I had walked quickly and had tried to merge with the crowd. Soon I was in front of a clean, normal looking house. The neighborhood and the house itself were so normal looking and cheerful. Monsters and Greek gods…. For a moment, those just seemed like stories.
A hollow laugh came out despite my efforts. I had been thinking how my choice would change all that. How I could change the world. But, after hearing what I had to do, I was scared, wanted to back out of it. I missed the old days. I didn't simply miss it. I wanted to go back to those days, so much that it hurt.
I rang the doorbell hoping that she should answer the door. Not her father, not her stepmother, nor her step brothers.
To my relief it was her that opened door. It was Annabeth Chase, with her blond hair and startling grey eyes, and she looked beautiful as ever.
Her face changed from one of confusion to a mixture of fury, pain, and shock when she saw me.
"What are you doing here?" she whispered, her grey eyes scanned me as to find out my motives.
"Look, Annabeth. I'm here alone without any member of my-Kronos's troops. I'm here under a flag of truce. I just need five minutes to talk, Annabeth."
She looked doubtful but she gestured me to follow her. I followed her into the backyard. The feeling of secrecy was thrilling, a painful reminder of my better days with her.
"Alright, what is it?" She had asked crossing her arms in front of her chest, her chin slightly jutted out in that expression I had missed so much.
"Annabeth, Kronos is planning to use me to topple the gods and take over the world."
Annabeth responded harshly. "So what? Isn't that what you had planned, Luke Castellan? Isn't that what you had wanted?"
I ran a hand through my hair. I was getting impatient.
"Annabeth, he will be using me like a stepping stone. I-I don't want that. I am starting to have second thoughts." I felt my voice shake. Annabeth was simply looking at me. Was it genuine concern that I saw in the depths of her stormy eyes? Or was it simply mere pity at what I had become? I continued.
"I want to run away. I don't want to do this anymore. Annabeth, come with me. We can run away together again. It will be like it was seven years ago. You and I will be together. No Kronos, no prophecies, nothing. Please?"
Annabeth looked as if she was contemplating between the choices. She got a faraway look as if she was thinking about those days as well. She turned to me with a sad look and shook her head.
"Why? Annabeth, please. Why not? Please, Annabeth, help me."
"I can't. How do I know if this isn't a trick? Besides, I would have to leave camp…. My friends….Percy…."
I felt a stab of pain and a pang of jealousy.
"Annabeth, why can't you understand? I'm trying to stop while I can!" I could feel my anger rising. She cared more for a camp, for Percy Jackson than me.
"Luke…."
"Damn it, Annabeth! I'm asking for your help! I don't want to have to fight you!" My voice was becoming shaky again. "I don't want to hurt you! I'm afraid that I will hurt you without knowing. I'm afraid I'll be too ruthless to ever remember what you were to me!"
In one swift stroke, I drew out Backbiter and pointed it at her.
Annabeth's eyes widened and froze. She tightened her grip on the knife I had given to her.
"You might as well as fight me here then. This is the last chance you'll get. I might not be myself next time I meet you."
She just looked at me with sad eyes filled with pain. I didn't like that face. I didn't like the fact that I had caused that pain.
"You won't be changing your mind then?" I asked softly.
"Luke, I'm- I'm sorry." Annabeth looked away. I lowered Backbiter. I turned away and jumped over her fence. Her grey eyes were branded into my mind as my last memory of her before I gave myself up to Kronos.