PJO #4 : The Battle of the Labyrinth - MISSING SCENES

It's Not On You (Mid-Chapter 7)

The four heroes found themselves sneaking around Alcatraz, inching closer to Briares' cell. They pretty quickly realized that they were at least temporarily safe from the Kampê, so they could walk a little more casually.

Tyson and Grover found themselves walking together in front, which neither was particularly comfortable with, but at least it forced them to tolerate each other. They found themselves gradually growing less afraid of one another, though they were still a bit spooked.

Annabeth in Percy walked in the back, and the former kept looking behind them anxiously to make sure nothing followed them. She may not have been openly voicing her fears and worries, but Percy could tell she was stressed. Come to think of it, she had been particularly stressed ever since their initial encounter with Janus.

"Hey, are you alright?" Percy asked quietly. Annabeth seemed to have selective hearing because she just kept walking. She didn't even pay him a glance. Percy felt a small sting in his heart but shoved it away. He knew that she was just stressed and wasn't actually mad at him, but it still kinda hurt.

He tried a different approach and reached over, placing a cautious hand on her shoulder. She flinched at the sudden touch and turned to him with a startled expression. Percy retracted his hand. "Sorry" he said quickly, though not too loud as to not attract any monsters. "I didn't mean to startle you, I was just trying to get your attention"

"It's okay" Annabeth assured him with a shaky exhale. "Are you alright?" the boy asked again. Annabeth just shook her head miserably, earning a concerned frown from the other demigod. "Do you wanna talk about it?" Percy asked her gently. She shot him a sad and nervous glance.

"Janus made me fully realize just how dangerous this mission is" she confided. "And just how much danger I put you guys in by bringing you along. I don't want to lose any of you, but now we're basically destined..." she trailed off, not saying anything further. Percy frowned again. He had a suspicion that the prophecy had said something more concerning than Annabeth let on, but he didn't voice this. Not at that moment.

"You and Grover came along with me to find the lightning bolt" Percy reasoned. "You and Tyson went with me to save Grover when he got sort of kidnapped by Polyphemus. Grover was also perfectly willing to travel the country to save you in the winter" he listed. "We all agreed to come here, even knowing the risks. If something happens- Which it won't- That's not on you"

Annabeth smiled at this for a second but it soon fell. "I still have to be the one to choose the door, Percy" she said with a sigh. "And if I pick the wrong one and we all die, that is on me. It'll all be on me"

Her voice shook, which was rare for Percy to hear. She was so incredibly anxious and guilty and Percy just wanted to be able to free her of it but he knew he couldn't. Not entirely.

He reached over his hand, which she shakily accepted into her own. "We'll figure it out" he assured her. She sighed.

"Let's hope so"