CHAPTER 1: ANNABETH
"Some pain shouldn't be washed away so easily. It had to be dealt with, even embraced.
-Rick Riordan
Annabeth was surrounded by giants and monsters alike. As soon as one went down, there seemed to be ten more approaching her. She looked around in desperation. Percy had wandered off in the midst of the battle, with Frank guarding his back. There was no way that the seven could pull off this battle, not without the help of the gods. There was no hope that the rising of Gaia could be prevented. Everyone was wounded, and Annabeth wasn't sure that they could make it out of Athens alive. "Athena!" Annabeth cried in her mind.
"After everything I have done for you: saving the gods, getting the statue, suffering in Tartarus. Was that not enough for you? After all the sacrifices we demigods have made, and yet not a single one of you come to help? "
Annabeth felt her heart drop at the realization that reinforcement would not arrive. But she refused to quit, to hand over her life after battling to survive for so long. Annabeth would continue to fight. Not for Athena, who was never there for her when she was needed. Not for the gods, who had betrayed their children countless times. She would fight for Percy. She would fight for Grover, Piper, and Reyna, who stood by her side. She would fight for the demigods that had given their lives to protect her friends, her family.
The ground shook.
"Little demigod! Not even your mother can save you now."
The giant bent down close to Annabeth and laughed.
"So this is the champion of Athena. This is the one that dares to challenge me? You may have defeated Arachne, but I am very, very different. I am Enceladus, the bane of Athena."
He raised his spear and threw it at the ground near Annabeth's head. She rolled out from under him.
"I see that that blasted camp at least taught you a thing or two. It would be a shame if you were an easy target."
Enceladus sneered at her and picked up his spear. Annabeth's lungs were bursting and her legs were shaking from exertion. She didn't know if she could hold out for much longer. He charged towards her. Annabeth tried to roll away, but Enceladus swept her feet out from under her with a sharp kick to the knee. Enceladus once again raised his spear above her tiring body. She met his thrust with her sword. The strength of the hit numbed her arms and her sword went flying out of her hands. The spear grazed the side of her face. Annabeth crawled back, hands searching desperately for a weapon. The ground shook as he lazily strolled towards her.
"Enceladus! You don't have to do this!"
"Of course I have to do this. Oh, Annabeth Chase. I'll enjoy the pain on your mother's face when she finds you dead."
He pulled the spear from the ground. And aimed again.