The Stories of Our Heroes

Safe and Sound

Happy birthday Percy!! 

Annabeth's POV  - set just before The Lost Hero

Something was wrong.

I slept terrible last night, not able to shake the feeling that in the morning I'd wake to find the whole camp turned upside down. Now, with sunlight barely shining into the windows of the Athena cabin, I couldn't stand it any longer. Something was wrong and I was going to find out what.

I carefully looked over all of my brothers and sisters for any changes.  I didn't notice anything. They were all sleeping peacefully. I made my way out of the cabin as quietly as I could, but of course Malcolm's bed is right next to the door and he's a light sleeper.

"Annabeth," he whispered, "what are you doing? What's wrong?"

"I don't know. I just have a weird feeling. I'm going to see Chiron."

He just shrugged and laid back down. He's no good in the morning.

I stepped into the cool winter air and looked around. It seemed wrong that everything looked so normal. The cabins were still with sleeping campers, except for the Apollo kids. The Big House stood as welcoming as ever. The dining pavilion was undisturbed. The lava wall crackled menacingly. The scene appeared to be perfect. But my gut was telling me otherwise.

Something told me to head to the Poseidon cabin. I knew Percy was never up this early, but I wanted to confide in him. His instincts were as trustworthy as mine.

I reached his door and held my hand up to knock, then hesitated. I wasn't sure if he'd appreciate me barging into his cabin in the early morning, but I also didn't want to risk waking up anyone. Demigods senses were just as sharp sleeping as awake, and they would never let me live it down if they saw me trying to get into Percy's cabin during sleeping hours. That would be so embarrassing. So I opened the door.

As soon as I crossed the threshold, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

"Percy," I said urgently, "wake up. Something's going on-"

His bed was empty.

I scanned the rest of the cabin. Empty.

My chest felt like it was tightening, gripped with fear.

The blankets on the bed were rumpled like he'd been tossing and turning all night. His pillow was about to fall onto the ground. My boyfriend was a restless sleeper, but it seemed odd that he hadn't attempted to fix up his bed even a little. Riptide wasn't on his nightstand, but his jeans from yesterday were laid on a chair to be worn again. Why would he have left with his sword but not gotten dressed?

I slowly backed out of the cabin. "Okay Annabeth," I whispered to myself, "He's fine. He's fine. He already sensed something was wrong and headed to check it out. He's probably with Chiron." But deep down I knew that wasn't true. He would always check with me first. I tried to swallow my panic.

Nevertheless, I started towards the Big House. I set a brisk pace with heavy breathing.

"Annabeth," a boy's voice called, "are you alright?"

I turned to see Will Solace walking up to me.

"I... um... have you seen Percy?"

"No, I haven't." He furrowed his eyebrows. "Why are you guys already up?"

I took a deep breath. "I couldn't sleep last night so I went to see him this morning. But he's not in his cabin."

"Okay, well I'm headed to the infirmary. I'll keep an eye out. Let him know you're looking for him if I see him,"  he promised.

"Thanks Will." I kept making my way to the Big House.

I practically jumped up to the porch and started banging on the front door, not caring who heard me anymore. I found myself praying to every god out there that when the door opened, it'd be my boyfriend standing before me.

My heart dropped to my stomach when it turned out to be Chiron.

"What's wrong, my dear?" he asked, concern written all over his face.

"Somethings wrong, I know it, and I can't find Percy."

"What do you mean?"

"I can't explain it. All last night I knew something was happening. I went to ask Percy about it this morning and he's gone. Not in his cabin, Will didn't see him this morning, no messages, he didn't say anything last night, nothing." My stomach continued to tie itself in knots. Chiron seemed to age ten years before my eyes.

"Well keep looking. Check all over camp, and consider taking someone with you. If nothing is different by breakfast we'll raise an alarm." I nodded, quickly turned around, and took off running. Chiron's orders were not reassuring, and I felt a lump form in my throat.

*******

I couldn't believe this was happening. How could the fates be so cruel? We just won a war for the gods, and here I was hopelessly searching for my missing boyfriend. We looked all day. Every inch of camp was inspected, once by the crew assigned to that area, and another fifteen times by me. Grover and a gang of satyrs left the borders and were scouring through the rest of the world. Thalia and the hunters were helping too. But no one had a clue where he was, or if he was even-

Stop it! I screamed at myself. He's alive and he's fine and he can take care of himself.

I hadn't even realized I'd sunk to the ground until I felt someone helping me up.

"We're going to find him," the person said. "He's okay, I'm sure of it. I mean this is Percy Freaking Jackson we're talking about here."

I looked up to see Will again. He had a sad smile on his face.

"Yeah," I choked out. "But he is such a seaweed brain."

"Yes, well..."

Despite myself, I laughed a little. Will held out his arms for a hug, and I obliged. I wouldn't have done that to just anyone, but Will had that affect on people.

"Thanks Will," I said for the second time today.

"Of course. Now you need to take a break. You're ready to drop."

"No, I need to-"

"Nope," he interrupted. "Doctor's orders. And anyway, Percy wouldn't want you to work yourself into the ground, literally," he gestured towards where he had just helped me up moments before, "over him. We've got it under control."

I just nodded numbly, and Will ushered me back to the cabins. I didn't stop at mine though.

I walked into Cabin Three again. I looked around before walking over to Percy's bunk. A tear slipped down my face. "I'll find you Seaweed Brain," I promised. The fountain gurgled in the background. I crawled onto the bed a laid down, but I didn't want to disturb anything. I wanted it to be like he was never gone.

I inhaled the salty air that I have grown accustomed to. I knew me laying here would eventually erase his scent, so I'd have to stop soon. But for now, I just wanted to pretend he was next to me, safe and sound.