People Like Us

Happiness is.....

The big war had fazed us all. We were sad for the people we lost. Especially Leo.

But, we were ready to start a new life. Annabeth and I were going to the University in New Rome. Jason and Pioer were going to stay in Camp Half-Blood. My mom and Paul were expecting a baby girl.

We were happy for once.

So, we both got into my car and we were on our way through the woods.

But it was a bit too quiet for comfort.

"Uh, seaweed brain, is it just me, or does the woods seem kind of.....off?" Annabeth tapped my shoulder.

"I don't know wise girl. Isn't it always a bit off?" I asked,keeping my eyes on the road.

"Yeah, but it feels more off than usual. Almost like something is watching us." She shivered. I looked at her with concern.

"Okay, I'm gonna drive faster, because I have learned the hard way to always trust your instincts." I shrugged and stepped on the gas pedal.

The trees outside were almost a blur. I heard a loud howl through the night, followed by more howls and the sound of paws on dried leaves running at a rapid speed. Annabeth looked out the window with terror in her eyes.

"Hellhounds." She said with urgency. My eyes widened and I stepped harder on the gas pedal, the trees a blur beside us and the headlights giving the trees a spooky glow in the mist.

Trees zoomed past us, leaves crackled against the windows. I breathed hard. Hellhounds ran beside the car, searching for an opening between the trees to pounce at us. I was momentarily distracted. When I looked at the road again, a tree appeared right in front of us.

"Hold on!" I shouted.

Annabeth screamed right before the car crashed into the tree with a BANG! I hit my head against the steering wheel and felt the blood trickle down my forehead.

I looked at Annabeth in a daze. Her curly hair hanged loose against her shoulders.

Her eyes fluttered open.

"You ok?" I asked weakly.

"I'm fine. We need to get out of here." She said, determined, but also weakly.

"You're right. Can you get out of the seatbelt?" I asked, unbuckling with a struggle. She struggled as well, but didn't get out.

"No." She said after a moment. I took Riptide out of my pocket and uncapped it, revealing the celestial bronze blade. The hilt sat in my hand comfortably. I cut her loose. And then we sat in anticipation.

Claws raked into the roof, making a horrible screeching noise as it cut four holes through the iron like a hot knife cut through butter.

Big brown eyes peeked through one of the holes, meeting my eyes, it howled again.

I almost cursed.

"Percy, we have to kick out the window." Annabeth said. I stared at her in bewilderment.

"Wise girl, are you crazy? Those hellhounds will kill us before we get the chance to even get our blades out!" I said.

"We take out our blades now. We are sitting ducks in here. We need to get out and be able to fight." She argued.

I sighed in frustration. "Fine. Let's get out of here. " I lifted my feet and kicked at the front window. Hard.

It shattered and we both scrambled out of the car, pulling out our swords.

I slashed at one of the hellhounds and it exploded into dust.

Annabeth was behind me, having my back. We fought the hellhounds together.

But then it happened.

The horrifying cold feeling in my stomach, chills running up and down my spine.

I froze, looking down at my chest.

Four deep, bloody claw marks were ripped through my favourite hoodie and blood poured out.

Annabeth screamed as I fell to my knees.

"Percy!" She yelled urgently.

My ears popped and adrenaline ran through my veins, letting me get back up and keep on fighting.

I saw Annabeth fighting then more fiercely than I've ever seen her fought. Her cheeks were tearstained and her face was red with anger. Her blonde hair whipped around as she spun around and decapitated a hellhound.

I ran to help her, but my knees were weak.

I face planted on the cold, wet grass, hitting my head against a rock. I was paralyzed. I couldn't do anything.

The dew helped keep me concious. Orvmaybe it was the fact that I was holding on to dear life.

For Annabeth.

I watched as Annabeth killed the last few hellhounds from where I layed on the grass, black spots appearing and dancing in my sight. Annabeth appeared in front of me.

She rolled me over to my back to check my wounds. She gasped and started crying. I lifted my arm and cupped her cheek in my hand.

"It'll be alright. " I tried to reassure her, but she shook her head.

"No it won't! You are dying! Hellhounds can kill you. Their claws can sometimes be poisonous to demigods. It looks like the one that clawed you, was one of them. " she cried.

"I promise, wise girl. I will not die. Not like this. I promise...." I drifted off into unconsciousness and I heard her scream at me to stay awake and then all I heard was sobbing and then nothing.

Happiness is.....

Never coming.