"It's going to be okay," Thalia whispered softly. She slowly looked around the back of the van and felt sick to her stomach. A terrible sense of deja vu settled over her, and it made her want to vomit. Thalia took a few deep breaths and tried to calm down. She needed to stay focused. "Are you still with me?"

Reyna nodded but didn't say a word. Her face was starting to pale, and her pain was clear. Thalia looked down and continue to bandage Reyna's arm. When they had first been thrown into the back of the van, they were given a first aid kit. Thalia was doing her best to keep Reyna from bleeding out. She didn't know how long they had been in the van for, but it had been at least twenty minutes.

"I'll try to get you some pain medicine," Thalia whispered. Reyna nodded slightly, and she rested her head back against the van. Thalia knew that Reyna had gone through a lot the past few days, and it was all catching up to her. "Just stay awake."

Thalia finished bandaging Reyna's arm and then looked around the van. Should she sit next to Reyna? Should she sit across from her? After a few moments of debate, Thalia settled in next to Reyna, and the two of them sat in silence. It wasn't awkward or tense, but Thalia's stomach still felt like it was doing flips.

Out of the corner of her eye, Thalia watched Reyna's eyes drift open and close. All Thalia could do was stare, but the only thing she wanted to do was help. This was all her fault. If she hadn't been yelling at Reyna, they would have noticed someone sneaking in. If Thalia hadn't provoked and insulted Reyna, they wouldn't have been distracted. They would not have been at a disadvantage. Thalia tried to relax and felt the minute slowly pass by.

Do whatever he says.

"What?" Thalia asked. Her head shot up, and she looked to her side. Reyna was cradling her jaw with one hand and had her injured arm held close to her. It took a few moment for Reyna to look at her. "What did you say?"

"I didn't," Reyna muttered. She looked back at the ground and rubbed her jaw. Thalia looked down and tried to keep her own calm. She rubbed her eyes and tried to think her way out of the situation. Thalia was powerless and weaponless. Reyna was too injured to put up a fight, and Charon was a master marksman.

I'm sorry for not telling you. I'm sorry for everything.

Thalia blinked and felt a sharp pain in her knee. She moved her hand down to her leg but felt nothing wrong. Thalia took a deep breath and tried to calm down. She wasn't going crazy, and she wasn't hearing things. It was just the stress of the situation. That what it was.

All Thalia needed to do was keep calm and shove her fear aside. They would find a way out of this. It wouldn't end up like last time. It couldn't. After a few moments, Reyna leaned on her.

"How are you feeling?" Thalia asked quietly. She hesitantly wrapped her arm around Reyna, and when Reyna didn't fight, Thalia pulled her close. It didn't take long for Reyna to lean on her completely.

"Bad," Reyna whispered. She closed her eyes. "Hurts to talk. Arm burns. I hate this so much."

"I'm so sorry about this," Thalia said. She was glad that Reyna had her eyes closed because Thalia didn't think she would be able to make eye contact. Guilt tore through her, and she felt terrible. "This is all my fault."

"Be quiet," Reyna said. Her hand moved back to her jaw, and pain crossed her face. "It's not."

"But it is," Thalia argued. She closed her eyes. "I didn't even go to your funeral. What kind of person skips out on their girlfriend's funeral?"

"We did break up," Reyna muttered. A pained smile came to her face. Thalia shook her head and tried to get rid of the guilt that filled her chest. Reyna had died because of Thalia before, and she was hurt now.

Thalia looked down. She almost wished that her and Reyna didn't have their earlier talk. It was so much easier just to be mad at her. Now, Thalia's feelings were all over the place. Guilt was the most prominent. Followed by anger and sadness.

If you want to talk about this after we get out of here, I'm willing to talk. I want to save this relationship.

Thalia tensed and cursed softly. She brought her knees to her chest and rested her head on her knees. Thalia spoke, "I'm sorry, Reyna. I am so sorry. I'm just an idiot with a temper."

"You were my idiot," Reyna said softly. Thalia slowly turned her head, and the two were only inches apart. As Thalia started to lean in, the doors opened. Thalia quickly turned, and she found herself face to face with a pistol.

"Out," Charon ordered. Thalia held up her hands and slowly got out of the van. Reyna followed her even slower. Thalia looked around their surroundings. They were in some kind of garage. "Forward. Towards the door."

"We're going," Thalia said. She gently helped Reyna walk towards the door that was across the garage. She heard the sound of someone getting out of the van. Reyna glanced behind them and spoke, "It's just the two of them."

This is where justice was killed.

"One has a gun," Thalia hissed. Reyna remained silent. "We can't take them on."

"What should we do then?" Reyna demanded. Thalia didn't have an answer for that. She just led Reyna forward. Thalia knew that Charon was a sharpshooter, and he wouldn't hesitate to kill Reyna.

"We wait for an opportunity," Thalia finally whispered. Reyna shook her head but didn't argue. As they made it to the door, it was thrown open. Thalia stopped walking and found herself face to face with Hades. She stepped in front of Reyna.

"You're not going to hurt her," Thalia stated. She stared Hades in his eyes. "I lied to you about Bianca."

"Enough," Hades interrupted. He walked towards them. The door behind him opened, and Bianca slowly stepped into the garage. Thalia stared at Bianca, and Bianca stared back. There was fear in her eyes. "My friends gave their lives and freedom, so I could escape with my daughter."

"And, you captured me and Reyna. You do know that everyone is going to come looking for us," Thalia stated.

They're just kids

"And, they will die. No one is going to keep me from my daughter," Hades growled. He walked closer to her.

They may be kids, but they pretend to be heroes.

Reyna gripped Thalia's shoulder and pulled her backwards. She suddenly stopped. Thalia glanced behind them and saw that Charon was on their heels and aiming his gun at their backs.

Thalia Grace is going to learn what it means to be a hero. She is going to learn what it means to make hard decisions.

"Leave Reyna alone. She is innocent. I lied when I said that she helped kidnap Bianca. It was all me," Thalia said. Hades studied her with cold eyes. His eyes were also puffy, like he had been crying.

"The love of my life is dead," Hades stated. He walked towards them. Thalia pulled Reyna backwards, only stopping when she felt the barrel of the gun digging into her spine. "You will all pay for that."

"You could have avoided this," Reyna said. "You could have let me take the powers of the Olympians and their kids. There was no need for this violence."

Thalia felt the gun move from her back, and it fired. She yelled as pain tore through leg. She collapsed to a knee, and Reyna turned towards her. The butt of a gun slammed into Reyna's jaw, and she fell to the ground near Thalia.

I am a monster, Huntress. I never claimed to be a misunderstood hero. I know what I am, but what are you?

"Stop," Thalia begged. She gripped her leg with both hands. It was all happening again. It couldn't be. Bianca stared at them and slowly took a few steps forward. She no longer had her handcuffs, and it was easy to see how bad her hands were shaking.

To be a hero, you must learn how to make decisions, no matter how hard they are.

"The Olympians had to pay for their sins," Hades said. He grabbed Reyna by her shirt. Reyna slowly looked up at him. "Should I just let them go? How is that fair to all of those who have suffered or died because of the Olympians?"

"It's a useless cycle of violence," Reyna hissed. She spat a tooth out. "Their kids will come after you, and when you kill them, you will claim self defense. How many people are you going to kill?

Let me die. I have lived a happy and full life.

"It is your fault my family is fractured, dead, or captured," Hades said. He pulled Reyna to her feet. "I made a mistake in giving you mercy, and I paid the price. I will never make that mistake again."

Make your choice.

"Leave her alone!"Thalia yelled. Hades slowly looked at her. Thalia didn't care about her safety anymore. She had caused Reyna to die once before, and she was not going to allow that to happen again. "Kill me instead."

"You will be next," Hades promised. Reyna shot her hand forward, but Hades caught her wrist. His gloved hand tightened around her wrist. "I am not fool. I remember all about your powers, and if you think you will take mine, you are naive."

Thalia looked down at the ground and ignored all of the pain in her knee. She launched herself into Hades and Reyna, and the three of them hit the ground hard. Thalia quickly tried to stand, but someone kicked her hard in the stomach. She collapsed to the ground and wheezed for breath.

Reyna slammed into Charon and tried to wrestle the gun from him. He slammed his forehead into hers, and she stumbled backwards. Charon flipped the gun in his hands, and he slammed the butt of his gun into Reyna's temple. She collapsed to her hands and knees.

"Stop!" Thalia wheezed. Charon looked at her and then kicked Reyna in the temple. She crumpled to the ground. Charon grabbed the back of Reyna's shirt and pulled her to her knees. He slammed his gun into her temple once again. "Stop! She's hurt enough."

Charon let go of Reyna and stepped away. Reyna collapsed to the ground and didn't move. Thalia stared in horror. She felt Hades grab her shirt and pull her to her feet. Bianca took a few steps towards them.

"Father," Bianca whispered in a quiet voice. Hades slowly looked at her. "Please stop this. Don't hurt them anymore."

"I'm doing this for you," Hades said softly. For a moment, there was kindness in his eyes. "For Nico. For everyone who has died or suffered because the Olympians are cowards. I have lost so much, Bianca, and I will do what I must to hold onto what I have left: you."

"Just don't do this in front of me, please," Bianca begged. After a few moments, Hades dropped Thalia. A cry left Thalia as she collapsed, and she gripped her leg.

"We just have the two of us," Hades said softly. He grabbed Bianca's arm. Bianca suddenly turned and hugged him tightly.

"I love you father," Bianca said softly. She moved her hand to touch her father's neck, and Hades' eyes widened. "But, this is the end of us."