For the First Time- A Percabeth Story

Chapter 1- The Fire

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters

Hope you like it! 

Annabeth Chase

I never thought this could happen. I was sweating tremendously and when I opened my eyes they stung. Smoke clouded everything so it was hard to know what direction to go in. Wooden beams were falling every which way and the floor was getting weaker and weaker with every step I took. All of my belongings, photos, books and clothes were being reduced to nothing right before my very eyes. Bright shots of yellows and reds danced in front of me, engulfing everything.  

"Annabeth," my stepmother cried.

I could hear the strain in her voice like she was trying not to choke while she called my name. She coughed gasping for air.

"Suzanne," I screamed.

My mind was racing thinking of a million ways to get out, but I couldn't decide on one. Right now was the worst time to be illogical. There had to be a rational answer to this. There always was a solution to a problem. This wasn't a silly dream where I could just wake up and everything would be okay. This situation wasn't like that. Life wasn't like that.  

I choked as the smoke entered my throat. I ran to the big window in my room, but I was two stories high. I could jump without breaking my legs, judging from the angle and the distance, but family was important. In the past, I knew they had let me down, but they proved me wrong, proved that they were better then I led them on to be.

I ran for the door. It was closed and flames attacked my legs as I touched the hot door handle. I yelped and pulled my hand away, trying to examine my skin. My hand was pink, a sign of a burn. Why had I been so stupid? I knew that metal was a good conductor for heat, and yet I touched it anyway. Argh, I wasn't thinking straight and my brain just stopped all together. I heard choking and coughing from my little brothers' room next door.

"Matthew! Bobby!" I tried to holler at them.

"Annabeth," my dad, Fredrick, called to me between gasps and coughs. "Get out of here!"

I pounded on the door hoping it would weaken so I could get to him. I could tell it was jammed. Even if I tried to open it using the handle, it wouldn't budge. "No I can't! I can't leave you!"

"No Annabeth, trust me. Just jump out the window and you'll be fine."

I couldn't do it. This was the very man who raised me all these years. Even though in the past his parenting skills weren't exactly the greatest, I couldn't just leave him. I wanted to just bust open the door so we could both escape, but that would take too long and the flames would engulf us.

I decided to listen to my dad and jump. He was going to find a way to get out whether he liked it or not. In the corner of my bedroom, I spotted my old army jacket and my half charred sketchbook. I scooped the items up and quickly put on the jacket, knowing it was cold outside. I tucked the sketchbook into my pocket since it was small enough to fit. I grabbed my pillow, running to the window and I punched the glass out, covering my fist with a blanket. I threw the pillow to the ground and jumped.

Maybe I'll softly, I prayed to who knows what god or goddess. Before I knew it, I was lying on the dewy grass outside my house. Pain shot up my leg and I couldn't move.

"Suzanne! Dad!" I screamed as our neighbours curiously opened their front doors. "About time," I muttered.

They all had their hair curlers and bathrobes on. I would have laughed a little if not for the situation that I was in. I barely paid the slightest attention to them. "It's a fire," I heard one cry as they spoke into their phones.