Him or her? (A Pipabeth story)

Chapter Nine

Annabeth's POV

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Annabeth woke up to commotion outside and the sound of a high pitched scream. She bolted up out of her bed in the Athena cabin, scattering her blankets and books everywhere. Picking up her dagger just in case, she raced with her siblings that also heard the noise to the clearing outside.

She flung the door open and saw others from different cabins doing the same. Racing down the steps, a group of campers were gathered around a shape lying in the middle of the clearing. Annabeth ran over to a camper near the edge of the large group.

"What's going on?"

The camper, looking startled, responded. "The patrol from this morning saw the body of the new kid, the son of Apollo, Storm, just outside the border earlier. They say he was already dead when they got there and it looked like he had wandered out without realising where the edge of the border was." The guys friend spoke up, as Annabeth felt a growing feeling of horror rising up.

"Yeah, it looked like he had been attacked by something. The scream that woke everyone up was his sister, Summer."

"Sister...?" Annabeth stepped back in realisation. The new kids that had arrived days ago, that both had blonde hair and blue eyes.

She muttered a quick 'thank-you' to the campers before pushing her way to the middle of the group, barely noticing the annoyed looks she got from shoving through.

Shock flooded through her when she saw the middle of the group. Right in the middle was the mangled body of the young boy. He couldn't have been more than twelve, yet there he was, dead. Blood was still pooling in the grass, signalling that he couldn't have died that long ago, but that didn't seem to faze the 5 year old girl kneeling next to the boy. Her long blonde hair looked messy, probably from just waking up, and she had her hands holding her brother's head. Some of the campers were trying to get the girl, Summer, Annabeth remembered, to move or were trying to comfort her, but Summer wouldn't move or listen.

Annabeth bit her lip before sighing and stepping forwards, walking and kneeling down besides the girl.

"Hey," she spoke softly. Summer turned to look at her, eyes flashing with anger.

"Go away."

Annabeth noticed the tears running down the girls face, but also the way she held herself and the way she spoke. As if she were more angry and frustrated, which is unusual for a 5-year-old. She suspected that talking to her as if she were a normal 5-year-old wouldn't work and that's why nobody else could get through to her. So she changed her tactic.

"Well..." Annabeth started, "why do you want us to leave?"

Summer sniffled, wiping her nose with her blood-stained hand with no care.

"Because.. I-I.. I just want you to leave. And everyone else."

"That isn't very nice though." Annabeth spoke carefully, to see a reaction. She saw rage flash in Summer's eyes, and the girl lost any outward tell-tale signs of sadness or grief.

"I just lost my brother! I can be as mean as I want!" She yelled.

"You're acting odd for a 5-year-old though. Any normal 5-year-old would be bawling their eyes out, not spending time arguing with someone. Annabeth here is just trying to help." Annabeth turned to look at who spoke and saw Piper kneeling beside her. She quickly turned back though when Summer spoke.

"I don't care! I'm not a normal 5-year-old. I don't care if you are trying to help or not, you won't understand."

"Trust me," Piper spoke softly, "I think we would understand. Almost everyone at this Camp has lost someone or gone through troubles. Annabeth has walked through Hell itself and I've lost someone I loved. Anything you say, will be understood by everyone here. We're trying to help because we know what it is like to lose a loved one."