★ kee speaks OH MY GOD I USED THE SOLANGELO CLICHÉ FOR THIS LMAOOO I'M SORRY I JUST WANTED TO KILL A CHARACTER IDK??

"Just five minutes, Michael," I grinned.

"Fine, but come back here."

"Of course!"

Connor pulled me into the woods where we hid. "Keep safe, okay, Y/N?"

"You keep safe. And if you find a hot chick on Grandpa's side, she's not worth it. Besides, you have one here." I winked and did finger guns.

A dryad popped out from a tree nearby and said, "He's actually your great-grandfather, but ignore me." and she faded back into green mist.

He put my hands down, biting back a smile. "You're a horrible flirt for a child of Apollo."

"And so are you," I shot back. "For someone who's the half-brother of Annabeth's first crush..."

"Actually, Luke was her second crush. Her first one was that old guy from A Pretty Mind or something."

"Ew. But ohh, she was your first crush." I nudged him.

Connor scowled and lightly shoved me back. "Okay, stop. Kick some ass out there for me, Sunshine Petals."

We did a complicated handshake. "Can't you call me my regular name?"

"I can call you princess."

"You already do."

"Yeah." He gave me that stupid grin he always wore. The one that gave me a mini heart attack when he'd look at me, too. I mean, of course I liked him. But did I admit it? Of course not, don't be stupid.

My sword was gone and by the time I realized it he was whistling innocently and hiding it behind him. I reached for it but he blocked me. "Not so fast."

"Don't tell me what to do, Stoll."

"I think I will, princess."

I snatched it back and did a salute, walking off.

"How many have you done?" Connor asked as we fought back to back.

"Heck if I know!" I nearly dropped my sword fighting a telkhine but I caught it at the last moment and stabbed it to dust. "HA!"

"Someone's having fun!"

I smirked. "Save your breath."

Then something shrieked from nearby, the kind of sound you'd add to a "Scariest Sounds" list. It was unnatural and blood-curdling.

That something shot out of the Labyrinth—Kampê. The Cyclops named Tyson told me about her. Connor cursed behind me as she stood on top of Zeus's Fist. We had been fighting too close to it.

We stumbled back as she went down and smiled evilly at the battle field. My breath caught in my throat. Was I prepared for this? Absolutely not. Was I still determined to kick ass, though? Absolutely! But not Kampê's, though.

Something flew past us and we ducked. Someone from Kronos's side tried to strike at me; an enemy demigod. I gripped my sword and blocked them. We fought for a while and I did my best to tire them out. They cried out in pain as I wounded their leg, but then got carried away by a hellhound. Dam it. I would have ran after them if not for the huge shadow above me. Kampê flew away.

A broken cry of pain came from behind me. I was about to turn around but the way Kampê landed on the Athena cabin's tent got my attention. One of the animal heads at her waist had a bloody mouth and was dripping red. I looked away in disgust.

Another hellhound came with Quintus on her back. Mrs. O'Leary! Along came another being—A Hundred-Handed one? Kampê was buried under rocks before I could process the sight. A vague hiss ran through the crowd and the monsters surged forward.

Someone cried Connor's name as Chiron was hurt by a giant but was then cut off by a horrible sound, like a screech, coming out of Grover's mouth. A dracaena slithered and pushed past me and I twisted my ankle. All the monsters fled to the Labyrinth and soon they were all gone.

"He still sings better than you, Y/N," Connor said behind me. His body was pressed against mine. I turned around, a smile forming on my face but immediately I dropped my sword at what I saw.

"Y/N, please-please don't cry," he said weakly, taking off his helmet. I took off mine. A huge chunk of his lower torso was gone and blood was seeping through his clothes. He looked me in the eyes. I couldn't speak.

"That's not...that's not real. Please tell me it's not real. That's paint. It has to be. Please."

I carefully took off his armor and cringed. The animal head's teeth had ripped through it like fondant. I didn't want to look at it. He didn't want me to, either. He held my face as he sat against a tree. "I think...I think it's pretty real."

"No. It's not. Please, Con, I'm not good at healing. Don't-you can't leave us, please, this is a joke." I choked back a sob. That Nico kid passed by and stared at him, wide-eyed. Then he ran off. I think I heard a thud, but I wasn't sure if the kid collapsed or not.

"Y/N, don't cry, please? I'll see you in Elysium. I'll wait for you."

"No, don't talk. Don't say that. Don't talk, I'm gonna get someone." But I remembered I couldn't get up. Neither of us could. My voice wouldn't work and instead I just cried. I didn't want Connor to go. Not now. Not yet. It was too early.

He took my hand and I squeezed it, trying to find something to do about his wound. It would hurt too much and it wouldn't work at all. He was probably in shock, but the blood loss...

"You are my sunshine...my..."

I looked up, teary-eyed. "Don't talk, it-it's gonna hurt more, please, stay a little longer." It was uncomfortable on the ground. I was tired and thirsty. And yet I stayed there, just to feel his warmth and talk to him.

But I knew he wouldn't last. I just hoped...that if I said it enough, he would stay.

"My only sunshine..."

"You make me happy, when skies are gray," I sang back. I gripped his hand hard, but not to the point that it hurt him. He coughed and suddenly I wished it was me instead. Let him live, to listen to good songs, to collect bottle caps, to dance in the rain. I wanted him to do that, if both of us surviving was impossible. I wanted to take his place so badly.

"You'll never know, dear..." He stopped and I stared at his smiling face. "I was never good at being early."

"What?"

He took a shaky breath and rubbed circles on the back of my palm. "You'll never know dear, how much I'll love you..."

"Connor..."

"...Please don't..."

"Please don't take my sunshine away." I laughed softly, head bowed down to the ground. "You should sing with us at the campfire."

Connor didn't answer me. His eyes were closed and he wasn't breathing.

"Con. Connor, please." I shook him lightly. "Please wake up. You..." I stayed like that for a while, covering my eyes with one hand and holding Connor's unmoving hand in the other. "No," I said weakly. "No, please."

"Connor! Connie-boy, did you see that? They headed out like—Y/N? Connor, did you—" Travis stopped way too abruptly. I turned away, limping off as best as I could to get as far away as possible.

Breaking down into sobs, I covered my ears so I couldn't hear Travis's cries of anguish.