Update: 1/3/15:

Hey. My name is Michelle. This is a story I started in 2012 and I still haven't finished it. If you're okay with semi-longish chapters and updates that, ah, take a long time, please continue. I get so much support for this story, and it means so much to me. Believe me, I would love to write more, but I often get Writer's Block for this story. I get stuck on trying to make it original, and keeping it close to the book. But my dear readers, there's been something bothering me about this story for a long time. If you stuck with me, or gagged and hoped for it to get better, you've noticed that this story started out really crappy, and got a lot better. So, I'm fixing these chapters. Thank you for your time.

"After dinner is served, I need to speak to you and Annabeth. Alone," Chiron pauses beside me, his eyes stern as he looks down at me. I swallow a little nervously and nod my head. Whenever Chiron has to speak to me, in private, I get a little worried.

"Yes, sir," I mumble in reply, watching as Chiron clips down the Pavilion to tell Annabeth the same message. As soon as he leaves, her gaze flicks over to mine, and I shrug lightly. She's probably already blamed me for whatever Chiron wants to talk to us about. I wonder if he knows about the times the two of us have snuck out after curfew…

Hopefully, that's not it. That would be an embarrassing talk, and I don't think I really want to have it with my mentor, as much as I love the guy.

Chiron reaches his spot next to Dionysius, who raises his can of soda to us in salute. Naiads proceed to serve us platters of food, and I whisper to my cup my usual: blue Coke.

I fill my plate with food, but I wait to eat for my turn to sacrifice some of it to the Gods, or more specifically, my dad, Poseidon. I creep up to the fire, and scrape some of my brisket into the fire. "Hey, dad," I whisper. "Please, uh, accept this offering. And don't let Chiron kill me. Thanks," Awkwardly, I turn and walk back to my table. I always feel weird talking to the fire like that.

I discover that Grover is waiting for me, and I give him a quick grin, shoving some food into my face. I've been training all day; I'm starving.

"Hey, Perce," Grover says in greeting, and I nod my head, deciding that speaking instead of chewing would go horribly wrong. He leans in a little bit, despite the fact that I sit alone here. "What did Chiron have to say to you?"

I force myself to swallow my food. "He said he wants Annabeth and me to go talk to him after dinner." I'm worried, and it's evident in my voice. Chiron looked pretty serious, although he often looks serious. But I don't like how he requests it be just the two of us, and how he wouldn't even say anything to me now.

"I'm sure you'll be fine," Grover mumbles, his eyes on the table. But I can tell that what I told him made him nervous, and that doesn't ease my sense of discomfort.

Later, as most of the campers go to the bonfire pit, Annabeth and I meet outside of the Pavilion. Without saying a word, but our hands joining, we begin the walk to the Big House. Chiron is already inside, waiting for us, and Annabeth lets go of my hand once we're inside. Chiron is laying down. Annabeth and I stay standing.

"Percy, Annabeth," he greets us. "Thank you for coming on such short notice." I almost want to mention that we live here, but he looks to be in no joking mood. "The Gods need you two. You are being…sequestered into another Quest. A very, very dangerous one. One that could get the two of you killed in a terrible, nasty way."

Well, that's one way to get our attention. But before Annabeth and I can do much more than share worried glances, he continues.

"In the future, America has fallen."

Wait a second, the future? How does this relate to our "dangerous" Quest? Annabeth looks to be bursting with questions, but Chiron holds a finger to his lips, and we stay silent.

"Out of the ruins of America, a new nation called Panem will rise, with 13 Districts, and one Capitol. Life there is sick and twisted, and before too long, another war broke out, what they called The Uprising. District 13 was obliterated, and to remind its Districts that the Capitol was supreme, they started The Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games occurs once a year. It is a live, televised event that everyone in the Districts and the Capitol watches. However, it is not a simple game. Two tributes from each District, one boy, and one girl, are sent to the Capitol, where they are polished to perfection, and then dropped into an arena. To fight to the death."

I interrupt. "So, what are we supposed to do, Chiron? How can we do anything from…well, here?"

His eyes are sad as he looks at me, and this time I take Annabeth's hand in my own. "The Gods are going to send you to the future, where you will live in District 12, and then participate in the 75th Hunger Games. Whether your names are drawn or not, you must go. The future of the Gods depends on you saving Panem from itself.

And, though only one tribute survives a year, two survived the year before you two will arrive. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, also from District 12, and they two have quite the destiny in front of them. The two of you must survive The Hunger Games, and fight in the resounding war, and win it. That's all I can tell you."

"Chiron, that sounds…impossible!" Annabeth, who is never afraid of anything, sounds terrified. I'm terrified. This is beyond a scale that either of us can comprehend. And, if we screw up? Bam. There goes the fate of the world. Again.

Chiron glances up at the roof of the room, but I know what he's truly searching for. "The Gods will help you," he whispers harshly, almost as if he's making them promise himself. Thunder booms in the distance. "You both will survive." Although he looks pretty unsure of this himself, he forces a confident face. "Do you accept?"

Annabeth and I share a look. Really, we have no choice. We're backed into a wall, here. "Yes," we say together, and Chiron sighs in relief, glancing up at the ceiling again. "I wish you both the best of luck. Meet me under the Pine Tree at dawn tomorrow."

And with that, our fate is sealed.