She fell against the cold hard ground, her hands scraping the stones as she tried to break her fall, cutting the skin. She grunted meekly, her bare knees grazed, her pyjamas torn. What did she trip over? A branch? A rock? She couldn't see, her hair was covering her eyes, the blonde strands obscuring her view.
The spider crawled over her skin, its delicate frame climbing her arm with natural ease as the young woman watched.
She heard a howl behind her, her head whipping back to scan the trees behind her. She saw nothing but the path she had taken through the forest, broken twigs and bramble littering her path. She couldn't stay here. The witch was coming. She had to get away. She pushed herself back to her bloody feet, her soles cut to ribbons by the sharp terrain. She ignored the pains as she desperately scrambled into the bushes, the leaves and branches whipping her limbs as she forced her way through.
Percy kissed her gently as they sat in the pavilion, the young couple enjoying the solace before the dinner bell rang. She combed his sandy brown hair as he looked into her stormy grey eyes, his own sea green orbs glinting with admiration. "I love you Annabeth" he whispered.
Annabeth screamed as he fell down the embankment, unable to save herself before tumbling down into the ravine, the freezing cold water hitting her like a train. She gasped as the air was knocked out of her, hitting her head on a nearby stone, blacking out almost immediately.
She cowered in the corner of her home, terrified and ashamed at what she had done. How foolish she had been in her hubris, and now she was to be punished. She had to get away, but there was only one way out. One way to escape.
Annabeth sat in her cabin, her favourite book in her hands, approaching her favourite part where the heroine must confront the beast. She turned the page, eager to see what happened next despite knowing the outcome.
"You cannot escape me so easily" the witch declare, her eyes glowing as her hand reached out for her.
Annabeth gasped as she awoke in the ravine, the cold water lapping across her body relentlessly. Her pyjamas were drenched, her t-shirt and bottoms soaking wet as she rolled out of the streams path, coughing up mud and dirt as she heaved in as much air as she could. Where am I? Her brain asked, trying to focus. Where was I going? She couldn't think, closing her eyes as she pressed her palms to her head, trying to remember. The ringing intensified, clouding her focus.
She remembered the pavilion, where she wanted to eat. She was so hungry, she needed to feed. But there was nothing edible on the table. She tried everything, but it all tasted vile. Disgusting. How could she eat such things? Why would they serve this? And yet everyone around her could stomach it, gulfing it down like animals.
She stood up in the crowd, her dress long and regel as she declared herself the greatest weaver in all the lands. "I say to you!" she shouted to the heavens, her voice carrying over the crowd, "that I am more talented than even the gods. Than Athena herself…"
No! No, that's not right. That wasn't me! I never said that! Why..? The ringing came again, and Annabeth screamed. "Stop, please!" she cried, the pain too much to bare.
The spider crawled along her arm, and Annabeth watched it silently, frozen in terror.
She weaved her tapestry with the swift skill she had earned after years and years of practice, confidently revealing its finished piece to the crowds. They all stared in wonder as they gazed upon her majesty while she glared triumphantly at the goddess.
"You will live" the witch proclaimed.
Annabeth's eyes widened, her head spinning around searching for her. She couldn't see, but she was coming. She had to get away. Had to escape. She lunged forward, stumbling up the other side of the ravine on her hands and knees, crawling at the dirt as she scrambled back to her feet, limping back into the forest.
She tore into her food ravenously, her starving mouth swallowing as much as she could. Her teeth ground the crunchy texture to dust as she slurped up the squishy morsels in her hands. She was so hungry.
Annabeth saw the spider out the corner of her eye, freezing instantly as it approached her on its thin, fragile legs, stepping off the chair onto the exposed skin of her arm.
"You can never compare to any of the gods" the old lady warned. "Plead for forgiveness and Athena might spare your soul."
She laughed at the old lady, her voice howling. "I only speak the truth!" she retorted, so full of pride and arrogance. "And if Athena thinks otherwise, than let her come down and challenge me herself."
She shook her head wildly, trying to organise her thoughts. None of this is right. I don't know what is real. Am I even real? Is this a nightmare? She stumbled again, letting out a cry of pain as she heard something snap.
She writhed uncontrollably in her sleep, her body sweating profusely as she tossed and turned. Her mind was racing as images flooded her skull, stirring up so many emotions. She's coming she realised, bolting awake as the witch looked down at her.
There is only one escape. She climbed up onto the stool, pulling her head into the noose hanging from the rafters. She had to hurry, before she could reach her. I've been such a fool. I'm so ashamed at who I've become. She stepped off the stool, the rope tightening around her neck.
Annabeth choked on the brittle soil as she tried to crawl forward, the pain in her leg white hot and intense. She looked down as could see the bone sticking out of her skin, her foot turning a sickening shade of blue. She tried to push herself up, her strength failing her as her grey eyes fell upon the back of her hand.
She examined the red bite mark carefully, contemplating having one of the Apollo campers look at it. She heard him approaching as hid it away. "Hey there" Percy said with a smile, greeting her with a soft peck on the lips. Been looking for you."
"I've been looking for you too" she replied, taking his hand in hers. She gazed into his eyes, wanting nothing more than to gaze into them forever.
She needed to eat. She hadn't found anything edible all day. There must be something? She searched the camp frantically, her stomach growling, begging to be fed. She tripped over a stray rock, falling onto her face, coughing up dirt. She blinked a few times before her eyes picked out the tree stump, her limbs pulling her towards it like a crab, her trembling fingers prying the bark away. Inside was a swarming host of different insects, beetles, worms and slugs, all huddled together? Escaping the cold I bet.
Her stomach growled, and she dug her hands into the stump, pulling out handfuls of grub before lunging forward to starve her hunger.
The crowds marvelled at the two fantastic pieces of art, staring in wonder as they both appeared equally magnificent. But there was only clear winner, and the goddess knew it. "No!" she cried, grabbing the most beautiful display of talent and ripping it to shreds before her very eyes. She watched as her greatest work was destroyed, screaming in horror, her heart full of hate. But then she looked up at the witch, and her body was filled with terror.
"You will forever hang" she declared, the juice of Hecate's herb covering her body.
Annabeth gritted her teeth and pushed forward, dragging her broken leg behind her as she pushed through the bushes, finding a dark cave deep within the forest. I can hide there, she told herself, dragging herself along the ground into the mouth of the cave. She hesitated briefly as she cast a glance over her shoulder, the forest looming over her like tall shadowy spires, surrounding her as they hid the night sky from her.
She ran away in fear for her life, the witch following behind her as she shoved her way past the shocked and bewildered bodies that blocked her path, screeching in terror as she barged through them. Gods help me! Please forgive me!
The spider crawled along her arm.
She collapsed onto the stone floor, deep in the blackness of the cave, heaving in the stifling air as her body ached. Her muscles strained just to hold her weight, her blonde hair stuck to her face as she looked down at her shredded pyjamas, her broken leg, the cuts and bruises on her skin. She has looked better.
Her head snapped up as she felt a presence in the cave. Her stormy grey eyes searched the darkness, her heart beating against her ribcage as she let out a shaking breath. "You won't win" she called out into the darkness, trying to sound more confident than she was. "I won't let you. I can fight this!"
She heard the laughter moments before the door shattered, the imposing figure of the witch stepping across the threshold to find her hanging from the rafters. "You do not get to escape me so easily" the goddess told her, raising her hand towards her dying body. "You will live, and you will hang forever more, as your punishment will be."
Annabeth stared up at the face of a monster as she lay in her bed, her waking nightmare manifesting before her eyes. Her logical brain told her she was still dreaming, but her body believed her to be awake, reacting in terror to the giant arachnid hovering over her. "Daughter of the witch" the old rival of her mother hissed, her drool falling across Annabeth's cheeks. "Athena's whore child. I will have my revenge."
"NO!" Annabeth scream, her body contorting in pain as her muscles constricted. She felt the watchful gaze of her worst fears over her, the source of her greatest horrors seeping inside her. "I WONT GIVE IN! I WILL FIGHT YOU UNTIL...AHH!"
Her scream pierced the silence as the spider bite down on her hand, instinctively swatting it to the floor where she stomped upon it, the delicate frame crushed under her boot. She hyperventilated as she slumped against a wall, cradling her hand as she examined the bite on her skin.
"You cannot stop what is happening" the giant spider hissed, its many eyes reflecting Annabeth's terrified expression. "My envoy's poison already seeps through your veins. My vengeance against your witch mother has already begun, and you will punish the rest of your kin in my name."
Annabeth's nails clawed at the floor as her body contorted, feeling body crack and snap as she flailed around in agony. "Please" she whimpered, unable to hold it together to even pretend to be strong. "Please, let me go." Her pleas went unanswered as her back arched, her body lifting off the floor as she gasped for air, the presence filling her lungs and burning her insides like a fire.
She felt the liquid herbs running down her body, her lifeless form jerking to life as she was wretched back from her blissful peace. She screamed as her body withered in agony, limbs flailing violently as the goddess watched her without emotion.
Annabeth sprung out of her bed as she looked around her cabin, her eyes narrowing at the sight of many slumbering demigods, seeing the veins pumping beneath their smooth, tender skin. "No" she whispered, backing away in horror as she turned and fled the cabin, running through the camp in nothing but her pyjamas into the forest.
She dug her fingers into her hair, her nails digging into the flesh of her skull as she screamed in pain. The memories spun around in her head, not sure which were her own and which were hers, the monster who did this to her. "ARACHNE!" She cried, pleading with the once mortal master weaver for mercy.
"PLEASE. HAVE MERCY!" Arachne cried as she felt her bone contort and body warp, staring in desperation at the goddess. But Athena had no response, and simple turned away to leave her to her punishment.
Annabeth watched her mother leave her, the two set of memories blurring into one as she felt her flesh rip and tear, her back heaving upwards as something forced its way out of her spine, her shirt and skin torn apart as blood showered over her. Arachne had tears in her eyes as she screamed, her hips expanding as her waist shrunk, her arms shaking as Annabeth clawed at the floor, the sound off a thick stalk slamming down next to her making her cry. She felt her legs give way as her shrivelled away, Arachne's body shrinking until she was the size of a pea, growing many more eyes while Annabeth's body exploded in torturous violent spasms, her screams bouncing off the cave walls as she pleaded for the gods to save her.
Through her tears she prayed to her mother, begging for forgiveness.
Athena turned away, and left her to her punishment.
The daughter screamed as Arachne's poisonous curse took hold, her voice echoing into the forest to be lost in the night sky.
"I love you too" she replied, taking Percy's face in her hand as she kissed him back, never wanting to leave this moment.
To be continued...