You’ve always been alone. That’s just your way of life. It’s what you know, and it’s what you’re comfortable with.

Consequently, Camp Half-Blood has been a nightmare. And you’d know about nightmares — all demigods do. Not a night goes by without you being plagued by horrible images from your past and often, you wake in a cold sweat, gasping for air.

Tonight is one of those nights. You wake up after a particularly horrible nightmare, the sheets all twisted around you and drenched with sweat. You know you won’t be able to get back to sleep, so you slip an overcoat on and head out of your cabin.

The air is cool and forgiving on your skin as you make your way down to the beach. You’re able to find a moment of solace in the quiet solitude of the night before you release another figure is on the beach, standing a few metres away in the surf.

Hongjoong looks back at you and smiles sympathetically, and then he turns to look back out to sea.