The Undead's Decision (A Percy Jackson Fanfiction)

Chapter 1: Reminiscences

(Annabeth POV)

"I love you Wise Girl...I am sorry we won't be able to stay together but promise that you will live your life, at least for me.", I heard Percy mutter into my ears. My heart slowly broke as I looked into his almost lifeless sea green eyes, those eyes that I thought I would love forever.

"No, Percy! Stay with me Seaweed Brain, please don't go! Here, take this!", I practically screamed back at him, internally chiding him for giving up so easily. I quickly grabbed the flask of nectar from Will's hands and tried to dribble some nectar into his mouth.

"It is no use, Annabeth. My time on Earth is over." I looked at him with disbelief, and I think he saw it too as he tried to put a smile on his face. His next action shocked me even more. He pressed Riptide into the palm of my hand and opened his mouth to speak.

"I, Percy Jackson, hereby transfer ownership of this sacred blade to Annabeth Chase, in the hope that she finds better use of it than me." He went limp as soon as he uttered those words and left me stunned by the harsh reality of his death.

I jolted awake in my bed, sweating profusely even though it was winter. I have had that recollection, every night, for the past week since his death. A nightmare so horrifying that I kept wishing was just my imagination, but reality does have its way of virtually slapping people.

I looked around the cabin, realising that everyone was still asleep. Deciding that I needed some fresh air, I pulled on my hoodie and grabbed my Yankees cap, then slipped out of the cabin, careful not to wake anyone up. As I walked around camp, I tried my best to push my thoughts of Percy, but noticing the different landmarks kept bringing back memories of him. Our first Capture the Flag in the woods to our first underwater kiss in the canoe lake, each memory more relieving yet more painful than the previous. Ironically, I found myself walking to the beach, where I knew it would hurt the most. I sat down on the pearl white sand and breathed in the cooling sea breeze, reminding me of Percy. The night sky glittered with stars, and I remembered Zoe, the huntress that had been forever etched into the night, and Bob who had longed to see the stars again. Percy had tried to help many people and had saved countless more. This left me thinking why the Fates were so cruel, why they had taken away a life so precious and young from us, from me. Suddenly, as tears were rolling down my cheeks, a voice jarred me from my thoughts.

"Thinking about Percy?" I whirled around and was surprised to see Poseidon standing there. He looked immensely different, his regal composure as the sea god was gone, his hair turned grey with dimmed and gloomy sea green eyes without the usual joyful glint. I was not surprised, after all, his favourite son was gone. I quickly stood up and greeted him.

"Yes, my lord, I was not able to sleep with all those thoughts, so I decided to take a walk," I explained. He merely nodded and turned his attention back to the sea.

After a long silence, he said, "He went too early, didn't he? He was named Perseus by his mother after one of the only heroes that had a peaceful end. I just really wished that it was true for him too."

I could not say anything. A ball had formed in my throat, threatening to burst out in the form of tears. Instead, I tried to divert my attention back to the sand, the fine granules in between my toes.

Finally, I asked Poseidon, "Who do you think did this? Kronos's remains were scattered across Tartarus, impossible for him to reform this quickly, and the rest of the Titans are in hiding. We just put an end to Gaea's conquest last week. Other than them, Percy did not have any major enemies that would go so far as to get him killed in cold blood."

"I do not have an inkling as to who could have done this, my dear Annabeth, only time would tell," Poseidon replied in a sombre tone, filled with helplessness. "For now, all we can do is wait for answers. Both camps have sent out search parties for the owner of the murder weapon. Hades and I have also sent out our forces for information, and Zeus has instructed Artemis and the hunt to keep a lookout as well. Honestly, if I were you, I wouldn't focus on finding the killer but instead focus on coming to terms with Percy's death, for your own sake."