Masked Hearts

Chapter 3 - Rachel's P.O.V.

I left him by the doorframe of his room and watched him get to his bed in silence. Not moving. And, what I saw, sadden me.

He broke down, crying. His façade was gone.

The strong, confident, arrogant persona that he was showing to the world dissolved into tears like a five-year-old without a teddybear to hold for comfort. I glanced around, to see if people were watching the same as me, to check if I wasn't imagining it or dreaming it. People walked around me, minded in their business, not even glancing at the door I was leaning on. Not even watching me.

My beliefs made a crash and burn.

I stood there, in silence, making sure he was OK until I saw him breathing evenly. He was asleep. Sighing, I closed the door with the less sound possible and walked out of Big House, decided and wrecking my brain into finding a solution. But, for now, I'd have to get into a discussion. I directed myself to the Apollo Cabin. Luckily, everyone was inside, which was even better.

"Guys! Look who's back!!" the first voice that came over me was Austin, one of Will second-in-command. Since Will had made himself the Head Councilor after Michael and Lee, someone had to fill head in the Infirmary, so Will chose Austin for it. Poor decision if it exist... "Dad's priest is back!!" Everyone then greeted me warmly, with hugs, pats in the back, kisses in the cheek and that was... repulsive.

"You know, I never expected you to be so... What's the word?"

"Effusive?" Kayla suggested, her smile never faltering.

"Warming?" another sister, Sonia, butted in.

"No, I know the word she's looking for" Austin came forward, grinning. I raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to reply while I watched around. Will was sitting on a corner, not saying much, which was unusual of him. He wasn't the shy type, unless he knew what I meant. I looked at him in the eyes and saw something different: guilt "The word you're looking for is... dramatic"

"The word I was looking for, Austin, was hypocrite!" I snapped at him, surprising everyone "How could you?!" Everyone was staring at me as if I was insane (which, wouldn't surprise me after all this time), except for Will, who paled at my question.

"What's that word?" one of the little campers, Cara of 10, asked me with her innocent voice. Sighing, I changed the target of my anger towards the grown-ups. I kneeled down at her, smiling.

"Hypocrite means when someone says one thing, but doesn't do it or does something else..." I explained to her, not blaming her for anything. Cara nodded, understanding "Tell me, sweetie... did your brothers and sister told you anything about the guy in Big House?" I could feel the glares, the warning sent in our direction, but I didn't care.

"They said he was mean and tried to hurt us... That, because he hurt us, we shouldn't help him" Oh, how I love the innocence of kids... I looked up, with a glare of my own and everyone had the decency of looked shocked. Expect for Will. He was down guilty.

"Does the Hippocratic Oath means anything to you?!" Everyone winced at my tone "What happened to 'the patient is first'? What about 'family first'?!" I pushed the buttons, before looking at Will "I never expected you to have this kind of behavior under your care..."

"Rachel, he tried to attack Camp-"

"Key word: tried. Tried, Austin. And, I don't remember you being in charge here" I cut him, angry at his superior attitude. I turned around and left the cabin, ashamed of being patronized by their father, but not before I gave my final blow "From now on, I'll take care of him. If I found one of you blocking my way, making my task impossible or even trying to convince me to quit it, I'll do more damage that you imagine..." I walked to my cave, fuming and furious. Hypocrites!!

"Rachel, child..." I looked up to see Chiron, wearing a smile at me. I tried to calm down, but it was kind of impossible "Welcome back-"

"Chiron, sir, I'd like to apply to the position of personal nurse to our guest in Big House" I interrupted him, politely. He definitely didn't deserve my anger. Chiron raised an eyebrow at me.

"Are you sure you want that, Rachel?" he checked with me.

"With all due respect, sir, I'm useless for the moment until Apollo fights for his Oracle once more... I'd like to spend my time around Camp in a more productive way" I reasoned with him. Chiron nodded, showing me that smile that said 'I don't agree with your method, but I'm proud of you for not taking the easy way out'.

"Very well, I'll inform-" I shook my head.

"Sir, I want no one, but the Apollo Cabin to know what I'm doing. One, because I already reprimanded them. And two, because he doesn't know who I am... I wanna keep it that way" Chiron sighed and nodded "Thanks, sir" I thanked him, before heading to my destination. Grover was very kind into taking my things inside, so all that was left was unpack. Taking clothes out, I find one thing that was completely out of place for me, an iron straighter. With my curly hair, and no electricity, how I was gonna use it?

Suddenly, a thought struck me, giving me an idea. I took my straighter to the bathroom and used it on my hair. When I finished, I was almost unrecognizable. Just what I was looking for. But, to make the trick, I'd need someone more... concealer. I saw some decorations on the walls from when I visited Venice and pulled down a black one with lace all around and a black feather on the right side. I examined it for a second before put it on, smiling.

No face, no voice. This will me my façade.

----

Hey, guys...

Before going to what should be our business (aka, the stories), I would like to share something with you all, since you're a part of my life somehow...

This morning, my parents decided to put our 17-year-old labrador to sleep. I have mixed feeling about this, since I wasn't very attached to him, but, well... 17 years is not a short time... We all knew it was coming, but just hearing it sounds bad...

I appreciate all of your messages about it, for real. Just, not pity, please.

Anyway, here are the stories:

Rise of Ouranos (ReWrite): 1 chapter.

Sis/Bro, Your Shadow is Hot!: 1 chapter.

Maidenhood (adopted from TheColorofBoom): 1 chapter.

Quest: Matchmade (former collab with Hugs6): 1 chapter.

Masked Hearts (former collab with Hugs6): 1 chapter.

I'll see you guys next week...

xoxo, SilverHuntresses