When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach
So she ran away in her sleep
…
When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach
And the bullets catch in her teeth
…
Life goes on
It gets so heavy
The wheel breaks the butterfly
Every tear, a waterfall
In the night, the stormy night
She closed her eyes
In the night, the stormy night
Away she'd fly.
~Paradise, Coldplay
"You're part of our family now. And I promise I'm not going to fail you like our families did us. Deal?"
"Deal!"
But that was back when a promise meant what it said.
Annabeth didn't think anyone could keep promises anymore.
When she was a little girl she expected what was promised to her.
"Annabeth!" he called. "Help me! Please!"
"What happened?" she asked.
"They left me here," Luke groaned. "Please. It's killing me."
She took the sky.
Luke rolled free, gasping. "Thanks," he managed.
"Help me hold it," Annabeth groaned.
"I knew I could count on you." He began to walk away.
"HELP ME!" She pleaded.
"Oh, don't worry," Luke said. "Your help is on the way. It's all part of the plan. In the meantime, try not to die."
That was the broken promise that he never even tried to keep.
As a child she had never worried about Luke breaking his promise. But she wasn't a child anymore. She knew how the world worked.
She still hoped, still dreamed he wouldn't break his promise, but her dreams never came true. She ran away to her dreams hoping Luke would come back.
All this ran through her head. She knew what to do.
"Your mother," Annabeth grunted. "She saw your fate."
"Service to Kronos!" Kronos roared. "This is my fate."
"No!" Annabeth insisted. "That's not the end, Luke. The prophecy: she saw what you would do. It applies to you!"
"I will crush you, child!" Kronos bellowed.
"You won't," Annabeth said. "You promised. You're holding Kronos back even now."
"LIES!" Kronos pushed again, and this time Annabeth lost her balance. With his free hand, Kronos struck her face, and she slid backward.
Kronos stood over her, his sword raised.
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. She croaked, "Family, Luke. You promised. Promise."
He gasped. "Annabeth."
This was what she had dreamed of. Luke was back.
"You're bleeding."
But at that moment, she didn't care.