A Second Chance

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒚-𝒕𝒘𝒐

Annabeth

I woke up somewhere dark, my head hurting. Thalia was next to me, unconscious. I couldn't remember what happened. One moment Thalia was telling me that they were on mount Othrys... I couldn't recall what had happened next. Everything was just a blank.

I got up, and immediately wished I hadn't. My head was hurting so bad. Someone must've knocked us both out.

I shook Thalia, trying to wake her up. "Thalia get up."

"Ow," She got up moaning and looked around. "What happened where are we?"

"Thalia?" I heard someone from behind us.

"Who-" The voice had sounded familiar... almost like... "Luke? Are you here?"

"Annabeth?!" He sounded worried. "How did you guys get here?"

"I... don't remember." I said. Then the realization sunk in. I was talking to Luke. Luke. I ran toward the voice, trying to find my way in the dark. "Luke?! Where are you?"

I felt Thalia right behind me. "Luke?" She whispered. "Are you there?"

"Thalia?" I heard someone walking toward us. Then, as he came closer, I could make a faint outline of him in the dark.

I ran towards him and hugged him. I hugged Luke. Thalia was right behind me, and she joined in.

We both pulled away from him. "You idiot!" Thalia said. "You should be dead!" I couldn't say anything. I just stared at Luke in the dark. I had seen him die. It was so good to see him here again. Yet, I felt like this was all wrong at the same time.

"Um... it's good to see you too." I couldn't see him, but I could imagine his expression. "So I take it you fell for Kronos's trap? I mean, you didn't just come to see me, did you?"

"What trap? We don't even remember how we got here."

"That dream you had a few days ago? That was Medea. She made me tell you guys to come here, so you could get everyone else to follow. I tried to talk to you guys after, but it didn't work. And I'm pretty sure the rest of your friends are somewhere here."

"What?!" If everyone else was captured, then we were done for. "How did they-"

"Kronos has a mortal on his side, one who can see through the mist. She tricked five of your friends into coming with her, and set a trap for them."

Five? Percy and Calypso were probably still out there, then. Since they were traveling by sea, they couldn't have been caught. That left two more people. Maybe Frank and Leo. I had seen them fly away on Festus.

I realized it had gone quiet. Thalia was looking anywhere but at Luke, and Luke was staring at her. I opened my mouth to say something, but then closed it again. Nothing anyone said would change what we were all thinking.

It will never be the same again. As much as I wanted it to, after everything that had happened the last six years, nothing could change that. And the little time we had left was being taken up by Kronos.

The words kept repeating in my head. It will never be the same again.