Annabeth felt exhausted as she walked to the subway station in New York City. It was late march. She had just been to Upper East side Manhattan to visit Percy's mom. Percy was sick and Sally had wanted an update. Unfortunately, the visit had gone longer than planned and Annabeth had been asked to go but the groceries for Sally and Paul. Not that Annabeth really minded, but all the running around all day had made her tired. She shivered. It was almost 10:30. Annabeth knew in the back of her mind that it was a bit risky taking the subway in Manhattan this late at night. But she shook the idea out of her head. She wasn't afraid of mortals. She was about to descend into Dundas station when a figure seemed to appear out of nowhere right in front of her. Annabeth shrieked and jumped back. The man looked about 22, and had jet black hair, dark eyes and a twisted smile. There was something else though...something else about him that made a warning alarm go off in Annabeths head. She regained her composure and stepped away from him but he advanced.
"I'm sorry I startled you." He said smoothly. Annabeth sighed in relief. Not a creep. "It's fine. Have a good-" but he interrupted her. "You're really, really pretty. I mean, beautiful." He sounded extremely sincere, not drunk. She cautiously smiled at him. "Thank you. I really have to go-" He grinned. "Well, hope it makes up for this." Annabeth blinked. What did he mean? Then it happened.
It was so quick. There was a flash and then the guy wasn't in front of her. Just as she was registering this she felt something sharp pierce her neck. She tried to move but found that something was holding her. Her head was locked in place. And the strangest sensation coursed through her body. It was unpleasant, like energy being sucked out if you. Annabeth didn't understand what was happening. Her vision became foggy. Then the sensation stopped and she stumbled forward and would have fallen if something hadn't caught her. She heard muffled voices but couldn't understand what they were saying. Then she was suddenly launched forward and her neck was pierced again, but this time much worse. The pain was too much. She could feel herself slipping away...falling...away...