Chapter 2:

The Vision

PREVIOUSLY...

I turned toward the Styx, hesitant. In the stories, jumping into the River Styx was the most painful experience possible. What if I didn'tmake 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.

NOW...

Percy's POV

My entire body was burning. The sensation was worse than bathing in a pool of acid. It should've be impossible for something to hurt this much.

I couldn't fight the severe pain. I couldn't remember anything; the pain blocked it out. I was going to die.

But suddenly, I saw something. Not something. Someone.

I saw a pretty girl with blonde hair smiling down at me, wearing jeans, an orange Camp Half-Blood T-shirt and a Yankees cap, which was strange, because it should have made her invisible.

"You have to be careful, Seaweed Brain," she said, trying not to laugh. She held out her hand.

We were at camp. I had fallen out of my canoe, and I was in the canoe lake, my clothes dry. Wait a second, my clothes dry...?

My name was Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, the Sea God. No wonder my clothes were dry. I took the girl's hand. Annabeth. She helped me up and out of the canoe lake, and even after I was out, she still held my hand. Her hand felt warm and soft.

"Falling out of your canoe and then screaming like that was really smooth," she laughed. Her laugh was beautiful. All the pain I'd been feeling a minute ago was gone. Suddenly, Annabeth leaned forward as if she were going to kiss me. I could see the small, cute freckles on her face, see the shadows of her eyelashes, felt her warm breath wash across her face. But a second before our lips met, she and the scene around her disappeared, leaving everything black.

"Annabeth? Where'd you go?" I yelled in surprise.

And then I felt myself exploding out of the River Styx.

Annabeth's POV

Seaweed Brain still hasn't come out of the River Styx, and I was trying not to show how deeply worried I was about him. What would I do if never came back up? What if I never saw him again? Think positively, I told myself. He'd be fine. He had to be.

"Annabeth," Thalia called, walking over to sit on the floor with me.

"What?" I asked, my voice full of worry. Apparently I wasn't hiding it very well.

"Percy's not dead right now," she said. "I asked Nico, and he still feels Percy's life aura. Percy's definitely alive down there."

I smiled gratefully at her. At least I know he's alive right now. "Thanks, Thalia," I said.

She smiled back. "You like him, don't you?" she asked.

"No, Nico's just a friend." I answered.

Thalia laughed. "You know I'm not talking about Nico! Don't avoid the question!"

I blushed, hoping she didn't notice. "Then who are you talking about? You have to be more specific."

"Perseus Jackson, the one you call Seaweed Brain!" she said. "Son of Poseidon! The possible child of the Great Prophecy! The one you've known since you were twelve, who killed the Minotaur with his bare hands! That specific enough for you?"

"Oh. Um, no, I don't like him." I lied, my face even warmer.

"Yeah right! Annabeth, you know that you-"

"ANNABETH? WHERE'D YOU GO?"

And then my Seaweed Brain exploded out of the River Styx.

"Percy!" I screamed, running toward where he'd landed on the ground.