I'm sorry, Annabeth

Annabeth XXXIX

“You were listening to me talking all this time?”

Percy laughed, taking deep breaths from the oxygen mask. “Maybe.” 

Annabeth couldn’t help smiling broadly and lightly grazed the scars and wounds on his skin. 

“How are you feeling?” 

Percy grinned. 

"Thanks to Will, I’m feeling quite better already.” Will bit his lip. 

“I haven’t really done much, except from trying to stitch up the wounds. Percy, there’s a small problem...” 

“It’s totally fine, Will.” Percy cut him off. “You two mind going out for a bit? I just wanna have some rest. Alone. No offence, Wise Girl.” 

Annabeth smiled and ruffled his jet-black hair. 

“It’s okay, Seaweed Brain. Go take a nap.” 

She and Will walked out of the infirmary, with Will silently closing the door behind him. Before Will could go anywhere, Annabeth grabbed his hand. 

“What’s the matter with Percy's wounds? Tell me.” she ordered. Will shook his head. 

“It’s obvious that Percy doesn’t want you to know.” he explained uncertainly. “He doesn’t want you to worry, don’t you see?” Annabeth groaned in annoyance. 

“Yes, yes, I know. But Will, you have to understand. Not knowing doesn’t mean not worrying. He just never gets the point.” Annabeth threw her hands up in frustration. That Seaweed Brain. 

Will sighed in exasperation. 

“Fine. It’s just that there is a weird scratch of words on Percy’s back.” he tensed. “It’s not willing to heal nor be stitched up, it’s so weird. Even Apollo hasn’t heard of this phenomenon before.” 

“What does the words say?” Annabeth asked urgently. Will bit his tongue. 

“You seriously would not want to know, Annabeth Chase.” 

Annabeth’s eyes widened in horror. What could be so terrifying even Will thought Annabeth couldn’t handle? 

“Just tell me!” she urged Will. 

“It’s not over, hero.”

Annabeth could feel her body tense. 

“Do you know who wrote it?” Will shook his head. 

“I’m guessing it’s Kronos or something. I seriously don’t know.” 

“It’s Gaia.” 

Annabeth turned her head in the direction of the voice. 

Bianca. 

“Who’s that?” Will asked, face pale with shock at seeing a ghost. “Please don’t tell me it’s a ghost.” 

“Will, if you don’t know her, I advice you to run.” Will immediately complied to Annabeth’s suggestions. “And don’t tell anyone about what you saw!” 

“It’s Gaia. I saw her do it.” Bianca repeated. Tears swelling up her eyes. “It’s so horrible, Annabeth. It’s just so freaky. There was so much blood. Percy looked like he was near dying.” 

“When did she do it?” Annabeth asked, not noticing her own hands clenching in fury. 

“It was ages ago. But they seem to be coming back to me again and again these days.” Bianca buried her face into her hands. “It’s terrible. It’s lucky that you weren’t there. You’d be scarred for life.”