Wow, first Annabeth chapter. It's really short. The next one is even shorter, if that's possible. Sorry guys.

Disclaimer: I don't own pjo


"Annabeth?" Piper whispered through the darkness. The blonde rolled over, cracking an eye open to peer at her roommate.

"Yes, Piper?" she asked, biting back a yawn.

"Do you ever wonder why your dad doesn't come and get you out of here?" Piper's voice sounded small, sad. Annabeth sighed, sitting up in her bed. She rested her back against the wall, pulling her knees to her chest, and squinting in the dim light of the room to spot Piper.

"I know why: he doesn't care about me," she replied, keeping her voice down. If one of the nighttime guards were to hear them talking...

"I thought it was your mother who doesn't care about you," Piper said. Annabeth winced, but nodded.

"My dad let her bring me here," Annabeth replied, staring at her feet. Her toes were painted with blue nail polish. When subjects arrive at OTF they are allowed a small number of personal items – for Thalia, that included about five bottles of black nail polish and a few other, dark, colors. She had painted Annabeth, Piper, Hazel, and Rachel's nails one day out of boredom whilst they were discussing strategies in the courtyard. Annabeth had chosen blue because it was Percy's favorite color – not that she would ever admit that.

"Maybe he didn't have a choice," Piper said softly. Annabeth frowned, scooting herself to the edge of her bed. Her eyes flickered to the door, before she pushed herself from the bed, racing across the small room and rolling into Piper's bed in an exceptionally uncoordinated fashion.

Piper giggled. "That wasn't very like you, Annabeth," she teased, a hint of sadness still on the edge of her voice.

"Oh, hush," Annabeth said softly, waving a hand in the air. "Are you okay? Why are you thinking about this?" Piper hesitated before answering. Annabeth leaned in as the other girl spoke. The words were so soft she could barely hear them.

"Percy said his mom seemed pretty surprised that Tyson and Percy weren't being treated properly, right?" Piper asked. Annabeth nodded slowly. "And Frank said that his grandmother didn't seem to have a choice in sending him here. Maybe they're threatened or blackmailed or they think it's safe here. If they had information on my father, it could destroy his career."

Annabeth nodded again, slinging a comforting around Piper's shoulder. What she was saying did make sense, especially when she thought about the people who were in charge at OTF. It was a very good possibility that they were being kept here without their parent's consent.

The girls sat there like that for a while, leaning against the wall on Piper's bed, Annabeth's arm over Piper's shoulder. Eventually, Piper's breathing slowed and Annabeth could tell her roommate was asleep. She gently lowered her friend's head to the pillow, darting back to her own bed and under the covers. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow.

"I love you so much, Annabeth," her mother said, pressing a sweet kiss to her temple. Seven-year-old Annabeth grinned up at Athena as she smoothed her curls, humming a slightly off-key lullaby. However, the fingers that were weaving their way through Annabeth's hair comfortingly soon gripped it tightly, yanking at the blonde locks and causing the young girl to scream in pain.

"How did you become so smart," her mother continued, in the same soothing tone. She was ignoring her daughter's anguish, yanking harder and harder at the curls in her fingers.

"Mom, stop!" Annabeth shrieked, hands prying at Athena's desperately. Athena raised her other hand to caress her daughter's cheek, then moved it to her throat. She began to strangle the girl, who had grown into teenaged Annabeth. "Mom. Can't. Breathe," she choked out, gasping for air.

And then, Athena was being shoved away from her, Percy's face hovering above Annabeth's with a smile. He extended a hand towards her.

"Come on, Wise Girl," he smirked, "Its okay. I've got you."

Annabeth woke up with tears in her eyes.