νεκρός || Annabeth Chase x Fem!OC

Vol. 2.5-16: Oh goodness.

ANNABETH

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆

Tempest didn't come back for a whole month.

I contacted Chiron, but he said he hadn't heard from her. Then he made me swear on the Styx that I wouldn't go to the Underworld, so I had no choice but to stay in the stupid Overworld. Even my dad and Leah were getting concerned with the fact that Tempest had yet to come back despite promising all of us that she would. Clarisse hadn't heard anything either.

Part of me was scared Tempest had gone into the Labyrinth. We still don't fully understand it, but if she had been attacked by a monster and had no choice but to go into that wretched place... Or, what if the Labyrinth had a gateway to the Underworld in it? Or what if-

Stop it, I told myself, trying to focus on my history homework. Tempest is fine. She promised she would come back, and she will.

My grades had started slipping, I was so worried. I could barely sleep or eat. I'd tried Iris-messaging her, but to no avail. Even Iris couldn't reach her. I'd asked Percy and Grover if they knew anything, but of course, they didn't. Grover was preoccupied with the satyrs and finding Pan. Percy was preoccupied with not getting kicked out of school again. They had their own problems.

I was about to break my vow and go to the Underworld anyway when a knock sounded at the front door. I forced myself to eat a little more of Leah's mac and cheese (from a recipe Tempest had suggested) as my dad went and opened the door.

I heard him gasp. "You're- You're back!"

I shot up, knocking over several dishes in the process as I ran to the front door. Tempest stepped inside, looking exactly as she had the day she left- ripped black jeans, a red flannel, and a My Chemical Romance t-shirt on. Her hair hadn't changed, and she looked entirely unscathed, bearing no evidence of being missing for a month.

"Where have you been?!" I demanded, marching up to her. I threw my arms around her torso and pulled her close, trying not to cry.

Tempest hugged me back, her chest vibrating with laughter. She was still freezing. "Sorry, uh... How long was I gone?"

I pulled away, staring at her in disbelief. "What?"

"How long was I gone?" Tempest repeated, frowning. "Your hair is longer, and you seem very mad."

"You've been missing for a month, Tempest!" I yelled. "Don't play dumb!"

Her eyes widened. "Anne, I swear I'm not playing dumb. Has it really been a month?"

I wiped my nose. "Wait... you really don't know?"

Tempest shook her head, and I knew she wasn't lying. "Anne, I swear I didn't mean to stay away for a month. I really-" She gasped. "Aw, man! This means I missed the Rambo 4 premiere! And Cloverfield!" She shook her head and stepped inside. "Whatever. I'll just wait until it comes to Blockbuster. Really, I'm sorry for staying away."

I smiled at her antics. "It's... okay. Did you get a new sword?"

"Um... it's a long story," she mumbled. "Apparently, I can't-"