Percy's POV

Chapter 1 Remember

The bed was comfortable. Memories of her flooded into my head as I gazed upon Annabeth's sheets. There were pictures of owls on her quilt. Typical for a daughter of Athena I thought. I was trying to laugh but tears just streamed down my face. I have to tell you I'm not the one who cries at sad movies. But Annabeth was dead. This time it was real. She wasn't coming back. I couldn't change the past.

I sat down and tried to calm myself but nothing helped. I just wanted to forget everything I had done. I wanted a new life. I wanted to start over. But I couldn't.

I stood up and exited the cabin. As I strolled miserably across the field I remembered all that we had been through together. It wasn't fair. Were the gods punishing me for something? I continued on my way and soon saw Chiron.

"How are you feeling?" Chiron asked. I tried to answer but my throat was all choked up. After some moments of exercising my voice, I was able to talk.

"I-I-I'm fine." I managed.

"Don't kid yourself. I know how you feel." He said.

"Then why did you ask?" I was getting angry.

"To see if you were in denial."He said. I have to admit: the guy was being pretty straightforward and truthful with me. It was like he didn't want to waste time blabbering. Maybe he realized that I didn't really want to talk.

"I'll leave you with your thoughts."He said.

It was only after he left that I realized I needed somebody. Somebody to pour my heart out to. Someone who would understand how I felt. Usually I could speak with Annabeth at times like these. Thinking of her now was not a good idea. Instead of being sad I was getting angry. I was getting angry at myself. For killing her.

I stomped down to the lake, fuming. I gazed upon the water for a moment then I jumped in. The water was nice and soothing against my back. It gave me energy. I tried not to think about Annabeth. I tried not to think about anything. I just wanted to drift away on the current.

Soon some water nymphs gathered around me attempting to get the story of Annabeth's death out of me. All I could feel was guilt. I tried to think it was an accident (because it was). I tried to recall how it had happened:

We were standing on the battlefield side by side. I was battling a hellhound and she was battling an empousa. Once I had defeated the dog I scrambled to help Annabeth. But everything blurred as I was hit in the head. I don't know who hit me. I just remember stabbing at what I thought was an empousa. But it wasn't. I had stabbed Annabeth. I had hit her right in the heart.

As soon as my vision came back, the first thing I saw was her mangled body lying on the ground. I rushed to her but it was too late. The jab was fatal. It seemed as though my whole world had just collapsed. Not only was Annabeth dead, but I was the one who killed her.

Suddenly I forgot that we were at war. All that mattered to me was my Annabeth. I reached out to her and stroked her hair. "I'll always be with you." I whispered into her ear, "Forever."

Tears streamed down my cheeks and I lifted her up. Sobbing, I brought her to a tent. I layed her down softly on a bed and wept over her.

I can't recall how long I sat there and wept but it never changed a thing. Annabeth was never brought back to life. If I could have gone back in time I would have killed myself. Then I realized that I didn't have to go back in time to kill myself. I could do it right now. I uncapped riptide and set it at my throat. This is what I deserve I thought. Besides I could never live with myself if I didn't die right now.

I was about to slash when Chiron walked in. "What do you think you're doing!"