Redemption

Percy

"I'm sorry. We couldn't save her." Those words ran through my head as I tried to sleep that night. I couldn't even wrap my head around the concept.

Annabeth. Dead.

It didn't sound right. It didn't feel right. I tried to coax myself into sleeping. Go to sleep and when you wake up you'll see Annabeth smiling at you and calling you seaweed brain, I lied to myself. It was useless. She was gone. I just wasn't fair. After all we had been through. We had plans. She had plans. I cursed the gods once more. Why had they taken her? She had so much life left. So much to live for. Why not take me instead? I was nothing without her.

I continued to allow these thoughts consume my brain until morning. I walked to the beach and sat down on the sand. I watched as the sun rose. I stayed there watching the waves crash on the shore all day long. When the sun set I walked back to my cabin and laid there. The cycle continued for days. Eventually they tried to force me into the infirmary. I refused. I couldn't go back there. That's where I last saw Annabeth.

Against my will I found myself laying on the same bed that Annabeth laid on for the last time. I knew I could have easily overpowered everyone, but I no longer had the mental strength to do so. I watched everyone go about their day from the infirmary. Everything was the same. I lost track of time. Days felt like minutes. I barley slept. I barely ate. I listened into conversations about myself. Everyone was worried. All my friends had tried to visit but I had just ignored their presences.

   I was no longer living. I was barely surviving. I couldn't stay here any longer. Camp HalfBlood used to be my favorite place. Now everything reminds me of Annabeth. Every camper, every cabin, every where. Even the trees reminded me of Annabeth. I found myself sitting under the tree we wrote our names on during my first summer at camp. I traced Annabeth's name every time.

   I decided I needed to go. I would leave during the night. That way no one would know until morning. I packed a backpack with clothes, money, and a ziplock bag of ambrosia. I grabbed Annabeth's Yankees cap off my night stand and slipped it on. I walked across camp looking around at the place I called home. I made my way to Thalia's tree.

   I remember when Thalia found out about Annabeth. She raced to camp. When they burned Annabeth's shroud, she broke down in tears. She ran from everyone and into the Artemis cabin. I didn't leave until it got dark.

   I passed the magical borders and made my way through the woods. When the sun rose I had made it to the city. I walked to my mom and step dad's apartment. I pressed the buzzer.

"Hello?" My mom asked.

"Mom."

"Percy?"

"Yeah." She buzzed me in and I walked up the stairs. I knocked on the door and she swung it open and hugged me.

"Oh, Percy. Thank the gods. You're okay. Oh..."

"Mom. She's dead."

"Who sweetheart."

"Annabeth." My mom's smile dropped.

"Oh no...Percy..." I cried in her arms. She slowly moved me inside. I heard Paul shut the door.

"How did she..."

"It was the end of the battle. We had won. Annabeth was running towards me when a apposing demigod stabbed her in the stomach with celestial bronze. She collapsed. They...they tried to heal her, but..." she nodded and held me tighter.

"You must have been up all night to get here. Get some sleep and we'll talk more when you're rested, okay?" I nodded and walked down the hall. I opened the door to my room.

   My head fell. All around was just pictures of me and Annabeth. Some from when we were kids, and some from when we first started dating. I placed the Yankees cap on my bedside table and laid down. After a while I finally fell asleep.

   A week flies by. I only leave my room for food and to use the restroom. I can tell my mom is concerned. I see the look on her face. She checks on me all the time. She's terrified to leave me alone. I don't blame her.

"Percy, get up." My mom said opening the door.

"Why?"

"We're going somewhere."

"Where?"

"It's a surprise. Now get ready!" She says happily.

   I get up and change into jeans and a hoodie. I throw on converse, and stick Annabeth's hat in my back pocket. We walk out and get in the blue Prius. I look at the hood and see the marks from blackjack. We get in. It's a silent ride. My mom pulls up at Grand Central Station.

"What are we doing here?" I ask as we walk in.

"I thought we'd pick up some blue jelly beans. Like old times. They always cheered you up, remember?" I smiled remembering.

"Yeah." She smiled and led me to her old work place.

"Here's twenty bucks. Get as much as you want. I'll be right back, I'm going to get a coffee." I nodded as she walked towards Starbucks.

   I looked around at all the candy. It was nice of my mom to think of this, but a bag of blue jelly beans wouldn't cheer me up. The only thing that could would be Annabeth, but right now, getting her back wasn't an option. I needed more time to plan.

"That'll be four dollars and thirty five cents please." I heard a familiar voice say.

   I turned towards the counter and looked at the girl behind the register. She had long, curly, dark brown hair. Her skin was pale. But her eyes were what gave her away. The reddish brown eyes that I knew. The customer had left and she was busy placing the money in the register.

"Elena?" Her head popped up. She stared for a second before replying.

"Percy?"