Victory And Loss {Chapter One}
Annabeth's POV
(Flashback)
I stood in the smoky ruins of the battlefield. "We-we did it." I whispered. The full realization of what we accomplished hit me. "Whoooo Hooo!" I shouted. A couple of Demi-Gods looked my way. The cheering spread. "Yeah! We did it! I can't believe it!" People shouted, rejoicing. I start to run around, looking for the rest of the 7. I find them standing in a group, talking in hushed voiced. I run over and yell "Guys! We did-" I falter as I notice a person missing from the group. Seaweed Brain. "W-where's Percy?" I ask. No one responds. "T-this isn't funny! Where is he!?" I cry, tears welling in my eyes. Frank steps forward, opening his mouth to speak. I cut him off. "Is he... D-dead?" I whisper. Nico answers, "No, I can feel his life force. He's still alive. He's just... Missing." He says carefully. I start to sob. "Where are you Seaweed Brain?"
(End Flashback.)
That was 3 months ago. Percy is still missing, he seems to have disappeared off of the face of the Earth. "Annabeth!" Piper calls out, snapping me out of my thoughts. "What?" I ask. "Hazel asked you a question." Jason responds. I feel my face grow red. "Sorry, can you repeat the question?" I ask. Hazel nods. "The newest search party came back. I need to know if you want to hear the report." I nod, "Continue." Hazel takes a deep breath. "They've found nothing. I'm so sorry." She says, turning her gaze to the floor. "It's okay. Meeting adjourned." I call out, racing through the doors at first chance. "Stay strong Annabeth." I think to myself, "Percy would want you to stay strong." I wipe away a few tears. "I'm coming for you Seaweed Brain." I whisper as I head to dinner.
? POV
Pain. So much pain. I don't know how long I've been in this place, this place where all I ever feel is pain. Every kind of pain, unimaginable pain. I grit my teeth to keep from screaming. I have to stay strong. I have to stay strong for my Wise Girl.
Annabeth's POV
I couldn't sleep. Not while Percy was missing, not while I could be finding him. I sat up in bed and prayed to the Gods. "Please help us find Percy. Help us find him and bring him home." I prayed. I got up and opened the door to my cabin. As silently as possible, I closed the door and walked to my favorite spot to think. Thalia's tree. When I got there, I was surprised to see Piper already nestled in the crook of the trunk. "Hey." I said as I sat down next to her. "Hey." She sighed. "What are you doing here?" I asked, a little confused. "Oh, I couldn't sleep. I have this feeling that something big is going to happen tonight, and that I should be here. Ever since the war, every time I look in Katoptris I see this tree in the dark." Piper said. I thought for a moment. "You think that it'll happen tonight? Whatever's going to happen?" I asked. Piper shrugged. "I guess." I nodded and leaned against the trunk. The Stars were beautiful, and they made me a little sad. I knew Percy was out there somewhere, hopefully in a good place. I felt tired, and just as I was about to close my eyes, I felt Piper tense. "What is it?" I asked, standing up, reaching for my dagger. "Can you hear that?" She whispered. I listened. Barking. Lots of it. Piper and I drew our weapons. I took out a flashlight. Piper gave me a weird look. "What? Never know when it might be useful." I said. Piper rolled her eyes. Nothing happened until I saw a bronze gleam in the beam of the flashlight. "Is that what I think it is?" She whispered. I heard the sound of whining, and golden dust exploded into the air. "Monsters! Hell Hounds!" I shouted. I heard yelling, and a figure came into view. It was a boy, and he was fighting off 3 Hell Hounds. I was prepared to go and help, but the boy killed them all in a matter of seconds. There was a sound of heavy breathing, and the figure collapsed. Piper and I took off, running towards the boy. "We have to get him inside the border!" I yell. Piper nods. When we get closer, I feel my heart stop. The boy was grasping an all to familiar sword. Riptide. "Percy!" I yelled.
Piper's POV
"Percy!" Annabeth yelled. My breath caught in my chest as I realized she was right. I recognized that messy raven black hair anywhere. I heard Annabeth gasp as she took in the condition of Percy. It wasn't pretty. Percy had cuts everywhere on his arms, and bruises littered the skin in-between. Blood was coated on top of the injuries, and his left arm was bent at a strange angle. He looked like he'd been through Hell and back. "I guess he has." I thought to myself. "Let's get him to Will!" I told Annabeth as more barking was heard. She nodded her head and carefully grabbed Percy's good arm. I grabbed his waist and together we pulled him off the ground. He was surprisingly light. To light. "He's so skinny." Annabeth said, her voice quivering. I realized she was right. I could feel all of Percy's bones. We quickly made it to Thalia's tree, and we passed into the border. I gave a sigh of relief. We made our way to the Big House, and into the Hospital. Will was asleep in a chair. "W-Will!" Annabeth said. Will stirred only to fall back to sleep. "WILL!" I yelled. Will started, and jumped out of the chair. "What is it! What-" he stopped as his eyes fell on Percy. "Oh my God." He said. "P-put him on the bed." He said as he rushed over to us. After observing his breathing and his bones and vitals, he told us that it would be a while to determine all of his injuries. "Which seems to be a lot." He said under his breath. "Come on Annabeth. Let's wake the others." I said.
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