Annabeth's P.O.V.

"Your coffee, Ms. Matthews," I say robotically, handing her a mug of coffee. She accepts it and smiles.

"Thank you, Miss Chase. You're ever so helpful."

"I've created a daily schedule for you. A Marcus Eaton has requested to see you, and I've arranged it. He wishes to meet with you at 12 o'clock this afternoon," I announce.

"Alright. I'll meet with him soon. You may go."

I head for the exit, but Jeanine calls out, "Wait. One more thing."

I pause mid-step.

"Tomorrow night, you will meet with me in this room. You will tell me your tale, and leave out nothing. I shall keep a close eye on your friends. They may be of use to me."

A voice in the back of my mind screams at me to disobey. To fight back.

Jeanine notices my hesitation. Her eyes narrow slightly. "Your will is mine, daughter of Athena. You will do what I say. If not, your demigod friends will suffer the consequences. Your boyfriend, Perseus? If you step one foot out of line, he is as good as dead."

Terror overwhelms me. Percy, a small part of my mind thinks. I can't lose him. Not again.

I stop fighting and let the serum overpower me.

Leo's P.O.V.

I have four words to describe what it's like to live factionless.

It. Sucks. So. Much.

My clothes are tattered, my face is covered in soot (that isn't new) and I already have that dead animal smell. It'll take months to get rid of.

The food? Terrible. Beans in a can and scrambled eggs and rotten apples. 

I don't have a bed. Only Evelyn does. The rest of us sleep outside, on the cold hard ground. 

It's the equivalent of being homeless. 

Calypso is going to kill me when I get back. I bet my teeth are as yellow as a banana, and my breath stinks of rotten fish. She won't kiss me until I'm 20.

Evelyn is about as friendly as a stick; she seems to have zero feelings. Her only weakness is her son. 

Frank and Hazel visit sometimes, to check on me or to find out more about Evelyn. Hazel gives me extra food or supplies, and I'm grateful for it, even if having a pillow is five-star luxury.

The layout is pretty cool, though. The edge of Chicago is like a mini-city. Shacks made of wood, cardboard, and scraps are everywhere. People mill about, wearing several different colors. It's half of the city's population.

Everyone had a faction at one point. Some of them still hold on to character traits from those factions. The former Abnegation are still selfless, the former Amity are still kind, the former Dauntless are still daring, the former Candor are still truthful, and the former Erudite are still intelligent. Things like that never fade.

To my surprise, they're harboring weapons. Knives, guns, daggers, etcetera. They must have former Dauntless that excel in weapon-making. I don't know. But I get the feeling they're preparing for something big. For war.

I curse under my breath. I should have known.

Piper's P.O.V.

I sit in the large oak tree in the greenhouse, humming quietly to myself and staring at the night sky. I could be punished if I'm caught, but I'm positive that the large leaves are concealing enough. The moon is large and full, and several stars twinkle beside it. The view is amazing. 

If only Jason could sit here next to me, and we could stargaze together.

I shake my head and stop humming. Jason will never see this. He's probably suffering through truth serum. My heart falls.

I hear a pair of voices and freeze. Who would have a conversation at this time of night?

The voices are both adult. One male, one female. I twist in the branch I'm perched on and spot two people walking side by side.

Johanna Reyes, representative of Amity. And a man in Dauntless clothes, obviously a leader. I listen in.

"I can't believe this," Johanna murmurs, shaking her head. "You want Amity to take part in this?"

"Yes," the man says, his voice a deep bass. "We need as many allies as we can get. Jeanine wants every faction to fight Abnegation."

"How the hell are we going to help? Amity are peaceful farmers and gardeners, not soldiers! And how do you plan on wiping out an entire faction?"

The Dauntless man chuckles. "You'll know in good time, Ms. Reyes. And we're expecting a shipment of weapons and nuclear bombs very soon."

Johanna pales. "Nuclear bombs? You'll take out everyone!"

"Oh, not everyone, Ms. Reyes. Just Abnegation. Erudite has advanced tech, and we can set up a force field around the rest of the city. Only the Abnegation side of Chicago will be affected."

Johanna shakes her head. "This is cold-blooded murder, Max. I won't do it."

Max sighs. "I knew you would say that. You're my friend, Johanna, so I won't force you. But be ready. This is war."

I shudder and slip out of the tree as soon as they leave. A headache forms in my brain.

What's going on?