Broken || A Riordan Universe Story

Percy POV~ "I Won't Let Anything Like This Happen to You Ever Again."

Let's just say that the past day felt like a week. Annabeth, Reyna, Calypso and I bumped into Nico, Zia, and Sam. Reyna, Annabeth, Zia, Sam, and (surprisingly) Calypso immediately hit it off. In terms of character it made sense. I tried to talk to Nico, but he was in his usual mood. They were looking for Jason when we found them. We still couldn't find him, so we decided to go back to the beach. There was a bright fire burning, that lit up the landscape. Its embers cast a shadow over our long conversations. It was probably 11 o'clock-ish right about now.

"I'm tired." I said.

     "We should probably get some sleep while we can." Yawned Annabeth, cutely.

"Smart." Nodded Reyna.

Everyone drifted off to find a place to sleep. Me on the other hand, just decided to sleep exactly where I was. My head hit the sand softly. I closed my eyes, my thoughts roaming to the sound of the waves.

'Perseus' whispered a familiar female voice in the blackness. 'You must hurry, for time is of the essence.'

The scene shifted.

There stood Clarisse and Thalia overlooking Half-Blood Hill. At Thalia's Tree's stood an army of monster and demon looking things. They had a glassed over look in their eyes. It was as if someone had a hold over their minds. They weren't moving. Just standing still as statues.

Then the scene shifted.

Now I was looking at the boundaries of New Rome. Terminus was shouting incomprehensible words at another army of monsters.

What was going on?

Then, Khaos's voice echoed through everything, sending a chill down my spin.

'Everything will be destroyed because of you, young demigod. Watch out Perseus Jackson.'

I woke up with a start. Why can't I dream about cotton candy clouds or something normal?

I stood up, and walked towards the ocean. My shoes were gripped by my hands; this let my socked feet feel the texture of the sand. I sat down on the soft grains. I took off my socks, so that my toes could touch the small waves. I looked up at the night sky, thinking about everything. What was the point of kidnapping the girls? What is the point of the games? These things just played games with our minds. The Legion of Doom knew how to break us. I had to stay strong.

I closed my eyes, listening to the tide, and smelling the ocean. But, I heard something else too.

Quiet sobs.

I got up, slipping on my shoes (without tying them of course) in the process. I jogged over to the sound, kicking up sand. I passed over Reyna, and Zia on the way. Then, I found the source.

It was Annabeth.

She was rocking back and forth, hugging her knees to her chest. Her blond hair shone a light shade of sliver in the moonlight. The sobs racked her body, and I could tell that she was trying to keep them as quite as she could. I crouched down, so that I was sitting on my knees.

"Annabeth." I reached out and touched her shoulder.

She whipped her head up in alarm, ready to stab.

Then, she realized it was me.

There were tears in her eyes. A total look of loss clouded them, making her seem fragile. Almost as if she was going to break.

"Percy." She whispered.

"Come here." I said, holding my arms out.

I enveloped her in a hug.

"It's alright." I soothed.

"I-I had another nightmare." Her voice cracked.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked, pulling away.

"Percy, there's something I haven't told you." She started. "When I was gone, I saw things."

She winced, painfully.

"Over, and over, and over again. My worst nightmares, fears, memories, and faults were brought to life. I-I don't know what they used on me, but I was in a never ending spiral of misery. I couldn't tell the difference between reality and dream. I still can't. I just want this to be real. Please, tell me that this is real." She begged.

And it broke my heart to see her like this. The fearless, strong, proud Annabeth Chase dragged down to this state.

"Everything here, is real. Don't worry." I touched her cheek. "I won't let anything like this happen to you ever again."

And I swear on River Styx, that when I come face to face with the Legion of Doom, the ones who broke me and the love of my life, I will kill them.