Ghosts - A Percabeth Story

Message. . .

Annabeth stayed out in the rain while all the other demigods hurried back to their Cabins in an attempt to avoid getting wet. She sat under an arch of the Amphitheater, frantically scribbling down ideas into her notebook. Her skills in architecture were back, and she was sure they could start on the renovations tomorrow, or as soon as the rain let up. Well, they could. She probably wouldn't be at Camp during that time.

A sudden gust of wind sent rain gushing down under the arch, getting Annabeth and her papers all wet.

"Seriously?" She shouted in anger as she got to her feet, gathering up her wet notes. The sky rumbled with thunder in reply.

Annabeth headed back towards the Cabins, stumbling against the harsh wind. Zeus must've been super angry to have sent this storm. Annabeth made it to Cabin 6 and unloaded her notes, which were dripping and slightly ripped. She hung them to dry, then walked past the other campers to her bed. She went into the bathroom in the back with fresh clothes and changed, then walked back to her bed. 

The rain hit the window above her cot so hard she thought it would break. She went to close the curtains, then stopped short when she noticed the water.

"Annabeth, go down to the beach." the raindrops sliding down the windowpane wrote. The moment after she saw them, the rain washed it away.

She stared at the glass, her mouth open. 

A young Athena kid looked up from her book and asked, "What do you see?"

"Huh? Oh," Annabeth though fast. "I'm--I'm just shocked with how strong this storm is."

"Yeah, I am too. It's weird, normally weather like this doesn't get past the protection." The kid muttered, now going back to her book.

Annabeth glanced at the clock. Soon the campers would be counted, then she would start her plan. But she couldn't ignore the message on the window. What if it's a monster who sent you it? Her mind asked. She quickly answered that. No monsters ever got through the protection. Well, almost never. She had to focus on her plan, nothing else.

She still had to pack a backpack for her trip, she didn't know how long she would be there. She hoped not long, but she couldn't be sure.

Sooner than she expected, the Cabin counters came and made sure all the Athena kids were accounted for, then they left. 

She was packed and ready, but the words on the window wouldn't leave her alone. She remembered Percy's promise and the breath caught at her throat. How could she have forgotten what he had said he would try to do? She had to go and see him.

Most of the Athena campers were asleep as she darted to the door. She hurried out and ran into Nico, knocking them both down into the mud.

"Holy Hades, watch where you're going!" Nico snarled as he scrambled back to his feet. 

"Oh, sorry." Annabeth muttered, her spirits dampened as well as her clothes. If that had been Percy who had sent her the message, she wouldn't be able to go and talk to him. Well, she would still go and see him in person, but what if he had something important to tell her?

"We need a stable shadow," Nico said. "Is there one in your Cabin?"

Annabeth nodded, then turned and headed back inside, Nico at her heels. 

"Have you ever shadow-traveled before?" Nico whispered after she shown him a good, dark shadow by one of the camper's beds.

Annabeth shook her head, then realized it was too dark for him to see her. "No," she said, keeping her voice quiet.

"Well, the only advice I can give is don't let go until we get there," Nico advised and gripped her hand. "On the count of three. . . One, two, three!" 

The two of the ran forward into the shadow and everything went black. It was a strange sensation for Annabeth, but it only lasted a moment.

Nico swayed beside her and she helped steady him. "I'm all right," he muttered, then looked up. His expression turned to confusion and horror. "What in. . ."

Annabeth looked up as well and she gasped, her heart jolting in her chest. The Underworld she remembered looked nothing like it did now. And how it looked now was definitely not an improvement.