Hey, not that I care or anything, but if my reviewer and story alertest wouldn't mind, could you spread word about this story? I just want to know if it's any good.

And in the last chapter, I messed up. The year was supposed to be 2020.

Thanks.

-Greeting Exchange-

July 13, 2020

Camp Half-Blood:
Poseidon Cabin

I felt up my forearms with excitement, ignoring the conch shell that bellowed in the distance. I grabbed my cheeks and smiled. I was so happy I could've cried, but I had to remember my task. I had only two weeks to grab her before all the souls that were tied to me vanished. I was supposed to protect them and carry them safely after they made their imprint on my body. I peered out of the curtains and the warmth of the sun bathed my face for the first time in year. Campers passed by, running down to the commons yard.

Here we go, Percy. Breathe.

When everyone had crowded into the pavilion, I slipped out of the cabin door and pulled a hood over my head. I blended pretty well with Nico as a child of Hades but I knew better than to sit at the table. Hades would've incinerated me. I sat down casually at the Poseidon table and scanned the area. What I found odd was that no one seemed to notice my presence; I was just another shadow.

I caught Annabeth's eyes through my bangs, her face emotionless and cold. She stared back down at her food and slumped her shoulders, picking through the barbeque. I looked towards Mr. D's table but he wasn't there anymore, and I hated to admit how miserable that made me. I had grown used to seeing his scowling red face and purpling hair. Clarisse leaned forward at her table, pushing strawberries like candy, ignoring her ugly friends.

I had never realized the impact I had on the camp. I understood Annabeth's depression, sure. But Clarisse? Maybe she missed her favorite punching bag.

Chiron shifted on his hooves, watching the Athena table discretely, and then glancing at his novel. He didn't seem as affected by my disappearance, and I finally understood what he meant. It did get depressing at times, training heroes, but he'd grown used to it over the millennia.

When breakfast had ended I avoided other campers. Some appeared to notice me but they just shook their heads and refocused their attention on anything else. I silently prayed that all of these people didn't imagine me on a daily basis. I mean it was okay for some girls, but even the guys?

I hung out by the water, a comforting sight after years of sneaking into houses and buildings and stealing innocent souls. I dug my hands into my pockets and watched the sun reflect off the glassy water. Trees loomed over me, providing shade, like they knew I couldn't handle so much sun after running with Artemis for so long.

Someone came to join me on the pier but I was careful not to move, hoping they thought I was a mirage their mind had conjured up to comfort them somehow. Something philosophical like that…

Annabeth pushed her hair over her shoulder and stared out on the water, where canoes speckled the lake voluminously. She didn't even cast a glance at me, so I made the move to look at her. When I did, the wind started bustling through the leaves, casting them down on us.

"Annabeth," I whispered. Her body tensed and it seemed she refused to turn and look at me. She blocked her eyes from the world and clenched her jaw tightly, crossing her arms across her chest. "Annabeth, look at me."

She mumbled something to herself. I knew it would be difficult, nearly impossible, to convince her to listen to what she didn't believe. Her logical side told her that I was just an image in her mind, that maybe she was just going crazy. "Go away, Percy."

I turned to look back at the water, my hood straining against the top if my head. "Not the welcome back I was expecting. But I can go with that."

She turned towards me unsurely. "You're not real."

I shrugged. "And you're a satyr. Heck, I'll go ahead and call you a pegasus." I glanced at her and she looked at me, straining against some force to come closer to me. Maybe I should've showered before I popped into camp from the Underworld. I turned my body towards her and held out a limp hand. "Go ahead, test it for yourself."

She looked at the outstretched palm and took a swift peek at the world around us. No one paid any attention; no one seemed to care about what we were doing. Her lips tightened into a thin line and she hesitantly tapped the back of my hand. Solid. Her eyes widened considerably as she backed away, tripping over herself to get away from me.

I started towards her but she turned and ran towards the Big House screaming out Chiron's name. The horse-man was standing on the wrap-around porch, already expecting her when she sprung up the steps. She started sprouting out words quickly, motioning to where I was still standing. Chiron listened patiently, as if he expected it. I glanced at the sky and thunder rumbled through the clouds.

The ground trembled roughly and a crevice the size of my forearm opened up. A piece of paper sprung through, at my feet—a letter from Hades. I picked it up, glancing at the pair, and read the letter.

Keep the centaur out of this.

X Hades

I rolled my eyes and made a break for the forest, keeping a close eye on them. Annabeth was trying to explain to Chiron, him holding her shoulders. I could tell he was trying to calm her and she inhaled deeply. I ducked into the protection of the trees as Annabeth grabbed Chiron's wrist and started dragging him back to the pier. She turned and noticed my disappearance with disbelief strewn across her features.

Chiron shook his head and pulled his hand back gently, guiding her towards the cabins. I felt like a total jerk as I slumped down to the ground and leaned on a tree trunk. I could imagine the others whispering things about her, calling her psychotic. Athena, forgive me.

I spent numerous hours against that tree trunk, reflecting over my time as the Soul Thief. I had stolen small children in car accidents, cancer patients, even an old man who had fallen down a flight of steps and broken his neck. Life, as it seemed, was just a giant death trap, designed especially to keep me occupied. I despised every second of my existence.

Before I could make a move away from my hiding place, the horn for lunch was echoing in the distance, drawing me towards the smells of barbeque that I realized I missed excessively. I scrambled to my feet and adjusted my hood further over my eyes.

The walk to lunch was quicker than expected, tons of demigods running to the commons yard and lining up. I stood alone where I used to stand, representing the Poseidon cabin. The only difference really was that I was also representing Hades. I stood away from the others, as conspicuous as a sore thumb. I felt like all eyes were on me, but the only pair I really caught were Dacey's. She grinned and waved at me before Malcolm pulled her gently into line.

Everyone marched into the pavilion and sat at their respective tables. I sat on the comfortably open bench and kept my head down. I filled my plate up, grateful that I was able to eat again. I felt like Tantalus, unable to eat for eternity. The food was warm and juicy in my mouth; I savored every bite like I'd never taste again.

As lunch went on, I moved food around on my plate and study the marble tabletop. For the first time I noticed a very light trident engraftment with the number 3 in the center of the table. It appeared to me that years of trays rubbing against the sign had rubbed it away to nearly nothing. I traced my finger across it, dust gathering on my index.

Everything was suddenly tense and silent. The back of my neck and my cheeks felt hot, worry gathering inside of me. The feeling of people watching me was airborne around me. I dared to glance up. Few sets of eyes were watching me; people had stopped chattering animatedly, only whispering. I glanced at Mr. D's table, satyrs sitting awkwardly. I noticed Grover with wide slit-style eyes. He dropped his tin can and hesitantly stood up.

"Percy?" he bleated. He trotted up to me, his shaggy hindquarters twitching anxiously. Grover's attention shifted towards the Athena table and I closed my eyes. My hands balled into fists and I grinded my teeth.

Annabeth pushed back my hood and glared at me. "You're supposed to be dead."

I opened my mouth to respond but my mind was questioning everything. What made everyone suddenly notice me now? Why not at breakfast or just not at all? I had been around the whole camp already that morning and no one wasted a glance in my direction. Why now?

Grover poked my shoulder and bleated. "Blah-ha-ha! Percy!" He lunged at me and enveloped my body in a tight hug, his arms squeezing me until I was blue in the face. Annabeth crossed her arms and refused to look at me. I escaped Grover's cobra-hold and stood in front of Annabeth awkwardly. I realized how close we were, our faces about four inches away.

Chiron appeared, towering over us all with his hunter's bow slung over his shoulder. His confused demeanor forced me to tense more, my body rigid and frozen in a pendulum of suspension. Maybe I was overreacting, maybe under, but I decided to take a safe amount of steps away from Annabeth and Grover until Chiron was sure about me.

"Percy Jackson, by the gods," he mumbled under his breath.

Uhh, yeah. Definitely not my best but I've had a stressful weekend. I won't go into details because they can bore. Remember, suggest the story.