Back From Tartarus

2|BACK FROM HELL

I'm out.

This was Annabeth's first thought when she realized that she finally made it out of Tartarus. It's been a horrible three years, but Annabeth finally made it out.

She's back from hell.

Annabeth started crying. She wasn't sure why. Maybe from relief or joy from being out of Tartarus. Or grief over her boyfriend, Percy, who is surely dead by now... She hasn't seen him since they went their separate ways, and now she'll never see him ever again. All Annabeth could do was sob.

She wanted to go to Camp Half-blood, to be comforted by someone who was like a father. Chiron. She wouldn't even mind seeing Mr. D as long as he's a familliar sight. She wants to see her friends, Thalia, Grover, Rachel, Piper, Jason, Leo, Hazel, Frank, Nico, even Coach Hedge. How many of them would even be alive? It's very possible a great deal of them died. What about the war with Gaia? What was the outcome?

Oh, Percy.... Annabeth couldn't stop her sobs. Her heartbreaking sobs over the love of her life. Her Seaweed Brain. And she was his Wise Girl. Nothing could change that. But... he's gone. And there's no getting him back. Ever.

Annabeth stood up, her legs shaky. It's time to go out in the sun, instead of staying in this cave. She hasn't seen the sun in three years. She's probably super pale, not that it matters. Annabeth wondered how bruised and filthy she looked, but that was her least concern.

Annabeth began walking, but she paused a few minutes later. It's time to see the sun, she thought, but she wasn't particularly excited. She just felt numb. Completely and totally numb. And all alone.

With a deep breath, Annabeth fling herself out, and she gasped, feeling the warmth of the sun rays beaming down on her. It felt so good, compared to Tartarus. But of course it did. Not much of a comparison.

Annabeth glanced around. Everything seemed so normal, as if she didn't feel such misery and suffering only a few hours ago. People were going on about their business - talking, eating, laughing. Normal things. Annabeth wondered if she could ever be normal again. Well, normal for a demigod, that is. She highly doubts it though.

"Oh my, you look awful! Are you okay?" came a voice from a woman, who seemed to be a little over twenty. Her hair was brown, and her eyes were too. She was looking directly at Annabeth with horror. But not at her, it would appear. For her.

Annabeth slowly nodded, gazing at the woman. "Yeah," she says mutely. Her talkative and confident nature had left her long ago. Now, she was merely a meek, timid, shy, and scared little girl. And Annabeth hated feeling so helpless, so useless.

"Are you sure?" the woman questioned. "You look like you've been through literal hell! Are you sure you're okay?"

I have been through hell, Annabeth wanted to say, but she merely nodded. "I'll be fine, Miss. Good bye... I must be going."