That night, dinner was more than just a meal—it was fulfilling in a way I hadn’t known before. The food was great, sure, but that wasn’t what made it special. It was the atmosphere. The way the fire crackled at the center of the pavilion, casting flickering shadows across the long tables. The way laughter and conversation filled the air, overlapping into a comforting hum. The way I could sit here, surrounded by people who, just days ago, were strangers, and feel like I belonged.

  Had it really only been two or three days since I got here? It didn’t feel like it. Somehow, this place already felt like home. Not just the closest thing to home—home itself.

  Maybe it was because I’d never truly had one before.

  I pushed my plate away, leaning back as a satisfied sigh escaped me. Across the table, Finn was deep in conversation with a few other campers, while Chloe was arguing with someone from another cabin over something I hadn’t caught.

  Damien, on the other hand, had his eyes locked on me, an all-too-familiar smirk tugging at his lips.

  I groaned. “What?”

  “Come to my bunk. We need to talk, remember?”

  I waved a hand vaguely. “Not now. I’m too full to talk.”

  “Nope, you promised.” He grinned, standing and grabbing my arm before I could protest.

  I muttered something under my breath but let him drag me away. The night air was cool, carrying the scent of the ocean and damp grass. The stars burned bright overhead, scattered across the sky like shattered glass. I found myself staring at them as we walked, my chest tightening slightly. Something about the way they shimmered, shifting ever so slightly, sent an odd feeling through me.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  I shook it off as we reached Damien’s cabin. He pushed the door open, and I was immediately hit with the familiar scent of steel and leather. His cabin was neat but packed with weapons—swords, daggers, a few bows, and even a battle-axe lined the walls. A half-finished set of armor sat on his desk, the metal gleaming in the dim light.

  I wasted no time collapsing onto his bed. “Alright, what do you want? And why do you act like we’re best friends?”

  Damien gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. “I’m hurt! Why wouldn’t you be my friend?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Because you’re the counselor of a major cabin. You don’t get there without connections.”

  His smirk faltered. Just for a second. But I caught it.

  “I had good friends,” he said after a pause. “But they… met the same fate as Finn’s and Chloe’s.”

  I hesitated. I wasn’t sure what to say to that.

  So, in a desperate attempt to shift the mood, I blurted, “But I still don’t understand the meaning of ‘Peace out.’”

  Damien blinked. Then, to my relief, he burst into laughter. “Oh gods, you really don’t know?”

  I shook my head.

  His grin widened. “Alright, next question—what’s going on with you and Chloe?”

  I froze. “Uh… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Oh, I’ve got gossip for Finn.”

  “Say a word, and I’ll make sure Hades throws you into Cerberus’s food bowl.”

  Damien snorted. “Whoa, calm down! You’ve got threats more creative than the Ares cabin. You sure you’re not one of them?”

  I crossed my arms. “You still haven’t answered my question. How is Finn related to Chloe?”

  Damien hesitated. “I’m not the best person to tell you this, but… Finn is Chloe’s older brother.”

  I blinked. “What?!”

  That meant I liked my best friend’s sister.

  Damien grinned at my reaction but didn’t press. Instead, he leaned back against his desk. “Anyway, about the prophecy… why do you think the Labyrinth is related to it?”

  I exhaled, forcing my thoughts into order. “I don’t. But if there’s a war coming, the enemy could use it to invade camp.”

  Silence stretched between us. We both knew the enemy wasn’t just the Titans and Giants. The worst of them all was Gaia herself.

  The next morning, Finn, Damien, and I met near the armory. The air was crisp, but the sky above was overcast, the gray clouds rolling in like an omen.

  “Mark goes first,” Finn said, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

  I sighed. “Fine. I had a dream. Pretty sure it was about Finn.”

  Finn raised an eyebrow. “What about me?”

  “The final stand. You held a spear. You were crying. You knew you’d die if you used it.”

  Finn was quiet for a moment before he nodded. “That tracks. My dream was about the spear, too. I had to answer a riddle to prove my worth, and then… it chose me.”

  Damien frowned. “That’s a problem. Because in my dream… Eli took the spear.”

  Silence.

  We all exchanged uneasy glances.

  “We need to tell Chiron,” I muttered.

  Before Finn could respond, a scream rang out.

  Then dozens more.