•as the world caves in•

•the workshop•

I lost track of how long we ran, but we stopped once we reached an empty room with large columns. Mrs. O'Leary was gone, and Percy looked sad. I shook his shoulder. "Hey, I'm sure she's okay."

The boy person fought collapsed on the floor. "You're crazy."

Annabeth gasped. "I remember you! You were one of the undetermined kids in the Hermes cabin."

He glared at Annabeth and I as I made a noise of realization. "Yeah, and you're Annabeth and Coriane. I remember."

"You're the one from my dream." Percy said. "It wasn't Nico."

"Who's Nico?"

"Doesn't matter." I said. "Why were you trying to join up with the wrong side?"

Ethan curled his nose. "There's no right side. The gods never cared about us. Why shouldn't I-"

"Sign up with an army that makes you fight to the death for entertainment? Gee, I wonder."

Ethan struggled to his feet. "I won't argue with you. Thanks for the help, but I'm out of here. You're crazy if you think Daedalus will help you."

Annabeth frowned. "How did you know that?"

"That's the only reason anyone comes down here. You're not as original as you think."

Then he ran off.

We started a fire and Annabeth poked at the fire. "Something was wrong with Luke."

"Annabeth, there's been something wrong with Luke." I said. "He only wanted to spare us to try to get us to join him. We can't pretend we can change him anymore."

Annabeth glared at me. "You're impossible." She turned to Rachel. "So which way now, Sacagawea?"

I smiled a little, hearing that reminded me of why we were here. Of why my chest hurt so much when I looked at Percy, why being so close to him felt so nice, but made me so annoyed.

Rachel shrugged, drawing figures with an ashy stick. "Follow the bright path."

"The same path that led us into a trap?" I asked.

Percy frowned at me. "Lay off her, Cor. She's doing the best she can."

I stood up. "The fires getting low. I'll go look for some more scraps while you talk strategy."

Annabeth stood as well. "Yeah, I'll help."

I frowned right back at Percy. "For the last time. It's Coriane."

•.•.•.•

I walked with Annabeth. "It's either he's dumb or he doesn't care about how he's acting and how it makes me feel. I want to punch him but at the same time I want to hug him. Maybe kiss him some more too."

Annabeth gagged. "Gross, Cor. But, I kinda know what you mean. I want to punch him because of how he's treating you, but he's one of my best friends, I want to sit and laugh with him like we used to."

"Can we also agree he was definitely on Calypso's island?"

"Oh definitely."

We grabbed sticks and decided we had enough. "I don't understand why he's acting like nothing happened in the volcano. I did the one thing I was terrified to do and I thought it went well, but now it's like he just rejected me."

"Once we're done with... this. You two need to talk, seriously. I think he's finally understanding a little bit, especially with you refusing to let him call you Cor."

"He always calls me that. He barely even calls me Lover Girl anymore. Calling me Cor is something I only let people who are close to me call me, and he knows that. I'm hoping he gets some sort of idea."