It was a cold night. Annabeth had just gotten out of work from the Parthenon. A blast of cold air whipped around her face in a flurry of honey blonde. She shivered; it's been two months already, she should have heard back by now.

It happened in late December, the incident. No one knew really what to call it, so secretly, Annabeth just named it the incident. Occasionally she would wake up in the night screaming for her husband, knowing there wouldn't be a reply. Her mother-in-law, which she often referred to as her mom, came to check on her every few days, but she, of course, lied telling her she was fine. Once upon a time, Annabeth and Mrs. Jackson told each other everything. It sickened Annabeth to lie, but she knew Percy's mom was too sensitive to hold the real truth of what happened. She was a strong woman, but after losing Percy so many times it wasn't fair to give her false hope.

The story was that Percy, Annabeth's husband, drowned in a car accident after slipping off the bridge into the San Francisco bay. It checked out with the police, the "car" was found, but Annabeth knew it wasn't Really his car, they just say it is to cover up the truth. Annabeth, Sally and the other beings of the mythological world knew very well that Percy couldn't have drowned. They knew in reality, Percy was out there, Annabeth knew it, he had to be out there. Somewhere in the world, just waiting to be set free.

November 24, 2012 (A few years before the Incident)

Every so often Athena's kids got together once a year. Thanksgiving. In the "Athena" family Thanksgiving was the biggest holiday of the year. It was a time for thanks, and for giving, hence the name. Percy didn't have much family, but Annabeth on the other hand, had a huge extended family. With 7 "brothers" and 5 "sisters", family get-togethers were arduous work. It was a busy time of the year, and as usual, Annabeth and her husband end up being the host. They had the "biggest house" and "best cook" (little did they know it was all bought). Annabeth was slammed at work that morning and left it to Seaweed Brain to do the cleaning. It was around 5 o'clock when she left the building, racing home before the guests arrived. On the way home Annabeth saw the flicker of an Iris Message by her car. The road was quiet since everyone was inside for the holidays, so she pulled over to the side, reached for the door to get closer to the IM. Glancing at the misty portal, she realized it was no one she knew. A large burly dog like man with glowing red eyes and a large broad sword on his back glared menacingly at her. And that was the last thing she saw.

Lights, glowing lights, dazzled her eyes, they twinkled across the sky, shifting and moving with the beat of her heart. Annabeth, they said. The voices, they called to her, she couldn't hear though, the pain clouded her mind. She knew they were trying to tell her something, she knew, but she couldn't understand. Annabeth walked and talked, so she knew she was alive. Or maybe she wasn't, and this was Elysium, but either way, it wasn't home. She was missing something, something important. There was something at home for her, she couldn't exactly figure out what. In fact, she couldn't even concentrate on figuring out what. Everything in this world was so new and extraordinary to her. The animals, transparent, yet highlighted with bright hues of color. The people in this world were different too. Not just how they looked, with their uniform hair, and their long gowns, but they were happy. Annabeth's whole life had revolved around hurt, pain, and loss. She had grown up thinking her mother had abandoned her, while her father married a horrible woman with two sons of her own. Annabeth was left out of the loop and ended up running away when she was seven. She grew up in camp, training and learning until she was twelve. That's when she met…met…who was it that she met? Annabeth scrunched her face up in confusion; this wasn't like her, Annabeth was used to always knowing things. A person flitted past her, ghosting around like a phantom. Seeing these people, if they were people, made her realize the strangeness of the place she was. No one was ever that happy, not on Earth, where so many dreams are crushed every day. The buildings towered high above the clouds. The water flickered and sprayed. Her arms glowed sometimes, they glowed green and blue, sometimes purple or pink. It was beautifully unexplainable.

Annabeth closed her eyes taking in the smell of cherry blossoms. Annabeth, she hears again. Annabeth, wake up baby, wake up. Please? Surprised that she heard more than her name, she jumps up, only to be pushed back down. Wow there missy, slow down. You're not ready to get up yet. It was a different voice, one she didn't quite recognize. Concentrating, Annabeth fluttered her eyes open. A blinding light awakened her from her dizzying state. The sounds of machines echoed in the background. All she could see was light, until everything focused on one face standing above her. "Percy," she breathed.

His unruly black hair swept into his mesmerizing eyes, that deep shade of sea-green that she loved. His eyes glowed with the power of the stars, as if hidden behind them, were worlds unknown to human kind. His muscular hands cupped her cheek as she took in his comforting warmth."Hey Wise Girl, I missed you; I was so scared I lost you. But you're here now, you're here," finishing with a kiss to her forehead and a smile. Percy pressed his foreheads against hers, sighing happily.

"Eh-hem."

Annabeth looked over Percy's head to see the doctor. Tall and blonde, his blue eyes twinkled with grief and pain. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. Eying him carefully she looked over at Percy, "Seaweed Brain? Do you think you can wait outside? I need to talk to the doctor for a second."

"Okay hun," he replied, "I'll wait."

As Percy stepped out of the room Annabeth scoured the doctor with her eyes. "What's wrong?"

Surprised the doctor flinched, then, with a questioning look asked, "Nothing, why?"

"Don't lie to me. Something is wrong."

The doctor's eyes widened slightly and he opened his mouth before closing it again. "There's something wrong...but not with you, Annabeth."

Annabeth squinted, her head hurt. Something was making noise. Concentrating she closed her eyes, and listened. Mrs. Solace...Mrs. Solace is hurt..., it said.

"It's your wife isn't it? Mrs. Solace, she's hurt."

"Wha... how'd you know?" squeaked Will. His eyes rounded like owls.

Blinding colors flashed and receded across the room. A bright red motorcycle speeding down the road, running a red light. A small blue civic swerving out of control to avoid the collision. Blood, metal, sirens. Everything wavered in and out of the hospital room. Annabeth closed her eyes, disorientated by the multiple visions. A scream resounded throughout her mind, as if it were her brain doing the screaming. Mrs. Solace's body glowed in the vision. How Annabeth knew it was her exactly was beyond her comprehension, but something was wrong. Something inside was bleeding, the color ebbed and flowed in an irregular way.

Annabeth pinched her nose, nausea crashed around her, gripping like a vice. Why is this happening to me? Annabeth wondered silently. Peace young one, all will be explained in time…A light eerie voice spoke from the back of her mind.