Like you promised

~~Chapter 7~~

I don't know when I decided to sleep in the bedroom Kelly locked me in.

I'm running to Percy. He's alive and well but there's this look in his eyes. This look that feels like he's looking right through me.

And even in the dream, I could feel myself having the dreadful thought that I could never want him to forget me. I regret wishing that I'd rather he'd never see me again then forget me.

I was pleading for him to help me. Everything a blur as we run to my parents' house. My little half-brothers-I could hear them so clearly inside-calling out for me.

I screamed for their names, but my voice got choked up and the house burst into flames.

"Annabeth." A voice snapped.

As if in a trance, I jolted awake.

Luke had a hand on my shoulder, his brows creasing together as he watched over me.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Was all I could get out. Though I wanted to say more.

"Remember how I told you to do what I tell you to do?"

Ow no.

"Well, bows the time." He lifted a bag onto the bed. "Quickly get changed. You'll stick out if you're still wearing that orange shirt. Be as quiet as possible. Do you understand?" He's whispering, so, so, quietly.

No, I don't understand. But I nod my head and sneak off into the bathroom.

I put on the long black fitted sweater, hiking boots and long pants. All black like we're sneaking around.

When I walk out the I release how we're both decked in black clothing.

"Come with me." He says I can hardly hear him as he slowly opens the door.

I follow suit. Is this some kind of trap?

I can see the Hermes in him. How stealth and swift he is with getting around.

He stops me from walking any further. Stepping ahead he commands someone to run a message to someone. Leading them in the opposite direction... what is he doing? He can't be helping us escape? Can he?

Everywhere he's taking me is just darkness, and I have to do slow steps, while he slows down for me.

We get to below deck. Where an opening for a boat is. Just like when I and Percy first escaped here.

Percy sat in a corner.

"Percy." The yell was a whisper yell. "Wait- is this some kind of trick again?" I glare at Luke.

His expression was a mixture of sorrow and guilt.

"Annabeth, this is real," Percy replies.

He sounds, fine! Healthy like he wasn't injured.

Percy was coming close to me "we're leaving."

What?

"Percy he's tri-"

"I'm not playing games Annabeth," Luke speaks up now. "This is real. Percy will tell you what I told him when you go."

He's looking at me now. Those sad, sad eyes. The eyes I sometimes overlooked when I was too young to notice.

"I need you to know. That I'm doing this to get you away. That after this, you stay away from demigods, you stay away from the locations I've told Percy. It was the only way I could get to you and tell you this message-"

"What message?" My brain is rattling in my head. What's happening.

"One that you can't be told here. But you need to get as far away as possible. After tonight Kronos will think you and Percy are dead."

My heart stopped dead at that. "Luke-" my words drown out in my thoughts. There's so much to say.

"You can't get into contact with Chiron or anyone. No matter what you hear, you stay away. Do you promise me this?"

"Yes. I promise." I shouldn't promise. "Unlike you, I keep my promises."

A flinch of hurt went through Luke. Good.

"Well then, at least I can be assured that. Be safe. The both of you."

Luke looked at me, that one more time. I could tell Percy's expression was changing.

"I wish one day I could tell you everything and explain everything in person."

He kissed my forehead. A soft gentle kiss.

I felt like crying. I didn't move, I couldn't. It was like I've been missing something for so long. I've gone so long without having him in my life.

"Now quickly go," he says.

I get in the boat with Percy. That has three bags all looking filled.

"Good luck." Percy's says to him in return.

Luke sternly nods. Pressing buttons that depart the boat into the water.

"They won't be able to track you," he assures.

When the boat takes off, with a rush of winds and water crashing into my face. And the dark of night shadowing us. I take my seat to the front looking ahead as Percy sits at the back.

We don't say anything, and I quietly sob to myself.

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9/March/2019-Release date