Percy vs Nico - Percy Jackson

Chapter 30

Percy's POV
I gasp in air as my body tingles, my fingers numb when I try to gain control again. I exhale a shuddering breath as my eyes squint through the exposure. I was out the cave. On a... beach? No. My cheek was rested on cold and hard gravel. My eyes looking upon crashing waves. Where was I? Where was Annabeth? Annabeth... I hope she's okay. My hands push my heavy head off the floor as my vision spins. I painfully lift myself up, ignoring the pain in my stomach and start limping. I have no sense of direction or navigation, for all I know I could be wondering in a trap. I carry on, being aware of where I step incase it is a trap keeping my focus in the direction i'm heading. As I drag my foot behind me, I couldn't help but think that I'm not heading anywhere. No literally. In the distance I see a small mountain of piled up stones, that I swore I just passed a couple minutes ago. As I continue dragging forward I am greeted with yet another stone pile. What is going on? Ugh. The throbbing in my knee begins to overwhelm my senses, slowing me down.

Another stone pile. I try resort to hopping but my uninjured leg gets tired which leads me to walking on my other leg.

Another stone pile. Jeez, how long has it been? A couple hours at least, and still no sign of help.

Another stone pile. UGH. I give up. I plop down on the hard gravel, admitting defeat as I fall back. Expecting my back to hit hard gravel, my body flinches when it falls on grass. I jolt up to find myself in the woods in... Camp Half-Blood. What. The. Hell. I'm so confused? I stand up completely forgetting about my knee that causes me to stumble back down, my head spins as I fumble to make sense of it all. Annabeth, I see her walking along a path with another girl. A grin forms on my face as my heart pick up its pace. I ignore the ripping pain that fills my leg as I hobble over into the path a few feet in front of her. Both Annabeth and the girl walking with her stop in their tracks, their attention on me facing them. Annabeth's mouth falls open as she runs toward me, I don't stand still, limping to meet her halfway. Her arms latch around my neck as I soak in her presence, her distinctive smell. Vanilla roses. I nearly collapse in her company, feeling safe, feeling loved.

"Wh... Uh- whe... wha..." She tried to choke out, giving up and burying her face in my chest again. I close my eyes, savouring this moment. It felt like forever until we were pulled apart, and I wasn't complaining. Annabeth's friend pulled us apart, dragging her by the arm.

"We have to tell Chiron he's ba~" Was all I heard before I was left alone, again. Thanks, I mumble under my breath. Taking a step but immediately flinching, forgetting about my leg, again. My face cringed with pained as I decided to make the excruciatingly long walk to the infirmary. Hopefully I could get something to help my knee, before it gets too bad.