-=Annabeth POV=-
I can't believe it. I'm such an idiot! I should never have let him go. Now, he's probably dead because of me. I shake my head. At a time like this, I can't afford to think that way.
Grover and Tyson walk beside me, with heads hung just like mine. We reach the pine tree and cross the camp's border. As we walk toward the big house, people start to notice we've returned.
Clarisse walks up to us. "That was some explosion! What'd you guys DO?!" I shrug, not speaking. "Hey, Annabeth, where's … oh. Oh gods, I did not think something like this would happen. I'm SO sorry."
We get too the Big House, and Chiron is on the porch. It only took him a minute to figure it out. He saw our expressions, and saw who wasn't there. He obviously remembers the explosion.
"Annabeth," Chiron says, "Tell me the whole story. What happened?"
I can only think one thing.
Percy.
Gone.
