Chapter 1
PERCY
Bleary eyed, Percy sat up, feeling as though each and every one of his bones had splintered. He blinked, trying to remember why exactly he was sitting in cold fog.
With a gasp, Percy jumped to his feet, ignoring his limbs protesting at the movement. He remembered everything! Athena's Mark, the fall to Tartarus, and Annabeth, holding his hand as he fell, acting as an anchor holding him to sanity...
Annabeth!
Panicked, Percy glanced around, but could see nothing through the thick mist. It was pressing down on him like a blanket. Feeling for Riptide in his pocket, he breathed a sigh of relief as his fingers closed around the hard metal of his sword, in pen mode. He clicked it to make the pen jump to full, deadly sword size. Feeling a little more secure with his trusty weapon held in front, he stepped cautiously through the fog.
Percy felt fear sink deep into his bones. He had no idea where Annabeth was, and couldn't remember anything of the fall or impact to give him an advantage looking for her. What was more, he didn't know where he was, or long long he'd been there.
If anything had happened to Annabeth, he would never forgive himself. Percy felt guilt numb his fear, but only a little, as he thought about Annabeth's expression as she realised what was happening, the spider silk yanking her into the pit...
Even though Percy knew it wasn't his fault, he couldn't help but feel as though if he had pulled a little harder, he could have gotten both of them to safety. Or if he'd noticed the spidery silk before it could cause any damage.
Oh no...
Spider silk!
Annabeth would have been dragged directly into the clutches of the dreaded Goddess Arachne. Who just happened to hate Annabeth.
"Percy!"
Percy turned quickly, sure he had imagined the shout. But there it was again.
"Percy! Help!"
There was a distant, but clear, sob.
Percy started to run blindly in the direction of the yell, because there was no mistaking that voice - he would know it anywhere.
Annabeth was in trouble.