Routine

Percy POV

Working as a guard isn't that hard. Surviving in the real world is much harder than terminating a few zombies behind a perimeter of traps. The most action I get is when I have to stab the zombies stuck on the traps every morning and night.

I spend most of my time with the other guards or with Estelle. I made the right choice by joining the survival group. The camp is a much safer place for a baby.

"Hey, Stella, I think it's time for a change of diaper," I expressed.

I set her on a blanket on the floor and got to work. over the past few weeks, I had gotten to know Stella on a much deeper level. She's a baby, but she still has her quirks. For instance, when she's sleepy, she doesn't rub her eyes. Instead, Stella yawns like a hippopotamus before screaming at someone to pick her up.

There are other things too. For instance, Stella hates anything that tastes like broccoli. She's okay with any other vegetable Gerber food, but she hates broccoli.

Grover even makes chunky meat to feed Stella. He cuts the chicken into very small, fine pieces in water so that Stella can digest it as a baby. Hestia is great at taking care of Stella, but the other members also help with her.

Everyone is gentle with the baby, and they're a great help.

I carried Stella in my arms while walking through the Native American exhibit. I have guard duty today, so I'm dropping her off at daycare (ie Hestia).

"Percy, how are you settling?" Hestia asked.

"I'm fine. The camp is a pretty nice place. Also, most of the members are nice. It's nice to have people around," I answered honestly.

"Were you alone the entire time of the apocalypse?"

I sighed while setting Stella on the carpet. She crawled towards a set of toys on the floor. She chose to play with a maraca. Tyson and Ella were sitting on the carpet too, playing with legos, and building a castle.

"Percy, I asked you a question," Hestia stated. I stared into her kind face before gesturing to the chairs nearby. They were around the fake campfire.

"In the first few months, I was in a survival group. Some friends and I were on a beach trip, and we got locked down in a cabin. We decided that it's safer to stay in a confined area and isolate ourselves from the zombies. None of them were close friends, but we were celebrating the end of our junior year of college," I explained.

"We stayed together for months. However, I wanted to come back to New York. I wanted to see my home again and possibly get momentos of my family. However, they didn't want me to leave. They didn't give me a choice."

Hestia rubbed my arm with her hand. "You always have a choice, Percy."

"Yes. I made my choice to leave, and I did."

My voice faltered while I stared at the kids. Tyson and Ella were trying to keep baby Estelle from knocking over their lego castle. The kids were laughing and having fun. I smiled sadly while gazing at their innocent nature.

"But?" Hestia asked.

"I had a high-tech walkie-talkie that we stole. We wanted to stay in communication, but they didn't talk to me after I left. They were angry."

"Some people can be angry without any right," Hestia said.

"I listened to their angry remarks and curses for days. Then, the communication died, and I haven't heard from them since. They died because I left," I whispered with guilt.

I decided to stay away from humans after that. If I don't interact with them, then I don't feel the sadness of losing them. I won't feel the guilt of being a part of their deaths. Of course, that didn't last. After meeting Stella, I realized that relationships give you a purpose. Love is important for sustaining life.

"They died because I left," I repeated quietly.

"No, Percy," Hestia stated firmly. I looked up at her. "They didn't die because you left. They died after you left. There's a difference."

I gazed into Hestia's warm eyes. They shone with wisdom. I never looked at it from that lens. I blamed myself for leaving them high and dry. I felt guilty about their deaths because (maybe) I could've saved them if I was present.

The other side of the coin is that I could've died with them. If that happened, then I would've never met Stella. She'd probably be dead too.

"They died after you left, Percy. Let go of the guilt."

"Thanks, Hestia," I expressed. "Um, I should get to work. Chiron wants me on duty today because many of the others are preoccupied for some reason."

"Some of the others have work in the South sector," Hestia informed.

"Do you know what happens there?" I asked. "No one's allowed in the South sector, and no one will tell me anything either."

"I don't know either. The business behind the South Sector walls is on a need-to-know basis. Almost no one at camp knows what happens there. Most of the guards don't even have access there."

So, something serious is happening there. Everyone knew that something is happening there, but no one knew what. It's a well-guarded secret.

I left daycare after kissing Stella on the forehead.

***

The di Angelo siblings were waiting for me outside. Bianca was chastising Nico for bringing his mythomagic playing cards outside. "Nico, we have work to do. You can't be playing mythomagic all day long."

"Oh please, sis, we're safe inside the perimeter," he responded.

"Who's your favorite character?" I asked while approaching the siblings. They were standing a few yards away from the spike traps.

Nico and Bianca turned to me in surprise. Nico immediately quietened while shifting uncomfortably under my gaze. Did he not like me or something? Meanwhile, Bianca smiled while snatching the cards out of her little brother's hands.

"Don't encourage him, Percy," Bianca said. "Nico, you'll get these back after we're done with today's duty."

Bianca stuffed the cards into her back pocket.

"Don't worry, Nico. I'm on your side on this one," I expressed. Nico turned away quickly while ruffling his hand through his silky black hair. He walked toward the perimeter and used his spear to terminate the screeching zombies.

"Bianca, did I do something wrong?" I asked quietly.

"Don't worry about it, Percy. It's a personal thing for Nico. It's not your fault. Nico is a good kid, so just cut him some slack around you," Bianca said.

I nodded despite my confusion.

Bianca and I walked toward the perimeter and started helping Nico with terminating the zombies. It was an easy job. The zombies are already impaled on the spikes. We just have to jab the trapped zombies in the eye.

"Anyway, do you know what's going on in the South Sector?"

Bianca froze before smiling. "Every newcomer has that same question. For some reason, they ask me for an answer."

"Well, you've been at the camp for a long time. You're older than most of the other guards, so we deem you as a leader," I explained.

"I greatly appreciate your compliment, Percy, but I am no leader. I can be a good soldier, especially with a gun or a crossbow. I'm not made out to be a leader," Bianca laughed light-heartedly.

"That is Luke, Jason, and Annabeth's forte," I suggested.

"Precisely. I'm just as curious as you are about what's happening in South Sector. However, we should stick to your responsibilities."

Nico paused a few feet away.

"All I know is that the leaders and anyone with a medical/scientific background have clearance to go into the South Sector," Nico stated.

"No one really talks about it," Bianca affirmed.

I sighed. The proper thing for me to do is to stick to my duty as a guard. But, I'm usually not one to curb my curiosity. When I'm interested in something, I pursue it. I just have to find another way into the South Sector.

Yup, that's what I'm gonna do.

***

I have been living in the camp for a month. I have known Stella for a little over a month, but I already love her.

At this point, she's my daughter. She's my family.

No one at the camp countered me on that. Even though everyone has an interest in the baby, they also respect our boundaries. Regardless, I allow the individuals to engage with her if they want to. Stella doesn't mind it, and I know that she gives people hope. Even as an infant, she's performing a job at our survival camp.

Right now, Stella is in the arms of an elderly couple. They were making her dance to the light music coming from the speakers.

Leo and Charles are technological geniuses. Even with limited electricity and technology, they managed to engineer things to keep the camp going. Sure, we don't need music, but it doesn't hurt anyone.

I like Charles Beckendorf. He quickly became a good friend of mine.

However, I'd say I'm closest to Grover Underwood. If I have spare time, I even help him in the kitchen. When it's someone's birthday, he always makes an effort to bake a small cake for them. It's his way of keeping things light.

"G-man, we're missing one ingredient on this cake," I said.

"What are you talking about? I baked dozens of cakes during my time at camp. There's no way something's wrong with it."

Grover took the batter from my hands. He poured the batter into a baking pan before popping it in the oven. The kitchen at the museum is pretty large. Usually, it would be enough to serve hundreds of customers every day.

"Whatever," I shrugged. "However, when you're making my birthday cake, remember the secret ingredient."

"And, what's that?" Grover asked with a chuckle.

"Blye food dye. DUH."

Grover rolled his eyes while setting a timer. The museum has many generators, and the kitchen is one of the first places that they connected. Thank goodness. Large solar panels also help with storing energy. Charles Beckendorf and a few of the adult engineers take care of all that stuff.

"Anyway, aren't some of the guards going on a raid tomorrow?" Grover asked.

"Yeah, I'm part of the group. We're traveling across central park and raiding the buildings on the north side. We were going out mostly for food. Grover and Juniper gave a master list to the guards: stuff we have to pick up.

There's also some sort of secret agenda amongst the leaders. They specifically want to go to the biology lab buildings at Columbia University.

I'm just trying to follow orders and stay out of trouble.

A few days ago, I almost got caught sneaking into the South Sector. Fortunately, Jason was guarding the entrance, so he didn't tell Chiron or the others. He let me go with a serious warning.

Of course, I couldn't take Jason's reprimand seriously. He's more of a friend and rival than a threat to me. Besides, Piper likes me, so she easily talked Jason down.

"Percy, can I ask you a favor?" Grover asked.

"Of course, G-man."

"When you go out on the raid, could you pick up a ring of some kind?" he said quietly. His brown eyes were very deep-set as he looked at me.

"Why do you want a ring?" I exclaimed in surprise.

"Percyyy, keep your voice down. We're still in the kitchen, and everyone at camp knows each other." Grover gripped my arm and dragged me to the corner of the kitchen. We shoved past the other workers. Juniper isn't working today because she has a slight cold. Anyone who is sick isn't allowed to work.

"Look, I need you to get a ring for Juniper. I know that ceremonies and rings don't mean anything right now, but I still want her to have an engagement ring," Grover explained.

"G-man, that's so sweet," I expressed. "Of course, I'll help."

"Her ring size is 6.75 (US). Please try to get a medium diamond, possibly with some connection to nature. She'd love that."

Grover was smiling brightly as he spoke about Juniper. He truly loves her. We live in a zombie apocalypse, but his relationship is pure. Grover and Juniper are willing to stick together no matter what.

I admire that a lot.

I remembered my conversation with Annabeth. We don't interact much in the camp, but our conversation about love and relationships always repeats in my mind. Annabeth understands me.

We're very similar in our mindset of the apocalypse.

However, unlike Wise Girl, I believe in love and relationships. They give us purpose and keep us moving. They help us survive against zombies and death.

I CAN imagine loving someone in the truest sense. I'm not talking about loving someone like I love Estelle. I'm talking about romantic, sensual love. Like Grover loves Juniper. Or, Beckendorf loves Silena.

I intend to survive long enough to find a relationship.

Of course, I'm still not sure with whom my relationship will be with. I guess I still need to realize who the right person is.