Broken Paradise [A PERCABETH AU]

Prologue

Hi. If you read this before, I edited it bc it was so FREAKING BASICCCCC

Anywhere here XD

Athena sat on the porch of the old house, her fingers delicately combing through Annabeth's golden curls. The evening sun was sinking low, casting long shadows over the yard, and a gentle breeze tugged at the hem of Athena's shirt. Annabeth hummed happily, lost in her world, completely oblivious to the weight of the evening.

Athena let out a soft laugh, a small, peaceful sound. She had been trying to savor these quiet moments. Her daughter, her precious Annabeth, was the only thing that mattered now. Athena knew that for the past few weeks, maybe even years, she'd been too wrapped up in her work. She left little to no time to be with her daughter. The quiet was almost too much to bear. But just as the moment of calm seemed to stretch on forever, her phone rang.

The shrill ring sliced through the silence, jarring Athena's nerves. She didn't recognize the number, but answered it anyway, her voice bright.

"Athena here," she said, her fingers lightly tracing Annabeth's hair.

The voice on the other end was anything but cheerful. It was a rasping whisper, thick with an edge of desperation that sent a chill crawling up Athena's spine.

"Take me back. Please. I beg you."

Athena froze. The comb slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor with a soft clink. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, as though someone had walked across her grave.

Annabeth looked up at her, her innocent eyes wide and searching. "What's wrong, momma?"

Athena's heart hammered in her chest. She pressed her finger to her lips, a silent plea for Annabeth to be quiet, but it was already too late.

"You hear that?" the voice continued, its low tone suddenly growing colder, darker. "That happy, small little voice? If you don't take me back, you won't ever hear it again."

Athena's blood ran cold, and she felt the weight of the threat settle on her chest like a physical thing. Her hands trembled. Tears welled in her eyes, but she fought them back. Not in front of Annabeth. She couldn't let Annabeth see the fear.

But it was too much. She hadn't heard that voice in years, and the memories of what had happened between them came crashing back like a tidal wave. Her throat tightened. She couldn't breathe.

"Annabeth, baby, go inside. To your room," she said, her voice sharp, frantic. The words rushed out as if they might suffocate her if she didn't speak them quickly.

Annabeth tilted her head, confusion furrowing her brow, but she did as she was told. Without another word, she ran into the house.

Once the door slammed shut behind her, Athena's legs gave out. She sank to her knees on the porch, clutching the phone tightly in her hand, trying to steady her breath.

"What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice shaky but defiant.

"I told you," the voice replied, its tone oddly calm, almost serene. "I need you to take me back."

"No!" Athena gasped, the word raw and torn from her chest. "I can't! I have a child, for God's sake! I'm not letting you back into my life."

The voice was unbothered, unphased by her panic. "I don't think you want to do that," it said with a quiet menace.

Before Athena could protest, a sudden, violent crash erupted from inside the house. The sound of shattering glass echoed through the air, followed by Annabeth's scream.

"Annabeth!" Athena screamed, her heart leaping into her throat. She dropped the phone, her panic intensifying, and bolted toward the door.

Annabeth appeared in the doorway, her small frame trembling. She was clutching her side, her face pale with pain. Blood was seeping through her fingers, staining the hem of her shirt, and her breathing was ragged.

"Momma... it hurts," Annabeth whimpered, her voice high-pitched with pain and fear.

Athena rushed to her, scooping her up in her arms, her heart pounding. "Baby, baby—what happened?"

"I was reading my book," Annabeth sobbed, "and then... the window exploded... and there was an arrow—Momma, I tried to move out of the way! I did! But it... it scraped me—" Her words faltered as she winced, clutching her side tighter. "It hurts, Momma, it hurts so bad."

Athena's vision blurred as tears filled her eyes. Her hands were trembling as she tried to assess the damage. The arrow wound was deep, jagged, and it was bleeding profusely.

"NURSE! NURSE MAY! ANNABETH—" Athena cried out in desperation, but the words caught in her throat, as if the very air had turned to stone.

A cold laugh crackled from the phone, still lying on the porch.

"May's dead," the voice said flatly, as if the death of their nurse, their friend, was nothing more than a small inconvenience.

Athena's heart dropped into her stomach. May had been more than just a nurse. She had been their lifeline. Athena's best friend. Annabeth's second mother. The woman who had kept them together, kept them safe.

"No..." Athena whispered, the sound barely escaping her lips. Annabeth began to sob, her small body wracked with pain. Athena held her tighter, refusing to let go.

Tears spilled down her cheeks, but she wiped them away quickly, her mind racing. She had to think. She had to keep Annabeth safe.

"Fine," she said, her voice breaking with raw emotion. "I'll meet you at the beach in a week. But you listen to me, and you listen very carefully."

The voice on the other end was silent for a moment, as if considering her words.

"Why a week?" it asked, the tone still unbothered.

Athena's voice shook as she spoke, but she was determined. "Well, I'll need time to fix Annabeth's window since you broke it. I'll also need to tend to her wound, since you've killed my nurse. And then... I'll need some time to grieve, because May meant the world to me." Her voice faltered, but she pressed on. "And, I'll keep my promise, if you keep yours."

"And what's that?" the voice asked, the edge of curiosity creeping into its words.

Athena's grip tightened on the phone, her resolve solidifying. "You will give us complete privacy. You will not talk to me, look at me, be anywhere near me or my child. No communication. No presence. You stay away. Completely."

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Athena could hear the faint sound of breathing, ragged and cold.

The voice sighed, a sound like wind rustling through dry leaves. "Fine. I'll agree to that. But remember this, Athena: You are the one who made this deal. You will come. Alone. And if you don't..."

The threat lingered, hanging in the air like a storm waiting to break.

"I'll be there," Athena said, her voice small but fierce. "And you won't hurt my daughter again. I swear it."

The line went dead with a sharp click, leaving only the sound of Athena's breath, ragged and strained in the heavy silence.

WORD COUNT: 1151