Too Many Memories

I Finally Understand Why The Amazons Hate Men

I Finally Understand Why The Amazons Hate Men

"How will we tell her?" Percy's voice. "Is there any way to lift it? We have to be able to do something." He paused. "Can't we?"

A sigh. "I don't know." Will.

My eyes fluttered open and all speaking ceased. I sat up, sick of waking up in the infirmary. "Percy?"

"Yeah?" He sat on the side of my bed.

"What were you and Will talking about? I know it's about me. Tell me. Please." I pleaded with him.

"Annabeth, I--"

"Don't you 'Annabeth' me! I know you don't want to tell me, but I deserve to know." I looked into his bright sea green eyes. "Please, Percy."

He sighed, defeated. "Fine. You've passed out almost every night. You almost never go to sleep by your own free will. And, you've been unconscious for three days."

"Three days?" I exclaimed.

"Yes. Will has been running tests, and I convinced Apollo to come down here. They both agreed on the diagnosis. You've been cursed. Gaea cursed you."

"What?" I choked out. I regained my composure. "What else do you know?"

"Not much. Only that Gaea controls it. What we don't know is what activates it. Does Gaea do it when she wants? Or did she program it or something, so that it would trigger at certain times or when you do certain things? We don't know. And we don't know how to lift the curse. We think that only Gaea can break it."

"So, it's pretty much unpredictable? I could collapse at anytime? In the middle of the war?"

Percy nodded. "Bingo."

"Well, there is no way you are keeping me from fighting. I know that's what you're thinking, but you are not stopping me." I flung away the covers and swung my legs over the side of the cot.

Percy stood in front of me, his hands pushing against my shoulders. "Woah, wait a second." The door clicked shut. Will had left. "Please think about this. What will happen if you collapse in the middle of a horde of monsters? You would die. And there is no guarantee that you will be able to join my team.

"Please, Annabeth. Think this through."

I shook my head. "I can't just stand back and let all of you fight Gaea without me. You know I can't do that. If it makes you feel any better, I will make sure Hylla, or Tammy, or Tansy is by my side during every battle." I pushed passed him and opened the door. Before I could walk out, an unnatural wind slammed it shut.

Percy's eyes watered. "It doesn't. Annabeth, I can't let you do this. I forbid you."

My eyes narrowed. "You don't own me!" I shouted and stormed out of the door, muttering curses at Percy.

I walked with purpose, heading to the Amazon's cabin. It looked like in the three days I had been unconscious Percy and his team had been hard at work. The cabins were repaired, Camp looked great. The only indication that there had been a battle three days ago was the overflowing infirmary and many slings, casts and bandages decorating nearly every camper.

Thankfully, the Amazon's cabin was fully repaired as I thundered inside. The Amazons jumped when they saw me, and all but Hylla left. "I finally understand why all of you hate men so much." I growled and slammed my fist into the wall.

"Fight with Percy?" She calmly pulled my fist out of the wall and picked up a nearby bandage and wrapped it around my knuckles.

"Yeah."

"May I ask, what happened? Why haven't I seen you for three days, and what did you and Percy fight about?" Hylla pulled me down on the closest bed and sat next to me.

"It turns out that Gaea cursed me. Long story. I could pass out at any time, and I want to fight, but Percy doesn't want me to. So, we fought, and I don't know when I'll be talking to him again."

Lightning flashed. "I know the feeling." Thalia appeared in front of us. "You wouldn't believe how many times I've fought with Percy since I joined his team." She smiled at me. "Welcome to the land of the living."

"Hey, Thals." I stood up and hugged her.

"It's been weird only seeing you looking lifeless for the last three days. And not constantly putting campers in the infirmary. The only people that are in there were put there by Gaea." She laughed and sat next to Hylla and I.

"So," I lay back on the bunk. "Anything happen in the past three days?"

"Threats, demigod drama, man-hating Amazons. You know, the usual." Thalia replied.

I glared pointedly at Hylla. "Hey, I didn't take part in it." She defended.

"But?" I prompted.

Hylla winced. "But, I didn't necessarily try to stop it."

I groaned and sat up. "Come on. After this is over, I doubt Chiron will ever invite us back here again. Not after the way the Amazons are acting."

"Sorry, Annabeth."

"Ugh. What--" My head burned and I doubled over, clutching my head. I toppled off of the bunk and twitched on the ground. Hylla and Thalia kneeled next to me and tried to get me to say what was wrong, but my body ached too much to comprehend anything.

All I could feel was pain, and all I could hear was abnormally loud shouting. Grunts and snorts filled the air, only those that came from a monster. A ringing hit my ears and I could see Thalia disappear in the corner of my eye, and then reappear with Percy.

My back arched and I faintly heard Percy speaking. "It's another attack. Just monsters, but I have to get her out of here." He touched my forehead and the cabin walls faded, replaced by neat wallpaper.

The wood beneath me turned into a soft bed. "You'll be okay, Annabeth. I'll be back before you know it. I'll find a way to fix this. I promise."