of...shows up in my brain. Like I'm seeing Percy as he is right now."

"It's just one spirit?" Annabeth asked. "Could it be a trick like with Midas?"

"It could be," Nico shrugged. "But I don't think it is. I know it sounds weird, but I trust it."

"If you do, I do," Annabeth nodded. "What else has it shown you?"

"I know he's still alive," Nico said. "I see flashes of him, but I know they aren't my memories."

"Is he still in that hospital?" Annabeth asked. Nico shrugged.

"As far as I know," He said. "But I know for sure he's alive."

Annabeth put her hand on Nico's arm, giving it a small squeeze. "I know he is too," She said. "I'm going to go set up camp in the back, go start dinner.."

"Yes, ma'am," Nico said with a hint of a grin.

Annabeth walked down the aisle towards the back of the store, passing the near empty shelves. Will had his med kit open on the pharmacy counter, putting his tools away as Luke rolled his shoulder, examining his freshly bandaged elbow.

"The other one was starting to smell," Will said, closing up his bag. "This place has some good antibiotics, I was starting to worry about the discoloration."

"I'm so surprised my backwoods amputation with a sword got botched," Luke said, rubbing his arm above the bandage.

"He's a kid with advanced first aid training at best," Annabeth said, arms crossed. "Say thank you and enjoy the fact that you aren't a brain eating corpse." Luke mumbled a quiet 'thanks'. If this were any other time, Annabeth would have laughed at Luke taking orders from her like a scolded child. "Nico's making pasta in the deli, why don't you go help him, Will?"

Will didn't need to be told twice. He pulled the bag on over his shoulder and walked up the aisle Annabeth had just come from. "How's it feel?" Annabeth asked.

Luke laughed humorlessly. "Like I got my arm chopped off," He said, now attempting to put his sling on with his one hand.

"Like I said," Annabeth said. "You're lucky we didn't leave you for the biters."

"Sorry I saved your ass, Chase, I'll think twice next time."

Annabeth sighed, uncrossing her arms. She hadn't even realized she had taken such a defensive stance. She leaned forward to help him slip the sling over his head. "Thank you for doing that."

"Well, that's a 180," Luke noted.

Annabeth sat down next to him, running her fingers through her hair. "I don't know what you want from me, Luke, this is hard."

"I know it is," Luke said, looking to the ground. "I do and I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for?" She asked.

"Everything, I guess," Luke shrugged. "I did a lot of shit I regret, but betraying you was the worst."

"You betrayed all of us, Luke," Annabeth said. "Not just me. Your brothers and sisters, Grover, Thalia, Percy-,"

"I barely knew Percy," Luke interjected. "He was a good kid but by the time I met him, everything was already in motion."

"He is a good kid," Annabeth corrected.

"What?"

"You said he was a good kid," Annabeth said, her voice getting tight. "He is a good kid. Present tense."

"Right, yeah," Luke said. "He is a good kid. And you're right, I did hurt everyone at camp. I wish I could take it back, but I can't. I can't, but I also can't make it better if you won't let me."

"Who says I'm not letting you?"

"You don't trust me with anything."

"Trust has to be earned, Luke," Annabeth said. "I trusted you for a long time and that bit me in the ass. I'm not going to do it again so easily. I forgive, that's why you're here right now and not dead at the edge of camp, but I won't forget. I could never forget."

"So I get my arm chopped off for you and that's not enough for you to give me a little bit of slack?"

"I'll be sure to find you a gold star to put on your stump," Annabeth said, getting up.

A loud crash at the front of the store ruined Annabeth's plan for a dramatic exit. She pulled her knife out from her thigh holster and Luke grabbed the hatchet he had been using in place of Backbiter and they rushed to the entrance.

Nico and Will already had their weapons drawn on a group of ten, but everyone held still. Annabeth saw the cart barricade that they had put up had been broken down and she assumed the group was the cause.

"What's your business here?" Annabeth asked, stepping forward with her knife extended.

A tall man with long red hair tied up in a bun stepped forward. He would have been handsome if not for his smarmy smile that sent shivers down Annabeth's spine. "Well hello, little lady," He said with a strong southern twang.

"Come any closer and I will slice you throat to stomach," Annabeth threatened. The man stepped back.

"No need for that, Miss," The man explained. "I'm Jim, we were just coming in here for our usual supplies, hadn't realized anyone had set up camp."

"Well, we did," Nico said, trying to be level with Annabeth but she stuck her arm out, blocking him.

"We got a set up not too far from here," Jim said. "Y'all are more than welcome to come stay there."

"We're fine here, thanks," Annabeth said. "We'll be out by sunup tomorrow morning."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Miss, there seems to be a misunderstanding," Jim said. His group behind him shuffled for a moment, producing a wall of guns, all pointed at each half blood. "We weren't asking."