A week had passed since we fought the Romans. Annabeth and Chiron had both agreed that we had better keep the Roman's existence a secret from the rest of camp- for now at least- it would only stir panic among the campers. The incident became black booked like some government nuclear program. I went along with it only at Annabeth's request.
While this was going on, Lexie was still curled up in her bed, clutching a picture frame. Malcolm and Annabeth both tried their best to get her out of the cabin and distract her from Austin's absence, but it never amounted to much.
Eventually the time came for his funeral. We all hoped that that would help Lexie adjust. The twins, Amanda and Mathew, had already left the cabin, but the rest of us were still getting ready. Malcolm and I had just finished getting dressed when Annabeth approached Lexie on the porch.
"You ready?" she soothed as she attempted to place her arm on Lexie's shoulder. Immediately Lexie shrugged the hand off.
"Come on, would Austin really want you to be like this?" I intervened.
"You have no right to tell me what he would want! The only words you ever exchanged with him were between cell bars!"
"Lex, I'm sure Sean only meant to-"
"I don't care Annabeth. I don't care what he meant, I don't care what any of you mean, it doesn't change what is. Let's just get this over with, my dad is going to be here in a couple of hours and I need to pack."
"You're leaving?! Camp just started!" Malcolm burst through the doorway.
"When were you planning on telling us?" Annabeth added quickly.
"Umm I dunno, when you saw me packing." Lexie said sarcastically.
"It's kinda sudden don't you think? You haven't left camp for two years and now you're going to just pack up and go now?!" Annabeth blocked Lexie from the porch stairs.
"You know what else was sudden, my boyfriend dying. Dying because someone decided to save a girl we just met over the boy I had known for two years" She glared at me.
"Now isn't the time for this argument," Annabeth added while pointing to the trail leading to our cabin.
"Speak of the devil..." Lexie muttered.
Sure enough, Aasha came walking up the stone path carrying a single suitcase and her spear. Her bright, new camp shirt seemed to express slightly more cheer than was appropriate given the present circumstance.
"Hey! Needing something?" Annabeth questioned.
"Travis told me that I'm supposed to be staying here from now on."
"Did they tell you why?" I asked, dreading the answer. This was not the best timing to find out what I suspected she was going to say.
"Apparently I'm your sister... well half."
"Apparently Mom does have a sense of timing" I whispered under my breath.
It was awkwardly quiet for several seconds before Lexie spoke, "Great, an even better reason for me to leave." She grabbed her jacket off the railing and stomped away leaving Annabeth and I shocked.
I didn't see Lexie again for another six months.
Sean: Well that was definitely a drainer. Lexie and I have been working on this chapter for a month now bringing this story to a solid 4 and a half year project. Holy Hera I'm tired.
Lexie: Yeah me too... but we're not done yet!
Sean: Yeah, our lives are just getting rougher huh...
Lexie: We are proud to announce that we are working on a sequel! If you think these last two chapters were intense just wait. A big thanks to all our readers especially those of you who have been with us since the beginning.
Sean: Through all the rewrites, fixes and slight edits we would love to thank you. Foxbracken (Aasha) if you are out there, it would be great to hear from you.