Born To Die

My boyfriend steals the bolt

Luke's Perspective:

The night of the solstice was everything. The buzz of excitement from the campers, the smell of ambrosia still hanging in the air, and the tension that I could almost taste. I had my plan, and nothing was going to stop me. Nothing could stop me.

The journey to Olympus, disguised as a regular bus trip to the mortals, was just the beginning. The gods had no idea what was coming. I had already made my deal with Kronos. He was waiting for me, watching me, as I maneuvered through the crowds, my heart thundering in my chest.

The night was perfect. The city lights twinkled far below, but my focus was on one thing and one thing only—the Lightning Bolt. I could feel it pulsing, almost calling out to me as we made our way into Olympus, the gates swinging open before us like they were expecting me.

I didn't even hesitate as I entered, slipping past the gods, invisible to most of them. The plan was in motion, the one I had been preparing for months. It was risky, but it had to be done.

I knew exactly where the bolt was hidden. Deep in the heart of Olympus, in the vaults beneath the throne room. Only a handful of gods had access to it, but I had worked my way around their defenses. A few whispered words, a few stolen favors, and now, I was just steps away from completing the task.

I could feel the weight of the golden bolt in my hands before I even touched it, the cold metal, the electrifying energy that seemed to hum in the air around it. I slipped the bolt into my pack, hidden from view, and made my way out the way I came. But as I was about to leave, something made me pause.

I thought of Isla.

It wasn't that I'd forgotten about her. I never could. But as I stood there, with the bolt in my possession, I realized something—this wasn't just for me anymore. This wasn't just about the gods, or Kronos, or the war we were trying to stop. This was about her, too.

I had promised myself that no matter what happened, I wouldn't let Isla get hurt. I would protect her, even if I had to betray everything and everyone else to do it.

But now, as I stood in Olympus with the bolt in hand, I had to make her understand. I had to make her see what I was trying to do. She needed to help me. She needed to stand by me.

Hours later, after we had returned to camp, the air felt dense with unspoken words. Isla was sitting there, her eyes wide, her heart obviously still caught up in the whirlwind of the solstice. But as I walked into the cabin, I saw the spark in her eyes—a mixture of suspicion and concern.

She knew something was wrong. She always did.

I didn't wait for her to speak first. I couldn't. I was too far gone.

"I did it," I said, my voice low, almost to myself. "I got the bolt."

Her eyes widened, but her lips parted in disbelief. She stared at me, her breath caught in her throat. The silence between us was suffocating.

"How?" she asked, her voice shaking. "How did you even get it?"

I hesitated. "I made a deal. With Kronos."

She blinked, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. "Kronos? What are you talking about? You can't—"

"I had to," I cut in, stepping toward her. My heart was pounding, and I could feel the weight of the bolt inside my bag, as though it was pulling me toward the edge of a cliff I wasn't sure I could climb back from. "I had no choice, Isla. I have let this war happen. I can't let the gods ruin everything."

She stood up quickly, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Luke, this isn't you. You're making a deal with a Titan—Kronos—just so you can start a war? That's not how this works."