Do you know that feeling? The feeling when something significant is happening? The one where your heart is suddenly racing and your breathing rate is faster than normal? And when your heart skips a beat when something bad happens to your loved one?
I gripped the metal bars tightly, hoping that once, just once, something fortunate could happen to me. Annabeth was thrown heftily to the ground, groaning in pain. Her lips were bloodied, and I noticed sadly that her kneecap was broken. She was on the other side of the bars. I hated Zeus, the gods (the Fates!) for making this fate for me. Her attacker loomed above her, with a sadistic grin.
"Please, Metis," my legs gave way, and I fell to my knees, my hands still gripping the bars. "Stop. Just stop. Tell me what you want from me." My voice was weak.
Metis elegantly strolled to the bars, smiling wickedly, "Oh I love it when we put a hero to his knees." She raised her voice, "I took Olympus' golden boy and brought him to our level." She cackled. "Sorry Perseus, but as much as I want to save your little girlfriend," Annabeth was slowly getting back up, "these orders came from up high," Metis turned around and scissor kicked Annabeth in the face.
I cringed. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because you've been a pest we've been trying to dispose of for a substantial amount of time. Not only have you destroyed most of my minions, but you've caused many setbacks in the general plan. That, my dear, is why I'm doing this." She caught Annabeth's hair, and kneed her.
"I'll stop. I'll stop following you."
Metis chuckled, "Oh please. You won't stop."
"I will! Just let Annabeth go. I'm the one you want. I'm the Chosen one!"
"Oh but that's no fun, young 'Chosen one.'" Metis clutched Annabeth's neck, and Annabeth struggled to breathe.
"Tell me what you want, Metis!" I got up, "I'll give it to you if you stop hurting Annabeth."
Annabeth managed to kick Metis on the face with her good knee. Then she fell to the ground and turned to me, "Don't give her anything Percy. We can win this. Don't let her use—"
She couldn't finish the sentence, because Metis had quickly recovered and rushed to her at a great speed and threw her against a wall. Annabeth shrieked; now her shoulder was also broken. She couldn't get up after that.
I screamed and started slamming myself against the bars, hoping any would be weak. It was also the only thing I could channel my anger to. Metis had truly found my weakness: Annabeth. I hated it; I hated the fact that I had so much power yet very little at the same time. (A/N – will explain later IF this story has a future, hopefully). Annabeth was not even supposed to be in the middle of this. We were supposed to have hung our capes; we were supposed to be in Montauk for our vacation…
"I really don't like you Athena spawn demigods. Goddess of wisdom, my eye. I am the true lord of wisdom!" she slapped Annabeth awake after grabbing her by the arm.
"Tell me, Chosen one, how much are you willing to risk for her?"
"Everything."
I kept quiet as the fastest series of events happened. Annabeth removed her dagger and stabbed Metis on the shoulder. Metis shrieked, the stabbed area started fizzing. For a split second, I smiled. That's my Annabeth. She lurched towards me, and soon I was staring at her bloodied face. Between the bars she grabbed my face and kissed me, even though it seemed like an inappropriate time.
Then she whispered, "I love you." Along with a gasp.
Metis had somehow conjured a sword, and ran it through Annabeth. It was pretty fast, no one could avoid that hit.
My heart skipped a beat. I was speechless. Annabeth had dropped on the floor, on a puddle of her own blood. Slowly, I sank to the ground.
An empusa slithered into the room, "Your highness, the enemies had ambushed us! We are surrounded by most of the demigods. Defeat is imminent."
Metis waved her hand dismissively, still looking at Annabeth's body, "Retreat while you can. I have my own method of escape. And anyway, I wouldn't call it a total defeat," she grinned and snapped her fingers and vanished. The empusa paid us no attention and slithered away for her life.
The metal bars also dissolved into nothingness. I made for Annabeth, holding her in my arms. My shirt was already damp with her blood. I slowly sobbed, as I kept her head buried in my chest.
"Why?" I said to no one in particular.
Nico cantered into the room. I could hear the clank of his sword on the floor.
"Percy," he started, but seemed to be at a loss of words.
"She's gone, Nico, she's…"
"No…" Thalia, who rushed in later, gasped. She dropped to the ground on her knees, cupping her face.
They did it. They finally broke me.