The Rise of Gaea

Annabeth 14

     Nico looked up at Reyna in horror. "Hi, Reyna." He squeaked, his normally pale cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

     Annabeth struggled to retain her composure. Hazel and Frank had backed down the stairs, and were doubled over in silent hysterics. Jason had turned back around and was clutching the wheel, shoulders shaking.

     Nico looked around desperately for a shadow, and rolled into Annabeth's, disappearing. A faint screech of "WHY??!!" rose up from below deck.

     Reyna pressed her lips tightly together. "Well. That happened."

     Her mouth trembled.

     Her eyes watered.

     Her fists clenched.

     The hilarity was too much, and Reyna burst out laughing. Annabeth, Jason, Piper, Hazel and Frank soon followed.

     Piper leaned against Jason, wiping tears from her eyes. "Oh boy. That was pretty funny."

     Annabeth looked around for Percy, still laughing, before realizing he wasn't there. Suddenly, it didn't seem so funny anymore.

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      Annabeth rolled over in bed, unable to sleep. The image of Percy in agony, bleeding and alone, was seared in her mind, and no matter what she did, it was all she could think about. What had happened to him?

     She had yet to confer with Nico after the 'I'm trash' fiasco, so she unsure whether Percy was still alive. At this, a strangled sob made it's way out, and she rolled over again.

     No. He must be alive. He must.

     Annabeth sat up. Her room seemed like a prison, like a suffocating wrap of terrifying thoughts. She fled, darting into Percy's room and flinging herself into his bed. She swathed herself in his blankets, breathing in the scent of Percy, of mint and salt and cologne. Annabeth wished she could bottle it.

     The remainder of her day had been monotone; settling Reyna in a guest room, showing her the Athena Parthenos, and fending off questions from an overly worried Piper. How did Piper expect her to react?

     The love of her life, her soulmate, her best friend was dying in Hell. And not only was he dying, but it was a slow, painful, torturous, lonely death.

     Another sob escaped, and Annabeth pressed her face to Percy's pillow miserably. Two great prophecies... it wasn't fair! Most demigods didn't even live during one great prophecy, let alone be involved with one, let alone two! Why should Percy have to be?

     Annabeth's stomach didn't agree with the intense sobs her heart was bringing on, and she dragged herself to the bathroom to retch.

     All the exhaustion of not sleeping for days, and the stress of getting Percy out while also stopping Gaea weakened her to the point where she felt four years old again. Her strong faracade was gone, and Annabeth was only able to rinse her mouth out before sobs rendered her useless once again.

     She huddled on the cold floor, wishing she could take Percy's place. Annabeth knew more about monsters, more about Tartarus, more about everything! Would Percy know where to get firewater? Wound he know which monsters to fight and which to flee from? Would he be able to find the Doors of Death?

     The stress and frustration she'd bottled up these past four days was hurting her head. It was so stupid that the only power she had was her brain. And even with that, she wasn't smart enough.

     She'd been dumb enough to let Percy fall into Tartarus, and dumb enough to not think of a better plan to get him out. He was probably dead now, all because of her.

     Annabeth screamed into her shirt.

     Why had she been so arrogant as to believe she was safe after Arachne fell? Her pride was her downfall, and she had been too proud of her victory to notice the trap right in front of her. It should have been obvious! And why, why had she let Jason save her first?

     That was the turning point, the keystone, the pebble that sent these rippling repercussions flooding outward. That was the decision that sent Percy to Tartarus. The decision she had allowed to occur.

     Even if Percy did make it out, would he ever forgive her? How could he, when because of her, the person who was supposed to love him, and care for him, and have his back, he was going through literal Hell.

     Annabeth smacked her head against the floor, trying to drive the bad thoughts out.

     Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and Percy's door opened and closed. The footsteps came towards her, and Annabeth felt anger and shame overtake her.

     Why did Piper have to see her like this; a shivering, weak, crying mess?

     "Go away." She muttered, looking up with blurry eyes.

     The black-haired girl with stormy blue eyes and punk clothes smiled sadly. "Do you really want that, Beth?"