𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋

꧁𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐇 𝐜𝐡𝟓𝟎꧂

This one is unintentionally really really long 😭 x

Annabeth

"Got-" Percy started, but he was cut off. I slashed at another bird. "Percy?!" I shouted, before turning to see Percy thrown into the river. Well wasn't this familiar? First the Lethe, then the Phlethagon, now the Styx, the most deadly of all.

"NO!! PERCY!?" I shouted. A random harpy then tackled me to the ground, and my face bit into the razor glass shards. I winced and fumbled for my sword, which was a couple of meters away. The harpy went to bite my face off, and I rolled and picked up the sword in the process. I turned just in time to see the monster's outstretched claws, aiming for my neck, and I stabbed it in the heart. I rolled back onto my feet.

Another relentless onslaught began. Roll, stab, lunged, duck, slash. They were everywhere. This wasn't even the army yet, just the ones with wings that had gotten here more quickly. I could see Styx holding off the rest a couple hundred metres away. I needed to hurry, the goddess had retreated back to her river to restore her strength.

I had no water to throw at them, no flight to get away, no charmspeak to hypnotise. I was completely, utterly powerless.

"Percy!" I croaked at the river again.

When my boyfriend did not emerge, I continued my constant fight for my life. A voice to my left made me jump. A human voice.

"Did I miss him?"
"Huh?" I shouted.
"The demigod. The one trying to get the Achilles curse."
"What? Percy isn't trying to get the curse again. He fell!"  I yelled, rolling under a caucasian eagle, which was going for my neck.
"Oh dear. I was supposed to do the whole warning thing again. Did you say Percy? Percy Jackson? I thought he just got the curse."
I turned to face the guy. Achilles.
"Yeah. Well he lost it."
"Are we in Tartarus!?" the guy realised.
"Welcome to hell." I said sarcastically, slashing at another bird.

"Oh dear." he said, and then vanished.
"IS THAT IT? NOT GOING TO HELP?" I shouted at where the soul's form had just stood. Nothing happened. No Achilles. Great.
"Typical," I muttered.

I was loosing terribly. Come on, I told myself. A daughter of Athena always has a plan.

"Shoes! Maia! Backpack! Whatever!"
The flying shoes soared to me and with my one free hand I digged around in the bag. Finally, my hand clasped the familiar fabric.
"Please, mother," I whispered, before placing the New York invisibility cap on my head. I grinned as I watched my bloodied hands fade to nothing.

The monsters - at the little IQ they had - became baffled by my disappearance. Zipping up the bag, I went back to the fight. They could see my sword of course, and so they knew my rough location, but it was much more difficult for them to fight me.

Growing more tired, I continued the fight invisible. Slash, dodge, lunge, stab, roll.

Please, Percy. I need your help. I can't hold them for much longer.

The nagging thought in my mind told me to run, but I wasn't going anywhere without Percy, dead or alive.

I turned to check the army again. Even from this distance, I could still see the monster I was most afraid of. She launched herself at the river primordial, who dazedly blocked her attack. And just for a moment, the monster impossibly made eye contact with me. My blood ran cold,
all the chaos around me drowned out for a split second. Arachne's eyes, full of pure hatred, were staring straight into my soul.