I'm sorry guys. I legit tried to work on my story yesterday, but my computer is [Insert swear word of choice]. It's like 6 years old, which is like 45739875 in the technology world. I mean, when I close it it's like 2 inches thick.

I'm on my 'rents (parents) desk top. And I've been addicted to this MTV show Awkward today. I don't even watch MTV (What happened to MUSIC television?), my sis had it on in the kitchen when I was reading in the living room and I heard it. I'm just an awkward person so it called to me I think. Haha.

Anyhoo. Here y'all go. The end is nearing, but I'm happy with this chapter I think. And it's not microscopic. :) YAY!

REVIEWS! Come on guys! I'm THRILLED with how many new followers and favoriters I'm getting but REVIEWS MAKE MY HEART SING! PLEEEEAAAAASE REVIEW! PPPPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEE AAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSEE!

And I am now taking Sequel suggestions. ;)

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READ ON !

I was little when my parents described the mist to me. My mother had all but written me an essay trying to explain the complex idea of the mist. It was my father who had dumbed it down for me. Simply put, the mist was what made mortals see what they wanted to see. What their simple and straightforward minds could comprehend. After that my mom huffed, declaring that that was what she had been saying the whole time. My dad and I just nodded and tried not to laugh.

When we exited the buses at the bay of the battle field, I truly saw the mist in effect. In fact, it took me a moment to sort through the mist.

Mob territory battle?

Yeah. Sure. I mean, in a very simple manner, that's basically what was going on. Two groups, the demigods and the monsters, were fighting for territory, that happened to be the western civilization. Personally I think the battle looked like WW3, but perhaps that was because I knew what was at stake.

Abruptly I was struck with the memory of my parent's death. They had died fighting a monster. A monster they had never seen before, had no clue how to fight, but fought relentlessly anyways. To be honest, I could never draw up a good picture of the monster in my mind. It was kinda blurred. But it scared the crap out of my parents, and ever since that night I'd struggled with nightmares and my own past.

How ironic. I was about to be killed with my past.

I shook my head. No, I couldn't think like that. That type of thought. That was dangerous.

I looked over at Zack, whose brows furrowed in worry while he observed the battlefield. Zack was what I would fight for. He was what made me see myself. Sure, he had to shove the mirror in my face, but it worked and I'm better because of it. I'll fight for us, for the future we could have. I gripped his hand. I'll fight for the chance to live in Alaska, away from the insanity that came with being a demigod. The insanity that stole away my parent's life, and robbed my of my childhood. The insanity that caused me to murder and harden. The insanity that could have killed me at any moment. The insanity that caused me to not care about death.

I'm not sure how I felt about death anymore, I still wasn't as opposed to the simple idea of it as most, but I sure had a better feeling about life. Suddenly, life wasn't my prison cell with bars. It wasn't my table with straps holding me as I screamed from torment. I don't know what it was. It was...bare. White. Blank. And all around my feet were buckets of paint, and I could make of it what I desired. I was an artist, and this was to be my greatest painting.

I had something to fight for, and it wasn't just a shot at Elysium with my parent's, it was a life with Zack.

I couldn't describe the feeling. I've been in some pretty nasty battles, but this one was the worst. I don't know if it was because of the enormity, the stakes, or what I personally had to lose if I died. I think it was a mixture of all three.

The battle was chaos. I tried to tell myself that chaos was familiar in my life. "Honey, I'm home," I muttered.

Zack looked at me incredulously. "What?"

"Nothing." I said quickly. "We ready to do this?"

"Oh yeah," Alexa squeaked. "Battle's to the death over the entire Western Civilization." She shrugged, feigning casualism. "Just an average day for the everyday demigod, right?"

Sarah crossed her arms. "Unfortunately."

"What's our game plan?" Alex questioned.

Lexi examined her blade. "Kill monsters. Don't get killed." Was her suggestion.

Sarah nodded. "That seems wise and strategic, but difficult to enact."

"I like the don't get killed part." Zack muttered.

"Yeah, well," I said. "That's that hard part."

Just then a petite girl with stick-straight auburn hair ran up. She had glasses on her faces and cuts along her arms. Her eyes were wide with fright and exhaustion showed in her every feature. Whoever she was, I respected her for still being able to fight.

Sarah darted forward to catch the short girl as she swayed. "Allison." Sarah said, trying to get the girl's attention. "Ally!" Sarah shook the girl.

Ally's eyes darted up to Sarah's. "Oh. You're back." The girl righted herself and pushed her glasses up. "Who're these?" She asked, looking at us.

"Graecus."

I rolled my eyes. Could we get past that. "Romani." I whispered under my breath. I saw Zack's mouth quirk up, but I don't think anyone else heard.

Ally frowned and seemed to be processing this. "They here to help?" She asked in a whisper, as if she didn't intend us to hear it, but she was plenty loud.

Sarah glanced back at us and grimaced. "Yeah," she responded. "I think they are."

An olive branch. I'd take it greedily, all things considered.

Ally nodded, looking somewhat intoxicated.

There was only one who had the insensitivity to say anything.

Zeke. "You high or something?"

Ally glared. "I give you five minutes. You'll be drooling on the ground out of your mind if you're not bleeding to death first."

Even Zeke was left speechless, but I had faced the Memory Monster's wrath before. Not head on, granted, but what's the difference? I'm not sure I wanted to know.

"Who're you?" I asked the drunken-asking Ally.

It took a moment for her eyes to settle on me. She held her hand out, but it quivered. I shook it tentatively. "I'm Ally." She said.

"I gathered. I'm Lena." I introduced.

She nodded. "Cool. I'm Ally, the praetor."

I nodded like she hadn't just introduced herself twice. At least this time there was an extra tidbit of information. "You're a praetor?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yeah. The other one is down there fighting." She waved at the battle. Then frowned. "Probably."

Sarah plastered on a smile. "Why don't you head back to Camp?" She spoke as if speaking to a child. "I'm sure one of the nice graecus will give you a ride." Sarah gave me a pointed look. "Wouldn't they?"

I nodded. "'Course."

Ally shook her head. "I'm praetor. I gotta fight this battle."

"You've fought plenty hard. Proved yourself a kickass, fearless leader. Now you need to rest so you don't end up taking a dirt nap."

"There are people dying down there, Sarah." It was the first comment Ally spoke where she sounded sober.

"And you don't need to be one of them, Ally." She insisted. "You're not okay to fight, letting you go down there would be suicide."

Ally nodded. "You're a good person Sarah."

Sarah smirked. "No I'm not. I just don't want your death on my conscious. It's friggen annoying when that happens." It was meant as a joke, but there was a dark underline. I was beginning to understand Sarah more and more.

I turned to the crowd. "Who want's to play chauffeur?"

At least a dozen, frightened hands shot up, looking for a way out of the battle, probably. "Figure it out amongst yourselves." I told them. "Just know I'm not taking roll-call." They knew what I was saying. If they didn't want to fight, I wouldn't hold it above them. I couldn't ask anyone to fight for something they didn't want to fight for. It's their lives. Let them waste it or keep it as they chose.

Ally was taken by the half dozen Greeks who had decided they had had enough. I didn't blame them. My hands tightened into fists to stop the shaking.

"Any last words?" I asked.

"If I die and any of you cry, I'll vomit in my grave." With that, Sarah took off running into battle.

Despite the circumstance, I found myself laughing. "Couldn't have said it better myself."

Zack smiled down at me. "Ready to be a hero?"

I met his gaze and smiled back. "Never." Then, I did something crazy, but I was about to die, right? Caution be damned. F*** this shit, I was going out with style.

So I grabbed Zack's neck and pulled it down to mine. And I kissed him. In public. Right before we were about to face almost certain death.

I was never one for cliches, but this one just felt right.

And in that kiss, I put in everything I didn't have the time or words to say. I was never good with words. I followed the phrase 'actions speak louder than words' very closely, and it lead me here.

I pulled myself closer, my arms around his neck. Zack had his hands around my waist, copying my motive, pulling me closer to him.

When we separated we leaned our foreheads together, breathing raggedly.

"I will always be your hero, Silena. Whether you want one or not."

I kissed him again, slower this time. Gentler. "I know." I whispered, refusing to open my eyes, fearing that I'd see the chaos. "I love you." The words to me were near meaningless, but the emotion was real and raw.

Zack pecked me on the corner of my mouth. "I know. I love you too, Si." He said, pronouncing it 'S-eye'. I looked up at him quizzically. He smiled. "A new nickname for a new you."

I smiled back. "I like it." I kissed him again, quick, but passionate. This time when I pulled away I opened my eyes and backed up, my sword drawn. I turned back towards the battle, reminding myself of reality. I looked back at Zack. "Alaska." I reminded him.

He smiled, but worry was seeping through. "Alaska." He repeated, sounding like he needed a reminder of what to fight for as much as I did. I looked down at the battle, the fear making itself known. I took a deep breath and ran down the battle. No battle cry. No announcement.

As I said, I was never one for cliches.