Until the End

Summer of 2040
I ride my motorcycle down the highway, this time obeying the rules of the road. It's the summer of 2040, eight years after I watched Natalie die. I flinch at the memory. It was a hellish day. I push the thoughts aside, thinking of what I'm going to do once I reach camp. It's been years since I've been there, and the triplets will all be there, so I have to visit them. I find the path down to the Camp's gates and ride in. I park in the driveway. It's 3:40 in the afternoon right now. First day camp has started. Demigods are bustling about, packing their things into their cabins. The few demigods around the driveway entrance look at me in amazement. I can hear the whispers.

"That's Zack Johnson."

"What?"

"Yeah, the Zack Johnson."

"Holy crap we need to tell the others!" Several run off to find their friends. I'll admit, I've become somewhat of a living legend here at Camp. I'm one of the only ones alive from my generation. In five minutes, most of the camp is in the main driveway. Most of them are afraid to talk to me. Then, Chiron rides through them and trots up to me. "Zack, old friend. Welcome back to Camp."

"Thank you, Chiron." I say and shake his hand. "You look very different." He points out. "Well, few months of torture does that to a man. I'll tell you the story sometime." I say. "Where's the triplets?"

"They were down by the lake, last I knew." I nod my thanks and walk through the crowd. I don't know if they'll recognize me, but it's worth a shot. I see them sitting on the dock, next to one another. My gods, they've grown up. Young adults, all of them. Early twenties, for sure. I walk down and stand behind them quietly for a few moments, watching them together. Talking, telling jokes, laughing. Reminds me of their parents and Aunts. Then, Arthur playfully pushes Jean into the water, and I smile fully. That reminded me of me. Jean surfaces, looks like she's about to pull him in, then sees me.

"Oh my gods! Zack!" She yells and climbs out. The others whirl around, stunned, and I get hugs from all three. "Hey there, kids." I say simply. "Why didn't you tell us you were coming?" Zia asks. "I didn't know until today." I answer. "Zeus is one hell of an employer." I say then glance at the sky. "That's a good thing boss." Then I look at the three of them. "So, what's new with all of you, then?"

"Honestly, not much. Few quests here and there." Arthur answers. After the reunion, we go back to the camp. I find Chiron quickly. "Allow me to handle dinner tonight." I say to him. "We won't be eating Gorgon wings again, will we?" He asks. "You're never gonna let that go, will you?" I ask. He shakes his head, but allows me to go. I take out my new crossbow and quietly tread through the forests. Over the years, I've made enemies while hunting. The Hunters of Artemis are still furious over all the monster kills I've robbed them of. I lack an empathy toward them. If there are people I'll never like, it's the Hunters and Aphrodite's kids.

While I walk through the forest, I can't help but think of all the people I went to camp with. Percy, my only close rival in battle, Nico, with his world record for most ex-girlfriends and slight hostility toward me, Annabeth, who I don't even know if she's alive or not, my sister Clarisse, who died last year. Then I think of my closest friends, no, they were my family, more then the Ares cabin ever was. I sit down on a tree stump and look at a bush devoid of life.

There was Michael, always spunky and cheerful, always had my back. My damn brother. He had his way of making things seem much better then they were. We swapped identities, had more then one guy night when things just got a little too girl related, even for us two. We often would just find the nearest theatre, mist our way in, then come back, hoping we wouldn't get a kick. I remember that day where me and him had to fish Kyra out from that mud hole, the day they started dating. It took us three hours to get her out of the mud and she then proceeded to jump off a cliff into the lake. I clapped him on the shoulder and said "Go get her, brother." And headed back to the Camp.

Kyra. Her constant use of the term "No duh!" and telling me she hated me, even though she didn't mean it. I'll admit, I deserved it sometimes, kinda like when we were lost in Ottawa and tried to get her to public speak for directions. She didn't get enough sleep, and often got less then me. Her hibernation during winter while I was out digging Natalie out from four feet of snow.

Natalie. The brain of the group. Sure, Michael was smart, but she was the brain, he'd be the first to admit it. She was the oldest of the group. Sometimes she'd say something to insinuate I was dumb. I got used to that. She liked being right and liked it when others needed her help. I never asked for it, believe me. That last few days with her are some of my heaviest and fondest memories. When we reunited a year after Ava died, that last week with her was good for me. She knew what I was going through, so she helped me get over that loss, though I never healed completely.

Ava. Gods above. Ava, Ava, Ava. Stubborn to a fault, as sarcastic as me, cynical as hell, her ability to easily start an argument (which often led to me and Michael's guy nights), and her hatred of being asked if she was Ok. I'll admit it. From day one, I was instantly attracted. She could read me like a newspaper headline, and she was the only one I could show what I was really feeling and not feel weak. When we started dating, my life was instantly improved. No matter how many swords, arrows, spears, and more then one bullet I took for her (something I made very sure she never knew about), I was happy at that time. Happier then I'd ever been.

I'm about to remember more when a rustling in the bushes interrupts my thoughts. Angry at it, and knowing what it was, I shoot it. The deer falls over. I sling it over my shoulder and continue my hunt. I return to Camp and hour later with nineteen deers dragging behind me. Dinner was a funny event. Chiron played a joke on the Campers, saying they were eating Minotaur organs, and Mr. D stood up and gave a speech. "I'd like to welcome back the living legend himself, Zane Jackson!" He says. I raise my hand and extend one finger, a gesture he returns, causing the campers to burst into laughter. After dinner, I sit down with him on his porch. "How have you been Dionysus?" I ask.

"I've been well, as well as I can, what with working here."

"You haven't changed."

"But you have." Yeah, he can tell. I nod. "As much as I hate to admit it, it'll be good to have you back here. Maybe you can toughen up this new generation."

"Why not? I can train them starting tomorrow."

"Have fun. Use the couch in your old HQ." I nod and go there. When I get there, I see an old friend. "Damn, you're still alive, aren't you?" I ask the ancient tarantula.