Odyssey

Another Life

Percy jumped awake inside his prison cell, to a dark figure standing at the door. The only light shinning in the room, is from the feint wisps of moonlight. The door rattled and swung open, Percy got to his feet, reading his fists.

Then a beam of moonlight struck the figures face. Illuminating Annabeth in the pale light, his heart did a somersault, and a wave of relief hit him.

"Percy," she said again, her voice in a low whisper. Confused on why she was doing it, he copied here.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, also whispering.

"I over heard my father talking to my mother, he said, no matter the outcome of the trial, he's going to kill you," Annabeth said.

"I already knew that," Percy said, chuckling. "But why are you here?"

Annabeth was lost, a thousand thoughts filled her head, each yelling over each other for dominance. But none anything close to coherent. Only when she has eyes on Percy, does her thoughts settle and agree on one thing. Him.

"I'm... letting you escape," she said, Percy got closer to her, not for a single second, she feared him. In fact, she wanted nothing but to be close to him. "And... as children of the gods, I think we should... not try and kill each other. Work together..."

"Annabeth... both our god parents and adoptive parents hate each other," Percy said, filling Annabeth with sorrow. Because she knew he was right. "...maybe... run away with me."

Annabeth heard his words, and thought hard, and long. Even shocking herself. His words were truthful, and filled with such a warmthless only someone's true home gives. A warmth she hasn't felt a day in her life. She wanted this, maybe even needed this.

"...I- I can't..." both of their hearts broke as her words. "Maybe in another life, we could... but this one we—"

Percy interrupted her, "Maybe," he said. "But the only people who decide our lives is us. Not the gods, or our parents. I understand you having to stay behind tonight. But no one truly knows what tomorrow brings," his words were soft, and repaired her heart without even realizing.

"I... hope your right..." she said. "But for now, you need to go, it's almost sun up and soon guards will be coming to collect you."

"Thank you for doing this," Percy said. Walking to the door and peering out.

"Please be careful, there are few guards near the in that direction. Just run with the moon at your back, and into the rising sun and you should be ok. Please try not to kill anyone," Annabeth said, pointing straight ahead. "Go Percy."

Percy turned to leave, took a step, then turned around. "This is our life, we decide our ending," Percy pulled her close, and kissed her. It felt like Zeus had struck them both with lightning. Their kiss seemed to last hours, everything melting away, all fears, all worries, just gone at the simple touch of their lips.

Then he broke away from her lips. Annabeth's lips, and chest instantly longed for his touch to return. So did Percy's. Without saying another word, Percy backed away from the cell, looking at Annabeth's eyes. Then he turned and climbed over a nearby wall, taking one last look at her, before disappearing on the other side.

Annabeth returned back to the city, her mind dazed, just seemed to walk in a direction. It wasn't until a guard saw her, and asked if she was ok, that she snapped out of the trance Percy's kiss put her in. She nodded and realized why the guard asked if she was ok. She was crying, and didn't even realize it. Her heart felt heavy, like a piece of string tugging her heart in the direction of Percy.

"This is our life, we decide our ending," Percy's words rang around her head like a bell. Maybe he spoke true, maybe he was just being hopeful. But for Annabeth, she longed for their ending to come true.

Percy ran hard, away from the city. He felt a tugging in his heart, and the sting of tears in welling in his eyes. He came up upon a large Olive tree, and a large spring. His throat hurt from running, and choking back tears. He bent down, then laid on his stomach to sip the water. Instantly feeling refreshed, until he heard a bubbling. He turned and saw bubbles rising up from the center of the spring. Then a head popped up, it was that girl that he first met from meeting his dad. Percy racked his brain for a name.

"Perseus, please go into the spring, it will help you escape," she said.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Zoe Nightshade," she said, before sinking back into the water.

He watched her sink, then looked at the water below him, and slid in head first.

"Where could he have gone?!" Fredrick kicked the wall of Percy's cell. "How did he escape!?" Annabeth stood there, watching him throw things around in the cell. "Where were you all night?" he pointed an angry finger at Annabeth.

"I'm surprised you even noticed," Annabeth said, without meaning to. Fredrick looked at her with anger, then sank to a sadness. "I was out walking again," she changed her answer. "Near the docks, thinking on future strategies for battle."

"My apologies, Annabeth," Fredrick said. "I'm sorry for yelling at you, and neglecting you... this war... it's got me and your mother stressing over everything."

"Since Perc—Perseus escaped, there is no need for me to stay. I must return to the war, and prepare to see him again," she said, and turned around on her heel. Then whispered something under her breath. "not even my real parents."