Playlist
"I'm Not the Only One" by Sam Smith
"Hurt" by Christina Aguilera
"Demons" by Imagine Dragons
"Lost Cause" by Billie Eilish
"Missing You" by All Time Low
"When It's All Over" by RAIGN
"Gone, Gone, Gone" by Phillip Phillips
"Hollow" by Tori Kelly
"The Night We Met" by Lord Huron
"Breathe Me" by Sia
"Wish You Were Here" by Avril Lavigne
"Disarm" by Smashing Pumpkins
"Everything I Wanted" by Billie Eilish
"Beneath Your Beautiful" by Labrinth ft. Emeli Sandé
"Shadows" by Sabrina Carpenter
"Wild Horses" by Bishop Briggs
"Fix You" by Coldplay
Cass's POV
It was almost midnight, the air heavy with anticipation and worry at the camp. Cleo's birthday was approaching, but the atmosphere was somber. No one knew what had happened to Aria, but the entire camp was on edge, desperate to find her alive. Despite the skepticism and doubt, I couldn't bear the thought of anything bad happening to Aria, especially since she was a dear friend of mine.
...
Quietly slipping into the canteen, I focused on finishing the cake for Cleo. Each cherry was placed meticulously, and the candles were arranged in a neat row. Carrying the cake, I made my way to Dionysus's cabin, where Cleo was staying.
...
Knocking on the door, it swung open to reveal Cleo sitting in the doorway, her expression subdued. "Happy Birthday!" I exclaimed, forcing a smile. Cleo managed a weak one as she blew out the candles, but her heart wasn't in it.
"Very sweet, but I don't feel like celebrating," Cleo murmured, her voice tinged with sadness.
"I know," I replied softly. "But at least we can eat." As I reached for the cake, I realized I had forgotten utensils. "Oh, shoot! I forgot the knife. I'll be right back."
"I'll come with you," Cleo offered, rising from her seat.
Grabbing a knife from the canteen, I cut two slices of cake and handed one to Cleo. We ate in silence, the weight of uncertainty hanging over us. Despite our efforts, it was evident that this birthday was far from the joyous occasions Cleo had experienced in the past.
"Do you think we'll find her tomorrow?" Cleo's voice trembled with fear and uncertainty.
"I hope so," I replied, trying to sound optimistic despite my own doubts.
"What if it's too late? Why didn't we start the search earlier?" Cleo's words were laced with frustration and regret.
"I don't know," I admitted, feeling helpless. "But something's not right. It's unusual for campers to disappear during Capture the Flag."
Suddenly, Cleo's whisper broke the silence, her voice filled with fear. "Did you hear that? There's someone outside."
Grabbing the knife, I braced myself for confrontation as we ventured into the darkness. To our relief, it was Luke.
"What the hell are you doing?" Luke demanded, his tone accusatory.
"We thought we heard something," I explained, feeling sheepish.
"And you came out ready to stab me with a bloody knife?" Luke's disbelief was palpable.
"It's just cherry jam," I clarified, feeling foolish.
As the tension eased, Cleo's voice broke through the silence. "Actually, what are you doing?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.
"It's none of your business, so bye," Luke retorted, attempting to brush off our questions.
But Cleo wasn't easily deterred. "You're kidding, right? Let me guess, you're not going to obey Chiron and head into the forest."
A tense standoff ensued until Cleo surprised us all by announcing, "We're coming with you."
"You're crazy," I protested, but Cleo's resolve was unwavering.
"Fine," Luke relented, begrudgingly accepting our company. "But find yourselves some better weapons than a jam knife. I'll wait here."
...
As we ventured deeper into the forest, the tension between Cleo and Luke was palpable. It was clear that there was animosity between them, rooted in jealousy and mistrust.
"It would be best if we split up," Luke suggested, his voice cutting through the silence.
Cleo, however, was quick to dismiss the idea. "Not a good idea," she countered, her apprehension clear.
"Okay, suit yourselves," Luke conceded, his frustration evident as he forged ahead on his own.
Cleo objected, voicing her concerns about the dangers of separating. Despite her protests, Luke ventured off alone, leaving Cleo and me to navigate the darkness together.
"Why do you hate him so much?" I asked Cleo, curious about the source of their animosity.
"I don't hate him, I just don't like him," Cleo replied defensively.
"It's because of Aria, isn't it?" I pressed, sensing there was more to the story.
Cleo hesitated before admitting, "Yes. It bothers me how much attention she gives him."
Realization dawned on me. "You're jealous of him because you like Aria, don't you?"
Cleo's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "No. She is my friend."
"It's okay," I reassured her. "But you should tell her how you feel."
Cleo shook her head, her expression filled with doubt. "I can't risk losing our friendship. Also, she is in love with Luke."
Before our conversation could continue, Luke's voice interrupted from a distance. "I found her."
Author's notes
Sorry for taking so long with this chapter. I hope you had a nice Valentine's Day. You have much love from me.
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Castles Crumbling | The story of Luke Castellan and Ariadne Davis
Fanfiction"Never wanted you to hate me" Ariadne Davis is a demigod residing in the Half-Blood Camp for two years. Before she arrived at the camp she was stripped of everything and now she relies on Luke for support. However, the dynamic of her relationship wi...
