I: The Grand Betrayal

-Percy-

My eyes shot open. Small beams of light gleamed through the window an onto the corner of my pillow. My ears filled with the nice sound of rushing water. I glanced at the clock and whined as I realized it was already 10:34. Everyone compared my sleeping state to a rock, and I was beginning to understand why. I just need to learn how to fall asleep standing up and I'll be at peak human evolution. My hands rested on the side of my bunk as I leaped from the top, a slap echoing through the cabin as I landed. I went to shower and change my clothes.

Once I finished all that boring stuff, I trekked outside to see a few people still eating breakfast, including my brother. I walked over to him, my feet sinking further into the mushy grass trail with each step. The border really is damaged. I slid onto the bench next to Kyle, I wasn't hungry. He looked at me once and shook his head. "Still don't get why you take cold showers," he murmured.

"Heh, I'm a son of Poseidon, I can handle it," I replied. "Besides, they really help me cool down."

"Not while I'm eating," he responded, taking another bite of his burger.

"I'ma go chill with the others and let you finish eating then." He averted his eyes and continued to eat, refusing to talk. Suddenly a loud scream pierced my ears.

Our heads swiveled in the scream's direction. Squinting hard, I could barely make out the figure of a girl running down Half-Blood Hill with two Hellhounds on her tail. We need a new dam border, no offense to Thalia's pine. On instinct I sprinted through the camp, dodging campers and obstacles alike. My heart pounded after seeing the first monster in a while.

So far! Rising above a grassy hilltop, I spotted the river that cut through the camp. Yet so little time! My feet pushed off the ground, the mud stalling my leap. I plunged into the river below me I scrambled to hop out of the water and continue on my way. In the last seconds of being in the water, I squeezed my eyes shut.

I envisioned a grassy hill on the edge of a forest. Birds chirped happily and flowers bloomed on the grass. The sun beat down on children who were taking turns rolling down the hill.

I opened my eyes. Dam I'm still in the creek. A cold mix of sweat and water poured from my hair an down my back. I took off running again, the girls cries becoming louder and more clear.

I hopped the arts and crafts station, bumping a open set of paints, the colorful mixture seeping into the grass. My focus remained on the running girl, the Hellhounds steadily advancing. Almost there! I whipped Riptide out of my pocket and tore the cap off, sliding in front of hounds just in time. The footsteps of the girl got farther away as a small breath to escaped me.

Both simultaneously lunged at me so I back-stepped swiftly, swinging my blade in a downward arc towards the closest Hellhound. It burst into dust upon contact. The second tried to bite my now exposed arm, but I easily moved it and struck the second hound down. I looked back to see the girl getting greeted by virtually everyone at camp. Dam they were swarming her. Hehe. Dam. Sorry.

It surprised me no one even came to ask if I was ok, but I guess two Hellhounds are so little of a problem they know I'm fine. I happily waved at Annabeth but she was fixated on the new camper. Well, I'll let the new kid have some fun, my friends will join up with me later, right? There are enough problems in my hands. It seems I still can't activate my Vapor Travel, a transportation art where you teleport through water vapor itself. It's actually a complicated concept.

***One Week***

Am I in hell? Why is it that no one seems to care anymore? Why's everyone just, fading away? What's happening to this camp? Why's it all changing? Why's everyone seem to avoid me? Why's it like everyone just forgot I exist? Since last week, it's been like I don't exist to everyone at this camp. Like I'm no one. Nothing.

Here I am again, wandering without purpose. This time not because everyone's asleep, but because they're already 'busy.' I felt my fingers form hand quotes and I chuckled. Everyone's constantly busy now. Too busy for me. Even Annabeth's drifting away too fast for me to catch her.

I kicked a stone and flinched when I heard it hit something that sounded like skin. I peered up to see a man wearing a hoodie looking down upon me. A hood covered his face, but his aura was still foreboding and I could barely catch a red gleam where his eyes would be.

A deep chill raced down my spine. Every muscle in my body tensed as I stared at the hooded figure. The howl of wind was all you could hear all that for miles. I stepped back slowly.

He pulled a knife from his belt, causing me to instinctively jump back and uncap my sword. With a swift leap, he dove at me, his knife disappearing back into his belt. The man was coming with a simple rush with his hand extended in a stabbing motion. I reached one arm to grab his hand, while my sword arm slashed at his head. He ducked my blade, but I grabbed his arm.

I felt a soft liquid on my chest. I looked down to see the dagger he put away directly in my stomach. What the hell? How did he get that there? Don't tell me… I coughed up blood tumbling backward and onto the cold grass. The breeze whistled by lightly and the hooded figure seemed to evaporate right into it. Why me? WHY?

I heard talking from my left and jolted my head towards that direction. There I saw Jason and Piper walking in my direction. "Hey!" It took everything I had to manage a scream. "Help!" Jason eyed me warily.

"With you gone," Jason started with a stone cold face. "I'll be the strongest." He turned on his heels and just left, Piper trailing behind him. This can't be happening. I'm going to die now? At age seventeen? I can't let that happen, I refuse! I'm bleeding so much. I think I'm gonna take a naapppp…

My eyes shot open, revealing the brown roof of the infirmary. A sharp breath escaped my mouth. "Did you fight two wars and almost die to a single Hellhound?" I turned my head to see my brother sitting next to me with Ambrosia in hand. Did all that happen? There's no way, did Jason leave me to die? I flipped up and out of my bed rushing out of the room, Kyle screaming profanity and telling me to come back.

I darted around camp crazily and carelessly, but it's not like anyone pays attention to me, anyway. I feel invisible traversing this place. It's almost like people are trying to forget me at this point. Where's Jason? I kicked open the door to the Zeus cabin with no avail. Where is that brat? I questioned myself, anger bubbling deep within me. I turned around to see familiar faces blocking my path. "Hazel, Frank, Clarisse, where's Jason." I practically screamed.

"It really is true," Hazel whispered. "I didn't want to believe it, but this seems like good proof. Kyle stepped in for nothing."

"What are you guys talking abou-"

"I THINK YOU KNOW," Frank screamed, pulling a knife from his belt and swinging it at me. With no time to react, I jumped further back into the cabin and activated a shield Tyson had given me. "Guys like you don't deserve things like that," he growled, jumping towards me again.

"Hey!" Clarisse shouted. "As much as I want to fight the punk, this is not the best way to go about this." Hazel stared off into the distance looking frightened. The thumps of my heart created a nice beat. I back flipped out the window feeling glass shards skin past my legs.

"What do you guys want with ME!" I yelled so loud the gods could probably hear it. All pent up frustration, pain, and confusion. I released it all in that final cry. My final plea for help. Frank jumped from the window but was reluctantly held back by Clarisse. Everyone eyed me cautiously, creating a silent stalemate.

Hazel took a shaky breath. "Y-you tried to kill Jason to gain power and c-control over camp Demigod," Hazel They looked at me in fear, an expression I'd never seen on Clarisse. They stepped back awaiting my response. What'd they expect me to do, fight? My fatal flaw was loyalty, so why? Why are they doing this to me? I began to silently sob before running to Athena cabin. Only one person could help me now.

I knocked on the door loudly, knowing the others would probably still be following me. The door swung open to show Annabeth leaning against the wall. I tried to step forward, but she pushed her hand out in a stop gesture. "You are not welcome here, Percy. I wish we could have lived happily together, but if you're that power hungry I shouldn't stay with you. Besides, look what you did. I hope yo-"

"BURN IN HELL!" I screamed finishing for her. I could feel a strange blue aura around me. Tears formed in my eyes as I cried and cried, not even noticing. My eyes squeezed shut hearing Hazel scream. "There he is!"

"We always were good at finishing each other's sentences," Annabeth mumbled. Then it was all gone. Everything was silent other than my sobs. I collapsed and let all my emotions out. All the hate needed to go. My fatal flaw is still loyalty, and I need to let them kill me if I want them to be happy. Why am I still attached to them? This stupid, fatal flaw!

A nice scent blew by in the wind. I opened my eyes and gasped. The surrounding landscape was different. I was no longer in Athena cabin, but somewhere far off in Demigod Woods. Had I finally pulled off a successful Vapor Travel? Maybe all I needed to complete the skill was a little emotion. I smiled a little bit. Whether I would kill myself or try to live normally back with Sally and Paul was something I didn't know. I didn't want them hurt by monsters, but I felt like I was too young to die. THUMP.

The breeze picked up, causing leaves to sweep right off trees. I shifted to see my old friend staring down at me. "I don't know what I will do," I muttered. "But if I die, it sure won't be to you." The Minotaur punched down at me and I rolled to the side activating my shield and sword. It punched me again, and I held up the shield right in its path. Upon contact, the shield exploded into Celestial Bronze shards sending me flying back into a tree. My best memory of times with Tyson gone, just like that. Guys like you don't deserve things like that. I gritted my teeth. He sabotaged the thing, didn't he?

I groaned and stood up, two-handing Riptide. Suddenly with no warning, I flinched and gasped for air. No way. Grover just broke the dam empathy link. I didn't even see the Minotaur move until it was about to land the killing blow. Guess this is it, huh? That's what I thought until it exploded into golden dust.