Heyyyy guys hehehehe...

I'll be extremely honest here and just tell you that actually i've been indulging in so many interesting animes that i neglected my story writing and i apologize for it hehe...

This chapter is probably not the best chapter i've written. It was pretty difficult for me to write it too. I had a hard time thinking how they would react and it's kinda difficult putting it into words even if i am able to imagine myself in Percy's place and all that

I hope you'll enjoy this chapter and yea the next one is probably next week as i have this task of making a music video for something so i may not have the time to write till next week.

Till then, enjoy life! HAHA (trademark)

~kuntakintae

Percy's POV

Hack. Slash. Duck. Guard. Roll. Hack. Slash. Parry.

Sweat poured down my face as I swept through the room, slicing through moving straw dummies and dodging blades attached to the dummies as they spun and moved to attack me.

It might have seemed a bit of overkill to most people. Beginners would get critically injured and may even die if they used the training method. I was no beginner.

"Level 3 training procedure, start," the computer announced monotonously. The Straw dummies immediately changed pattern, moving with significantly more efficiency and covering more area. Their speed increased as well. Sections of the walls opened and crossbows appeared, armed with real arrows.

Swords swirled through the air and arrows seemed to travel at a speed of light as they flew. However, I had long ago gotten used to it.

Even though the system automatically changes the patterns of swords and sequence and speed of arrows, years and years of practice had sharpened my accuracy and honed my reflexes as well as swordsmanship. Once I focused, most of the arrows and swords seem to go in slow motion. The adrenaline running in my body also helped a lot.

Usually I wouldn't train here. It was much more fun and exciting to train in the club as humans tend to be able to think on their own unlike machines. This practice ground was only used whenever I needed to get my mind off something.

Like Rachel.

"Procedure halting. Disturbance detected," The machine announced. I tensed, knowing what had caused the disturbance.

Just as I feared, Rachel appeared at the entrance of the practice room. The fear inside me spiked up as I saw her distraught face.

I had known what would happen if she read the diary. I gave it to her anyway. The sight of her, so broken and insecure, made me question my decision a thousand times over.

"Rachel?" I called tentatively. I knew the feeling of my whole world falling into pieces, the feeling of how everything in my life turned out to be a lie. I had experienced it too many times to count. Needless to say, it wasn't a good feeling.

Whatever I said in this conversation would more or less affect her entire well-being forever.

"Percy," She sobbed, her voice shaky, her quivering hand holding the book I've protected so dearly for the past few years.

"Is everything here true?"

I looked at her, emotions running wild in me as I pondered over what I should say, what I should do. Should I try to comfort her? Should I beat around the bush until she's better?

"…Yes," I said in an emotionless voice, unwilling to betray the multitude of tumultuous emotions raging inside of me like waves in a storm. It was the only thing I could do staring at her face. I was afraid that if I tried to comfort her, I would end up breaking down myself.

When had I become so weak?

My attention was brought back to Rachel as she suddenly ran out the door. An image of her getting rammed by a vehicle flashed across my mind and panic seized me.

"Rachel!" I shouted, dropping Riptide onto the floor before dashing towards the entrance of the practice room. The heart-wrenching sound of her sobs echoed throughout the house as I ran down the stairs after her.

When she had found out that Micheal cheated on her, her trust in him, her world, everything had shattered in pieces. She had, without any rational thought and without the strength to endure the heartbreak, ran without thinking straight into the path of a truck.

I wasn't there for her last time, but I was now.

"Rachel, please!" I exclaimed as I finally caught her hand right at the entrance to my house. The strength she used to make me let go of her hand was tremendous, but I held on. There was no way I was going to let her get hurt again.

"This can't be real. This can't be real," Rachel chanted continuously, as though she didn't even know I was there. Her eyes were as wide as planets and her skin was as pale as moonlight.

"Rachel!" My eyes widened in surprise as Nico's and Thalia's united voice rang through my ears. They suddenly appeared at the door of the house.

When they saw what was happening, they stopped cold and stared, their brains trying to process what was happening. It wasn't everyday you see a hysterical girl trying looking like a damn mental patient chanting something.

"Stop staring and help me!" I shouted at them, breaking them out of their stupor.

They both rushed forward to help bring Rachel over to the sofa. Although Rachel was using all her strength to break free, she was no match for three on one.

Even when she was seated down, she still continued struggling. Nico, Thalia and I had to restrain her until she expended all her energy.

After five minutes of torture, she finally ran out of energy and slumped into the couch, sobbing unstoppably. Tears spilled out of her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. She looked horrible.

"Nico, Thalia, go get a cup of milo for Rachel," I said in a no-nonsense tone.

Thankfully, they understood that I needed time alone with Rachel and nodded, quietly leaving us to go make milo for Rachel.

"Rachel, look at me," I said in a soothing voice. She didn't respond. Her eyes were glassy and unfocused, as though something in her had broke.

I had feared this would happen. Even though she knew something had happened, she didn't know exactly what. With her current memories, she would think of Micheal as a very good friend. Even a lover. The only reason why she had tried to find me was because of everyone else's doubt at Micheal.

Her faith in Micheal had wavered, but had not broken. She had probably hoped that whatever he did was not too bad and she could somehow change everyone's mind around so that Micheal would once again be accepted and everything can go back to normal.

After reading the diary, I guess that hope had been utterly crushed.

"Rachel," I repeated once again, hoping to get at least some reaction out of her. She didn't react.

I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to think of something that could help her. Only one thing came up.

I took her hand and squeezed it tightly. There was nothing else I could think of. All I could do now was let her know I was there for her, and pray to the gods that she would be all right.

"Percy…" My head shot up when her voice drifted across my ears. All my attention immediately focused on her. Her eyes were staring straight into mine, no longer glassy or unfocused. She had stopped sobbing and crying as well.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I wish I could make up for all the mistakes I did, but I can't even remember. I don't have the same feelings for you as the previous me," She said in a soft voice, her eyes avoiding mine.

I was at a lost of words. What should I do? What should I say? Years ago, I would have hugged her and held her tight. I would have wiped away the tears on her face and told her, in a gentle and comforting voice, not to cry.

However, I couldn't do that anymore. The Rachel in front of me may look the same, sound the same, even feel the same, but she's no longer the Rachel I knew and love. She was gone, never coming back. The eyes that I were staring into now were the eyes of someone I don't know.

"It's not your fault," was all I could choke out. I felt Nico and Thalia approaching behind me. They must have heard what Rachel said. The house was quite silent after all.

"I'll leave you two to her. She remembers you," I said, my chest constricting so much I couldn't even breathe. I felt like there was a big lump in my throat and my stomach felt sick.

I stood up and slowly walked towards my room, not even glancing back at the huddled forms of the three of them, not trying to hear what Nico and Thalia were saying. It didn't matter.

Rachel was gone forever.