The House of Hades

Chapter 7: The Land of the Living

Percy's POV:

Just as I warned, the story will turn dark and bring the Heroes of Olympus' biggest fears to life. For what it is, I won't say for now.

He woke up with pain. So much pain.

He groaned and turned to his side. Annabeth was beside him, her hair all over her face. Her chest rose and fell so silently, he nearly thought she was dead. She didn't move at all, and that scared Percy. He shook her shoulders, playfully hit her arm, and kissed her, but no matter what he did, she wouldn't wake up. Terror filled him.

"Annabeth!" he cried out.

Tears burned his eyes. She wouldn't move at all.

He gently moved a strand of hair from her face. The tears fell as he bent his head to her chest. Sobs gripped him. He couldn't shake the feeling of terror and angst filling him. His sobs filled his ears and echoed around him. He didn't care anymore. He didn't care if he died in this place. He didn't care about the end of the world.

Annabeth.

It must have been ten minutes later. He was out of tears and full of pain. But something was different when he finally lifted his head. The room was a lot darker then when he first got there. Shadows danced everywhere, and raw fear went into his heart. He was in a bad place out in the open. He had to get himself cover. But what about Annabeth? He couldn't leave her body like that. He owed her that much.

He slipped his arms underneath her shoulders and legs. He gently started to lift her. A moan escaped Annabeth. Percy froze, shock filling him. Annabeth was alive. There was a loud hiss, loud enough to rouse Annabeth out of her sleep. Percy got to his feet carrying Annabeth and started to walk fast.

"You can't escape me, daughter of Athena." A voice hissed, "you can't run from me."

Percy spun around carefully, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from. But Annabeth was shifting in his arms. He pushed her upper body up against his chest and put her legs around his back. Soon, his left hand was balancing her spine and head while his right hand was on her bottom supporting her weight against his.

"You can't run!" the voice screamed.

Then there was movement to the right of them. A shadow formed and took the form of a huge body. Ten feet wide at most, legs thin compared to its huge stomach, and dark pit less eyes that stared into Percy. Annabeth twisted in his arms, groaning as she lifted her head.

"What…" she stumbled, "where…"

The spider took a few steps forward. Percy could see the saliva crawling out of its mouth, hitting the ground like raindrops.

"Percy," she managed, "what's going on?"

She let her legs fall to the ground and Percy was forced to let go. Annabeth fell to her knees coughing and Percy held her as she struggled to get back up.

"Face me, daughter of Athena," the spider hissed.

Annabeth froze and looked into Percy's face. Raw fear was written on her face. She shook as she slowly turned around.

Then she gave the loudest shriek that Percy had ever heard.