Some Time Before...

"Alicia! Wait!"

Marcus raced through Camp, chasing the shadowy form of Alicia as she fled from the lake. Stumbling in the darkness, he was barely able to keep Alicia in his sight, her black hair blending into the night. He didn't realize where they were going until it was too late, and she ran through the gates to the arena training grounds. Still, he followed her onto the sand, though he moved more slowly. After all, there was nowhere else for her to run to. As he stepped onto the sand, he saw Aaron and Hunter at the far end of the arena, though they turned when the two of them stepped into the arena.

"Did you know?" Alicia shouted at them.

Aaron and Hunter just looked at each other, confused.

"Did you know?!" Alicia screamed again.

"Alicia-" Marcus began.

"No! No, I don't want to hear anything from you !" Alicia didn't even turn to look at him.

"Marcus, what's going on?" Hunter asked, resting his two-handed battle-axe on his shoulder.

"Alicia, calm down." Aaron added, dusting the sand from his pants. "This isn't the time for us to be fighting ourselves-"

"No! Aaron, tell me the truth! Did you know about Marcus?!" Alicia still hadn't looked at Marcus, but he could hear her voice start to crack.

"What about Marcus? Aaron what is she talking about?" Hunter asked.

Aaron sighed. "Let me guess... You found out about how he feels about Maddie huh?"

Hunter whistled. "Damn. I was wondering what the reaction would be like when she found out."

"Alicia..." Marcus said gently, stepping forward. But before he could reach her, she spun around to face Marcus. He was stunned to see that while the anger he had expected was there, tears were standing in her eyes.

"No. No Marcus, I don't want to hear your excuses."

"Whoa hey, let the guy explain himself huh?" Hunter said.

"Hunter, maybe we should stay out of this one..." Aaron said quietly.

"I trusted you Marcus. Hell, I loved you!" Alicia cried stepping closer to Marcus. " And now... Now I have to hear that ? Did I ever mean anything to you?!"

"Of course you did Alicia!" Marcus shot back. "You still do!"

"Bullshit." Alicia spat. "When were you going to tell me?"

Marcus just stood silently in response.

"Oh. I get it." Alicia got suddenly quiet, and to Marcus that was far more terrifying. "You weren't going to. What about me wasn't good enough for you Marcus? Was it because I'm not petite and cute? Is it because I don't need you to constantly be playing the hero for me? What about her is so much better than me?!"

Aaron stepped in between the two of them. "Alright Alicia, I think that's enough."

"Yeah, no need to kill the poor guy." Hunter added. "After all, it's not like he can control that kind of thing. Feelings are the Gods domain... Besides, since this is honesty hour, I'm sure your jealousy didn't help..."

" My ... Jealousy?" Alicia's voice took on a dangerous quality Marcus had come to learn so well. No... "And who do I have to thank for that Marcus? Who played with my emotions to torture you?"

"What? Alicia what are you talking about?" Aaron asked.

"Go ahead Marcus. Tell them. Tell them all about your little talk by the lake tonight." Marcus saw in Alicia's eyes that she was beyond caring. She was too angry, too hurt, too bitter to control herself.

"Marcus, what are you hiding from us?" Hunter asked, stepping forward to be in line with Alicia. Looking at them, Marcus saw suspicion in Hunter's eyes. Even Aaron's eyes started to turn dark when they looked at Marcus.

"Tonight... By the lake... Aphrodite visited me." Marcus barely choked out the words in a whisper. This is spiraling ... I need to stop it...

"After what we just went through, you talked to Aphrodite?!" Hunter's voice betrayed his shock.

"What did she say Marcus?" Aaron asked quietly.

Marcus couldn't breathe, let alone speak. He couldn't answer them.

"Nothing? Fine. I'll tell them." Alicia scoffed. "Aphrodite's been using us. She got between Marcus and me. She's the reason I'm... I was jealous. The reason we were sent to deal with Eros was because she treats Marcus like her toy."

"I take it she wasn't happy when Marcus told her to fuck off tonight then." Aaron said. Aaron... No...

"You would think. But apparently, the Gods aren't to blame for Kelly... for her..." Alicia's voice cracked.

"Oh yeah? Says who." Hunter swung his axe off of his shoulder. "I dare somebody to say that to me."

Alicia turned to Marcus. "Go ahead Marcus. Tell them what you told Aphrodite."

"Marcus...?" Hunter's voice was shocked. He didn't believe it. Neither did I at first.

"The perfect disaster..." Marcus admitted, hating himself as he was forced to say it again. "No one party is to blame..."

Before he could react, Marcus felt himself swept off his feet. Landing on his back, he saw Aaron above him, his eyes blind with rage and his fist descending towards him. No... Please. Not like this.

Marcus rolled, narrowly avoiding Aaron's fist and shot to his feet. "Aaron, Aphrodite didn't kill Kelly."

"Marcus..." Aaron was broken, his eyes on the ground where Marcus had been a moment ago. His voice betrayed the feelings boiling inside of him. "First, they toyed with you. I let it go. Then, they... they killed my Kelly... and still I was willing to live under them. 'That's what she would have wanted' I told myself. 'To live. To move forward'. But now..." Aaron finally looked up to meet Marcus' eyes, and he saw tears streaming down his face. "They weren't content with taking Kelly away from me, they had to twist you... Turn you into a tool... A tool to try and make me dance to their tune... Well, I'm sick of it..."

"Aaron, don't-" Marcus stepped forward but stopped when Hunter stepped into his way.

"'Nobody's to blame'...? Are you kidding me?" Hunter's voice quaked with barely contained rage. "You of all people... How dare you... How dare you!" Marcus barely had time to duck as Hunter aimed a haymaker at him. They've been pushed too far. I have to-

Marcus was pulled off his feet, landing hard onto his back. Looking down, he saw... Shit. Alicia's whip was wrapped around his ankle. This is escalating too quickly. This isn't right! Rolling again, Marcus dodged Hunter taking another swipe at him. I need to get them to calm down. Glancing around, Marcus saw a shape in the stands of the arena. Clothed in ragged, torn black clothing, the female figure had long, matted red hair, her bloodshot green eyes fixed on him. Even from where he was, Marcus could tell there was something not mortal about her. But before he could act on it any further, he again had to dodge another swing from Hunter. Nothing for it. I can't defend myself from these three with just my hands! Marcus sprang to his feet and whipped his pocket watch out his pocket.

"So... You're that set to being the Gods puppet..." Aaron said quietly. Marcus saw the figure in the stands cock her head to the side, and Aaron spoke again. "No. Not all the Gods. The Olympians... Aphrodite's puppet. Eros' puppet."

Marcus was about to respond when Alicia's whip cracked through the air, striking him on the shoulder. With a cry of pain, Marcus flicked his pocket watch, transforming it into a whip of his own. I can't do this... but if I don't ...

Marcus heard a step behind him and spun. Before he could react, he saw the haft of Hunter's axe come into his view. Then all Marcus saw was darkness.

Marcus didn't know how much later it was when he regained consciousness. He staggered to his feet.

"Aaron..." Marcus' dry throat betrayed him, and his voice barely came out a whisper. "Aaron!" He tried again, shouting as loud as he was able. "Hunter! Alicia!"

No answer came back to him. Looking around, Marcus saw that the lights of the arena had all but burned out. I must have been out for hours... Dammit where are they!

Marcus raced back to his cabin that he shared with his friends, but even before he got there, he knew what he'd find. But knowing and seeing were two different feelings. Stepping through the doorway, Marcus felt his heart in his throat. Empty... All of their stuff is gone...

Marcus sunk to the ground in the doorway. He didn't know where they'd gone. He didn't know who that figure was in the arena. He didn't know why they'd left him behind when their rage had been enough that they'd attack. He only knew one thing...

I'm... alone...