I watched with my back hunching over as Percy ran into the woods.

"Be careful," I whispered, even though he couldn't hear me. "There might be a monster there."

Brushing my finger over the spot Percy had kissed me, I looked down at Piper. Her breathing had slowed, and Will was taking notes on a clipboard.

"She seems to have recovered," he mumbled, not looking up from his papers. "I think she'll live."

I nodded subtly and knelt to Piper's arm. I held the cold, thin limb, swinging it slightly.

"You'll live," I whispered to her. "You'll be good as new, okay Piper?"

Will glanced up at me, but turned his head away the second I noticed.

I didn't care.

"You're my best friend," I continued, looking sadly into her fast-blinking eyes. "I can't lose you."

Just then, I heard footsteps. Nico came running back. He hunched over, panting with sweat down his face. His eyes were open wide.

"Percy --," he gasped, taking deep breaths. "He -- I heard a scream. It's probably -- it came from the woods."

Nico pointed a shaky fingers towards the woods, from where Percy had run away before.

"Okay, deep breaths," Will said, dropping the clipboard to help his boyfriend. "Don't push yourself."

Nico shook his head. "Go find him," he continued to me. "Get him back. Please."

I nodded, giving one last look to Piper, before running into the woods.

I was running on thin grass, each strand pulling at my feet.

I was rushing through the trees, branches poking my body.

I was GETTING CUTS AND BRUISES ALL OVER MY GODDAMN SELF, DAMMIT.

I couldn't find Percy. I yelled his name frantically, and my hair was just a tumble of knots. Maybe I wasn't in a presentable state, but the fact that Percy wasn't even present scared me.

"For the love of Hades!" I screamed, my voice cracking with a stream of hot tears down my face. "Get your ass over here, Percy Jackson!"

A faint rustle of leaves and broken branches came from behind me. I immediately got into fighting stance with my spear pointed towards the sound.

"Get over here!" I screamed. "Tell me where my friend is!"

The figure laughed, stepping into a line of sunshine that peeked through the giant trees above us. "Women," he smirked. "So -- how do I say this without offending you? Passionate?"

I looked at the man. He wore a maroon cloak covering his face, all except his demon-like left eye. In his hand he carried a smaller cloak, one that was white.

"Where's Percy?" I demanded, standing straight. "Tell me where he is or I'll kill you."

The man clicked his tongue disapprovingly. "So violent," he said. "A shame, really. I did not want to fight you."

I pointed my spear to the mysterious man again. "Then it's definitely not your lucky day," I replied, spitting on the ground. "I'm gonna wipe that smile off the head I'll rip off."

The man smiled mischievously. "So unladylike," he said. "I wonder what my master sees in you."

I narrowed my eyes. "Master?"

"Why, of course I have a master," the man said, taking a careless step closer to me. "Why else would I be interested in you?"

I shook my head. "Who is he?"

The man kept getting closer, each step pounding in my ears. "You'll find out soon, curious girl," he hinted, tightening his fist. "But for now, I must bring you to him."

The man held up the white cloak and smiled eerily. "Come, girl," he said. "I don't encourage fighting me."

I pointed my spear towards him. "Come at me," I spit. "I'm not afraid."

"As you wish," he sighed. He raised his free hand like how Kylo Ren used the force, and twisted his fingers.

Suddenly I couldn't breath. I crawled at my throat, trying to exhale. My eyes darted all around the man, trying to make out what he was doing. As he continued squeezing his fist, my vision seemed to grow darker at the edges.

"Bastard," I whispered airily.

"You're lucky I'm not supposed to kill you," the man spit. "Or else I would have long been past that point."

"Let me go you cheater," I said, my face turning purple.

The man laughed. "Better?" he asked, flinging my back against a tree. I crumpled down helplessly, pain sprouting throughout my body. But at least I could breath.

Get a grip on yourself! You're Y/N L/N! There's no way you're gonna let a loser like this beat you! Not for Percy!

I stood up, ignoring the burning feeling on the back of my head and shoulders. My butt also hurt a ton, but let's just say it didn't.

"Fight me with a weapon," I said. "Fight me like a man."

The man sighed, pulling a spear just like mine out of his cloak. "As you wish," he agreed, his tone annoyed.

I stood up straight, my own spear just as tall as me. "Fair enough," I said. "Come at me bro."

The man's eyes narrowed. He got into a fighting stance, one that reflected mine.

And then he shot at me like a viper.

I had just enough time to react. I spun left, but not far enough to avoid a cut through my shirt, skimming my waist.

"Inconsistent egg!" I yelled. "I'm gonna kill you!"

The man smirked, but kept coming. Each time he was faster, stronger, better, leaving me with only the ability to defend. I could attack, or else I'd lose everything.

But would I lose everything if I die?

I backflipped just as the man began attacking again. My spear clashed with his, throwing him off balance. His weapon skidded elsewhere behind a bush.

"I wasn't expecting that," the man said, now amused. He drew out another spear from his cloak. "You surprised me."

I shook my head, taking deep breaths. "You have no clue," I replied, striking once more. But this time he was ready, and pierced my bad arm.

"Gotcha!" he sneered as I yelped in agony. "And you say you can kill me."

"I'm not dead just yet," I countered, rising. I got back into stance, ignoring the throb in my head.

The man smiled and rushed to me. His speed and agility had surpassed my own, but he doesn't have the motivation I do.

"I'll kill you!" I screamed, rushing at full forced. My spear jabbed his thigh, causing him to crumple to the ground. I took the chance to stab him again on his back, pinning him to the floor. "I'll tear your head off!"

The man smiled, looking up at me through pained eyes. "You don't understand, naïve girl," he whispered. "Even if you do, there are more of me. Our master has an army."

"Bullshit!" I replied, kneeling down to face the man. "Where's my friend?"

The man closed his eyes. "There's a war coming," he said. "And I'm afraid you're on the losing side."

"Fuck you," I said, slitting his throat.

I stood up abruptly to a new noise of feet stumbling through bushes. They sounded familiar.

Percy.

I smeared the blood from my hands onto my jeans. "Percy?"

As I guessed, Percy had magically appeared in front of me.

"Y/N," he breathed, running up to me. We embraced, inhaling each other's scents. "I was so worried."

"Where the fuck were you?" I demanded, pulling away. "I almost died searching!"

Percy widened his eyes, just now noticing the dead body on the ground. "I was drugged," he explained. "With a sedative. But I just woke up, and I heard you scream 'I'm gonna kill you.' I ran here as fast as I could."

I punched his arm. "Idiot," I mumbled, leaning into his shoulder. "You're such an idiot."

Percy smiled, kissing the top of my messy hair. "I know," he replied. "But you don't care, do you?"

I shook my head. "Let's just get back to Nico and the others."

Percy nodded, hesitantly pulling away. "Right," he mumbled. "The others."

I smiled, took his hand, and looked back to where we came from.

"You have no clue how you make me feel when you look like that," Percy muttered, tightening his grip on my hand.

"You're blushing," he smirked, pulling me by my waist.

Oh my gods, his hand is touching my waist. It's sending shivers through my spine -- his grip is so firm. He's so strong. I'm turning into such an idiot.

"Shut up," I mumbled, crossing my arms. "You're imagining things.

Percy let out a deep chuckle that left echoes. I got this mixed feeling in my stomach -- butterflies.

But even when we got to camp, the words that man said rang in my ears.

There's a war coming. And you're on the losing side.