Percabeth Part 2

Chapter 16

Annabeth 

I sat alone in the blank space for a long time. I hadn't really noticed but I was pregnant again. It comforted my to know that my baby was with me. I wasn't completely alone. I kept thinking about how technically, two hearts were needed to keep the doors to this place open. My baby has a beating heart. Or at least, I think it does. Gods, I hoped so. I did not want to go through what Leo and Calypso did. I reminded myself that Percy and I aren't like that, we have 2 other kids to keep us together but in the back of my mind, I knew that if we lost any of our kids, nothing would be the same. 

As I lay there, thinking, I remembered what Athena had told me. This would be hard; it could drive me mad. That, I think, was what scared me the most. I'd heard of the people in the mortal words sent to solitary confinement. The horrors they faced that only came from their minds. Gods know I've seen horror. The worst part was, I didn't know if I had gone crazy yet. Years could have passed and I'd have no idea. If I was crazy, I wouldn't know. 

Of course, I knew it the second I heard the screams. They were distant at first, like that of a crying child through a wall. Then, it got louder. It soon felt like I have went days into weeks that seemed like they'd never end without being able to sleep more than short snatches before I was shocked out of my dreams, and thrown back into a living nightmare, by the screams of sick men who have lost all ability to control themselves, or by the banging of cell bars and walls of these same madmen. It was then that I realized, I was not alone. 

This cell was meant to torture Kronos for his deeds. To the Gods and anyone else, even me just a few days ago, I would have wanted him to feel this pain. I'd think he deserved it yet now as I lay here listening and feeling it, no one deserved this. 

After what felt like hours of listening, I realized that this place was a prison. Hundreds of other inmates that had gone insane were here. Screaming insanity, pleading to be let go or to die. Honestly, death seemed more and more peaceful as this went on but I knew I and everyone else here was immortal. 

No more than a few seconds passed without a CA-RACK! of a sneaker being slapped into a plexiglass shield covering the cell of an inmate who had thrown things nasty; or the THUD-THUD-THUD! of an inmate pounding his cell wall, or bars being banged, gates being kicked and rattled, or men screaming like they're dying and maybe wishing that they were; or to the tirade of an inmate letting loose his pent-up rage on a guard or fellow inmate, sounding every bit the lunatic that too long a time in the mind-breaking confines of the box had caused him to be.

I began to feel angry. Rage flowed through my veins. I wanted to scream but I knew that I gave into that madness, I'd be no better than the others surrounding me. I wanted to rise above, if I let myself give in to this rage, there was no going back for me or my baby. I had to stay strong. 

On a lighter note. I thought of names for this next kid. Percy didn't want to know the gender so I decided to not ask when the time had come. I was thinking Paige Thalia Jackson if it was a girl and William Jason Jackson if it was a boy. This kept me sane. Giving a name to my future gave me something to hope for. It was all I wanted. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Percy

I gather all the able-bodied campers I could. It was a small task force. Hazel, Jason and Frank. At the moment, everyone had a loved one in need of help. Leo had to watch his kids, Piper was so close to her due date and Nico had Will to take care off. Frankly, Jason should be with Piper but he refused to stay. He wanted to fight Kronos. 

Once I had briefed Chiron on everything that had happened, he assure me that he would keep the camp safe. No one is going in or out. The army was ready but with Frank, Jason and I gone, we had to leave it to our second in commands to run it all. 

"May the gods bless you" Chiron said as we stood atop Half-Blood Hill. "You too" I replied,  gripping the Riptide. It felt almost as if we were going on a quest. Except, we were all in our late twenties, pushing 30 (except Hazel), and somehow it seemed more serious than before. This new generation of demigods have had it easy. We've protected them from monsters, created a city in which they could grow up, raise families. Quests were a much bigger rarity now a days. The gods needed less and it was peaceful for everyone. Everyone except the 7. If we didn't end this right now, gods know what will happen next. 

"Do you wish to have Argos escort you or will you be fine on your own?" Chiron asked. I looked at my crew. "I think we've got this" Hazel said, holding up her keys. Hazel suprisingly had a thing for cars, especially old ones. Her and Leo would spend hours in the garage restoring old cars. Her personal favorite was a blood red '55 Chevy Bel Air. She loved that thing. 

Chiron smiled gently. "Go on then, save us all once more mighty Percy Jackson and the Great 7". I almost laughed but held it in. I couldn't bring myself to laugh. Leaving this camp on a quest just wasn't the same without Annabeth and Grover at my side. 

Gods I missed Grover. He left last year. Packed up his family, all 5 of his kids and went to live in Greece. He figured with all the attacks here, he'd take his chances elsewhere. He just couldn't risk his family like that. I understood where he was coming from. If I could just pick up and leave to go live on some island somewhere, I'd do it in a heartbeat if it meant my kids would be safe. Grover and I still Iris messaged but less and less frequently. It just wasn't the same, not after all that has been going on at camp. 

I turned with my friends as we walked down the hill. Hazel left to get the car and Frank went with her, leaving just Jason and I. 

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked. Jason shook his head, "Don't do this. Don't try and convince me. I'm going, Piper knows what could happen and she has accepted it". I rolled my eyes, suddenly angry with him. 

"But she shouldn't have to just accept it. She should choose what she wants. Because she is all that matters. Everything in your life, everything that is happening none of it means anything if you loose her because if you do, there simply isn't a life. At least not one worth living. Thats it, she's everything. She's the first breath you take in the morning, the sunset over the oceans, the sound of the waves touching your feet, the feeling of bright green grass in between your toes" I said. 

Jason just sighed, running his hands through his hair. "I get that Percy. I know you miss her but Piper and I - if I don't go, the camp could get destroyed, the life we built. I would risk my life if it meant Piper could go on raising our kids in a happy and peaceful life. Piper wants me to go" Jason explained. 

I nodded, Annabeth and I are different. She didn't want to let me go but she had to. For Jason and Piper its the opposite. Annabeth deserves to be happy. Thats all that matters, she deserves to be selfish for once and if it means loosing peace to do that, hell, thats fine by me. 

Hazel drove around the corner with Frank in the front seat. "Here we go" Jason mumbled. I slung my bag over my shoulder and took a deep breath. "Now or never" I whispered. 

***Okay short chapter but I don't really care. Next one will be long I promise. If you aren't listening to Halsey's album "Outlanders" don't talk to me bc you're a little uncultured shit. XOXO. I love all of you demigods -Izzy