Hazel's Last Stand

The sound of running, splashing footsteps echoed through the tunnel. Illuminated by flickering florescent lights, the mossy brick ceiling leaked seawater into the corridor, leaving nearly a foot of water on the floor. One big impact, and the sea would come crashing down, flooding the maintenance shaft and drowning anyone inside.

It was through this tunnel that Hazel and Piper found themselves in, running for their lives. They had to get to Camp Half-Blood, for inside Hazel's backpack was a document about an upcoming attack on the Camp. Without the information in it, the Camp would be caught by surprise and overrun.

As if that wasn't enough, dozens of monsters were close behind them, and would catch up in minutes.

Finally, the pair came to a steel flood containment door. Behind them, the roaring of the monsters grew closer and closer.

"What should we do?", asked Piper. "Those monsters will be here in one minute!"

Then Hazel made a choice.

"Keep going ", she said, giving Piper her backpack. "Go through that door, and get those papers to Camp as fast as you can."

Piper nodded. "But what about you?"

Hazel gently kissed Piper's forehead. "I'm staying ", she said firmly. "I'll hold off these baddies as long as I can, buying you time."

Piper blinked tears out of her eyes. "But-"

"Go!", Hazel ordered. "It's one of us or the other, and I can't let it be you. So get that file to Camp, and save the world for me. And remember: you are a hero."

As Piper closed the watertight door behind her, Hazel faced the oncoming monsters and drew her sword.

"I will not let my friends die", she said to herself. "When I can die for them instead. "

Then, as the horde of beasts stormed towards her, Hazel stabbed her sword into the crumbling ceiling. The sea came rushing in, flooded the corridor, and washing the monsters back the way they came.

As Hazel's lungs filled with water, as the falling brickwork held her under, the last thing she felt was satisfaction, knowing that she had fulfilled her promise: as long as she could stand, she would defend her friends or die trying.

Then Hazel closed her eyes, and the world slowly faded away.