The blood pounded in my ears as I drew closer to Tartarus. My subconscious kept bugging me, trying to remind me of all the memories that I'd had before. I heard the Ancients and Nico somewhere off, exiting the Underworld. I could tell I was exiting because there was a sound of tinkling bells then silence.

"Ok…" I drew Riptide and cleaned the blade, even though not a speck of blood was on them.

Being dead, I think if Luke hit me again, I'd still stay in the same spot. Kronos told me I'd return to guess where…the Underworld. And here I was. So it was a pretty sure fight.

I heard yelling and screaming from Tartarus, like usual. But the voices were familiar…

"Because…I wasn't sure, son of Poseidon," she said. "I wasn't sure if you were serious…or if you were looking for someone to mess with,"

"I won't tell Annabeth," she smiled and wiped some tears from her cheek. "Just talk to Poseidon…or I will tell her,"

The two people I most cared about…and I was going to go kill them…? Wait. No. I didn't care. I left Olympia 'cause it was a pretend quest, and I was supposed to kill them NOW. 'Cause Grandpa knows what's best!

I walked on, annoyed at my second thoughts. Without realizing, I found myself at the gates of Tartarus. The end of the rope was quickly falling in. I had no idea why I did it, but I ran to the entrance, and tugged on the rope.

NO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? My mind screamed at me, but I didn't care. I tugged the rope hard, dragging SOMETHING out. A blonde, another blonde, a goat…

"Percy?" someone coughed.

I looked at them, letting go of the rope and panting. Automatically, thoughts of hate came rushing back.

"Yeah?" I spit next to my foot, annoyed that I would drag them out of their deaths.

"Percy, why are you here?" Annabeth shakily stood up.

"Well…I just came to say that what you've been through was a pretend quest!" I smiled happily.

"Pretend quest, my"-

"Shut up, Luke. I wasn't done. MY quest is to kill you all. Except you, Luke. I have to knock you into Tartarus,"

Luke bristled, snarling at me.

"You're not getting to these guys unless you go through me," Luke drew Backbiter, his eyes glittering dangerously.

"Fine," I shrugged, Riptide tightly clenched in my hands.

Luke roared and drew the sword into my arm. I let him. The pain hit me like thousands of shots, but I just laughed.

"I'm dead, idiot," I whispered to him, and that's when Luke could sense something wrong. I grabbed Riptides' blade and used the hilt to hit Luke.

Thalia screamed as I sent the hilt into his head. Luke let go of Backbiter and fell to the floor, moaning.

"That was quick…" I shrugged. I now held both swords.

"Percy you…" Thalia's eyes started to glow yellow.

"Trust me, your dad's been eaten by Grandpa, and I don't think you'd want the same fate," I frowned at Thalia.

"Percy! What are you doing?" Grover asked.

"Shut up, and I'll maim you in a second. Wait your turn," I chuckled.

Grover looked at me in complete disgust. As I was about to drive Riptide threw Thalia, Grover knocked her over. My sword sliced thin air.

"Darn. I guess I'll drag you both up to Olympia," I kicked Grover's head. He fainted, out cold.

"Percy"-

"Oops," I stepped on Thalia's head.

"OW!" she screamed.

Annabeth was shaking vividly, her face pale.

"Shut. Up," with every word that uttered from my mouth, I kicked Thalia until she was a broken, sobbing heap by my foot.

"Percy," Annabeth's voice was in a whisper.

"Hmmm…my favorite culprit," I grinned maliciously.

You know, I think I could make a movie out of my evilness.

"What…me?" she asked.

"Uh-huh," I could feel the cut that Luke had given me sting, but I ignored it as I walked up to Annabeth. Both swords in my hand, I was prepared to slice her to ribbons.

She blinked out some lone, frightened tears from her eyes and took in deep breaths.

"Just…take it easy. It will be quick, painless. You won't even feel death,"

"I've felt it a long time ago…" she shook her head.

"Oh?" I inquired.

"Since you turned,"

"Don't give me that corny crap"-

Annabeth threw her arms around me, and I was stunned. I couldn't move my hands. The swords clattered to the floors. Complete confusion entered my brain. Should I kill her should I not…what's going on…why is she hugging me?

"Why?" Annabeth asked.

"I…I…"

I, Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon and Grandson of Lord Kronos, was speechless.

"I trusted you," she said again.

"I…I know," I nodded. My hands held on to her waist, finally grasping what was going on.

"I thought you knew that I loved you,"

"I did,"

"Then what the hell did you do all that for?" she snarled, almost withdrawing.

"No…don't. Just stay like this for a while," I was hardly audible.

"Why do you care? You were about to run me over,"

I bit my lip in hesitation. What would I say now? What was I even DOING with Riptide? My arm flared, reminding me of the two slashes. And suddenly I understood.

"Annabeth…I know why. I know why I've been acting like this," I let go of Annabeth and stared her in the eye.

"Why?" she looked harsh and unpitying.

"The years. That I serve Kronos. Remember? The slashes on my arm?"

Annabeth's eyes went wide.

"PERCY!" she screamed. And suddenly, I was spun around like in a ride, so I was now where Annabeth was standing and she was where I used to be. But not only that. Something red was proceeding from her stomach.

She fell, in my arms, as I looked up. Luke was holding Backbiter, looking disturbed.

"P…Percy…" Annabeth gasped, her face going pale.

"No, no, no, no!" I yelled. "That should've been me!"

"N…Naw…" Annabeth chuckled, coughing up blood. "L…love…you…"

Annabeth shivered quickly…and moved no more.

"LUKKKKKEEEEE!" I roared.

Suddenly, a shimmering light was beside me. Annabeth's soul smiled at me, all cleaned up and bright. The ghost touched my cheek tenderly.

"I'll be waiting in the Elysian Fields," she smiled…and was gone. I stared back at her body. The people I had tried to hard to save…and now, the one I really wanted…was dead.