This was originally planned to be the first angsty chapter in the story and the first chapter of next year, but I thought it'd be better to end this weird year with this chapter.

For context, this chapter takes place after TLO.

Story #12: It Wasn't Clarisse, But Silena

They were on the streets of Manhattan, in the middle of a war they all saw coming. They've been fighting for a while, against foes from their nightmares which predicted this moment, unsure of when or how it would end.

But then came the drakon. One demigod charged for it, fighting against the monster with all their might. Their weapon swings and slashed against the beast that blares its teeth back. After one unexpected move, the demigod is showered in drakon poison, screaming as they stumble back. Their armour melting against their burning flesh as they fall on their knees.

Against orders he can't decipher, nobody moves but they want to.

And that's when Chris freezes, watching that fight like an out-of-body experience as the air is sucked out of him. Everything blurs around the edges and he realizes it's the tears building in his eyes. He couldn't move when the demigod facing the drakon went limp on the ground. As the drakon roared victoriously, he walked up to the fallen one. He didn't care if he would get poison spat all over his body. He needed to see her. She helped healed him so why couldn't he at least try the same for her? His gut churns as he holds back tears and screams. He knows who it is. Everyone does. Who else would take on a drakon?

"For Clarisse!" her godly siblings chant as they charge for the drakon against orders. Vengeance for their sister.

They run past Chris as he knelt beside the fallen one. Clarisse. Her face nearly unrecognizable, burnt and coated with her armour.

-o-

Could a demigod's nightmare still be prophetic if an altered version of a past event occurred in it? Or do the dreams give them a familiar setting to prove its point? Nobody tells them this because nobody knows the answer. Despite the shared experience and trauma within campgrounds, there are still some things that remain unspoken.

When Chris finally managed to get out of bed after jolting awake, he was soaked in a cold sweat and unable to move. His chest felt constricted but he didn't want to make a noise and wake up the cabin. It wouldn't be the first time a kid was abruptly awoken because of the war.

Eventually, he stepped out of the cabin. He needed the cold breeze to help cool him off and relax. It felt nice but it wasn't helping. Chris didn't get the point in crying when there was no one there to comfort him, especially when he couldn't comfort himself. The good thing about not sleeping is that emotions start to go numb because the body will put all the remaining energy into staying awake. So at least he had that going for him.

He walks for a bit before stopping when he sees someone lying on their back in front of Aphrodite's cabin. Chris steps closer and sees Clarisse. She wasn't asleep and he figured that out when she turns to face him.

"Hey," Clarisse says as she scoots over a little despite there being room all around her. It's a little gesture to let him know he can sit beside her, or he should.

Chris settles beside her, lying on his back so he could look at the sky with her. It was an overcast night so there were no visible stars. They couldn't even see the clouds. They lay together silently, arms barely touching. It didn't have to be mentioned what's on their minds since it's been on everyone's since they won the war.

"Nobody ever tells you that grief feels so much like fear," Chris mutters.

"Someone always dies, especially here," Clarisse says in her usual abrasive tone, but with softer edges this time. "It's just a matter of who and when." She glances at him. "Remember that I didn't die. Silena did."

Chris nods, unsure if Clarisse saw or heard his head rustle against the grass. Silena was her best friend. Despite being a double agent, which Chris will never judge her for since he was there as well. Silena fought the drakon in Clarisse's armour to make amends for her betrayal and get the Ares cabin to Manhattan. Everyone watching the battle knew she would die the moment Clarisse really showed up. Silena was nearly unrecognizable after the drakon spat its poison into her face, but she died a hero.

And Chris knows Clarisse blames herself for Silena's death.

"Clarisse, you don't have to forgive everyone in your life but you have to forgive yourself," he tells her.

"Yeah…" Clarisse grumbles. "But if I wasn't stubborn or listened to you earlier, Silena would still be alive. Be careful who you make memories with because I have a lot with her."

"That's a good thing, right? It's better to have a lot than not having any memories."

Clarisse sighs. "I guess."

"Thank the gods you got me out of the labyrinth and helped healed me. Now I can make more memories with you."

Chris smiles to himself, keeping his eyes on the dark sky. He hears Clarisse scoff with a pleased laugh. He imagines a grin creeping its way onto the corner of her mouth. This moment is a memory he'll keep forever.

I will see you all next year! Don't ask when since I don't even know what chapter I'll have out.