Annabeth's P.O.V

Chapter one

" I'll never let you go!" Percy cried as he let his grip loosen, and their friends pale, terrified faces vanished as they began tumbling into eternal darkness. Or at least that's how it seemed for Annabeth. Scratches covered her face, arms, and legs. The falling was making it hard to keep a grip on anything; even her boyfriend's solid, reassuring hand was slipping. Maybe this is what the Fields of Punishment feels like. Annabeth wondered in a fragment of her dazed mind. Falling, falling, falling. Trying to escape, trying to struggle. But it only seemed like the Pit laughed back at her. Only two things were clear: She was falling. And no matter how hard she struggled, she would keep falling. Was there even a point? Why not let Gaea win? Why. Not. But Annabeth knew she couldn't be that selfish. She held on tight to Percy's hand, and let herself be dragged into the depths of Tartarus.

Leo's P.O.V

Stupid. That's what Leo was. A stupid, selfish jerk who couldn't even keep his friends safe. If they died, It would be his fault. What would his friends think of him? He would be a murderer. He would have to live the rest of his life in the guilt that led to his friends death. No. Leo knew he was thinking ahead of himself. His friends didn't think it was his fault. Even Hazel, who had been with him the day Nemesis... he tried to put the thought out of his mind. Leo was just overreacting. His friends would come out fine, and he would not be a murderer. Besides, he had other things to worry about. And right now that was fixing the ship's engine. They had discovered that the engine was broken when the Argo ll had started slowing down, and eventually stopped moving. Leo had dropped his screwdriver and bent to pick it up, when he heard a familiar voice call his name. " Leo." Hazel was standing in the doorway.

" Beauty Queen."

" Yeah. Don't call me that."

" No promises." Leo grinned. The truth was, he didn't know how he felt about Hazel. She was a nice, sweet girl, and he had a tendency to fall for those type. But on the other hand, they had shared some history together through one of Hazels so-called "Blackouts" and after that he wasn't really sure how to be around her.

Hazel rolled her eyes. " Just came in to say dinner was about ready."

" Alright. Be down when the engine's fixed. Which won't take long."

" Well, hurry up, because you know how Coach Hedge gets when someone's late." Coach Hedge was a war- crazed satyr who Chiron insisted that we bring him along on this trip. Leo would never admit this, but sometimes he was glad for the old goats company. Leo screwed the last bolt in on the engine, took a good look at it, and headed upstairs, hoping this would not be the last time he'd felt like he accomplished something.

End of Chapter One. What do ya'll think? :) ~ Madeline