Chapter One: Out of Focus, Eye to Eye

Annabeth's Point of View.

Falling is something that cannot be explained. I didn't know when it would end. All I knew was that Percy was holding my hand, and that the pain in my right ankle was unbearable. I wanted to say something to Percy, but the wind knocked the breath out of me. All I managed was a sound that resembled a squeak. Percy responded by squeezing my hand reassuringly. Somehow in the darkness, I found his eyes. They looked bluer than ever in the darkness. We stared for a moment, and then suddenly Percy glanced down. I followed his gaze and saw that a gray light was getting closer. It looked like an opening of some sort. As it got closer, Percy's eyes met mine again. He managed to pull me close.

"I will never let you go." he managed to whisper. "I love you."

"I love you too, Seaweed Brain."

We were pulled through the darkness and a blinding light surrounded me. Percy lost hold of my waist and we were torn apart. That's when I hit the ground.

Percy's Point of View.

"Annabeth! Annabeth, where are you?" I yelled as my eyes adjusted.

"Percy!" I heard her voice in the distance. "I can't move! Where are you?"

"Stay still! I'm coming! I responded as I got to my feet. I ran in the almost-complete-darkness. The ground beneath my feet was rocky, and occasionally I ran over little streams of liquid. I'm not really sure what it was.

"Don't step on me!" I heard Annabeth scream below me. I fell to my knees beside her.

"Annabeth! I was so worried and-" I was interrupted by a kiss. It was the deepest kiss we've ever had. It was painful and sad and happy all at the same time. Suddenly Annabeth broke away.

"Percy! Your arm! What happened?"

I just now noticed that my arm was gushing blood. There was a huge gash.

"I must've cut it on a rock or something. I didn't even notice. I was just so worried about getting to you."

"Maybe there's something to bandage it in your backpack." she suggested.

We found an ace bandage and wrapped it up. Then I insisted she let me look at her ankle. I took off the bubble wrap, unprepared for what I saw. It was swollen and bruised. The bone was jutting out at an odd angle.

"Is it that bad?" she asked, noticing the look in my eyes.

"Don't look. You're going to be okay." I pushed the hair out of her eyes and tucked it behind her ear. "I promise."

I wrapped it up tight, but not too tight and put the bubble wrap back on. Then I adjusted the backpack on a rock and leaned back against it. I positioned her against me and put my arms around her, stoking her blonde hair. I waited until she was asleep. She looked like an angel, my hurt arm was tingling from the way it was positioned, but she looked so peaceful that I didn't move it. Eventually I dozed off.