Wow. 107 reviews for two chapters?! Just wow. I will never ever be able to thank you guys enough! I couldn't be more excited! :) I had a pretty traumatizing weekend. I can't even... Just be prepared for a dark chapter. Thanks again, guys!

Shout outs: PercyJacksonAddict, liongirl21, xXxJaceInWonderlandxXx, MadeOfMagic, bluecrystals00jasperjily, Finding Adventures, foreverfanfiction, ThatGirlIntheBack, liz-king97, MistFloo, ElmoDaHorse, Athena grl huntress, AshleyDaughterofApollo, Stephenlongboard, District9and3-4, SingingFroggy, YayPercabeth123 (guest), Bluestar4ever, NeonHedgehog, anniebethchase, flabbergastedbaboom, DIFFERENT AND PROUD OF IT, jedikhaleesi, percabethluver4evur, Don't Stop Beliving, XxbethamphetaminexX, Atlanta Hemera Kane, HunterofartemisdaughterofZeus, 99hoplite, Annabeth luvs Percy, Guest, Guest, The Cookie Monsta, Guest, StarryNights04, cuty3, Butterfly Bunny (guest), B the first, i dream of faraway places, hearttoread (guest), Guest, HungryOlympians

To Guest (you know who you are): I meant that it showed up Annabeth and Nico, but as soon as people told me what had happened, I changed it, so that's why it doesn't show up anymore. :)

Happy Reading!


Annabeth

As I rode home with Percy and Thalia (we all switched cars), I felt a strange sense of calmness. Maybe it was having my two best friends at my side, or maybe it was just that I wasn't scared or didn't even care anymore. Or perhaps after being a danger to myself, other people don't scare me so much. Whatever the case, I was more calm than Percy, who looked like he was going to have an anxiety attack or stroke.

His hands clutched the wheel tightly, and he drove annoyingly slow. I reached over and rested a hand on his leg.

"Percy, calm down. Everything is going to be okay. Seriously, it's almost Christmas. Relax," I tried to console him, but my efforts were futile.

"Relax?! Annabeth, how am I supposed to relax when my girlfriend is about to walk into a death trap?"

I resisted the childish urge to roll my eyes.

"I am not walking into a death trap, Percy. Dad should be home soon, anyway. And so should the boys. I'm seriously not that scared."

He sent me a slightly puzzled look. "You should be," he muttered darkly.

"Gee, thanks for the encouragement, Mr. Sunshine," I said sarcastically. How I was able to joke around, I'm not sure, but I guess it was just my way of putting off the inevitable.

"Annabeth, Percy is right. I think we've already established that Sue is dangerous. At least let me come in with you," Thalia said. I groaned.

"No! She'd probably kill you, too! No," I repeated. "I'll be fine. I'm more upset that she ruined my fun evening," I added bitterly. Thalia shook her head at me.

"Only you would think that at a time like this. Have you at least called your dad?" she asked.

"Yeah," I said evasively.

"And?" she prompted.

"And what?" I asked. She rolled her eyes and tossed her hands into the air.

"Annabeth, don't be obtuse! Did he pick up? Is he on his way to the house?"

I gasped.

"Obtuse? Wow, Thals, your vocabulary is improving greatly. I'm so proud," I teased. But Thalia would have none of it.

"Quit avoiding the answer, or you'll see just how obtuse I can be when the police want to know if it was me who strangled you," she threatened darkly.

I sighed, resigning myself to the fact that I had no choice but to answer.

"No, he didn't pick up. His phone must be dead or something," I said quietly.

"Shit!" I heard Percy mutter, banging the steering wheel, making the horn honk loudly. I stared at him, surprised at his outburst.

"Listen, I know this may seem weird, but I'm really not that scared. I don't doubt what Sue can do - I'm the one whose had to experience it." A pained look crossed Percy's face, but I continued. "But other than going hanging out with you guys, I haven't done anything wrong, and all the chores or done; the house is spotless. If worse comes to worst, then Sue is a greedy person - I can always compromise, or even stall. Believe me, I've thought about this, guys."

It was quiet for a moment. Thalia stared at me long and hard.

"Annabeth, something weird as happened to you. Almost as if you've had some sort of epiphany or revelation. You're more - I don't know - optimistic? Not that it's a bad thing," she added quickly. "But I think you should think this through a little more carefully."

I started to protest, but she put her hand up to stop me.

"Listen. You, of all people, know what Sue is capable of. The worst thing to do right now with your father gone is underestimate her."

"I'm not underestimating her," I mumbled.

"Could've fooled me," she said. "But, seriously, listen. I think that you should go in by yourself, and I'll stay by the back door ready to barge in if things get ugly. Meanwhile, Percy can take the car and drive over to your dad's work place and meet us at the house. And you can try to use your stalling and compromising skills with Sue. Sound good?"

"No," Percy said immediately. "I am not going to leave her alone." Oh, great.

Thalia, seeming to know that it was no use arguing with Percy, held her hands up. "Okay, okay! I'll drive to her dad's office, and you can stay," she amended.

I understood where they were coming from. But at the same time, it annoyed me that they were making such a big deal of this. Yes, Sue is vicious, but do they really think that she would off me two days before Christmas? Not because she was feeling sentimental, but I was pretty sure my dad would notice if I wasn't there Christmas morning.

By this time, we were almost home.

Percy and Thalia grew quiet, their faces tight with determination. Even I started to tense up, anxiety finding its way into my, weaving itself through my body. Whatever calmness I'd had before was quickly diminishing, and I clenched my fists at my side.

But for just a second, before we pulled up in front of the driveway, I felt a surge of anger like never before. I shouldn't have to be scared to walk into my own house. I shouldn't have to be scared of my step-mom, and I shouldn't have to spend my life wondering if I'm going to make it through the next day.

And if Mom hadn't died, I wouldn't have to be going through any of this. But I quickly banished the thought. My mom had the biggest heart, and there was no way she could have controled whether she stayed or went. She was the strongest person I knew, and she held on longer than most people for me and Dad.

And I had to do the same, even if it was a different situation. And that's the thought that kept my head up high as I made to leave the car.

"Annabeth, hold on," Percy said. I looked over at him, and before my mind could even process what was happening, my head was in his hands and my lips were on his. He had an odd sort of desperation in the kiss, and I returned it with equal fervor. Somewhere in the back of my mind, a voice registered that this whole thing was unnecessary dramatic, but I ignored it.

Then a hand, most likely Thalia's, was shoving me out of the car, with Percy right behind me. He took my hand, squeezed it, then ran up to his house and out the back. Again with the dramatics.

I walked to the door and, with steady hands, opened it and walked in. The house was dark, and the only thing indicating that another person was inside, was the car sitting in the driveway. I felt trapped in my own home; I hated not being able to see what was around me clearly.

"Sue, I'm home!" I called softly. When I got no reply, I walked into the darkness a little more, in search of a light switch. I found it ironic that in order to find the light, you had to walk into the darkness. And not just for this situation.

My hand was just about to flick the switch on, when another hand collided into mine and rammed it into the wall. I gasped.

"Hello, Annabeth. So nice to have you home. Though you weren't supposed to be gone in the first place. What do you say to that?" Sue's evil, quiet voice spoke.

Usually, I wouldn't give in fast; my first instinct was to justify myself, and tell her that my dad said I could go. But seeing as Percy was out back, I couldn't risk using my smart mouth and make Sue even more angry.

"I am so sorry, Sue. I should have asked you first, and for not doing so, I apologize. You have every right to punish me as you see fit," I said quietly, steadily, though it pained me to say such words.

Those words are what I'm supposed to say when I do something wrong. Almost from the very day Sue had married my dad, she had drilled those words into me, though this was one of the few times I actually said them.

"Hmm... Looks like little Annie is finally learning. Good girl."

I almost spat out, "I'm not a dog, so don't treat me like one," but I bit my tongue. Hard.

"And as for your punishment... Step away from the wall."

"Excuse me for my interruption, but it's a little hard to step away from the wall when you are so kindly pinning me against it," I said as pleasantly as I could through clenched teeth.

"Was that a smart remark?" Sue asked venomously, he hand tightening around my wrist. I could feel my circulation being cut off.

"Of course not. I am just merely pointing out that what you would like me to do is impossible while you have hold of me," I said back. Oh, what I wouldn't give to punch that face of hers. But I wasn't going to stoop to her level.

"You know what? I think that was a smart remark. Pity. You were doing so well." And without further ado, she yanked me forward and slammed me back into the wall. My teeth dug into my tongue, and a metallic taste filled my mouth. Mind over matter, I reminded myself. Luckily, my back took the impact rather than my head. I was used to this enough by now that I tilted my head forward on reflex.

I gasped as pain reverberated up and down my spine, but I didn't cry out.

"Now, do what I asked you to do and step away from the wall," Sue ordered, letting go of my wrists. I walked towards the middle of the room, and stood there, feeling very exposed. I sensed Sue walking around me, circling me, like a hawk watching its prey.

She seemed to be studying me, though I didn't know how she could possibly see me.

"You puzzle me, Miss Annabeth. You are usually so rebellious. But today, you are being more... submissive, careful. And it makes me wonder... What caused that change? Why so careful now after so long of fighting back? And something else I've noticed - you're not so sensitive to physical pain, are you? Not like... others. Oh, what I wouldn't give to see inside that head of yours," she mused.

She seemed to be talking to herself more than me. I could tell she wasn't drunk. She seemed much more controlled and aware. And even scarier, she seemed intelligent.

"So," she continued, "if you're so immune to physical pain, how do you deal with emotional pain? Do you shrug it off just as you do with the first, or does it cut you deep?"

I had no idea where this was going. I didn't want to know.

"What's it like for you, growing up with a mom who abandoned you?" I tensed at her words.

"My mom didn't abandon me!" I yelled before I could stop myself. Sue just chuckled softly.

"Oh really? Then tell me why she isn't here?"

"She died of cancer. She couldn't control it," I said heatedly.

"She was weak! Your stupid mom couldn't take a little bout of cancer. How sad is that?" Sue laughed.

"She was NOT weak! She was strongest person I knew. Stronger than you," I spat.

"So help me then. If your mother was stronger than me, then why am I here and she's not?" Sue challenged.

"Because mom knew that the strongest people are the ones who can let go of the ones they love. She held on as long as she could for me, but knew she'd have to let go. She knew that having to see her sick and broken was killing my dad and I. You know nothing of strength, so don't you dare accuse my mom of not having any," I said fiercely, completely loosing my cool.

The anger and tension in the room was palpable. Sue's footsteps came closer.

"You know why I think your mom isn't here?" she whispered in my ear.

"I don't care why you think my mom isn't here," I spat into her face. She grabbed my hair, and yanked my head up. I held in a yelp. No need to make Percy out there have a heart attack.

"She left because she hated you. Which, of course, I don't blame her for. Who wouldn't be ashamed to have such a daughter as you? You and your dad never get along. You know why? Because he hates you. You have - what? - one friend? That Thalia girl. Everyone else hates you. You are a disgrace to the world," she said savagely.

Involuntary tears sprang into my eyes. No, I must stop them. One leaked out. I held the rest in. She's just trying to get to you, I reminded myself. Don't listen to her.

But still, her words had struck a nerve, and she knew it. I wanted to wipe that oh so pleased smirk off her face.

"Ah, now I've got some response. I guess that's the trick."

A couple of things clicked into place, then. I was practically being used as a lab rat. She hated me, of that I had no doubt, but there was also something more to it. I was foolish not to have seen it before. She was using me. Torturing me in various ways and gauging my reactions, seeing what pains me most, and taking pleasure from it.

When I looked up at her shadowy face in the darkness, I saw her for what she really was.

Sick.

Truly and mentally sick.


Eh, Annabeth was too out of character in this chapter for my liking. And I cannot apologize enough for the long wait; I've had horrid writer's block. This chapter was so hard to write, because of the writer's block, so I hope my efforts weren't pointless. I sincerely hope you guys enjoyed it! Only two more weeks of school, and then updates for all of my stories should be faster. Also, I posted my first chapter of 'Friends With Deficits' (from my poll). It's mostly going to be my Summer story, and I hope to have it done my the end of Summer Break. Please check it out! And please review and tell me what you thought! (Even if you're a guest!)

P.S. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SUCH LOVELY REVIEWS! :) They brighten my day considerably.