Oh, my gods, guys! I am so sorry that I haven't updated for so long! I was so busy, especially since it was third term. And I don't know about you guys, but third term is always the worst at my school :( Also, I think I'm going to make a sequel for this (I have an idea in my head how to put in all of the HoO characters) but it probably won't happen until this summer. School is getting really stressful and so I'm putting all my stories on hiatus (is that how you spell it?) until this summer. I might do some one-shots throughout the year, but only if I have free time, like on Sundays. So I'm going to end this story pretty soon, since it's kind of almost over :/ So...yeah. Enjoy this chapter!

Percy's POV

Kronos held the gun against Annabeth's head. Percy tried not to cry, but it was hard. What could he do? He glanced around the room, but didn't see any potential weapons. A pillow wouldn't be very affective...

"You asked for me to try to kill you." Kronos whispered, an evil glint in his eyes.

No, Percy thought, no. She's my best friend! I've been through everything with her! When my dad was announced missing, she was the only one who comforted me! I love her! She can't die! I won't let her.

Kronos cocked back the gun. "I'm just doing what you asked."

Percy found his voice. "Annabeth." He stared at his best friend, tears forming in his eyes. Then he turned to Kronos. "Don't shoot! Please, don't! Shoot me instead!"

Kronos laughed. "Too late."

Annabeth finally met Percy's eyes. Tears streamed down her face as she shook with silent sobs. She choked out her final words: "Percy, I love you!"

Percy was shocked, but the sound of the fatal shot echoing through his ears brought him back to reality.

Percy prepared himself to see the worst thing no one should ever see: your best friend (and love) crumpling to the ground, dead.

But that did not happen.

Instead, Annabeth stood there, with the gun still pressed against her head. She had this look on her face that practically said: come on, I'm ready to die. So why am I not dead?!

Kronos shouted out a few curses and pulled back the gun. "It's empty!" He loosed his hold on Annabeth and she immediately backed away from him, disappearing.

It's empty? It's empty! It's empty! Percy almost laughed. Fate has given Annabeth another chance. But then again, nothing comes free. There is always a price. So what would the price be?

Kronos answered his question. He pulled out another gun from under his coat. He had loosed his hold on Annabeth and she immediately backed away from him, disappearing.

Kronos pointed the gun at Percy and grinned wickedly. "And I know this one is loaded. I haven't used it for a week. The other one is stronger, but this one can kill too."

Percy's mouth felt dry. The gun was pointed at him. If he ran, he would get shot. If he stayed there, he would get shot. If he tried to fight, he would get shot. Well, the price was going to be paid.

Annabeth came up from behind Kronos and smacked one of the only weapons she could find: a vase. Why it was up there, in the cabin, know one knows.

Kronos shouted in pain but didn't lower his weapon. Instead he fired, not one, but three times: one in Percy's leg, one in his shoulder, and the last one hit his stomach.

Percy stood there for a minute, not feeling pain, but shock. He was practically paralyzed. Then the pain came. Percy's vision turned red and he collapsed on the ground. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears. He started coughing, and his heart nearly stopped when he saw he was coughing up blood.

He couldn't hear clearly, everything was muffled, but he watched as Kronos walked up to Percy and aimed his gun directly at his face. This time, there was no ifs. There was a predetermined ending, and Percy would not win.

But Kronos didn't fire. Instead, his head tilted to one side and blood began to pour from his mouth. He fell to his knees, and then laid down on the ground. There was a knife in his back, and Annabeth was standing behind him, breathing hard.

Annabeth immediately ran over to Percy. She rolled him onto his back and so that he was laying on her lap.

"Percy," she stroked his hair. "Hang on, help will be here soon."

Percy's vision was already fading. "Did you mean it?" He coughed up some more blood.

Annabeth didn't need to ask what he mean. "Yes, I did. I love you."

Percy tried to grin, but it hurt to much. It hurt to breathe. It hurt to live. "I love you, too."

His breathing got more jagged and it burned his lungs to breathe every breath. His vision began to go black.

"Hang on." Annabeth said urgently and gripped Percy's hand. "Please."

Percy nodded, promising both Annabeth and himself that he would make it. But it was hard. The pain was almost too much. Almost.

After a few hours, but maybe it was actually a few minutes, the pain made everything feel longer, people barged into the room. Percy recognized the uniforms: they're cops.

One cop took one look at Percy and said into his walkie-talkie, "Bring an ambulance. Fast."

Percy looked at Annabeth and she nodded. "Just don't die on me, okay, Seaweed Brain?"

"Got it, Wise Girl." And with that, he slipped into unconsciousness.

Read and review! Though I don't know why I say read after you already the chapter...so, I guess, review!