I know I haven't posted in a while, and I'm really, really sorry about that! I was too busy with school and other stuff. Thank you guys for being patient and sticking with the story.

Here's the next chapter!

Disclaimer: All rights belong to Rick Riordan

Percy:

Percy finally started to relax. Annabeth squeezed his hand reassuringly, and he squeezed back. He didn't want to talk about what he had seen, what Gaea had shown him. He tried to tell himself it was just a vision, but it had seemed so real. He tried to think of a way that that particular event could be avoided, but it didn't seem possible. He tried to focus on Annabeth's hand in his, hoping that maybe she would think of something.

"How-" he began, and felt Annabeth straighten next to him. "How long do you think we'll be stuck here?"

She didn't answer for a moment. "I don't know," Annabeth said quietly, "but with things heating up between Gaea and the gods, probably not too much longer. It'll be over soon, one way or another." She sounded sad, a little wistful, something Percy could understand completely. But he knew she was waiting to hear what he had seen, and it was something she had to hear.

"Do you really want to know what I saw?" Percy asked Annabeth, turning towards her. Her gray eyes glinted in the dim sword light, searching, analyzing as always. Percy didn't want to hurt her as he had been hurt, but he knew she would press him to tell her anyway.

"Tell me," Annabeth whispered.

Percy turned away from her, staring into the darkness. He felt Annabeth shift slightly next to him as he gathered his courage to speak. It was his worst fear come to life, his biggest regret, the last thing he would want to happen. But he spoke anyway.

"Gaea showed me… she showed me what would happen when she took us out of Tartarus. And what would happen to the others when they tried to meet us at the Doors of Death." He paused. Annabeth was deathly quiet. "They won't die, at least, not in any heroic or even quiet way. Gaea captured all of them, every single person who is now on the Argo II, including us. Then she brought everyone's worst fears to life." Annabeth stiffened. Percy felt his voice begin to shake a little. "I – I heard everyone screaming. In – in pain. And it was because of me. It was like I – I told Gaea our plans, like I betrayed everyone. You were all there because of me. All of you were mad at me, asking me why. It was all my fault. And I – I begged her to stop, to kill me or do whatever she wanted with me and let the rest of you go, but she didn't. She just – she just laughed at me and – and made us all suffer. And I couldn't do anything to stop it." Percy was shaking uncontrollably now. It had seemed so real, the pain so physical and tangible, that he had begun to believe that he really had betrayed his friends. Their voices were still so clear in his head, shouting at him, calling him a liar and a traitor when he wasn't one; his only thought was to try to get them free. And it hurt him. He was beginning to realize that loyalty could hurt more than he had ever imagined.

He realized that Annabeth had sat up and was hugging him, rubbing his back and whispering reassuring things into his ear. The voices seemed to fade a little, but they were still there, echoing around in his brain.

"Percy." Annabeth sat back, holding his shoulders and staring him straight in the face. Percy focused on those gray eyes he knew so well, trying to find comfort in them. "Percy, listen to me." Annabeth said. "That vision wasn't real. That was just Gaea tapping into your fatal flaw. Nothing like that will ever, ever happen." Percy sighed. He wanted to believe her but all his strength was gone, any faith and hope that he had had before about this war had been left back at the entrance to Tartarus. Annabeth noticed him turning away and said sharply, "Percy, you can't listen to her. This is exactly what she's trying to do! She wants you to think everything is hopeless, because that's the only way she can win! She may not want to admit it, but we can stop her. Don't you see? She's scared! Scared that seven or eight demigods are going to bring her and her giants crashing down! This is her only defense. We can't let her intimidate us. Don't believe a word she says, Percy. We will get out of here, and we will win."

Percy regarded her for a moment, then nodded slightly. Even though the circumstances were dire, somehow Annabeth always found the silver lining. If she truly believed something could be done, then usually it was true, and if Percy believed in anything, he believed in Annabeth. He felt a little flame of hope flare up in him, flickering but existing nonetheless.

(I hope you Whovians caught the Doctor Who reference in the last paragraph. That episode aired a while ago, and I saw it not too long ago, but still. :) )

Yes, yes, I know this chapter was dark and depressing, but it did end on a somewhat good note, right?

So, as usual, please review and comment!

Happy Spring Break everyone!