Born To Die

The new plan

Isla's POV

The tension on the ship is thick, the sea stretching out around us like a never-ending expanse of danger. After the attack by the Kraken and my near-drowning, we all know that staying in the Sea of Monsters is too risky. Everyone is on edge, whispering about new plans, new ideas. Luke and I have barely let each other out of our sight since the incident, but it's clear that we need to come up with a strategy that doesn't get us all killed.

We gather around in the billiard room, maps sprawled out on the table in front of us. Luke taps his finger on the coastline, eyes narrowed in thought.

"We can't keep wandering aimlessly through the Sea of Monsters," he says, his voice firm. "We need to think about where Percy and his group will wash up after they leave the Sea."

Evan, always sharp and calculating, leans over the map and points to a spot on the coast. "If they're following the currents, and if they're as reckless as we think, they're likely to end up right off the coast of Miami."

I lean forward, eyeing the map. "Miami makes sense. They're not going to stay in the sea forever, and if we can anticipate where they'll surface, we can get ahead of them."

Darcy nods in agreement. "It's smart. We can regroup, plan, and wait for them to walk right into our trap."

Luke straightens up, his eyes meeting mine for a moment before looking at the others. "Alright. We sail to Miami. We wait for them to wash up, and then we take what's ours."

There's a collective murmur of agreement, the tension easing slightly as everyone focuses on the new plan. I glance over at Luke, who's watching me with that same intensity he always has, and I can't help but feel a mix of relief and dread.

We've been through so much already, and now we're getting closer to the final steps of our mission. Closer to facing Percy and his friends. Closer to claiming the Fleece.

As we start preparing to head toward the coast, I can feel the weight of what's coming next settling over me like a storm cloud. Luke and I may have promised each other that we wouldn't die—at least not without the other—but I know that with every step we take toward this confrontation, we're walking deeper into the heart of danger.

And if we have to face Percy, Annabeth, and the others... it's going to be more dangerous than anything we've faced before.

Isla's POV

The ship cuts through the waves, the salty wind tangling in my loose hair as I stand by the railing, staring out at the horizon. The coast of Miami is still a few hours away, but the closer we get, the more the tension seems to build on the ship. Everyone is busy—Evan, Darcy, Chris—they're all preparing for what's coming. I can feel the undercurrent of excitement mixed with anxiety, a buzz in the air that's hard to ignore.

Luke stands next to me, his arm brushing mine, his presence as solid as always. For a moment, it's just us, the open sea, and the sound of the waves crashing against the hull. I can feel his eyes on me, and when I glance over, he gives me a small smile, one that almost makes me forget everything we've been through.

"Are you ready for this?" he asks, his voice low.

I nod, though there's a knot of nervousness twisting in my gut. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Luke chuckles, leaning closer, his lips brushing my temple. "We've come this far. We'll finish what we started, Isla."

I lean into him, finding comfort in his warmth, but I can't shake the feeling that everything is about to change. It's not just about the Fleece or the plan to stop Percy and his friends. It's something deeper—something personal between us.

"I just don't want anything to go wrong," I admit quietly, looking out at the endless water. "Not with the plan, not with us."

Luke tilts his head, looking at me thoughtfully. "Nothing will go wrong. And as for us, I meant what I said. We've got each other's backs, always."

Before I can say anything more, Darcy calls out from the deck below, "We're almost in position! Shouldn't be much longer before we reach the coast."

Luke gives me a reassuring nod before heading down to check in with the others. I stay behind, watching him go, feeling a strange mix of emotions. It's not doubt—not exactly—but it's something that feels heavy, like the calm before a storm.

As I turn back to the sea, I let my fingers trace the edge of the railing, focusing on the steady hum of the ship's engines. This is it. The moment we've been working toward, waiting for. It's all in motion now, and there's no turning back.

But as the Miami skyline starts to appear faintly in the distance, a small part of me can't help but wonder what will happen when we finally confront Percy and his friends. How far am I willing to go for Luke? For us?

And more importantly, will it be enough?