I am so sorry for the wait. This chapter isn't even worth it...

This story is coming to a close, slowly. Can you feel the suspense building! I have big things in store! Until that though...I'm not sure...I'm winging it...

So. yeah...

OMIGOD GUYS! I'M PRETTY SURE I'VE REACHED OVER 300 REVIEWS! THAT IS F***ING FANTASTIC GUYS! YOU MAKE MY LIFE SHINE BRIGHT!

So, I'm watching Supernatural...Epic show guys. Recommended.

Disclaimer: ...

Life was havoc and hell from that point forward. A few still treated me the same, or perhaps even regarded me with a higher respect. And a good number were the opposite, treated me like dirt and the murderer I was. I didn't blame them, but it didn't make me happy either. They snarled at me, and they spit on the ground before me, but they stayed. They stayed for the gods. That was good enough for me.

Hours passed like minutes, but those minutes passed like years. It was an impossible logic and math, but it was true in a crazy sort of way. Or maybe I was the crazy one. I could never tell anymore.

I sat in the same spot, next to Zack. I sat still, numb, as if I was still processing what had happened. I was all too aware of the whispers and glances from the Hephaestus kids. The Athena and Poseidon kids, as good and loyal as they were, were also uncharacteristically silent, stealing selfish glances at me. I was a museum piece, or so it felt.

I felt my muscles tense and my fists clench.

Zack put his hand on my knee and whispered in my ear. "Calm down, Lena."

"Don't tell me what to do." I snapped at him.

"Lena, we still have a ways to go. If you stay this tense a full out war will happen on this bus. You need to focus on the task ahead."

I swallowed. "If you want me calm, that is the very last thing I should be focusing on."

He looked me in the eyes, I tried to look away, but he wouldn't let me. He could see how scared I was, even if I couldn't. My fear was a bottomless pit, and I was eternally falling.

"You'll be okay." He assured me.

"What evidence do you have of that?"

He chuckled. "Your Athena is showing." He kissed my temple. "You will forever over-rationalize." He looked me back in the eye. "You're going to be fine because I won't let it be any other way."

I sighed. "I wish you wouldn't say that. You think..." I swallowed and pulled my eyes away."

"What?"

"You think I could bear it if something happens to you?" My voice was an octave higher than usual. "That's what I'm afraid of, really. I mean, I've...I've never been so codependent on someone. I've been self-sufficient since I was young. I'm...I'm adjusting, but I'm not sure I can adjust back to being self-sufficient if..." The words were lost on me. I couldn't even say it.

Zack just pulled me close. He played with my hair and he rubbed my back. He kissed my forehead. He whispered in my ears. "I know, Silena. I know."

I had to keep from crying right there.

Days passed. Zack and I spent them isolated from others, well, as isolated as we could get on a bus. At nights we would find a spot a distance away and sleep in each others embrace. That is, until I woke from a nightmare and practiced my swordsmanship. I always returned to Zack before he awoke, but I still think he knew what I was doing. He didn't understand. My nightmares were worse now.

They were Zack dying. He gives his life up for me, and I can do nothing but scream. But feel my heart die. Feel how my mother must have felt. No wonder she died soon after. For not the first time, I wondered if she could have tried harder to survive. For the first time, I didn't blame her if she could have.

I woke feeling shaken to the very core.

My restlessness grew as the distance to California shrank. Four times I nearly got into a fight with Zeke and his cronies. Zack had to drag me away, kicking and screaming, while sending daggers of his own at Zeke. Alexa was quieter than usual, but she still defended me.

I couldn't wait for this whole quest thing to end. I don't know how my parent's did it.

Of course, they didn't have to do their quests with the entire camp, several of which were plotting their murder, now did they? Awesome.

We were in the final stretch. Just a few hours. My restlessness had spread, feeding on everyone. We were all twitching, meddling with our weapons. Even Zack shifted in his seat from time to time.

"We'll be okay, Silena." He would mutter.

I wasn't sure who he was speaking to.

Miles to go.

Miles until it ends.

MIles until fate commences.

Miles until my redemption.

Miles until my damnation.

Miles.

I remembered what my dad had told me about San Francisco. He said it was not as chaotic as LA, but not as ordered as NYC. I wasn't sure about that, all I knew was that San Francisco was huge.

"Where to, Lena?" Alexa asked me.

I took a deep breath, but it quivered. "Camp Jupiter. Hopefully someone can point us in the direction of the whole war going on."

She nodded. Didn't speak. Went to talk to the bus driver.

"We'll survive this, Lena." Zack muttered.

I noticed his exchange of 'okay' to 'survive'. Maybe he didn't, but I knew all too well of the difference.

We stopped. No one stood. My heart was pounding rhythmically. .

Pound. Pound pound. Pound. Pound pound. Pound. Pound pound. Pound.

Was my heartbeat always this loud or am I schizophrenic? Could Zack hear my heartbeat? Gods, I hoped not.

"Everybody out." Alexa said, but it was quiet. I don't think she realized for a moment. She just stared forward. Eventually she caught on and stood, her face strong and proud, her jaw set in a way that mine does. "I said, EVERYBODY OUT!"

Everyone sprang up, except me. Zack gently pulled on my elbow, forcing me to stand. "Come on, Lena."

I didn't react. I didn't speak. I let him drag me, numbly. I waited for my heartbeat to slow, to quiet. I didn't remember taking steps, but suddenly I was outside. My hand went to block out the sun, but I don't recall moving it.

We were on the side of a highway. "This is the Camp entrance?" Someone asked. I wasn't sure who. It was hard to hear over my beating heart.

Alexa looked to me. "According to the records."

I shrugged. "I've never been here myself," How come I felt out of breath? "But it looks like how my dad described."

Alexa frowned. "How come there are no sentries? No guards?"

Why was my breathing so heavy? "They're...they're kinda at war right now...hopefully...hopefully someone is still in there so they can tell us...where to go."

Zack frowned, noticing my short of breath. "Alexa," he said, not taking his worried eyes off of me, "Why don't you go round up the other busses and start heading inside. Slow and peaceful. I suggest sending in a small group, weaponless, just in case."

"Weaponless?" A Hephaestus kid demanded. "Are you nuts?"

"You want them to attack us?"" Zack shouted.

"He's right." Alexa agreed. "Come on guys. Let's go figure out who's gonna be group one to enter the camp." With that, Alexa lead everyone away.

"Silena..." Zack said.

"Oh, gods, I'm gonna be sick." I fell to the ground.

"You'll be fine, Lena."

"Why do I feel like this?"

Zack kneeled down. "Silena," He said calmly. "You're having a panic attack. Calm down."

"I can't!"

"You have to. Deep breaths."

"When did you become so fricken zen?" I snapped.

He ignored that. "Silena. Calm. Down."

"How?"

"Look at me."

"I am!"

He put two fingers under my chin and raised them so I was looking him straight in the eyes. "Now breathe, one breath at a time. In." I listened. "Out. In. Out." My breaths were shaky, but slowly it steadied.

"Thanks." I murmured.

"You okay, now?"

I paused. "For now." I squeaked.

He helped me stand. I crossed my arms

"You ready to face the Romans?"

I paused. "No, but let's go before I have another mental breakdown, shall we?"