𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒, apollo

𝐱𝐱𝐱𝐢𝐯. surprises, betrayals and prophecies

WE WERE THE FIRST heroes to return alive to Half-Blood Hill since Luke, so of course everybody treated us as if we'd won some reality TV contest. And to be honest, I didn't mind. Also, according to camp tradition, we had to wear laurel wreaths.

Asher placed mine on my head and then proceeded to make a comment about how he knew that we were gonna succeed. I couldn't lie, he helped me in a way too. While I didn't necessarily need to fight anyone excluding chopping Medusa's head off, I felt better knowing I could protect myself.

So, we had a big feast prepared in our honour and Ash made me tell him all about how I killed her. The Stroll twins stuck to my side like glue and told me all about how Hermes Cabin was the one who made my burial shroud that thankfully was not put to use.

To put it shorty, the welcome back was fun. The rest of my friends seemed to be enjoying themselves too, so even Dionysus's welcome-home speech wasn't enough to dampen our spirits.

"Yes, yes, so the little brats didn't get themselves killed and now they'll have an even bigger head. Well, huzzah for that. In other announcements, there will be no canoe races this Saturday...."

Not long after, I decided to retire for the night, because the quest and the whole meeting my dad ordeal exhausted me like no other. But the twins that I shared the cabin with didn't think so. They kept bugging me about too many things and if I wasn't in such a good mood, I probably would've said something harsh by now.

At some point, another kid, a few years younger, joined in bugging me. I also started noticing how unknowingly to me, we have been walking further and further from the cabins, obstructing my view of them.

I put my hands on my hips looking at the younger boys in front of me, "Okay, spill it. What are you three planning?"

The twins didn't give anything up, one of them — which I don't know I can't tell them apart —  said, "We don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah, we just wanna hear more things about your quest," The other added.

My eyes settled on the blond boy who looked nervous and a bit uncomfortable. "Walker..." The boy scrunched his brows in confusion, "I'm Will?"

I waved him off, although I did try to remember his name for next time. "You see, I'm tired. Tired means sleep, and to get sleep I need bed. And you know where bed is?" I asked, but I didn't give them time to reply before answering my question myself, "The cabin. So, you either tell me what the hell is going on, or I'll find out myself."

The three shared a look, before the twins simultaneously shrugged and broke apart letting me leave. I glanced at the blond boy, who only offered me an awkward smile. I rolled my eyes and walked in the direction of our bedrooms.

The boys were trailing behind me, whispering something, which only made me quicken my pace. When we finally entered the cabin square or whatever you call it, there was an unusual amount of campers missing, which only confused me more.

And before I knew it, I was standing in front of the Hermes cabin. The lights were out, which made me even more suspicious than before. I glanced at the boys behind me, before grabbing one of the twins and pushing him forward.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Letting you open the door. C'mon."