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Sorry about the long wait! I've had a lot going on.

Lucy Carlyle

The boy takes off his blindfold, blinks a few times, and starts to take in his surroundings. I see the panic in his eyes. He jumps to conclusions quickly, I see. That is not usually an asset. Few have the ability to jump to the correct conclusions, after all.

"You need not fear," I tell him. "We aren't your enemies."

Tobias still looks wary. "Well then who are you?"

"I can't say completely, but I'll explain what I can. My name is Lucy Carlyle... well, it hasn't always been, but I'll get to that. I am part of an... organisation that wishes to recruit you."

"What kind of organisation?"

"We are a group of people. People like you. People who have had things taken from them by the President. The aim, I guess you could say, is to fight back."

"You're rebels."

"Yes."

"Is this 'organisation,' as you call it, well known in the Destroyed Districts?"

I scowl. "We don't use such terminology here, child. Here, it is thirteen or sixteen or whatever it may be. But we don't consider ourselves destroyed."

"Okay. You gonna answer my question or not?"

"We are a strictly undercover agency. The code we live by is silence. If you break the silence, you become our prisoner, to do with whatever we wish." I hope I sound frightening. Perhaps I'm overdoing it, though.

"So... are you asking me to join you?"

I let the stern expression on my face soften into what I hope is a warm smile. This boy has been through so much. It will take time for him to trust us. "We're asking you if you're interested in joining. If you accept, you'll begin training under one of our younger members, like Carter here." I nod in the direction of Carter Kane, who is more focused on staring at Piper out of the corner of his eye than he is on the interview.

"What did you mean when you said your name hadn't always been Lucy Carlyle?"

I blink at the abrupt change of subject, as I recall memories I'd rather I didn't have. "I'm originally from District 14. Life was always dangerous there. My homeland had been struggling with a spirit infestation for many years.

"At a young age, I began training to be a... ghost hunter. We called ourselves agents. When I was fourteen, I was hired by an agency called Lockwood & co. That was where I met Anthony Lockwood. He was a year older than me, and the leader of our small agency.

"We worked together for four years, and at some point I fell in love. We were married mere days after my eighteenth birthday. You see, the President was beginning her attempt to overthrow the ruler of Fandom, and Lockwood was one of the many who wanted to resist.

"My husband was called to fight very soon after our marriage. I found out later that he had died within three days of being on the battlefield, though I hadn't received notice until much later. I changed my name back to Carlyle a year or so after he died."

The boy frowns. "I'm sorry."

I force a smile. "You should know as well as I do that saying something like that doesn't help."

He sighs. "You're right. So... how would joining this little group of rebels be an advantage to me?" 

"I'd think you'd at least have figured out that much. It's rather simple. We're giving you a chance for revenge."

I know that such a thing won't really appeal to his nature. I've studied his file closely, and know that Tobias Eaton is by nature a kindhearted person. But losing the love of your life changes you forever. I know that better than many.

He barely hesitates before he says, "I'm in."

Thalia Grace

The hunters have been keeping their distance from me this week. They can sense that my mind is troubled. Although I am grateful for the peace, I almost wish someone would ask me what's wrong. For me, a burden that comes with leadership is a certain aloofness from my fellow maidens. Annabeth is my sole confidant, and without her I have felt alone.

To my surprise, Phoebe approaches me as I return to my tent. "Is there something you need?" I ask her, trying to keep the stress out of my voice.

She frowns. "Not really. I just... something gave me the feeling you might want someone to talk to. "

I stared at her.

"I- I can leave if you want..." she stammered.

"No!" I exclaimed a little too quickly. "You can stay. Come inside."

She followed me into my tent. We haven't left this campsite since before reaping day, and it's evident in the messiness of my quarters. I sit down on my bed, and she sits beside me. 

"Are you okay, Thalia?" she asks timidly. "Ever since the Games began, you've been... off. We thought it would get better, with Annabeth safe, but if anything you seem worse."

I shake my head. "It's not so much Annabeth, really. I knew she could take care of herself in there. At the beginning, I was worried about Luke. He... he used to be our friend. He betrayed us. It was a long time ago. But he loved her back then, and I could see that he still did. I was afraid of him. Now... it's so much more. 

"You know that she's pregnant with her fiance's child. The problem now is her fiance. You remember him? Percy Jackson?" 

Phoebe nodded. "The son of Poseidon was in the favor of Artemis and journeyed with some of our own. He was there with you when Zoe..."

"Yes. The thing is, Annabeth's... relationship... with Luke hit him hard. As much as I tried to tell him otherwise, he was convinced she had real feelings for him. He started drinking... isolating himself... It got bad, and he hasn't recovered. He won't even talk to me. And now she's coming home.

"It's going to break her heart to see him the way he is. She's coming home tomorrow. And I'm the one who has to break the news to her that not only is the father of her child a danger to her and the baby, but that it's unlikely he'll even speak to her. Do you blame me for being stressed?"

Phoebe stares at me, awed. "Oh, Thalia... I had no idea. I'm so sorry."

I sigh. "You didn't know. You can't do anything. I doubt even the gods themselves have the power to restore Percy to what he was." 

"Do you want me to go with you to the station tomorrow?"

I let a tear slide out of my eye. "Thank you, Phoebe, but no. This is my task. I'll face it alone. You can go now."

Phoebe smiles at me as she gets up to leave. "I'm always here if you need to talk, Thalia. Don't forget that."

She left, and I laid back on my bed.

What would tomorrow bring? Likely another round of sorrows for my dearest friend, who had already endured more than any should have to. I only hoped that I would be able in some way to guide her through it.

Well, that was a long time to wait, but it's finally here. Sorry it's not very good. The next chapter will have more plot, i promise! Thank you so much for sticking with me! Don't forget to vote, and I always appreciate comments!