The House of Hades

Chapter I: Annabeth

Annabeth's POV

I heard the air whistle past my ears, I felt Percy still holding my hand. He pulled me closer to him, "At least we are together," he said, giving me a small smile. I wanted to reply but all that came out was a scream, from above rocks or should I say boulders began to fall on top of us. Percy looked up and is eyes widened. He wrapped himself around me trying to protect me from the debris. "Percy stop! Don't take the brunt of it, I can take some too!" He shook his head furiously, ignoring what I said. I tried to shove him off of me but it was useless.

I felt a tug on my ankle, I look down to see that a cobweb was spun around it. "Stupid Arachne," I mumbled.

"What you say?" Percy yelled above the wind. I had no response, I just stared at the ground finally coming into view. The ground was even darker than the pitch black we were in now. I could easily see it far below, glinting in the darkness maliciously.

"Percy?!" I yelled.

"Yeah!"

"The ground, I can see it," Instantly I felt Percy shift his weight, he slid below me." No!" I screamed, "Don't do it Percy," But there was no stopping him, all I could do was close my eyes anticipating the impact. I tried to move, but his gripped held me firm, I couldn't move away from his embrace. The ground approached, quickly, faster than you could ever imagine.

That's when we hit. I landed on top of Percy, which cushioned part of my fall. But, I bounced off of him and landed about 2ft. away from him, my whole body ached from the impact. It was the largest cacophony of sounds I have ever heard. There was the crash of boulders breaking apart. Car horns were blaring as three cars crashed and burned, literally. Then, there was the sound of Percy hitting the ground. There was a large crash as his body hit, next was the crack of his head slamming against the obsidian rock.

"Percy!" I was glad to say that he looked up at me, but he was dazed. I guess when he hit the ground it through him for a loop, because he giggled like a little girl and gave me a sleepy smile.

"Hey Annie, where are we?" he then fell back and passed out. I tried to move towards him, but my ankle hurt felt like it had turned to lava. I slowly crawled toward him, despite my pain. When I reached him, I felt my good ankle get tugged slightly, I knew it was Arachne. I quickly searched Percy's pocket, and found Riptide, I uncapped the pen and cut the cobweb from my ankle. I sighed in relief, knowing that I was now free.

I then heard a moan and my attention snapped back to Percy. If I could use one word to describe him it would be: disastrous. He right arm was bent at an awkward angle and seemed to be dislocated from his shoulder. His eyes were closed, and his face pale in the dim glow that Riptide gave off . I immediately picked up his head to see if there was any damage, I saw no blood on him until I put my hand behind his head. It felt moist and warm, and when I pulled away my hand was stained red from his blood.

I lifted his head higher and sure enough there was a huge gash in the back of his head. I began to sob into his hair, until I heard a scuttling approaching us. I whip my head around and surveyed the area. I see nothing but instinctively I grab for my dagger, which is not there. I curse under my breath, why did I have to lose it. So instead I grab Riptide and kneel, I am out of Ambrosia so my ankle feels like it is made of molten lead. Soon a figure appears in the distance, just a tiny speck in the horizon. But why does it sound so close.

I heard Percy groan and I returned to his side. His eyes begin to flutter, but soon they close again. He shifts in his sleep and groans in agony. His back is a mass if blood. I could no longer see his orange Camp Half-Blood shirt. His back seemed to be unaligned, and had a unnatural curve to it. I heard a voice inside my head. Such a shame that such a pretty face will perish this way. My face burned with rage. "Gaea!" I yelled at the sky, "Why, do you make him suffer?!"

Because it is fun child, plus he will be one of my offerings, sadly I would prefer a offering in better condition. I could possibly use the Grace boy and Piper. But you two are easier prey, for my servants. I hope Percy, gets better his blood will be most appetizing. I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry. I was filled with about twenty different emotions, and I did not know which one to release. The figure in the distance was closer about twenty feet away. I could now make it out clearly, it was Arachne. I could see her barbed legs and large glistening black abdomen.

I felt fear begin to grow in the pit of my stomach. But that's when I remembered she is the one that pull me down here, and is the reason why Percy was hurt. "Arachne!" I screamed. I heard her hiss in delight, knowing that she has found me.

"Arrogant, child of Athena. Why do you scream at me when you know I will kill you?" Her voice sounded a lot closer, but I heard of people that can "throw" their voices so I ignored it, and gripped Riptide and used it as a crutch as I began to stand. I heard Percy groan from behind me, but I did not check on him. There was something more important, to deal with.

"Annabeth?" I heard Percy say, "What happened?" I heard him try to move, but he screamed in pain. I charged or should I say hobbled towards Arachne, when I got closer I slashed down with Percy's sword. But, Riptide went right through her as if she was not there. Arachne did not attack back she just stood there her black eyes staring blankly at me. I wiped my hand at her face, and there was no reaction, she just stood there.

That's when I realized that she wasn't real she was just a trick of the mist. I turned around and hobbled back to Percy. I am glad to say that he was awake. "Percy," I whispered.

"Yeah," he giggled, his voice sounded dreamy.

"I'm going to ask you a few questions Percy, I think you have a concussion," he just shrugged.

"What's your name?"

It took him a minute to answer, "P-Percy John...sorry um Jackson, yeah Percy Jackson,"

"How many fingers am I holding up?" I held up one finger.

He then responded, "Three," I put down my fingers, and just when I was going to ask another question, a voice from above me said,"Injured prey, my favorite." I looked up to see Arachne hovering above me. I leaned over Percy trying to protect him.

"Oh come on, child why do you protect him. You know you can't protect him from me." I felt my self being dragged from Percy's body.

"No!" I screamed trying to claw my way back to Percy's defenseless body, but it was useless I could do nothing but watch.

"Oh my my if it isn't the great Percy Jackson, and your injured. That just won't do, I need to fix you up for Gaea." I struggled against my bonds, I took Riptide and slashed at my legs. Soon I was free. It is amazing what adrenaline will do to you, because I was able to sprint over to Percy without a single compliant from my ankle.

I would wish to say that I made it in time, and was able to save Percy, but that would be a lie. I was about two feet away, when Arachne bent down and bit Percy. He whimpered and cried out in pain, but soon he passed out. I ran towards Arachne my vision red with rage, I slashed at her but she didn't seem to notice. She lifted Percy up and placed him across her abdomen and slapped me away with one of her legs. I fell and temporarily blacked out and when I awoke, Arachne and Percy were gone.

I sobbed for what felt like forever, but I then realized that Percy needed help so, I slowly stood supporting myself on Riptide, and hobbled deeper into Tarturus, ready to fight anything in my way. If it meant I would be closer to finding Percy.