I just finished re-reading this book and came up with this cheesy little drabble here.
I don't own anything.
The last thing I remember seeing before the manticore dove off the cliff was Percy's distraught face. His eyes panicked and his mouth screaming my name. Now, I can tell you that having that image planted in your mind as you get flung off a cliff to Gods know where is not a fun thing. The next thing I knew I was awakened by a familiar voice. It was Luke, and he needed help.
"Why should I help you? You betrayed me! You poisoned Thalia!" I shouted.
"Because we're family." he replied. I snorted.
"You're not my family. Not anymore. Grover, my dad...Percy… They're my family. Not you." He looked at me as if my words stung him, as if he was waking up from a dream. My gaze softened and I realized that he is my family, and I ran over to help him.
"Oh Beth, you're still so easy to trick." He said, grabbing me by the wrist and tying me up. I felt my eyes water. Luke used to be like a brother to me… and now he's gone, turned into some version of him that isn't capable of compassion anymore. He led me over to a man that I did not recognize, a man that was holding up a mass of darkness. Then it clicked, this was Atlas! Luke cut the ropes that bound my hands, leaving me confused before I tried to fight. He delivered a roundhouse kick, aiming for my head but hitting my stomach. I stumbled backwards, realizing that I was now under the black mass. I tried to get out from under it but my hand touched it, and as soon as it did, Atlas ran. I was literally holding the weight of the world. My body felt as if it was on fire, as if every bone in my body was shattering, one at a time. Then, Percy appeared in my mind, and I let out a faint cry of distress I had to keep going. I had to fight. I knew that Percy was on his way. I knew he would come save me and when he did, I had to be ready for him. I pushed- as much as my body would allow. Then, I saw Artemis running towards me, lifting the weight off of my shoulders and I collapsed, whispering a silent "Percy…", and my vision went black.
When I was stable enough to open my eyes, I was where I had collapsed, but my arms had been tied behind my back.
"Ah, so you've decided to rejoin the living, have you?" Atlas said in his deep, masculine voice.
"I don't have anything to say to either of you." I retorted bitterly and vowed to myself that I would remain silent until Percy came. Clearly Luke didn't trust that I would, so he placed a gag over my mouth. I spent days there, watching Artemis struggle and listening to their evil plans. I was silently praying that Percy would not come for me, not after hearing Luke's plans for him. But then… there he was. He was with Thalia and Zoё Nightshade. I begged for him to run through my eyes, but he didn't budge, nor did his gaze. It was deadlocked on mine. Then, battle broke out and Percy ran for me, cutting the ropes off and bashing Luke away with his shield. I grabbed my knife from Luke's boot and did my best to fend off things that came at me. There wasn't much I could do, considering I was still recovering from the weight of the burden. When all of it was over, Percy ran to me. He held me in a gentle embrace, careful not to hurt me any more than I was already hurt.
"Gods, I thought I lost you." He said, a single tear streaming down his face. I wiped it away with my hand.
"You came for me. I knew you would." I said, choking back a sob and hugging him again, sobbing into his chest. I sobbed because I was so scared that I was never going to see him again. I sobbed because I lost Luke. I sobbed because the world had almost crushed me. But most of all, I sobbed because I loved Percy. He stroked my hair and whispered comfortingly before kissing my head and helping me up. It was time to go home.