Chapter 10

A/N: Wow I have to say I liked that last chapter. The end is coming soon, BTW. Then I will get started on new stories! So enjoy chapter 10! Keep reviewing. I threw in some feels in there, let me know if they got you

Annabeth's POV

The only way I could tell time in my hell was by counting the constant drip of my own blood. Luke had made good on his promise to make me suffer. I guess that after what I put him through this is what he thought was appropriate. Every day for whatever length of time I had been there, he had beaten me senseless, but to hell with him if he thought I was going down without a fight.

Luke was just in the middle of kissing me, a weird fetish he has after beating me. I was trying to get him the hell off of me for the millionth time when I heard a loud knock on the door. Ethan came in pale as a sheet. He didn't seemed fazed at all of what was going on between Luke and I. he didn't do a damn thing to stop it either.

Ethan came in and quickly and yelled at Luke that there was someone knocking at the door. My heart sped up at the thought of someone else inside the house besides my captors. Luke cussed, wiped the blood off his hands, and left yelling at Ethan to watch me and clean me up.

Ethan came and handcuffed my arms behind my back. He dragged me to the bathroom and threw me inside, unlocking my cuffs. He yelled saying I had five minutes. I gasped and fell into a coughing fit when I saw my reflection in the mirror. I didn't even look like myself anymore. I stared at my reflection, my grey eyes that were once so alive and happy were now dead, hard as stone.

My hair was the same as always except it had the occasional streak of blood. My face otherwise was unrecognizable; my cheek was swollen and purple as well as my eye. I had a busted lip and a purple nose. My body was aching and sore was covered in scrapes and blotches of blue and purple. I probably had a broken bone in my ribs from my last beat down because it hurt and ached to breathe.

I washed the rusty red dirt off my face and arms with soap and a moist towel, being cautious towards my cuts. After failing in washing the left over rust from my white shirt I opened the door. Ethan put my cuffs back on cutting open the wounds in my wrists once more. The metal cut into my skin and I winced.

He led me back to my room, not bothering to put on the blindfold. Before we got there I heard a yell of a boy and Ethan immediately left to help Luke. I took my chance and ran as fast as I could to the nearest door. It was the hardest thing to try and open the door with your hands tied behind your back. I turned the knob but the damn thing was locked. I groaned and kicked it running in the opposite direction.

I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw a familiar mess of black hair. I couldn't believe my eyes, especially since they were tearing up making my vision blurry.

"Percy?" I said softly.

His head popped up so fast I heard his neck crack. His green eyes studied me carefully, taking it all in. I blushed and looked away, not being able to meet his eyes. Ethan came and opened the door to my cell and threw me in. I thought they were going to put Percy in another room, but they literally threw him in there with me as well. Ethan took off my cuffs and locked the door.

Percy jumped up and came to me in an instant, taking my face in his hands. He wiped the tears from my eyes and before I could say how sorry I was, crushed his lips on mine. I melted at the feel of him, letting my body relax for the first time in what seemed like forever.

I had to stop the kiss considering my aching torso. I definitely had a broken rib or something, I could feel it poking my lungs. I brought my hand up to put pressure on my bone, poking around to see where it was. My fingers brushed a rib on my right side and I moaned.

"Percy…I just have to tell you. I love you. I am so sorry for putting you through this. It's all my fault."

Percy kissed my cheek and murmured reassuring things in my ear. I had missed him so much I couldn't help but cry in his arms. I placed my hands on his chest as he cradled me, but it was remarkably hard. I wiped my tears and felt underneath his shirt. It wasn't skin at all. I yanked it up and saw a black…vest?

It clicked in my head when I saw the gun. My eyes shot to his, he smiled lightly and nodded. He tapped his ear and said the word "Blue."

I did my best and tried to stand up. Percy helped me up and we waited for Luke and Ethan. He explained to me the plan. In no time at all Luke came running in, in his hand he held a gun. I was not expecting that to happen. Where the frick did he get a gun?

He barged in and met my eyes. I had a feeling that I had the "deer caught in headlights" look plastered on my face, but that wasn't my top priority. He wrapped an arm around my neck, restraining me. I saw Percy pull out his gun and point it towards Luke.

Then Rick, Frank, Thalia, and three others came bursting in with guns. All pointed at Luke. Rick stepped forward, his gun still aiming at the boy.

"Luke it's all over. Come on buddy put the gun down and let go of Annabeth." he stated calmly.

I stared at Percy with frightened eyes. He looked so deadly pointing a gun. His eyes once a relaxing ocean, were stormy. Now a hurricane was swirling around in his irises. I couldn't help but find him…intimidating.

Luke had his weapon pointed at my head, waiting for someone to make the first move. He locked his icy eyes with Rick, who was still talking calmly. He glared at him and started to yell.

"What about you Riordan? It's your fault why I am in this situation. Tell them what you promised me when I was fifteen! You said you would help me get away from my mom! I knew exactly what kind of thoughts I was having about her. I didn't want that fate for her, but you never lifted a finger to get me out of that house. Her death is as much your fault as mine

"Annabeth broke my heart, left me for him. I loved her and she betrayed me. She deserves everything that is coming to her." He hissed.

I locked eyes with Percy and gave him a regretful look. I knew exactly what I was going to do and I could see that he had an idea. He gave me a stern look and shook his head. My grey eyes welled up with tears and I gave him a watery half smile.

Before he could do anything I spun around in Luke's arms and kneed him square in the crotch as hard as I could. He groaned and fell to the floor on his knees. I was free from his grasp, but I completely forgot about the gun in his hand until I heard the shots fire.

I heard them before I felt them. There was this instantaneous fire ripping through my torso in three different places. I looked down and saw holes in my stomach and chest. I slumped down to my knees, suddenly feeling weak. I tried to take deep breaths, but my lungs weren't having it. I choked a bit and barely paid any attention to the screaming going on around me.

I could faintly hear Percy and Thalia screaming at each other. It wasn't until someone picked me up that I had any indication that I was still alive. My eye sight was dimming the light, threatening to pull me into the darkness soon. I saw shadowy figured that I made out was Percy and Thalia running.

"Get her to the ambulance! Quickly!" Percy yelled loud enough for me to understand.

I coughed out his name. "Percy?"

I felt his hold on my hand tighten "Annabeth? Can you hear me? Oh my gods Annabeth I love you so much. You are going to be okay. Just stay with me, please."

I nodded and whispered "I'm sorry for being so stupid… l love you."

I could feel my consciousness slipping. I tried to take a deep breath and closed my eyes. The darkness enveloped me and I let it. I was so tired of being afraid, so tired of fighting, I was ready to sleep finally.

My darkness was interrupted by a blinding light. At the very end I saw a familiar looking man. He had blond hair and blue eyes, but he was older. I got closer and he smiled. Opening his arms I stepped into them immediately.

"Dad?" I whispered.

He gave me one of his booming laughs and squeezed me tightly. I had missed him so much. I had forgotten how it felt to be near him again. I was so happy and felt so safe in my daddy's arms again.

"Annabeth, as good as it is to see you, my dear. You can't be here, not yet. You still have time. Go back." He insisted.

I shook my head burying my face in his chest, squeezing him tighter. I had just gotten him back I wasn't about to let him go.

"I don't want to leave you. I don't want to suffer anymore. I had my fair share I want to rest dad." I cried.

He shook his head "Annabeth you don't have much time. They are worried about you. Percy and Thalia are waiting. They are worried. I will see you when it's time now go. Just remember that I love you and I am watching over you my lovely. Goodbye Annabeth."

He pushed me softly into the darkness once more and the light disappeared.

** (TIME SKIP) **

Coming back from the dead was not a pretty thing. It felt like falling flat on cement after falling off a cliff. I gasped from the impact and woke up in the middle of surgery. The doctors around me were so stunned some fell. One was holding those metal pad things, so I guessed that they were trying to bring me back. I screamed in pain and they recovered quickly and drugged me good. I was under in less than thirty seconds.

…

The surgery was over I guessed. I woke up again, in much less pain than I was that first time, but it was still there. I blinked and groaned, I was in a really bright room. Way to bright for my taste. There were curtains, chairs, and machines. I had plastic everywhere; attached to me, around me, inside me. I started to freak out because nothing made sense. I could hear the stupid monitor beep loudly, in sync with my heart. I looked around the room franticly looking for something familiar.

My eyes found a flash of black and green. They focused and saw Thalia and Percy waking up quickly. They rushed to my side and my heart beat slowed. I took a deep breath and smiled slightly.

Thals threw her arms around me and sobbed. I tried to hug her back but my arms were restrained by tubes and wires. I kissed her head and laughed. I was out. I was away from him.

Percy had a hand on either side of my face and stared into my eyes. I felt them softening and brightening. His face was the same as I had last seen him. I didn't know how long that had been but I didn't care anymore. I smiled and he crushed his lips to mine. I couldn't help but kiss him back passionately.

We pulled apart and Thals wiped her eyes. I fought against the tubes and won. I was now able to somewhat move around. With the help of Percy I was able to sit up and talk now.

I ran a hand through my messy curls and put them into a pony tail. My wrists stung a bit and I noticed that they were wrapped in gauze. I sighed at the thought of the handcuffs cutting them every day, more when I struggled against them. I rubbed them slightly and noticed I was able to breathe again.

"So? What's the verdict? What is wrong with me?" I asked jokingly.

Percy stiffened and said "You were shot by three bullets. One in your stomach, one in your chest, and the other grazed your shoulder. You have a broken rib from Luke… and many minor wounds like bruises and cuts."

I nodded. That sounded about right. Thals piped in "You died today."

I nodded "I remember…I saw my dad."

Their eyes widened and stared at me expectantly. I explained to them of how my dad pushed me out of the light and back here. They stared at me, the pity clear in their eyes, while I wiped a tear from my eye and changed the subject.

"Where is Luke?" I questioned.

Thalia nearly growled and spat "He was shot. He died."

My eyes nearly popped out of my head. I spluttered "What?! Who shot him?!"

My eyes flitted towards my boyfriend. He shook his head "I couldn't have that on my conscious. No matter how much I said that I wanted to I couldn't kill Luke. I knew him too well."

I sighed in relief. "Then who did?"

"I did." Replied a voice from the door.

Rick stood leaning in the door way. He rubbed his eyes with his fingers and sat down next to us in a chair. He held my hand and turned it over checking the gauze.

"I shot him, hoping to just delay his actions and it never occurred to me that he might have pulled his trigger too. I'm sorry that you had to go through this my dear. If I had just tried to get there sooner or maybe…"

I shook my head and patted his hand "You did everything you could. I am forever in your debt Mr. Riordan. Thank you for saving my life."

"How are you Annabeth? I never asked. You are recovering from bullet wounds and severe physical and mental trauma and I never asked how you are feeling?" he questioned.

I shrugged acting indifferent. Even as I was telling the lie I knew that I would never be able to forget that room of horrors ever again. Every time I close my eyes I could see that face, the face of a man I once knew as a kind and handsome person. As kids we would dream of what the future would hold and he has no future anymore, he is dead. I have a future, but it will be forever haunted by my old friend.

"I'm okay. Everything kind of aches but otherwise I am good. As for the mental part of my trauma, I just hope it won't get in my way later on." I joked.

Percy kissed my forehead and squeezed my other hand. Even though Luke may haunt me forever I knew that with him and Thals by my side I would be safe and happy. They were my family now and nobody or nothing would ever change that.