Annabeth followed the peacekeeper down the long, dark hallway. It smelled musty. As she walked she clenched and unclenched her hands, over and over, breathing in, breathing out. She wondered if Luke would be watching. They reached a wooden staircase, Annabeth could hear the dull noise of the crowd above them.

"And now, from district 12, please welcome Annabeth Chase!!"

The peacekeeper nodded to her. Annabeth flung open the door and stepped onto the stage. The blazing white light blinded her at first, but she got her bearings and took in her surroundings. Two chairs, facing each other. The audience packed like sardines. And Apollo, with an outstretched hand, grinning at her in a sparkly gold suit. Annabeth swallowed and took his hand as he lead her to her chair. Apollo leaned back his chair, crossing his ankles.

"So Ms. Chase! How are you feeling tonight?"

"I- I'm good. A little overwhelmed."

"A little overwhelmed. An understatement I imagine! What do think of the capitol so far?"

Annabeth wondered if she should answer honestly. "Well, it's certainly a lot more shiny," she said with a meaningful glance at Apollo.

The crowd laughed with Apollo and she felt a bit more at ease.

"You all are just jealous. Do you think just anyone could pull this off?" Another laugh from the crowd. Apollo was good at what he did. "Listen, Annabeth, let's talk about your training score. An 8! Pretty good for a girl from district 12."

Annabeth nodded. "Well, I think they underestimated me. A mistake as it turns out. I know what I'm doing, both here and in the arena."

Apollo raised his eyebrows. " I don't doubt it, Annabeth. Last question for tonight. If you could give a message to your friends and family back home, what would it be?"

Annabeth looked directly into the camera and imagined Luke staring back at her.

"I would- I would tell them I'm trying to win. For them. And if I don't, I want them to know I love them. They've done so much for me, and I'm sorry if I didn't express that enough."

The silence weighed on the room until Apollo cut it.

"Well, Annabeth. I think I speak for everyone when I say I wish you the best of luck."

The crowd erupted into applause and Annabeth staggered off the stage. Back in the dark staircase, she slumped against the wall and breathed. She got through it. Chiron came jogging up to her and opened his arms. Annabeth raised her eye brows but accepted the hug. It had been a while since anyone hugged her.

"You did amazing, Annabeth," Chiron said, "now let's go watch Percy, yeah?"

Chiron and Annabeth reached the lounge as Percy mounted the stage.

"Welcome, Percy!" Apollo announced, as Percy sat in his chair. "You're looking very dapper tonight."

"Thank you, Apollo, so do you," Percy said. Apollo grinned at the audience.

"Tell me, Percy, what would you say your greatest strengths are?"

Percy leaned back in his chair.

"Well, I'm not a bad fighter; but mainly I don't give up. No matter you many times you throw me on the ground I will get up again. Literally. There was this guy in school, Lityerses, who used to throw the younger kids around. I remember him hitting me until I fell, but every time I'd get back up, over and over again until he got tired. I ran home and told my mom, who owns a bakery, and she gave me a muffin with berries that would make him sick. The next day when he came looking for me, I told him I'd give him my muffin if he stopped messing with me. He threw me on the ground, took and ate my muffin, and said no. Later that day he threw up in front of everyone and became known as the puke guy. So the moral of that story is don't mess with me. And Lit, if you're watching this, I am sorry. But also, don't be a jerk."

Apollo threw is head back and laughed with the audience. "Noted! So Percy, it sounds like your mom is a pretty special woman. If she were standing right here, what would you say to her?"

Percy's eyes turned sad. "I would tell her I love her more than anything in the world. And that I'm sorry this happened. If I win, it will be for her. Not for me, not for my district, but for her."

Apollo nodded.

"You know, my dad left when I was really little," Percy said, "and it's just been us against the world. So if I win this thing it's because I have to get back to her."

The audience was quiet. Apollo stood from his chair.

"Then, Percy Jackson, I wish you the best of luck." The room erupted into applause as Apollo escorted him offstage.