Before we get started:

DISCLAIMER: I don't own PJO.

*COLLECTIVE GASP*

Me: YES! I ADMIT IT! PJO IS NOT MINE! *wails in agony*

Percy: Drama queen...

I frowned at the words on my page. Reading was not an easy thing to do when you had dyslexia. I hardly ever read mortal books, for this very reason, but this was a particularly good book on modern architecture, written by *INSERT NAME HERE*, who was only the most famous architect ever.

The words swam before my eyes, turning circles and flipping backwards. Giving up, I set it down, leaning back against the cool bark of a tree. Stars shimmered in the night sky, and almost on instinct, I rested my eyes on the Constellation that was Zoe's. I probably shouldn't be out in the woods this time of night, but I couldn't sleep, and I just needed some fresh air to clear my head.

I could have gone to Percy, of course. That's what I usually did. But when I lifted my hand up to knock on his cabin door, the loudest snore that I had ever heard rumbled out from inside. Cracking the door open an inch, I had seen him lying face-down on the bed, his blanket twisted around his legs. With a small smile, I had decided to leave him alone. He deserved a rest, after all. Gaea and the giants had finally been defeated(mostly thanks to Percy) and for once, we had peace stretching before us, no Great Prophecies to worry us.

I let out a small yawn, then decided it was time to head back in. Something growled in the darkness behind me, and I quickly grabbed my jacket and hurried away from it.

I was almost to the edge of the woods when I realized something was wrong.

Lights flickered ahead of me, red and orange and yellow. It was suddenly hot. Smoke buffeted my nostrils. Somebody screamed.

I broke through the edge of the trees.

The cabins were on fire.

The flames danced up into the sky, crackling and hissing as they burnt. People were screaming and streaming out of their cabins, looking around in disbelief. There were names being shouted and the Aphrodite girls were crying. Leo was standing near the campfire, his hair messy, still in his pajamas, trying to control the flames.

I knew it was selfish, but my heart lurched. Percy. Where was Percy? A quick glance told me that the Poseidon cabin was also on fire. Was that possible? Could water burn?

I took a step forwards, and my foot banged into something. I bent down. It was an empty can of gasoline. Of course. This hadn't been an accident. The cabins of the Gods don't just set fire to themselves.

I picked it up, weighing it in my hands. It was a large can. Perfect for carrying water. I had to do something to help.

I sprinted in the direction of the beach, swinging the gasoline can in my hand. I would do what I could to help put out the flames. The beach was eerily quiet compared to the scene down by the cabins. I was about to bend down and scoop up some water when I heard a cheer.

I turned around. There! Percy!

He was standing at the edge of the cabins, his hair tousled and his face covered with a thin layer of soot. His eyes burned with determination, and his hands were raised above his head. For a moment, I was confused, but then I saw it. A huge blob of water from the lake, floating up in the air.

Percy dropped his hands. Briefly, the blob of water hung in the air, suspended, and then it came crashing down. Water seemed to be everywhere, and the flames went out with a dramatic hiss. All was quiet.

"Yeah! Percy!" Jason went up to him and pounded Percy on the back. "Way to go!"

The Greeks cheered, and the Romans hesitated for a second, but then cheered as well. This camp might not be theirs, but it was also their home. The Greeks and the Romans pretty much shared our camps now, going back and forth between them.

"Annabeth?"

I blinked. I had been so busy watching the scene down by the cabins that I had forgotten what I was doing. Malcom was standing behind me, his eyes wide.

"Annabeth, why?" His voice was horrified.

"What?"

"Why?" He choked out.

"Why what?" I snapped, irritated.

"Why did you do it?"

I was about to open my mouth and demand to know what was going on when it dawned on me. I was standing down by the beach. Holding an empty can of gasoline. Looking like I was about to run away.

"Malcom," I almost laughed. "It's okay. Trust me, it's not what it looks like."

And then a box of matches fell out of my jacket.

"Annabeth Chase, did you, or did you not set fire to the cabins?"

I was seated at the ping-pong table. No. Wrong. I was tied to my damn seat. On 'trial.' The head councilors and the seven, minus Percy, all watched me warily. Chiron and Mr. D sat at the head of the table. Percy hadn't even been told about the fact that I was possibly the one who had burnt down the camp. He was probably off by the lake, wondering where everybody was.

"Like I said before, no, I did not." I replied tersely.

"Then what were you doing down by the beach?" Piper asked. I could see that she was desperately hoping that I would not be found guilty. She reached up a hand, brushing the golden ichor off the small burn on her forehead.

Yeah. You heard me. Golden ichor. The seven had been given immortality, the ultimate gift, after we defeated Gaea. Nico had been given it too. After all, he was just a much part of the quest as the rest of us. Also, if Nico didn't get immortality, Hades had threatened to throw one of his 'tantrums' and possibly cause another Depression.

"I told you, I picked up the can of gasoline and I wanted to get some water, to help put out the flames."

"Why didn't you go down to the lake?" Mr. D's voice was accusatory.

I threw up my hands. "I don't know! I guess I just felt like the beach."

"What about this, Annabeth?" Chiron gestured to the box of matches that sat on the table. Chiron's voice was gentle, and slightly sad, like he couldn't believe this was happening.

"I don't know. Really. I don't know how it got in my jacket. Maybe somebody put it there when I was reading."

"Sure they did, Annibelle." Mr. D harrumphed. "Personally I don't really care much about this Camp Watchmacallit, but I still say Annibelle is guilty."

"I don't think Annabeth would ever do this to us," Nico said, his voice quiet.

"Nico-" Jason began.

"Listen!" I cut him off. "I don't care what you guys think happened, but honestly, I didn't do any of it! It hurts me that you have so little trust in me. I've been here for years and years, been with you through the Titan War and the Giant War, and you still accuse me of being a traitor? If I wanted to betray Camp Half-blood, then I could have joined Kronos years ago!"

"But the evidence-" Mr. D protested.

"I don't care about your Gods damn evidence!" I was nearly screaming. "I swear on the River Styx that I didn't do it!"

The whole room went dead silent. Thunder rumbled in the distance. Then it stopped. I was about to sit back down smugly, but then the ground started shaking. I had to grab on to the ping-pong table to keep from falling.

"Annabeth?" Nico's eyes were wide.

"Annabeth! What did you do?!" Chiron's usual calm was gone.

"I didn't do-"

Just then, the most horrible screech pierced my eardrums. The window of the Big House flew open with a bang. A giant, black shape barreled in, smashing straight into me. I wrestled with it for a moment, then managed to pry it off my chest.

It was an owl. Its feathers were dark as midnight, and it had deep, stormy gray eyes. Its beak gleamed silver, and when it opened its mouth, its tongue was bloodred.

"Annabeth Chase," It hissed. "You are guilty."

"Guilty?" I screamed at it. "What's wrong with you?!"

"Guilty...guilty...guilty..." Its voice faded away, and it vanished in a puff of black smoke. The ground stopped shaking.

Chiron got up slowly, on shaky legs. "Annabeth..." his voice was pained. "You did it. You burnt down the cabins."

Well. This sucks.

Angus, the multi-eyed blue security man, in case anyone needs a refresher, walked me to the edge of the border. Yes, I say walked, because I refused to be carried or pushed in any way.

After much debate, they had settled on exile for me. Mr. D suggested execution, but everyone agreed that it was too harsh. I might be immortal, but it was the limited, hunter kind, since Zeus refused to offer us full immortality again, after Percy had turned it down last time.

Festus raised his head curiously when I walked up beside him. He snorted happily when I patted his head.

"Goodbye, old pal."

Taking a deep breath, I turned to the border.

"Annabeth!"

I whirled around. It was Percy. My heart gave a painful squeeze. I hadn't anticipated on saying goodbye. Goodbyes made everything so much harder. Standing there, staring into Percy's sea-green eyes, I wanted to run into his arms and never let go.

Percy's eyes were wild, and he looked slightly hysterical. His face was still sooty, and he was running towards me.

Then, suddenly, Clarisse and Frank were there, restraining him.

"Let go of me!" He screamed. "Let go! She didn't do anything wrong! Annabeth!"

Now I knew why he hadn't been at my 'trial.'

"Hurry, Angus." Clarisse ordered. Her voice was tinged with sadness. I hadn't thought Clarisse even felt sadness. "We can't hold him forever."

True to their word, a giant wave was already building up in the ocean. Any second now, it would rush up and sweep Clarisse and Frank off their feet.

Angus gave me a shove.

"I can walk," I snapped.

I know what you're thinking. Annabeth Chase is just going to walk away, she's just going to leave without a fight?

The answer is yes. Yes, I am. Why?

Because the people here didn't want me anymore. After all that I'd done for them, everything I'd given up, they still didn't trust me enough to know that I would never betray them. They were the ones who had betrayed me.

I wouldn't stick around where nobody wanted me, where nobody trusted me.

I was going to leave, because my Fatal Flaw was pride. Whoever had set me up, whoever had framed me, they knew this. They knew that if everyone turned on me, I'd leave. Because I had too much pride to do otherwise.

"Annabeth! No!" Percy cried. "You're innocent! I know you are!"

I turned back, to look at Percy one last time. "I'm sorry, Seaweed Brain. I really am." Tears welled up in my eyes. "I love you."

And with that, I walked away, leaving behind everything and everyone that I had ever known.

Awe /3... poor Percy...

I feel like a horrible person for doing this to him. And Annabeth.

Oh, well. At least they'll meet again...in a few decades.

REVIEW!

~BurningAngel