"Okay Hermes cabin you guys advance on the flag since you are the largest cabin and the rest of us will defend and help if we can. Everyone got it?" one of the counselors said and we all nodded. We all made our way through the forest, then as the games began everyone ran through the trees to fight.
I however did not, I stayed back and crouched behind a large boulder with my guns ready, whenever I saw an enemy run by I fired at their breastplate. Don't worry the campers were fine that stuff is like Kevlar, they just laid on the ground groaning.
Then the voice started back up, I cracked my neck and tried to ignore it but it was getting louder the more I tried. I looked behind me and saw Annabeth fighting some Apollo kid, the voice was almost deafening at this point.
It was indistinct like many voices speaking at once but one thing was clear.
It wanted me to kill.
I couldn't help it, I suddenly found myself raising my arm and my gun was lined up with Annabeth, specifically her head. I was trying not to but it was like I was hypnotized I simply couldn't stop.
"Kill...Kill...Kill"
My hands started shaking and I started sweating, I don't want to kill her I kept telling myself but my arm wasn't listening. I shut one eye and aimed down the sight, I could feel my finger slowly squeezing the trigger.
"TAKE THIS!" a voice shrieked to my left.
The voice vanished and I suddenly had my motor functions back, I turned around raised my gun sideways just in time to connect with a sword. An Ares kid named Sherman was glaring at me as my gun blocked his swing. He growled as we pulled away, I holstered my guns and drew my boot knife, I was wearing very little armor, certainly not a breastplate so I couldn't risk getting hit.
"What are you waiting for?! You can take Clarisse but not me?!" Sherman taunted with a smirk.
Ohhh he was gonna pay for that one. I charged and swung my dagger, he parried and swung. I deflected and kicked his feet out from under him, he fell to the ground with a grunt and I brought my dagger down. He rolled out of the way just in time and grabbed his sword and hauled himself to his feet.
He was too far away, my dagger was too short it didn't have the necessary reach like Shermans sword had, I wasn't as skilled with my knife as I was with my guns.
Oh well, what better time to improve right? I charged again and Sherman advanced as well, a scowl on his face probably over the fact that he hadn't hit me yet. Our blades connected and sparks flew as our faces were inches from each other.
"You got determination I'll give you that pipsqueak! Just give in!" he shouted and I smirked as I pulled back and swung at his leg again. This time he anticipated it and blocked the hit and then brought his sword up, slamming the flat of his blade into my face.
I grunted and fell to the ground, I have been in enough fights to know what a broken nose feels like and mine was definitely shattered. I saw Sherman laughing as he picked up his shield and leveled his sword towards me as he walked closer.
I internally smiled as I pretended to groan and roll onto my side, hiding my right hand from his sight. My hand was now squished with against the grip of Justice, I very slowly wrapped my hand around it and removed it from the holster as Sherman stopped a foot away from me and laughed again.
"You can't win this game pipsqueak! You're not good enough!" he said raising his sword.
I smirked "You're right." and quicker than he could swing his sword I twisted around and fired my gun and the bullet went through his shoulder, snapping his armor strap as well. He grunted as he fell to his knees dropping his sword and shield to the ground as he grimaced in pain.
"So I guess I'll just have to cheat!" I said victoriously.
I slowly rose to my feet and kicked his sword away, the voice returned as I saw his breastplate fall off him and clatter to the ground. I kept the gun aimed at his head as I walked behind him, the voice was so strong! So entrancing!
"Kill...Kill...Kill"
I could feel my eye twitching as my gun steadied and settled on his head. He gasped a little probably wondering how far I was going to take this, the voice didn't relent I simply stood there and held the gun to his head and in the distance I could hear other battles.
"I...I can't...I...stop...please" I stuttered out I was screaming inside! Telling my arm to stop, to drop the gun, to take him prisoner like I was supposed to those were the rules!
Conflict has no rules! Everything is permitted. Even death." the voice in my head whispered. I was breathing heavily as I saw Shermans face, a few tears were streaming down his cheeks now. I no longer felt anger I felt pain! Sorrow! I wanted to show mercy!
"No mercy! Only fighting! Only CONFLICT!"
The voice was like a Siren, irresistible and hypnotizing, I cocked my gun and Sherman turned his head slightly "Please! I'm sorry, it's just a game dude! It was only a game!" he pleaded. I think I actually started crying too by that point, I didn't want to! I didn't want to take a life but the voice was the one behind the wheel not me.
Then the horn blew in the distance signaling the end of the game, I gasped slightly as the voice faded away. I looked down at Sherman who looked like he was about to start sobbing uncontrollably, I wouldn't kill him.
I slammed the butt of my gun into his head and he collapsed onto the ground unconscious. I was breathing heavily and unevenly this was insane! Am I insane? I looked at the knocked out son of Ares and shuddered I had nearly killed him!
I looked over and saw a crowd, I ran over to them just in time to see Percy Jackson standing in the creek with a green trident floating over his head. I got on my knees with everyone else as Chiron hailed him a son of Poseidon.
The voice returned it wasn't nearly as powerful this time but the message was clear and simple, I shook my head as I pushed the voice away but the message was ingrained into my thoughts now.
"Kill him"
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