What Did We Do?

Chapter 13

"Frank Zhang and Nico di Angelo."

My jaw drops. Neither of them would take the other, be on the other side, would they?

So did someone decide to kidnap them?

No. They're too strong for that. Aren't they? Who took them? Maybe they aren't too strong, then. Not against Void or someone, I suppose.

I think I say something along the lines of 'stop fucking with my emotions.'

I'm dimly aware of someone, Luke probably, talking to me, but I just stand, frozen, and think.

I think about Hazel. How her boyfriend has disappeared too. And I'm slightly bitter that at least she knows he isn't dead. Yet, the little voice in the back of my head reminds me.
She lost her brother too.

I think about Nico. Where is he? Who took him and Frank? Why were they taken? How is he coping? Are they hurting him?

I think about Frank. Is he worried about Hazel? Is he worried about himself? Why was he taken? Why, why, why?

I think about Chiron. Two campers have just gone missing. Who managed to breach the camp's borders? That's a stupid question. Obviously Void, or Chaos, or Order.

I think about Percy. Where is he? Where is my beautiful, funny boyfriend? Why is he gone? Why is it all so complicated?

I think about myself. How the world world seems to be against me. How I can never have happiness for long, because it will ultimately be ripped away from.

And I dimly register backing against a wall, sinking to the ground and crying.

Someone sits down next to me and puts an arm around my shoulders, letting me cry into their chest. I think it's Luke.

Footsteps, a murmur of words, a rub of my back, then suddenly I'm cold and alone as they leave. I don't look up, just curl into myself. More murmurs, then a comforting, familiar presence sits down next to me.

"Thalia." The word wasn't supposed to be spoken, but spoken it is, in a rush of breath, mumbled vowels, and slurred consonants.

She rubs my back. "I'm here kid." I smile into my hands and move closer. It's been awhile since I've actually been close to her. We're always courteous and brief, Head of Camp to Artemis' Lieutenant, but then she has to hunt, and I have to teach.

"How's Hazel?" It's said quietly, barely noticable, but she hears me.

"Not too bad. Distraught, as you'd expect. She's with Piper." I nod. "Listen, 'Beth." Her voice is thick. Like she's about to cry. "I-" I feel her shake her head and she laughs, self-deprecating and humourless. "Just- C'mon." She gets up and offers a hand. I slowly get up too and follow her, barely noticing where we're going.

"We're here." Both of us have been silent the whole trip, so Thalia's voice makes me jump. She gives me a sympathetic glance and I look around, taking in my surroundings. We're in some kind of grove, green and lush, not very big. There's some pile of rocks near the edge. Not many trees. I have some trouble finding my voice, my tongue big and heavy inside my mouth.

"Where are we?" She shrugs.

"I have no idea, to be honest." She looks at me, and I at her, before cracking up.

When I regain my composure, I move to the pile of rocks on the far side of the clearing and perch there. "Why are we here?"

She comes to sit next me. "To talk." Seeing my look, she shakes her head. "I haven't properly talked to you for at least a year now. With so much happening- Annabeth, you're like my younger sister. So talk to me. Tell me everything. I feel like I barely know you. How do you feel about being caught up in all this? How are you coping?"

So we talk. And talk. We talk for close to two hours.

I tell her about how I've been, how everything has been, except Percy's most recent 'disappearance'. I refuse to talk about that. We sit in silence for a few moments after I finish talking. Then she shakes her head.

"But what about Percy?"

I bite back a sarcastic retort, instead settling for a much more civil statement. "I can't do anything. It's fucking Void, Thalia."

She shrugs again. "And you're Annabeth Marie Chase." I glare at her. "Listen. Do you want Percy back?"

"Duh." I give her an are-you-stupid? look.

"So how do you get him back?"

I look at her suspiciously. "I... find him?"

She claps her hands. "There you go!"

"Thalia, I hate to break it to you, but I have no idea where Percy is."

She gives me one of those smiles, the ones that remind me she isn't the Thalia I used to know, the ones that tell me that she's wiser than I thought. "Just give your feet a chance, they'll do all the thinking."

"So... I demand to leave camp, alone, walk until I find Percy, single-handedly defeat Void amd whatever he has on his side?" I test out. She laughs.

"Not by yourself. Take one or two of the Warriors with you."

Seeing there's no point in arguing, I head back to camp with her next to me. When we reach my cabin, she hugs me.

"I'd say pack for a few weeks, I'll talk to Chiron for you." With that, she's gone. I sigh and head inside to find a bag and pack it.

She meets me outside. "Zoë and Calypso are coming with you. You're leaving in ten minutes."

I shake my head. "Since when are you so spontaneous, Thals?"

She giggles (yes, Thalia Grace freaking giggled)

"Annabeth!" Zoë calls. Both her and Calypso have a heavy-looking backpack on. "We're not supposed to leave yet, but I figured that we are all ready to go, yes?" I nod awkwardly.

"Have fun, and save Perce!" Thalia calls as we start to walk off. I turn back briefly and hug her.

"Stay safe." I murmur. She smiles weakly.

"Give 'em hell, kid."

A/N HOLY FUCKING SHIT I UPDATED WHAT A DAY. WHAT A FUCKING DAY.
But yes, I have indeed updated. It's kinda shit, but I hope you like it. You certainly deserve it, after eight-odd months. I'm not gonna make excuses, but I'm sorry for being absent for so long. Anyways, let's hope this update gets me back on track.
But it probably won't, unfortunately. I'll try! Truth be told, I'm not exactly looking forward to writing the rest.
Fun fact about this chapter: Give 'Em Hell, Kid by My Chemical Romance came on while I was halfway through this chapter which inspired the ending, which wasn't really what I had planned. Oh well.
!!If you can get the two song references and what song they come from I'll follow you/spam you with votes (not including give 'em hell, kid)!!
~Hannah