Hey everybody! Remember me? Yeah, I'm the author of this story. I know I've been away for a while, but now I'm ready to get back into the habit. I had quite the scare the other day, though. I had a really bad allergy attack where I couldn't breathe. After a doctor's visit, I found out I have broncitis (spelling?) I know, it's not major, but I have to use an inhaler.

A quick note before you read: I won't be able to update for a while because my family is preparing to go on a cruise! Exciting, I know. Two weeks, and I should be back and ready to update again.

DISCLAIMER: PJO= Not mine...

"The very middle of the book."

"The very middle?" Chiron asked as he began to flip through the pages.

"Yep!" Alexa said brightly.

Is she always this… happy? Des asked.

"From what I've seen of her, she is," I said aloud.

"What? Who?" Sarah asked.

"Alexa, obviously," I answered.

"What about Alexa?" Sarah wondered, looking at Alexa. She was gazing into the mirror telling Chiron to keep turning the pages.

I turned to face Des. "Did you say that in my head?"

Des nodded her head.

"Uh… I'm confused," Sarah said.

"Ah… Don't mind me…" I said.

"Right there!" Alexa yelled. "No! Now you're too far, go back a bit!"

"I'm sorry! I'm trying!" Chiron's weary voice chimed.

"Great… You passed it AGAIN, Ron!" Alexa shouted.

"Ron? Seriously?" Chad laughed.

"Couldn't you give me a page number since you obviously know exactly where it is," Chiron suggested.

"No! Just keep looking!" Alexa urged.

Chiron kept furiously turning the pages while Alexa continued to yell at him.

"Hey Sarah," Chad yelled. "Go long!" He picked up a large stone and heaved it with all his might towards her.

Her eyes grew wide as she opened her mouth in a silent scream.

Must I do everything? Des said with a sigh. With a flash of her eyes and a flick of her wrist, the stone disintegrated in the air. Small chips rained down on top of our heads.

"Whoa dude, that was a major fast ball!" Donnie admired. "Awesome!"

"Sheah! Did you see the curve on that baby? Amazing!" Chad bragged.

"I know. I totally saw it. It was-" Donnie began to say.

"You could have killed me!" Sarah shouted.

"Good thing Diss was there to save you, then," Chad said.

It's DES. D- E- S. DES. Got it? Des said angrily. And I wouldn't need to do that if you weren't so stupid.

"Hey! I'm not stupid," Chad said defensively.

Really? Why do I find that so hard to believe? Des said sarcastically.

"You shouldn't, because it's true. Tell her, Jemma," Chad said.

Why don't you tell Chad that thinking doesn't hurt people, Des said.

I looked at the pair, eyeing each other like they wanted to kill the other. Before I could do anything to stop myself, I opened my mouth and blurted out: "You two would make the perfect couple!"

Everyone gasped and turned to look at the three of us. Ever so slowly, Des and Chad narrowed their eyes at me. Suddenly, both of them were all over me. Chad pinned me to the ground so I couldn't move and Des put her hands on either side of my head. Immediately, I felt dizzy, like the whole world was spinning. I saw all my secrets flash before my eyes, but I couldn't do anything to stop them. I was a victim inside my own mind.

"Stop it, Des!" Sarah screamed as she tried to pry her hands from my head. But Des wouldn't budge. I tried to free myself, but I couldn't control my bodily functions.

I looked up at Chad, his eyes seemed to be red, almost like a fire was burning inside them. His mouth opened and he said in a foreign voice, "Ares and Athena do NOT belong together." Then his eyes went back to the same old, normal muddy brown color. Chad released me and stood up, clearly disoriented. Des slowly let go of my head and also stood up, looking confused.

"What just-" Chad started to ask.

"Wow! The gods are really starting to come out of their shells, aren't they?" Alexa exclaimed, her smile blinding.

"I'm really sorry, Jemma," Chad said as he picked me up and swallowed me in a big bear hug. "I swear I didn't do it on purpose."

I'm sorry, too, Jemma. Des said softly.

When you got inside my head, I thought to Des, What did you see?

She didn't say anything.

That much, huh? I grumbled.

She nodded her head.

Please don't tell anyone, please, I pleaded.

Your secret is safe with me, she replied with a smile.

Good, I thought.

So you really like… Des started to say.

Who? I asked mentally.

Zac, she said.

Huh? I said, baffled.

You heard me, Des projected.

I don't like Zac like that. We're just friends…. Okay… really good friends….but nothing more. I explained.

Of course you are, Des answered as she grinned and walked over to Natalie.

Des! I thought loudly.

Yes, love? she said mockingly.

Our conversation was just between us, right? I said anxiously.

Of course it was, Des answered with a creepy smile. She turned back to face Natalie and they began a conversation in their minds.

I glanced over to where Zac had collapsed. He still looked to be out cold. I smiled at his sleeping figure… so peaceful…

"Yes! That's it!" Alexa shouted.

"Thank the heavens," Chiron said, relieved.

"Come on, Jemma. Let's see what we're dealing with!" Sarah said excitedly, pulling me over to the mirror where everyone was gathered (aside from Zac).

"You may begin," Alexa said.

Chiron cleared his throat and began to read: "The gods' presence will become much more pronounced as the time draws nearer."

"What's that mean?" I asked.

"Maybe if I could read more than one sentence that will be made clear…" Chiron said gruffly.

"Sorry!" My cheeks flushed.

"Certain gods will want their freedom more than anything," Chiron started again.

"That's Zeus for ya!" Alexa smirked.

Chiron cleared his throat irritably and read from the book once more. "Their mortal hosts will begin to feel the effects of sharing a body with their godly counterparts. Such side effects include, and not limited to, possession of one's body, black outs, and decrease in strength."

"That doesn't sound very good," Natalie commented.

Sarah snapped her head in Natalie's direction.

"Well, it doesn't." Natalie protested.

Sarah shook her head and whispered loudly, "She is SUCH a blonde!"

"As I was saying," Chiron interrupted. "These side effects will not get better. In fact, they will get far worse. Since the gods have so much power, they will begin to eat away at the mortal carrier's very soul. My guess is, when the prophecy is over, the gods will consume your being."

"You mean… we're going to die?" Donnie said, choking back a sob.

"I don't want to give you false hope…" Chiron muttered.

"That's just great," Natalie said. "I didn't sign up for this, you know! I had a life, a boyfriend, a job. I was going to become a fashion designer. I was going to build my dream house and hold a yearly fashion show to benefit homeless dogs!" She was practically screaming now. "But I won't get any of that now, because… because…" she broke down and started to cry.

"Homeless dogs?" Sarah laughed.

I shot her a quick glance and went over to Natalie.

"Hey, are you alright?" I asked gently.

She looked up at me, black lines of her once pretty makeup streaking her face. "Do I look like I'm alight?"

"I was just-"

"Leave me alone!" she screamed.

"Sorry," I mumbled and went back to my group.

So, was that Aphrodite or Natalie speaking? Des asked.

"Aphrodite, defiantly," Chad said.

"Always the over-sensitive lug," Donnie snorted.

"Erm… You okay, Chiron?" Sarah asked through the mirror. Chiron had been completely silent.

"Yes, of course," he replied, smoothing his shirt as he looked at each of us very slowly. I felt like his eyes were penetrating our very core. At last, he sighed and said, "Good luck, young heroes," and the mirror went black.

"I think we got our answer, right?" Alexa said with a smirk.

"How can you be so… unaffected?" Sarah asked. "We just found out we're going to die. That means dead… no more Alexa."

Alexa just smiled.

"But why would we die?" Donnie asked fearfully.

"We won't die," I said.

"But Chiron said-" he started.

"I don't care what he said. I won't let us die," I interrupted before he could finish.

Death isn't something you can prevent. Besides, we all die in the end, Des said scathingly.

I shook my head at Des. I was trying to comfort everyone.

But why lie? It just hurts everyone in the end, Des replied coldly.

I didn't reply.

"Nighty, night!" Alexa said as she curled up on the floor.

"What was that about?" I started to ask.

"I'm really *yawn* tired," Sarah mumbled. "Maybe we should all take a n-" She fell down, asleep.

"Come to think of it, I'm tir-" Chad fell down too, asleep.

Donnie lay down beside Sarah and started snoring.

Is this the part where we start to weaken, like Chiron- Des started to say before she too, fell asleep.

"You still awake, Natalie?" I asked.

Nope, I told myself. Natalie had curled into a ball and was breathing softly.

Hmm… that's weird. I'm still not tired…

I looked at everyone's slumbering forms, their faces untroubled. If we really are going to die, despite everything we do, what's the point?

"Mmmmm…" someone murmured.

I turned to find Zac slowly sitting up, rubbing his head.

"Are you…"

"Myself, you mean? And not Zeus?"

I nodded my head.

"Yeah, I'm eighty-five percent Zac!" he exclaimed.

"Not one hundred percent?" I asked.

"Well…I don't quite feel like myself yet. Almost like someone is lurking inside of me, but not doing anything. Like he's giving me a break," Zac mumbled.

"So if I give you a hug, are you going to attack me?" I teased.

With a serious look on his face, he said, "I'll try not to."

"Then maybe I shouldn't…"

"Naw, I'll be careful, I promise," he said, opening his arms.

Hesitantly, I walked over and leaned into his arms. A shock went through my body, shattering my teeth. Zac quickly let go.

"Wow… I'm sorry…" he said, not meeting my eyes.

"Zacia, I renounce you as my friend," I said in a serious tone.

He looked up, his eyes wide. "I- I understand…"

I felt a smile creeping on my face. "Leave my sight at once."

Slowly, he got up and started to walk away. He turned around just as he was about out of sight and saw me cracking up.

"Jemma!" he roared as he smiled and ran back towards me. "That was so NOT cool!"

"You should have seen your face!" I chuckled.

Instead of stopping in front of me, he tackled me, both of us falling to the ground in a heap. I tried to shove him off, just like old times, but he pinned me to the ground.

"Ah, you've gotten stronger, haven't you?" I joked.

"You noticed?" he laughed.

"Or maybe I've just gotten weaker?" I suggested.

"Your poor little noodle arms have no muscle on them," he said, squeezing one of my arms. Zac looked into my sea green eyes, a sweet smile on his face. "But you have gotten prettier." He closed his eyes and leaned forward, his lips puckered.

It's finally going to happen, I thought. But of course, I was wrong.

Did you like the ending? I know, the suspence!

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