Chapter Nine

~Annabeth's POV~

Walking, or running, to catch up with Percy took a few minutes.

The moment when we caught up to him, he stops.

"What's wrong?" Jason asked, out of breath.

Percy didn't reply, only held his hand out in front of his chest, pushing outwards.

About three feet away from his chest, his hand hit a force field kind of thing.

Percy separated the field with his hands, created an opening, and walked through it. All with no problem.

"C'mon, it won't stay open forever." He said, a mixture between impatience and boredom.

We glanced at each other and walked through. Going down a trail going into the woods, with Percy in the lead.

I looked back and saw, or didn't see, the opening that we walked through.

I shook my head and jogged to catch up.

After walking on the trail through the woods for at least three miles, I decided to break the silence.

Jogging up to Percy, wanting to ask a few questions.

Slightly out of breath, I made it to Percy and started matching his pace.

"Where are we?" I asked, struggling to get up.

"Alaska." He replied shortly.

Percy kept walking, while we all stopped. He noticed, because he stopped, groaned, and turned towards us, raising an eyebrow questionably.

"We're in Alaska?" Frank asked.

"Yes. Now, can we get moving?" Percy asked, before turning back around and continuing.

"What is your problem?" I asked, getting irritated and annoyed.

He stops, but, stays silent.

"I feel like you're going with Michaela, because you're bored with us, who you've known longer." I stated.

I said something wrong, because Percy turned towards me. "Michaela was right about one thing yesterday. You don't know me, so don't act like it." He turned back around and continued on.

It was silent after Percy's outburst, but I was actually hurt that he would say that.

I sighed. I wish I never met Percy.

Percy, all the sudden stopped.

"Why are we stopping?" Jason asked.

Percy looked over to the right, where a tree stood in a small little clearing with the trail.

I took a step towards the tree, it was as if it was calling me. Begging me to forget my regrets.

All of a sudden, a hand was pulling my wrist back.

I looked up to see Percy's face, looking at the tree with an unknown emotion.

Percy started pulling and practically threatened the others.

After another mile, we stopped before a steep hill going down.

Percy finally let go of my arm and took a step back.

"Take the rope and pull back with all your strength, and start going down." Percy instructed, before turning to the right of the woods and left without another word.

"Did he just leave us?" Leo asked.

"And, he left us unprotected." Piper stated.

I looked down and realized I didn't have my sword, nor did the others have their weapons.

"I guess we keep moving." I suggested, and started the climb down the steep hill.

When I got to the bottom, Jason took Piper down by the winds, Frank took Hazel down by being a hawk, and Leo came down right behind me.

"It's not far now."

We jumped, and reached for non-existing weapons. But, relaxed when it was only Percy.

"Where did you go?" I growled.

"I went a different way. The fun way." Percy shrugged, with a insane glint in his eyes.

"C'mon. Like I said, it's not far now." Percy announced, before walking on.

We started walking, as well.

"What was that tree?" Hazel asked.

Percy took a deep breath. "That tree is cursed. It was watered with the River Lethe. It wants to help those who regret." He took another deep breath, never turning around. "Once you touch the tree, you will not only forget what you had regretted, but your whole life."

We walked in silence, thinking over the tree's story.

Once we walked in a clearing, with a dock, I knew we were here. But, I didn't see the Argo II.

"Where's my ship?" Leo asked Percy.

Percy rolled his eyes. "Calm down, Leo."

He walked to the end of the dock, and moved to the plague that sat on a wooden pole.

Percy took off, his chain necklace with a key, his neck and slipped it in the plague.

Turning the key, Percy pressed some buttons, before the water in front of him moved and revealed the Argo II.

"Festus!" Leo screamed, taking off on the ship, by the ladder.

Piper and Jason laughed a little, and followed. Along with Hazel and Frank.

I watched as Percy flipped a switch and the rope that was attached to the Argo II was released.

"You might want to get on the boat. I can't hold it in place forever." Percy informed me.

"Will I ever see you again?" I asked him.

He shrugged. "I don't know. You may never know my story." He sounded sad and lost, when he said that.

"Annabeth!" Piper yelled. "C'mon!"

I looked back to Percy and took a chance.

I walk up to him and kissed his check, whispering in his ear. "I hope you're happy with her."

I climbed the ladder, and Jason handed me my sword.

I felt the ship move.

I looked around at everyone, and saw a family in the rest of the seven.

My eyes widened, I ran to the railing. "Percy!" I yelled.

He looked up from what he was doing.

"Whose Michaela's godly parent?!" I yelled.

He looked like he was debating something. "Poseidon!" He yelled back with a grin.

With one last wave, he ran back the way we came.

"That was Percy's sister?"

~MsPenguingirl1234.