Author's Note: Ugh I know, I'm posting this a day late again. I'm really sorry, guys. I'll try to post on time in the future, or give some warning if I know I won't be posting on time. Also, I would like to say, thank you so, SO much to everyone who has reviewed, followed, or favorited this story. In a recent review, I was told that I would be able to improve my story more if I had given some more background information besides what I wrote in the author's note and the summary, and I promise I will keep that in mind. I've been considering ways to give more background information, such as an extended summary or prologue, maybe? Anyways, I hope you all like this chapter! I know it's super short, but I promise not all of the chapters will be this short. Lastly, I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians, I am just a fan.

Chapter Nine: Luke POV: I Weigh my Options

Gods, I was stupid. I should have known this was going to happen. Now Thalia hated me, and so did Annabeth. Frustrated, I hit the table, causing the contents to shake and my glass to fall over, spilling all over the carpet next to my chair.

I was tempted to run to Thalia's room and try to apologize, but I knew Thalia well enough to know that this soon, it would only make matters worse. "Kelli?" I called. She opened the door. "Can you please send a cleaning crew up here to get rid of this mess?"

"Of course, master Luke." She smiled and closed the door again. I hated how gleeful she looked.

I couldn't bear to stay in there anymore, so I changed into a bathing suit and went down to the pool. I passed the cleaning harpies on the way out. They bowed and said nothing. Unluckily, I also passed Kelli again.

"Master Luke, would you like us to take her back to shore?" she asked.

"No. Just let her be alone. I need some time to myself as well." I continued on, not waiting to see her response.

When I arrived at the pool, I dove straight in and swam laps back and forth until I was out of breath. Then I leaned against the corner of the pool and looked up at the sky. I wondered if the gods were watching me.

For the first time since I joined Kronos, I considered it, what Thalia had said, that maybe I was wrong about the gods. I knew in my heart that she was wrong about me. I would never be able to stand by and watch as my friends were killed. Especially not her, or Annabeth. Or even Chiron, or any of the demigods at camp for that matter. Not even mortals I had never met.

I closed my eyes, thinking. Could I rejoin the demigods? Could I fight against Kronos instead of Camp Half-Blood? Did we even have a chance at winning, or would it all be for nothing? I thought about that for a second. Did I even care?

I pictured Annabeth's reaction when we met next time. It would be in battle, and we would be on opposite sides. Her expression was a mixture of disbelief, betrayal, and hatred.

That thought alone was enough to make me realize that this wasn't where I was meant to be. I should be fighting alongside Camp Half-Blood: alongside my siblings, Annabeth, Thalia, Chiron, and all of the others. I had made up my mind. We needed to get off this ship.

I almost ran to tell Thalia right that second, but then I realized that I needed to wait at least a few days. I couldn't raise suspicion, because I knew that as soon as the monsters and the rest of Kronos's army figured it out, they would try to kill us. We needed an escape plan.