Silent Sufferers

The Lightning Thief

Annabeths POV

I never wanted to teach Ancient Greek. 

They say to go with what you're good at, well, at least that's what my Mom says. She was a daughter of a high priest, a one, until she married down to my father, also a teacher. She regretted her decision after she had me, and left him in search of something better to do with her life. She wanted to be someone important. 

My father, on the other hand, was perfectly happy with the life he lead. We weren't rich but we were lucky. He re-married and now I have two twin brothers. Joy. 

I sat over at my desk staring at a book of architect. A book of what I wanted to be, was going to be. I traced the lines with my finger, my brain going wild with ideas. 

"Annabeth!" My step-mom called. "We need more eggs! Go into town and get some!" 

I sighed, closing my book shut. "Okay!" I told her. I pulled on my sweater and stepped out into the cool outside air. I walked towards town, my cotton boots cushioning my steps. I looked at the buildings as I went on, watching as they got smaller and smaller as I took the shortcut through the poor part of town. Once I got where I was going, I purchased the eggs and my gaze shifted towards the books. Careful with the eggs, I picked one up and opened it. 

"The Study Of The Mind," it read. I placed it back on the shelf, the words jumping on the page, giving me a headache. Instead I picked up one in Latin. 

"The Lightning Thief," I mumbled under my breath as I read the cover. I gave money to the shopkeeper for the book and made my way home. I hid the book in my sweater as I dropped the eggs off in the kitchen of our modest home. I practically ran back to my room and opened up the book. 

I'd never read anything like it. 

The lights flickered and my grip on the book became harder as spiders crawled up and the walls. 

A scream rose in my throat. My step-mom quickly opened my door. "Annabeth! What is it?"

"S-spiders---"

"Don't be ridiculous. There are no spiders." She slammed the door shut behind her. The spiders crawled up my skin and onto the pages of my book. I shivered all over and tried my best not to scream.