One Last Look || Percabeth AU

Chapter 54- I'm Dead. For The Second Time

Annabeth's POV

The moment we went out of the room, I know that we're about to go downhill.

"Julien!" Thalia called from behind. Julien was leading us through the hallways, going down towards the fifth floor, to the fourth and so on and so forth. The task of this hospital was to deceive us to where we are going, and by far it's succeeding.

"Julien, let me breathe air first!" Thalia complained. She stopped and so we did. We were panting when Julien went towards us.

"If the bell rings, we're dead." Said he as he clutch his shirt tight in his hands. He staggered, but kept his balance on the ground. "We only have ten minutes... If we don't go now... you'll lose your chance."

I put a hand on his shoulder, much to his surprise. I knew him for two years, and of course we became friends for that two years. He relaxed a little.

"Let's stop for a second. The...stairs...were a little tiring." I said, out of breath.

Percy slid down the wall, tears still on his eyes. The fact that he just recovered, and now he knew the death of Bob and Ian wouldn't make him any better. As far as I knew, Bob was his bestfriend for two years, Ian being the third. I've known Ian and Bob for years too, and I know what Percy feels.

I slid down the wall with him.

"Percy...I..."

He put his head on my shoulders as he hug me and sobbed. A horrible, heartbreaking sob. For a moment, none of us made an attempt to make a sound. Not even Toby and Zach, who were known for the fact that they could not stood silence.

A loud sob echoed the hallways. Percy's pain echoed the hallways.

"I...didn't even know!" Percy cried. "If I just... I should be the one...I should be the one taking that bullet!"

Thalia intervened. "Past is past, Percy. Don't blame yourself."

"Oh yeah? And how about Ian, huh?! Am I not allowed to blame myself for his death?! If it wasn't for me, all there problems won't even be here! Goddamnit!" He let out of my grasp and put his head on his knees. " I...I should have been dead long time ago."

Nico gripped his hands so hard, his knuckles went white. "Don't say that!"

I made Percy to look at me. "Look at me, Percy. It's not your fault. Please...stop blaming yourself."

And even though I kept a straight face, I was breaking inside.

"But it's true! I-"

The bell rings.

"Crap. Come on guys, we have to get out of here!" Julien ran down the hallways again, and all of us were reluctant to follow him. We descended downstairs, jumping like we were made to do this.

We headed towards the second floor, and there we saw the blood coated carpet on the mirrored walls of a room. There was no body, but I was sure it was Ian's blood. We stopped in our tracks. Thalia cried like she never cried before. Toby and Zach looked like they're about to do the same.

Even so, we continue to head down.

"Hurry up!!!" Julien ran down another flight of stairs, skipping three to four steps at a time. "There's no time! They're about to-"

Mr. Dare stood in front of us.

"Where do you think you're going? And what are you doing, Julien?" He asked nonchalant.

Three guards stood behind him, their guns loaded while looking at us.

Percy stood in front of him, his sides bleeding but he kept his stance ready for what will happen next. "Mr. Dare...please. Stop this now."