Endgame

Chapter 2: How Many?

She was gone. Annabeth was gone. How could he let this happen? After everything they had been through together this is what separated them! A stupid curse! virus!? Whatever it was, they couldn't even raise a sword to defend against! Percy slowly trudged towards Chiron, who was still trotting around doing roll call and trying to assess everyone's physical state; emotionally everyone was spiraling as they collected in the amphitheater. The fire pit in the center was so low and so dim for everyone's exhaustion and grief that the counselors had to get out flashlights to see anything in the quiet night. What were they going to do now?

Everywhere you looked there was a fine layer of dust, like no one had swept in years. Everywhere you walked beside the amphitheater looked abandoned. Dust coating every surface, weapons tossed around, and belongings scattered around the camp and the cloudy sky wasn't helping. Moonlight illuminating just enough to give a horror film vibe. Campers huddled together, sobbing for friends and siblings, even the nature spirits and saytrs looked heart broken. We couldn't even bury them properly! All they had left of the campers were their shrouds and whatever possessions they had left behind. Who could have done something like this?

When Chiron seemed to be done with his head count Percy asked the big question, "How many." He didn't really want the answer but what else was he supposed to ask? Everyone was going to turn to him to fix this, they always did. Thought a solution to the problem seemed inconceivable. Nonetheless Percy would take up the challenge of saving the day like he always did.

"About half the camp, but I'm still counting." Chiron replied sounding heartbroken. He had cared for the campers like his own after all.

"Half the camp!? How is that possible?" Percy shouted incredulously, he was so shocked by the response he got. How could half the camp just go poof like that. The only beings that came to mind with that much power were the gods, who were conveniently refraining from any contact until further notice.

"Now Percy I know what your thinking, and no, the gods couldn't have done this. No matter how angry they get, they wouldn't do something to this scale." Chiron added hastily, scrambling to reassure himself as much as the demigod in front of him.

While Chiron and Percy conversed, the remaining demigods waited silently for what they hoped would be a great plan to get the lost demigods back. But when Percy and Chiron finally came to a conclusion and noticed them all watching through the flames, they walked over to the demigods to tell them the plan. The half-bloods were sorely disappointed when they heard the plan.

Chiron addressed the crowd of demigods, "Tonight everyone will go back to their cabins and try for some rest. In the morning there will be a counselor meeting to discuss things further." There was some grumbling to this plan but they were too exhausted to argue about it.

Slowly they trickled back to their beds, knowing no one would get any real sleep.

Percy laid in his bunk blankly staring at the hippocampus on the ceiling. He didn't want to sleep. Sleep brings dreams, and he didn't need a rerun of the worst day of his life or any warnings he might receive. But the dates were cruel and sleep found him anyway. It was a fitful rest, Annabeth's terrified whisper the main soundtrack of his subconscious. He was standing in the middle of an unfamiliar field with strange people fighting what looked like robots, with four arms and huge teeth. Percy watched as the robot things collided with the warriors. Over in the distance Percy saw a smaller fight going on in the trees, a group all in spandex and leather among towards one target. He walked over in time to witness a blonde man with a massive ax fall out of nowhere and plunge the blade into the chest of a purple giant. He heard the purple giant say, "You should've... You... You should've given me head!!" and then watched as the purple guy held up his hand which had on a golden glove with five gems inlayed. the giant snapped his fingers then disappeared.

Waking form the dream, Percy tried to puzzle out a meaning the buzzer fight. Who were the people in spandex and leather? Who was the purple guy? Did he have something to do with people spontaneously decomposing? One thing Percy was certain of was if the purple dude was responsible for the dusting then his days were numbered.

Realizing he wouldn't be sleeping anymore, not that he really want to have another face-to-face with the guys in leather anyway, Percy got up and brushed his teeth. He walked out of his cabin to find Chiron pacing in front of the cabins lost in thought. The old centaur looked so drained. With his blood-shot eyes and dark circles, rumpled clothes and stained hide, I doubt he slept one wink last night. Barely even day break and Percy already wanted to crawl into a hole and cry.

Chiron didn't notice Percy until the demigod tapped him on the arm. "Percy! What can I do for you my boy?" his voice was a bit horse and his shoulders slumped forward as they talked. Percy told Chiron every detail he could remember about the field and the people in spandex and leather and the purple dude. Chiron listened closely and contemplated a while once Percy had finished. "Well that explains a few things." the centaur said more to himself, like he had forgotten that Percy was still standing beside him.

"Like what?"

"I will look into this further, but for now you should try to eat something Percy." With that Chiron walked off; likely to iris message one of his pantheon contacts.

Percy walked over to the dinning hall but din't eat anything that morning, just sat there waiting for the meet ing latter that day. More campers came and sat, some ate, others didn't, most didn't talk. They were all waiting to hear how they were going to get their friends back.