Tangled Legacies: A KOTLC and PJO Crossover Story

Chapter 41: Sophie's POV: A Safe Place

AN UNFINISHED CHAPTER AND THE LAST UPDATE TO THIS BOOK

"I'm going in." I announced, taking Annabeth's pale, lifeless hand. I concentrated.

Woah. I'd dived into a hyperactive, chaotic mind. Memories and questions flitted by so fast I only got a glimpse of each: green hair. A death wound. A massive dude with a vortex for a face. I latched my consciousness onto a particular memory: one where I saw a gleam of ice-blue eyes. I'd know those eyes anywhere. Keefe? My thoughts echoed around me. Annabeth's mind had gone still. I watched the memory play. How did Annabeth get a memory of Keefe's laugh?

I can explain it.

What? I thought back. Annabeth? 

It's me, she agreed. I sensed her consciousness near me. I followed the warmth through a briar patch of sharp, painful memories, each thorn housing a face and a story. I got scratched by a thorn with a teenager with sandy blond hair and sparkling blue eyes. Then the eyes turned gold, and the boy lashed out with a two-toned sword. I tore myself away and fought to keep up with Annabeth's consciousness, which dove and twisted to avoid the thorns. She kept well away from any thorn that included the blue-eyed boy. I caught another memory of the boy: a considerably younger version of him and Annabeth watched as a dark-haired girl died. A tree sprouted from her body.

Annabeth led me into a dome of faces, all caught in their best moments: laughing or hugging Annabeth. I glimpsed Percy among the hundreds of faces. A green-haired teenager hooted with laughter as Percy fell from the mast of a ship in one near the top.

Sophie. I need help. Annabeth's consciousness manifested into the blond girl's likeness, wearing an orange t-shirt and jean shorts. I'm stuck here and I don't know how to wake up. The bad memories are taking over. This is my only safe place. 

I don't know how. I hated to say it, but I couldn't help Annabeth. How did you get that memory of Keefe?

I don't know. I was asleep and suddenly I wasn't in my own mind. I talked to a boy. He said his name was Keefe. Was he real?

Yes! Annabeth had talked to Keefe! He's my... friend, I thought.

That makes so much more sense. Annabeth's dome flickered, and for a moment the darkness closed in. Some of the memories shot away into oblivion. Do you know what's happening?

I don't. It seems like you and Keefe formed a telepathic link... but I don't know. 

What about an empathy link? Annabeth asked.

I've never heard of it. Does it have to do with being an Empath? I asked her, mind flipping through what I knew about empathy.

I don't know. Satyrs can form something called an empathy link with their closest friends. Percy has one with Grover. Oh my gods, Percy. Annabeth's face fell.