And No One Gets Hurt (A Percy Jackson AU)

Chapter 18- Annabeth

"This is a stupid idea."

Annabeth had lost count of the number of times she'd said that. And obviously everyone else had too.

"Oh, please, Annie," Leo whispered sarcastically, "Say it again, I don't think I heard you the other million times."

"Obviously, if you had, we wouldn't be here." Annabeth whispered back. "And don't call me Annie!" Her eyes scanned the corridors every shadow making her heart race. Was that a Monster around the corner?

Annabeth was never scared of monsters under her bed, but ever since she saw Luke earlier, ever since she saw his true colors, It was like she'd fallen into a twilight realm were only her nightmares existed. Her stomach bubbled with uneasiness. She constantly felt like they were being watched.

"Will you two stop it?" Jason cut into their argument, "By all means Annabeth if you want to go back, then go!"

The worst part about all of this is she did. Annabeth didn't want to admit it but she was terrified. Her body was shaking with every step but she played it off, slipping on that mask she was so famous for. The one that was brave. But that's all it was. A mask.

It didn't stop her from being terrified. It didn't stop her from wanting to curl into a ball and cry. And it certainly didn't stop her from from seeing every single thing as a threat.

Annabeth didn't reply to Jason. Though she saw Piper glance back at her looking almost worried, Annabeth pretended she didn't notice. She couldn't believe Piper was worried about her, when she had the gunshot wound in her side.

It wasn't like they were friends or anything. Before this they never even talked. Except for that time yesterday with Hazel collapsing in the middle off the hall. After all she was Miss Piper Perfect. She didn't have a reason to talk to the girl everyone thought stalked people. And this right now, It didn't change a thing. They were just a couple of kids trying to survive.

Annabeth wasn't even sure they could survive. But she couldn't give up. Something in her mind kept urging her to keep going. It wasn't the first time either. Annabeth swallowed hard, thinking back all those years ago when her parents were drunk fighting, when Helen actually hit her...

That night she ran off and no one even cared. Even then something in her kept pushing, the reason she kept going. Annabeth wasn't sure what it was. Determination? Or maybe she just had a Death wish.

They skirted past a window and the distant police line was set up. There were crowds of people there. Fire trucks, ambulances, police vehicles, news reporters...

The deafening silence chilled her. Annabeth and Thalia were the only ones who really knew what was going on. They hadn't told the others. How could they?

How could they tell everyone else that their lives were worthless right now? No one was going to revoke the police sentence on Kronos and Krios for a bunch of high school kids. Not one of them was worth that much.

No one cared that much of any of them.

Quite honestly, Annabeth was surprised the police hadn't just bombed the entire school by now.

"Annabeth."

She hadn't realized she'd stopped walking until Percy's voice broke her out of her thoughts. She blinked a couple times like she was warding off the morbid thoughts buzzing in her mind.

"Sorry," she replied almost robotically. Jason, Leo and Piper were just disappearing around the corner up ahead.

Percy was leaning mostly on her, but Annabeth didn't really care. His windswept raven hair fell into his face and his sea green eyes looked...shattered.