Hey guys, I'm Everafter, the author of That Night, at the Lake, it's another PJO story, check it out. The first chapters of this story were written by Blazing Star of ThunderClan, I just continued and made minor changes to it. Since the first chunk of it's already written, I'll be posting about one chapter a day.
Chapter 1:
I Dive Into the Styx
Percy's POV
"Percy, honestly, this is crazy!" Annabeth was stillworrying, stillinsisting that this was a crazy idea. Which it was. But I didn't have much of a choice. It was life or death; simple as that.
We were in my least favorite place at the moment: the Underworld, on our way to the River Styx. Nico had this idea that if I bathed in the River Styx, I'd have a better chance of taking down Luke - I mean, Kronos. Annabeth must've overheard me and Nico talking about it, though, because she and Thalia stopped us just as we were about to leave and said that they wanted to come, too. So right now Annabeth, Thalia, Nico, and I were headed to the Styx.
"I'll be fine, Annabeth," I responded, though I wasn't sure if I was telling the truth.
"What would I do if you...died, Seaweed Brain?"
"Um..."
"Cry that your boyfriend is dead," Thalia teased.
"Shut up, Thalia," Annabeth muttered, blushing. Annabeth and I were best friends, but we weren't, like,togetheror anything. But lately rumors had been spreading around camp that me and her were secretly dating, and we were teased constantly about it. But, to be honest... I wish those rumors were true. Ever since she kissed me on Mount St. Helens, I've loved Annabeth. And I'm not talking about brother-and-sister love. I'minlove with her, Annabeth Chase, Daughter of Athena. Not that anybody else knew that.
"We're here," Nico announced. In front of me was the filthy River Styx, polluted with peoples' dreams that they threw away as they died.
"So...I just, jump in?" I asked Nico. He looked at me incredulously. "Well, if you want to be burned to death, then go ahead and jump," he snapped impatiently.
"Well, what do I do?"
"Think. Imagine one spot that'll be your weakness. And try to imagine something... or someonethat'll keep you tied to the mortal world. If you had to choose one thing or person that would survive while the rest of the world died, who or what would it be?" Nico instructed.
I thought about a spot on the small of my back, and figured that's where my Achilles spot would be. But what…or who could possibly keep me tied to the mortal world? I looked down the row of my friends. Thalia, Nico...I stopped at Annabeth.
I stared at her shiny golden hair, her intelligent gray eyes that made me feel mushy inside. Her eyes stared back into mine. She was so pretty, and yet she didn't even try to be.
Thalia cleared her throat. "Are you two having a moment or something? Quit staring at each other! Jeez!"
"What? Oh." I stuttered, my face hot. I dropped Annabeth's gaze.
"C'mon, are you planning on Styx-bathing anytime this year?" Nico urged.
I turned toward the Styx, hesitant. In the stories, jumping into the River Styx was the most painful experience possible. What if I didn't make it back out? What if I died right here? Would I?
Only one way to find out.
I glanced back at all my friends, prayed I would survive, and then dove into the River Styx.