Her

9

I am still shaking and crying as Annebeth tells me to open my eyes. "Why.. Why would she do it?" That is all I can think now. Annebeth gives a final tug at my shoulder and forces me to sit up. "Look at me." I try to take a deep breath but my chest feels as if it has collapsed upon itself. I can't breath. I'm suddenly gasping for air. "Lydia.. Lydia!" I hear Annebeth shout. I can't see straight and my head is spinning. I try to focus on breathing. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. I fold under the pressure in my head and I lay in the sand. "Lydia.. We're not done yet. I have to take you somewhere else."

I am furious. "No bitch! I'm done following you around! I just saw my best friend die!" My voice chokes and tears swell up in my eyes. "No! No more. I'm not going with you." I stand up and I stomp off away from her. "I just want to be alone." I don't look back even though Annebeth is calling my name. I keep walking along the river. I don't turn back.

It starts to get dark but still I walk. Annebeth had long since stopped trying to get me to go with her. I don't know where I'm going but I continue just to walk. Keeping my mind and heart blank. I cannot focus on Her right now. I must keep walking. Eventually this river has to end and I can go home. Along the river. "There has to be another way out of this Hell." I hear the waves come up to shore and shrink back into the rivers core. Over and over again, for hours. My feet are tired and I can walk no more. I sit down on the beach and look around. There are no lights. No sound except for the calming waves and I sit. I pull my knees up to my head and sit. I fold my arms around my knees, and I drift to sleep.