As I had spent all my life running from my past, I guess it only made sense that my nightmare involved running from an unknown monster to an unknown location. I was running on the beach, the ocean was to my left, and there were woods to the right. I had a bow and arrow around my back. The sky was full of clouds; I could see lighting making contact with the ground all around me. The ocean was churning violently. It started to rain; my vision became blurred. I heard loud footsteps coming from behind me, they were gaining on me quickly. The rain was coming down even harder now; I tripped over an object and fell to the ground.

  "No more running for you little demigod." And with that I woke with a start and sat straight up. Even after I realized that I was still in the infirmary, I had to keep reminding myself that it was just a dream.

   "Hey you're up," my head spun to the side where Nico was sitting.

   "What are you doing here?" I asked him. "And how long have I been out for?" I added as a follow up question.

   "I'm here because I was scared to death when," I started laughing before he could finish. Something about a son of Hades being scared to death was just a bit to ironic for me. Realizing what he said, Nico rolled his eyes and reworded his sentence. "When Will called me and told me that you and Michael were unconscious in the infirmary, I got worried." I found myself mentally saying aw when he admitted that he was worried. I was about to ask how long I had been out for (again) but something he said clicked in my mind.

  "Wait how's Michael? Is he ok? Please tell me he's woken up by now." Nicos eyes skirted nervously so he was no longer looking directly at me. A sense of dread started to consume me.

     "It's almost 6:30," Nico said. "You've both been out for a few hours now. Michael though, well, he hasn't you know woken up yet." The world seemed to freeze; Nico's announcement kept repeating itself over and over again.

   "You're lying, you have to be lying." Even though I physically felt extremely weak, I got to my feet. I took a few steps, looking for Michael, before Nico picked me up and placed me back on the bed. "No where is he? What have you done to Michael?"

     I felt hysteric; my whole life has been dedicated to protecting him and now due to one careless misjudgment on my part he was passed out. I knew I shouldn't blame myself but I just felt like I should have known that James was going to try and get a reaction out of me. If I hadn't frozen when James called me out then Michael wouldn't have gotten knocked out and we wouldn't be in this situation. Obviously sensing my misery Nico put a comforting hand on my shoulder.

   "He's going to be ok," he said. "I may not be a healer like Will but I know Michael and he's a fighter." I knew he was right but I was scared. If anything happened to Michael then I would be lost. He was the reason I put a smile on my face even when I felt like crying, he was the reason I remained at this camp and put up with all the crap from the others, he was my world.

     It's all my fault," I sobbed. Nico immediately started to shake his head and talk.

   "No it is not," he told me. "Will explained what happened to Michael and I promise you that it was not your fault. You had no way of knowing that James was going to do what he did." The mention of his name snapped me back to reality. My hysteria was quickly replaced by icy anger. Nico was right, it wasn't my fault. The only person to blame was James and he was going to pay. My strength started to return to me. Ignoring Nico's protests, I stood back up and started to walk towards the front door.

   What do you think you're doing," Nico asked hesitantly as he followed me.

   "You're right, what happened to Michael wasn't my fault." I said, he nodded in agreement.

   "Exactly; now that you've realized that lets head back to your bed so you can rest." Nico started to turn back around but I kept walking forward.

   "It wasn't my fault," I repeated. "It was James's fault and he needs to pay." Nico froze and automatically turned around so he was walking next to me again.

  "Jessica, I know you're mad but let Dionysus and Chiron deal with James." I heard what he said but I was to mad to agree with what he was saying. If Michael had been awake by now I would have let Dionysus and Chiron deal with it, but he wasn't. Now it was extremely personal.

   "I'm afraid I can't do that Nico," I said solemnly. "I need to avenge my brother. My younger brother who is currently unconscious, and has been that way for hours, because this 18 year old wanted to get a rise out of me." I swung open the door of the infirmary, the sight that I was met with made me feel shocked. Will had his back turned to me and he was stopping Chiron, Dionysus, and a lot of the Hermes campers from coming into the infirmary.

  "They need their rest," Will said. He was unaware that I was standing behind him. "They should both hopefully be waking up soon. Having to many visitors in their when they wake up could stress them out. I am still unsure what caused Jessica to pass out. Michael on the other hand is passed out because of an accident during their sword fighting lesson."

     I decided to interrupt. "What happened to Michael wasn't an accident."

     In the blink of eye Will was facing me.

     "Jessica you're awake," he said surprised. He looked above me so he could make eye contact with Nico. "I thought I told you to get me if either of them woke up."

   "Sorry I was a little busy consoling Jessica." Nico said sheepishly. Will's expression shifted from irritated to understanding.

   "How are you feeling Jessica," Will asked softly.

   "What happened to Michael was not an accident and you know that. I told you exactly what happened to him." It was unlike me to ignore him, Will and Nico were two of the only adults that I fully respected at camp. They looked at me like an actual person instead of a ticking time bomb. But I had to make sure everyone knew the truth about Michael.

   "My dear, maybe we should discuss this in private." Chiron said nervously. The look in eyes clearly said to drop the matter; a fact that just fueled my anger.

   "No I think we should discuss this now," there was a gasp of surprise from the bystanders. No one blatantly disobeyed Chiron. "And quit talking to me like that; I'm not a little kid anymore. Will knows that what happened to Michael was no accident which means he's told you what happened. So why are you trying to defend the camper who put him in that bed? Why would you want to protect the 18 year old who knocked my nine year old little brother unconscious?"

     With that I stormed past Will, past Chiron and Dionysus, and through the crowd of campers. I then started to run. Michael and I had spent so much our time as kids running from the law and running from adults that it was by now one of the most natural things for me to do. Not only was it natural but it was relaxing. I found myself at the archery range. Since no one was there I figured I could let off some steam. I went into the storage cabin, grabbed my bow (it was the same one I used to shoot at Leo all those years ago) and grabbed a few arrows.

  After locking the cabin, I moved back so I was center with the target. Before I even notched an arrow, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Archery was not a time for me to be angry, it was a time for me to feel relaxed. Once I had slowed my breathing and no longer felt like screaming, I started. One by one I notched and fired arrow after arrow. Each one hit the bullseye. Before I could even realize how close I was to being done, all my arrows were gone. I set my bow down and smiled. I was still angry at James, worried about Michael, and curious about what the silver glow that appeared when I was fighting James had been. But now, I felt much more calm about it all. I had just set my bow down when I heard,

   "I forgot how good you were with that thing." A smile appeared on my face.

   "An archer is only as good as the quality of their equipment; I own the best bow at camp." I said to the very person who had given me my bow. "What are you doing here?" I turned to face Leo. He gave me a weak smile.

  "Will called me right after you passed out. I would have been here sooner but the garage was busy today. By the time we got home from work, Calypso decided to stay with the kids and I came to check on you and Michael. Calypso sends her love though." As he spoke he walked towards me and wrapped me in a hug which I gladly returned. Leo was like the father that I never had; he and Calypso treated me and Michael like we were their own.

   "He's still not awake Leo," I said quietly.

     "What if something is seriously wrong?" Leo tensed at my question.

   "It's going to be ok," he told me. "I may not be a doctor but I know that Michael will get through this." He said confidently. I pulled away from the hug.

    "I hope you're right," I said hopefully. "But why are Chiron and Will lying about what happened? I mean it's just messed up that they're covering for an 18 year old who knocked out a nine year old." He opened his mouth, shut it, and then started to talk again.

   "I don't know what their logic is; which is why I think we should head back to the big house and talk with them." A part of me wanted to protest but I'd also always been a curious person. Not knowing why they would defend James was killing me.

  "Fine, I'll go with you." I told Leo. "But if they insist on defending James do I have permission to kick his ass?" I was dead serious. Leo laughed and nodded.

  "But you have promise to fully hear them out before you go and kill James." I considered what he said.

  "It's a deal," I stuck my hand out to him to shake it. With a laugh the two of us headed away from the archery range back to the big house.