Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Chapter 20

Acceptance of the fact that Chris had actually died- no, not just died. Saying that would be like saying the victims of a terrorist attack had just died, she thought with a frown. He had brutally been eaten alive. Thinking back on it, she knew she could've saved him. Her (ex-) boyfriend of a year... Had it even been a year?

"I can't even tell the year..." Clarisse grumbled, kicking the stones on the pavement.

Talking to yourself was the supposed way to tell if you were insane or not. That was what she used to think, she remembered. Picking on newbies talking to themselves. Hypocrite rang out in her mind like mines setting of. It felt like an official war was going on in her head.

A piercing yet scratching sound trailed its way across the metallic-like floor. She was walking through one of those 'abandoned' malls that people always like to go through. A low humorless laugh emitted from her throat, as her electrical spear pierced the ground, leaving a mark behind her. Not that she cared.

She gave up caring a long time ago- back when it had all started. Too many people- too much of her family, had died- turned into one of the infected or had been brutally eaten alive by eager infected organisms. Since then, she had kept her feelings locked away, and had completely forgotten where she had thrown the key.

Not once did she think that she might have stored it with Chris. But he was dead now. One of the many people that had been brutally eaten alive. Like Pollux. Besides, she thought, he's a coward. Being stubborn was a family trait of the Ares descendants. So it wasn't normal when she ran back.

Back to the 'all you can eat' buffet with her (ex-) boyfriend. Back to where all the infected had been gathered. Back to where she had thrown away her key.

With Thalia and Nico:

"I just can't believe he left like that..." Thalia said, squirming uncomfortably on the rock she was sitting on.

"I can't believe a lot of things Thalia," Nico retorted, lying on the ground. "You don't see me complaining."

"You don't see me boasting about my humbleness," the daughter of Zeus replied in annoyance.

"You don't see me lying..."

Thalia flicked her cousin's shoulder in vexation. A deep sigh came from her throat as she stared at a space that her other cousin used to be. She didn't even know what to do anymore- just how to function like a normal demigod being should be.

"How do you think the others are?" Thalia asked suddenly, getting frustrated at the awkward 'content' silence.

"Uh..." was all the son of Hades could come up with. He scratched the back of his head as if he had just woken up to reality. "Don't ask me, I don't know..."

"I asked for your opinion Death Breath," Thalia reminded him. Besides, she wanted to add. Percy's gone.

He shrugged, closing his soulless black eyes that seemed pained. His posture clearly stated that he didn't want anymore interruptions or side comments.

That was the problem.

She wanted to talk. To move around to search for her cousin that had ran off to find an infected. His mother. Yet she knew it was being selfish of her. A part of her mind kept on stating one thing only. 'You think he's being selfish? I don't see you going to the Underworld to see your mother one last time...' Saying 'shut up' wouldn't help.

Minutes went by slowly- even though none of them had a watch to tell the time. Nico had his eyes closed, although Thalia could clearly see that he wasn't sleeping. None of them were. Then-

"I miss him," a voice that cracked a bit at the end spoke emotionally. Nico turned towards Thalia who wasn't meeting his eyes. "I miss him Thalia."

"We need to wait," Thalia replied. "We both know what it's like to lose a mom."

Nico couldn't help but flinch as he heard those words. Even Thalia who said it herself had cringed at her blunt words. If she could take them back, she would have. The wounds, so old, yet still imprinted in their memories like a sickness.

With Percy:

He wanted to turn back. He really did. Contemplating the old idea in his head, he turned his head to stare at the unwelcoming sight of the narrow path of darkness.

Turn back, turn back, turn back... Was all he thought of. His stomach lurched at the thought of even becoming an infected or being demigod chow for the living dead. Go back to Thalia and Nico.

'They both know what it's like to lose a mother Perseus,' a voice soothed the demigod slyly. 'They'll understand. Don't turn back. Your mother is more important isn't she...?'

But she's not a-... alive anymore, Percy thought, ignoring how he could hear the voice in his head. I should go back.

'Second thoughts are banned from this world!' The soothing voice hissed angrily as if she were the ruler of the earth. 'She will come to you!'

Percy nearly jumped back in shock. His 'branch from a tree' support failed him as it snapped onto the ground in failure. A low (familiar) growl could be heard as he tried to crawl back as much as he could. Eyes widened in shock, and a weird choking noise emitted from his throat.

Sally Jackson was standing right in front of her son in menace. A cruel smile flitted across her face for a moment before it disappeared, determination set in her complete red eyes.

Thunder rumbled and heavy rain poured on them for dramatics. His own salty tears ran down along with the rain without any control.

'You wanted to see her didn't you?' The voice in the air spoke again. She cackled madly, her insane laugh carrying on into thin air. 'Well I suppose she's also the last thing you'll see. Make your final stand Perseus.'

With Will and Michael:

"We need to make it stick to a tree or something," Michael explained in a hushed voice.

"And how do you plan on doing that?" Will asked, looking at the infected in shock as it just grew stronger. "How could we have been so stupid?"

"What?" Michael looked at his half-brother sharply.

"Fire makes them stronger," Will stated, burying his head in his hands. "We need to run. Or else..."

The older son of Apollo shook his head, realization dawning on him quickly. "It'll outrun us easily."

"We're hiding right now," Will argued like lawyer. "If we're stealthy enough..."

"If."

"Better than nothing!"

Michael made a 'shh' noise, clamping his hand over his half-brother's mouth as the infected came closer to them, snarling as it leaped randomly. He held up three fingers.

Three.

They stared at each other. Both blue eyes staring at each other in fear as the countdown went on.

Two.

Two more fingers to go, Will thought in despair, staring at the infected while biting his lip.

One.

Michael blinked a few times, before trying to think positively. I just 'died.' I won't let myself die... At least without protecting Will first. He stared above the clouds, where 'Olympus' was supposed to be. Please dad.Zero.

No fingers were held up anymore. Taking deep breaths, the sons of Apollo ran as fast as they could out of the bushes, trying to sprint faster than a cheetah.

Only one hopeful thought came to mind: 'we're immune.' But as Will stared up in the dark sky, his stomach lurched before the optimistic thought vanished.

With Annabeth:

She could no longer hear the pounding footsteps of the infected. Her breathing slowed down once she stopped. Gasping for air, she looked around in case there were still more.

'Everything's going to be okay Wise Girl,' a voice spoke to her.

Annabeth brought out her knife, swinging it around wildly, looking for the voice suspiciously.

"W-Who's there?" She couldn't help but stammer, cursing herself for her insecurity.

'Its me Annabeth,' the voice spoke again.

The daughter of Athena stared at the solid figure in front of her. Percy was staring at her, grinning crookedly. She felt like a weight was lifted off her shoulders, but she still stared at her boyfriend curiously.

She reached out to touch Percy's hand but once she did, he vanished in thin air.

"Percy?" Annabeth whispered, glancing around with tears. "Percy?!"

Cold laughter spread around the frosty air. She screamed in frustration, falling to her knees. He had been a hallucination.

With Grover and Rachel:

"They're not chasing us anymore," Rachel told the alarmed satyr in a composed voice as she nearly fell over from exhaustion. "We're safe from them now."

Grover stopped trotting on his hooves and he finally stopped, slouching near the back of an alleyway. He gasped for breath as if he had an asthma attack.

"We'll have to go soon," Rachel predicted, her eyes a little glazed over. "One of them is already sensing our smell..."

"Why couldn't you tell us this earlier?" Grover asked in slight annoyance. "Instead, Tyson alerted us. You're the-"

"My vision is complicated," Rachel retorted back in anger. "Do you think I wanted this? Fifteen minutes until we should reach Central Park. Let's just go."

She left without even alerting Grover, who only bleated in response. Eventually, they ended up running together again. The Oracle paused for a moment, catching her breath by supporting herself on a wall.

"Too... Tired..." Rachel tried to say.

"We're almost there!" Grover argued.

"You don't... Understand," Rachel retorted, looking at the satyr in the eye. "I was meant to do this."

"Do what?"

"To die. Right here, right now. It's the only chance I've got at becoming dead instead of being one of the infected. I'm sorry Grover."

With Katie and Tyson:

"We need to go back!" Katie cried out once she saw the heavy army of infected in front of her. "There's too many..." Realization hit her like a ton of bricks. "We're going to die."

"We not dying," Tyson said in confidence.

With one grab of his hand, he hauled Katie over his back before charging at the barrack of infected, roaring a battle cry. She got the plan right away.

"PEANUT BUTTER!" Tyson shouted.

A/N: Sorry for the late update and any OOCness. There may be a few character deaths in the upcoming chapters so be warned. Thanks for all the support!

Keeta-x-Tribias: It's not really insanity, but confusion/conflict.

Blackcurse11: Thanks!