End of the Line

Prologue - Gone

Prologue - Gone
published: Wednesday, 2 January 2019
edited: Saturday, 11 April 2020

Percy Jackson woke up to the smell of lemons and fresh mint. Letting out a yawn, he rolled over on his side to see his beautiful girlfriend, Annabeth Chase, curled up in a peaceful sleeping position.

She'd sneaked into his cabin the night before, and they'd stayed up till midnight just talking in the dark.

Nothing could've spoiled that feeling of happiness that made his heart flutter.

Except perhaps the clock by his bedside. It read 8.42a.m. Percy swore softly under his breath. Breakfast was at 9 o'clock sharp, and if Chiron caught them in alone in the same cabin...

"Wise Girl," he whispered, nudging her in the side. Annabeth stirred slightly, her blonde hair a tangled mess on his pillow. Percy shook her gently again, happy to see a pair of grey eyes looking hazily back at him.

"Good morning, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth whispered back. She shifted into a sitting position and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I don't want to move. I just want to stay in bed all day. This moment is too perfect."

Percy chuckled as he played with a lock of her hair. "Well, if someone finds out, we won't exactly be in the best position to have anymore moments."

"You'd be a pile of ashes on my bedside table," Annabeth laughed. "Courtesy of my loving mother," she added. "Don't forget about your underwater mission later."

Percy nuzzled his head into hers. "Operation Find Atlantis," he declared. Annabeth just rolled her eyes. "It's a code name," he clarified.

"It's not a James Bond movie, Percy," Annabeth insisted.

"Yeah, yeah," he droned with a bored tone, drawing circles on her hand. "Chiron wants me to check the waters. Evidently, I'm the only Captain Seawater available."

Annabeth smacked him gently on the shoulder. "I'm serious, Percy. The spikes in ultrasonic waves could mean something. Frank registered the same in the waters near Camp Jupiter and there aren't any whales or dolphins there."

"I know," Percy assured her. "This is my domain, it's the only area which I can beat you in."

"In your dreams, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth teased. Percy just shrugged. He wouldn't ever admit it, but Annabeth could probably beat him at anything and everything by a large scale.

"Hey, have you got anything later?" Percy asked her. "We can hang out if you want. Take Blackjack for a ride. I'm sure Chiron won't mind." Annabeth looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Saviors of Olympus and all."

She opened her mouth to reply when the sound of knuckles rapping on the door made them jump.

"Percy?" It was Chiron. "May I speak to you quickly?"

Percy shot Annabeth a panicked look, and she quickly dived under the covers, flattening herself out as much as possible.

"Uh-Sure, come on in," Percy called out, stumbling over his words. He felt Annabeth lace her fingers between his and squeeze them for reassurance.

He felt the need to snort. She wasn't the one being faced down by a scary mentor with a girlfriend hiding under the covers.