Prologue: Empty Claims.
She had made a lot of claims, some small, and some tall. She always thought she could live up to every one of them, but as Annabeth lay there, with her life force irreversibly flowing out of her, she realized she didn't live up to one of her many claims.
She was terrified.
She had spent her life, believing that death was the last thing that could scare her, but now as she was staring it in the face, there was one thought resonating in her mind, she still wanted to live.
Her lips struggled to form words, but every part of her was failing her. Annabeth grasped mindlessly at the warmth that held her hand. She wished she could place the person who was witnessing her last moments, but her sight refused her finality. She was going to die in the arms of someone who she didn't even know.
"-breathe-"
How could she when her lungs were flooded with blood?
"-keep your eyes open!"
She had no strength left. She couldn't.
"-Anna!"
Her last thought before thoughts left her, was how distinct the timbre of the voice was. So distinct that she still wanted to hold on. Distinct enough to make her want to live some more.
A jerk wracked her mind as she realized.
Everything was underwater, and he was calling to her. He was saying something, and she battled for breath, she had to get her last words in before she lost the chance.
"Tom," she choked, her life fading with her words.
"This...this is g-good enough."
Hello!
I am quite excited for this story whose plot has been making itself up since the moment I conceived it. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I am enjoying writing it.
Please take a moment to review, it is a huge motivating factor for me to write more. Another note: this story will go hand in hand with another recent publication, Constant Circles. Please read that story too, for it will have important elements, this is essentially one story broken up and told from two viewpoints.
Thank you for reading, and please do review! :)
nexumie.