Well guys, this is nearly it. This is the second to last chapter in this story. Although, this is kind of like the ending, and then the next chapter will be more of an epilogue.

Anyway, on with the chapter!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Song: Life And Death - Michael Giacchino. I know it's short, just put it on repeat.

I ran.

I couldn't focus on the chaos around me. All I knew was that people were hurting. Dying. Innocent people. My friends. The titans were everywhere. I didn't know where the gods were, but then again I didn't really care. I had to get to the throne room. I had to end this horror.

As I reached Olympus I saw destruction. Buildings were crumbled and destroyed. Bodies were everywhere. Bodies of the ones I'd fought with, laughed with, cried with. I looked around me in shock at the campers who had already died for the sake of the gods. The numbers were greater than I had imagined. Lacie, a daughter of Apollo, who couldn't have been any older than eleven. So young. She hadn't had a chance. Paul, one of Annabeth's older brothers. This was meant to be his last year at camp half blood. He'd had so much to live for. The bodies were everywhere. I couldn't stand to continue looking at the faces of those who had fallen.

I had to keep running. No matter how much it hurt. No matter how much I hated my father. No matter how much I hated Hera, Luke, Kronos, or even myself. I had forced Percy to be the child of the Great Prophecy. And now...I wasn't sure we could win. If I hadn't been afraid...If I hadn't become a huntress to protect myself...would I have fought sooner? Would I have won? Would these people still be alive? Time was running out, and we were losing. We were dying.

I made my way up to the center of the destruction. That would be where Percy and Kronos would be fighting to kill each other. I needed to help. I had to. Part of me was terrified. I wasn't sure if I could do it. That's why I joined the Hunt in the first place. If the time came and I was the one who decided the fate of the world...could I stop Kronos? Could I hurt Luke's body? Could I kill Luke?

I heard sudden noise behind me and knew that it must be the gods. Nearly all of them. They were so weakened, yet so desperate to save what little they had left. But why fight? We have no chance... Even as I tell myself that there's no point, I can't stop myself from running.

My leg couldn't take much more. After being pinned under a rock, my right leg was badly sprained. I had aggravated the few remaining Apollo campers by refusing to let them heal me. There wasn't enough time, and I had to help Percy. If Percy couldn't win, the entire world would be terribly altered.

When I reached the throne room I saw them. Percy, Annabeth and Grover never noticed me. They were on the ground, forming a semi circle. Annabeth was sobbing. Percy was fighting to hold it in, as was Grover. Kronos' injured body was on the cold floor in the center. It wasn't Kronos though, it was Luke. He'd been stabbed with the very blade he'd given Annabeth. Percy had done it. He had saved us. He had prevented Kronos from taking over. And now, Luke was dying.

I half hid myself behind on of the remaining pillars, positioning myself so that I was facing Annabeth, so that I could see them clearly.

I looked at Luke, injured and fading. The same boy I met years ago. The boy I'd traveled with. The boy who helped me care for Annabeth. The boy I'd trusted.

I felt the drops fall and realized that I was crying. But I didn't care anymore. Luke was the only thing I'd had left. I guess a part of me was hoping he'd somehow have a change of heart and manage to be forgiven. I'd hoped that things could go back to the way they were. But no, he was dying. He had promised me that he would always be there.

I had to cover my mouth to prevent the sobs from being too loud. I wanted to hear what they were saying. I wanted to say goodbye to Luke, but it just didn't feel right. I couldn't do it. I felt like I had to remain hidden.

After a few moments he looked at me. Directly at me, just past Annabeth

"Did you love me?" He asked, weak.

The others thought the question was for Annabeth, but I knew it was directed at me.

Annabeth held back sobs. "I...I loved you like a brother Luke, but nothing more than that."

Luke nodded, but kept watching me. Crying, I nodded. Luke seemed satisfied. He smiled one last time before closing his eyes, and then he was gone.

Luke. My Luke.

I left that room before I totally lost it. I left just as the Olympians entered. My father, Artemis, and a few others looked at me puzzled, but I ignored them all. Once I was out of sight I let go. I cried and screamed. It wasn't fair, it wasn't right. The penalty for breaking an oath promised to the river Styx should have been directed at my father. I didn't understand why I had suffered all these years.

I hated both my mother and father for their selfish, greedy and stupid ways. I hated Hera for murdering my brother. I hated Kronos for taking Luke away from me, and for being the cause of Zoe and Bianca's death. I hated Hermes for foreseeing his son's outcome, yet letting it happen anyway. I hated Hades for willingly accepting my mother, Jason, Luke, Zoe, and even his own daughter. I hated myself for not having the power to change anything. I wasn't even a good lieutenant. I'd lost so many hunters...

Annabeth had Percy, and I knew she would be alright. She wouldn't need me, and at that moment I honestly, truly, desperately wanted to die.

I had nothing, was nothing.

I'd been screamed at, abused, ridiculed, attacked, nearly murdered, turned into a tree, and brought back only for more torture.

But worst of all, I'd been abandoned.

At that moment I knew that the Fates would never allow me to be happy.

It just wasn't meant to be.

They burned many shrouds that night. More than they should have. A shroud for the son of Hermes, shrouds for children of Apollo, Athena, Aphrodite, and so on. I could help but think about all of the hunters I'd lost. I could help but think that if it had been anyone but me in charge, they may have lived. Part of me wanted to go down to where the ceremonies were being held, but the more dominant part of myself told me not to go. I knew I'd fall apart again, and I didn't want the campers seeing me like that. Didn't want Artemis to see me like that. Especially over a boy.

I spent that night up by the boarder. The one with the tree. Thalia's Tree, they called it. Even though I knew it was pretty much my prison, I felt a strange comfort sitting under my tree. Here, I could watch but remain unseen.

The ceremony was long over when I saw a figure approaching. I didn't bother to call out or draw a weapon. I knew who it'd be. The girl sat next to me without a word, which was unusual for her. I had to remind myself that she felt the same pain I had. I heard her give a small whimper.

"Annabeth?"

There it was again. She was fighting the urge to cry.

"Annabeth, it's alright."

She shook her head.

"Annabeth, It's-"

At that moment she lost it. The calm thinker was now sobbing, and I saw the little seven year old girl again, that I'd found so many years ago.

I didn't know what to say, so I said nothing at all. We sat together, and not caring that Annabeth was there, I cried too.

With Luke gone, I told myself that I needed to clear my head. I told myself that things would be alright. I didn't believe it, but I forced myself to think that way.

I was now a hunter of Artemis, and I had a life to live ahead of me.

I needed to move on.

I needed to let go.

And I would.