The House of Hades

Chapter 30: Annabeth

Chapter 30: Annabeth

Annabeth was walking on a long, grassy field. A cold wind swept through, and she shivered. She stumbled, and nearly fell, but no... she could not fall. Because if she fell, she knew she would not be able to get up again.

It was taking every ounce of Annabeth's strength to keep walking.

She wished Lycia, or Tyson were with her...but no. She was always alone in Tartarus's special little tortures.

She stumbled again, and a great weakness overtook her. She fell, face first, onto the cool, green grass. If only she could stay here, on this peaceful field.

"Annabeth!" Annabeth closed her eyes and rolled over. She knew it was not really Percy, but just the sight of him was enough to make her heart break,

"Annabeth! I've been looking for you for days!" Percy gave her that goofy smile.

Annabeth unsheathed her knife. She should kill this fake-Percy, before he started attacking her.

Percy stepped forwards, "I know what you're thinking, it's not really me, but I swear it is. I've come back, Wise Girl,"

And then he bent over and kissed her, his soft lips pressed against hers. Tears were streaming down Annabeth's face, because she knew that it wasn't really Percy kissing her, but she wished so badly that it really was. But she knew what she had to do before this apparition killed her.

It took every ounce of Annabeth's resolution to raise her knife, and sink it into 'Percy's' chest.

He howled with pain, and looked at her with a mixture of shock, hurt, and pain on his face, that made Annabeth feel dizzy.

And then he disintegrated, and the green field around her dissolved onto the familiar black tunnel of Tartarus.

Annabeth was on her knees, sobbing, Lycia and Tyson standing nearby. Lycia came over, and knelt on the ground next to her,

"Percy again," she said quietly. It wasn't a question. Annabeth knew that by now, she could tell when it had been visions of Percy haunting her. Lycia hugged her, and Annabeth cried into her shoulder. It was strange how much Lycia had changed since Percy had gone. And the odd thing was, not that long ago, Annabeth had distrusted and hated Lycia, but somewhere along the way, when Percy had been captured, that mistrust had been replaced with something else. Annabeth didn't really know what that feeling was, but she did know that she now trusted Lycia as much as she trusted Thalia, or even Percy. Since Percy had been captured, it was like Lycia was her support; her rock to lean against.

"Thanks," Annabeth muttered, when she had pulled herself together, now feeling a bit embarrassed. It was the third time since Percy had been captured that she had completely broken down like that. She couldn't help it. She was starting to lose it. Feeling like a rubber band stretched too tight, like she was about to break.

"Don't mention it," Lycia said quietly, " Now, if you're feeling better, there's something I wanted to talk to you about. I'm worried,"

"I am too!" Tyson interjected.

"Seriously Tyson! " Lycia said, narrowing her eyes slightly like she always do when she was starting to get mad or annoyed.

"Is it because we haven't been attacked by any monsters in pretty long time?" Annabeth asked quietly. Lycia shook her head,

" No, I told you, that should be expected. Now that Gaea's got Percy, she's gonna want you and the rest of the seven to be there to witness her triumph. We should have no problem getting to the Doors of Death. The problem is, what we do once we get there"