Swapped (HP/PJO+HOO)

Chapter 13

'There is no escape... You will never be able to get away from us... Not really...'

The voices rumbled with an ancient timbre that made every hair on Percy's body stand up tall. His hands felt clammy and he was riddled with chills from the cold, New York night. Percy was running, sprinting in between the buildings. Adrenaline pumped through his veins carried by the ever raging blood pumping from his heart. He had thought he would never hear their voices ever again.

He was wrong.

'Running won't help, my little champion... We're coming for you... Always...'

"Shut up, shut up, shut up," Percy mumbled to them, swerving in between skyscrapers. Annabeth would have been counting the number of turns she had made, comparing them to street layouts of the city to find a way out of this labyrinth.

Unfortunately, he wasn't Annabeth, and his only thought was to run. Run fast, and run far.

'We're coming, Perseus... We're always one step ahead of you... Give up...'

"I WON'T!" Percy shouted back. He ran faster. For some reason, he felt like he was getting close. He could feel it, just beyond this building. His sanctuary was not far now.

'Stop running, little hero... stop running... wake up...'

Percy bolted around the corner, seeing the shimmering Golden Fleece hanging in a tree up ahead. Just a bit farther... Almost there...

'Hey, wake up... You can't escape... You're having a nightmare...'

Percy suddenly stopped in his tracks. Without his realizing it, the voice had shifted, morphed into a soft, caring sound, like the ringing of bells.

'It's okay, you're only in a dream... Wake up... Wake up...'

~~~

Percy's eyes fluttered open and he glanced around the room he was in quickly. Tears streaked down his cheeks, but he hurriedly wiped them away. He leaned over, his elbows propped against his knees. He still wasn't calmed from his nightmare, even after waking. It wasn't much of a surprise. This was just how he woke up in the morning. Slowly, he started to repeat the same mantra over and over again. "It wasn't my fault and there's nothing I could have done."

"Good. Now you just have to start believing it," a soft voice replied.

Percy's head snapped up. That was Annabeth's line. The mantra was how they calmed each other down from their nightmares, no one else should know about it. "Annabeth?" he asked hesitantly. With a start, he realized he couldn't see again and shoved Harry's glasses onto his nose.

When he looked again, an extremely surprised Ginny sat staring at him. Her brown eyes were wide but were clouded with a kind of deep-seated heartache he hadn't seen there before. She quickly regained her posture and said, "Yes, and you are?"

"Oh my gods, it's you! It's really you, isn't it?" Percy nearly shouted, grabbing his girlfriend's hand and leaning forward in his chair. "Thank the gods, I don't know how much longer I could have kept my sanity here without yo-"

Annabeth/Ginny suddenly yanked her hands back from Percy and leaned back. "I'm sorry, but do I know you?" She stared intently at him, and he knew she was trying to place his face among the many she's encountered on her quests along the years.

He also knew that she wouldn't be able to. Taking a deep breath, he slowly replied, "It's me, Percy." Percy carefully reached for her hands again.

She quickly crossed her arms over her chest and took on an angry expression. "Yeah right, and I'm a ginger." Percy raised his eyebrow at the comment and watched her expression turn to utter disbelief. "What, are you blind as well as cruel? I'm clearly blonde, you dim-witted-"