Annabeth couldn't believe what had just happened. She closed her eyes, wishing the nightmare would just end. As she and Percy fell into the dark abyss she could only register one thought, would this be the end? It couldn't be, right? After all they had been through, it couldn't just end like this. Then, she felt Percy's fingers slip in between hers, and all that melted away. She knew as long as Percy was with her, everything would be fine. That's when they hit solid ground, with two loud thumps. Annabeth expected thousands of monsters to surround them and haul them off to Gaea, but there were no monsters, only endless darkness. The feeling of Percy's strong, firm and holding hers, was the only thing keeping her from bursting into tears.
As time passed Percy and Annabth walked aimlessly around, not knowing, where they were headed, what they were going to face, or how much time had passed. Annabeth hated not knowing what as ahead, she guessed it was a child of Athena thing, but lately she was beginning to think it was pure fear. Fear of the unknown, and fear of what was to come i their near future. The only thing that kept them both sane, were each others soothing words, and promises of finding the Doors of Death and getting back to their friends, family, and Camp Half-Blood.
Percy didn't know what to do, he knew he had to stay strong for Annabeth, but he was weakening. He was losing hope of ever seeing daylight again. He knew he had to try though, he had to try for his friends, his mom, Camp Half-Blood, the whole world, and most importantly he had to try for Annabeth. If anything was going to make him fight til the very end, it was her. No one, was going to hurt his Annabeth, he didn't care if that meant giving himself over to Gaea, he would do whatever was necessary to keep her safe.