The Traitor.

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    TOGETHER, THE TWO GIRLS WALKED TO THE CREST OF THE HILL, hauling Val's luggage out of camp and into the camp shuttle bus that would take her to the airport. The weight of Val's departure hung heavy in the air, casting a somber shadow over their usually lively banter. Every step felt like a countdown to the inevitable goodbye, a farewell neither of them wanted to face.

Finally, when the time had come to say goodbye, Val gave her one last hug, squeezing her tightly as if trying to imprint the memory of their embrace into her mind. "I'll see you next year!" she exclaimed with forced cheerfulness before climbing onto the bus. Rory could only offer a weak smile and a wave as she watched her best friend disappear into the distance, leaving her with only the echoes of their shared laughter and the anticipation of a reunion never come.

Alone on the hill, Rory felt a profound sense of emptiness settle over her. The once bustling camp now seemed eerily quiet, the absence of Val's infectious energy leaving a void that no amount of time could fill. She stood there for a moment, watching as the bus disappeared around a bend in the road, taking her friend farther and farther away until she was nothing more than a speck on the horizon.

Trying to push aside the sadness threatening to overwhelm her, Rory scanned the crowd for Maddie, hoping to catch a glimpse of her friend one last time. But Maddie was nowhere to be seen. A twinge of disappointment shot through her, though she quickly brushed it aside. It wasn't that big of a deal, she supposed. It would probably be easier this way, easier to just disappear without a trace.

As she turned to leave, the weight of Val's absence settled heavily on her shoulders, a tangible reminder of the inevitable changes that lay ahead. With each step away from the hill, Rory couldn't shake the feeling that she was leaving a part of herself behind, that with Val's departure, she was also saying goodbye to a chapter of her life that could never be revisited.

    She met up with Luke who told her he would deal with Percy later that afternoon, telling her to get their bags ready to go. They parted quickly, time was of the essence, they had to be out of camp by the end of the day, preferably without anyone noticing that they were gone before it was too late.

Alone in the cabin, Rory surveyed the space, her gaze falling on their two packs laid out on her bed. She began to sift through their belongings, trying to decide what was essential and what could be left behind. Over the years, they had accumulated a multitude of items, each carrying its own memories and significance. But now, sentimentality had to take a backseat to practicality. Besides, there was no room for nostalgia. Nostalgia could only lead to regret and regret was a luxury neither of them could afford.

Amidst the memories, Rory decided to keep her father's broken watch and Val's necklace, as a reminder of their final day together, leaving behind any other items laden with sentimental value.

Next came the task of packing essentials: clothes, toiletries, and other basic necessities. Rory moved with purpose, her movements methodical as she filled their packs with the items they would need to survive on the road. In addition to the essentials, she made sure to include a packet of ambrosia, just in case they found themselves in a dire situation. They didn't know how long they would be traveling before reaching the rest of Kronos's army, and they needed to be prepared for anything that might come their way.

    "Are you leaving?" a voice asked behind her. Rory froze momentarily but managed to turn around smoothly, facing the unexpected interrogator at the doorway—Annabeth.

    The lie rolled off her tongue as naturally as breathing. "Oh yeah, you know, I thought I'd give it another try, maybe go to college." She pulled out her most convincing smile although it didn't quite reach her eyes.

    However, Annabeth, ever perceptive, eyed Luke's packed bag on the bed and questioned with skepticism, "Is Luke going with you?"

    "Yeah," Rory continued as nonchalantly as she could. "We're staying at my step-mom's."

    Annabeth, probed further, "So you're going back to Florida?"

    Rory, cornered by the questioning, could only repeat, "Yeah."

    "The bus for the airport already left," Annabeth pointed out and Rory was increasingly getting the feeling that she was being interrogated.

    "Did it?"

    Annabeth said, "An hour ago. But you knew that, I saw you there with Valentine."

    Rory dropped her false smile. "Was I?"

    "Yeah, so you're lying—"

    "That's a wild accusation to be throwing around—" Rory attempted to deflect although she said it almost sarcastically, no longer even attempting to lie.

    "—Where are you going?" Annabeth cut in.

    Deciding to abandon the charade, Rory responded bluntly, "I think you know." The weight of her words slowly sinking in with all of its unspoken implications.

    That didn't seem to be the answer Annabeth had been hoping for despite her pressuring. She stood there, her eyes widening with a mixture of disbelief and hurt, as if a sudden storm of betrayal had engulfed her. The room seemed to close in on her, the walls pressing against her.

    Her usually composed demeanor crumbled, revealing the vulnerability beneath the facade. The hurt painted all of her features, transforming the confident daughter of Athena into nothing more than a broken child. No longer did she feel like the victorious hero; instead, the overwhelming panic she had felt while she had been on the run so long ago seemed to resurface, as if the entire world had turned against her.

    Rory, in stark contrast, kept a passive and cold demeanor. Annabeth whispered, "Betrayed by a friend." The words hanging in the air, echoing with her realization that the prophecy had come true. "You—" Annabeth began, searching for her words.

    "Surprise," Rory said dryly.

    "Where's Luke?" Annabeth demanded.

    "With Percy," Rory casually shrugged, relishing the glimpse of fear in Annabeth's eyes. "I hear pit scorpion venom can kill you in sixty seconds," she added with an almost smug tone, each syllable delivering a calculated blow.

    Annabeth's eyes, now shimmering with tears, not only processed the shock of Rory and Luke's betrayal but also grappled with the newfound concern for Percy's life. Every uttered word from Rory cut through her like a dagger, strikes that lashed at her heart. Annabeth struggled to breathe. The world was spinning around her. This wasn't real. This couldn't be real. A nightmare. This was a nightmare.

    Yet, as the seconds passed, the crushing weight of reality settled in, dispelling any hope of waking from this torment. This was really happening. "How could you?" She whispered, her voice trembling.

    Rory, seemingly impervious to the damage she had inflicted, felt a twinge of pity for Annabeth. However, she promptly suppressed it, maintaining the cold detachment that had become her shield. "You should hurry," she said quietly.

    Annabeth's sadness transformed into a steely resolve, her sorrow replaced by an incandescent anger. "You won't get away with this."

    But she already had. "Stop me, or save Percy. You can't do both."

    The girl clenched her jaw at the ultimatum as she made her decision. With a sense of purpose, she rushed out of the cabin toward the woods, determined to find Percy. Rory watched her go. Percy would survive, Rory was sure of it. Annabeth would find him. But that was beyond her control now, and besides, the plan had never been to kill Percy, not so soon at least.

    In a single, fluid movement, Rory grabbed both bags off her bed, hastily setting off. She refused to look back.

    Luke was waiting for her on top of the hill, standing solemnly beside Thalia's tree, his expression tainted with sadness and Backbiter sheathed at his side. He looked up at her approach and she tossed him his bag.

    "Everything go okay?" he asked.

    "I dealt with it," Rory replied, opting not to delve into the details. She didn't want to upset him more than he surely already was. Luke simply nodded, too preoccupied with what he would have to do next.

    Before he could ask, Rory pulled her knife out, holding it by its cool, pulsing blade. She extended it out to him. He regarded it before tentatively taking the hilt, the coldness of the dark knife making him flinch, the sensation still unfamiliar to him. Rory let him take it and he glanced back at the tree, still looking hesitant.

    "I can do it if you want," Rory offered quietly. After all, she had no attachment to the tree—she wouldn't hold back.

    Luke shook his head, "No it's okay—I have to do this."

    Rory let him. She watched as he dipped the blade into the potent Elder Python venom, the dark liquid shimmering ominously. Planting the knife into the tree, he pushed it as far as he could, aiming for the tree's very core. He took the knife out. The tree bore only a subtle scratch, but a yellowish ooze trickled from the wound, proving to them that the job had indeed been done.

    Luke backed away. He showed no regret whatsoever on his face. He handed the knife back to Rory who carefully tucked it away, avoiding any contact with the still poisonous blade.

    "You okay?" She asked softly.

    He only smiled in response. His fingers gently sought hers. Without hesitation she tangled her fingers with his. Together, they looked back towards the valley that cradled Camp Half-Blood, standing in the fading light, taking in the familiar landscape that had been their only home for the past few years. The dimming sun bathed the familiar landscape in a soft glow, casting shadows that seemed to resonate with the echoes of memories. But now they were off to bigger and better things. Kronos's army awaited.

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This hasn't been edited so sorry, but I wanted to get the chapter done... I'll edit all the lightning thief chapters next week and I'll start posting the sea of monsters ones probably around the 26th of may, maybe earlier!

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