ANNABETH

After the surprise attack at the camp a few nights ago, Lord Chaos has added quite a number of soldiers to protect both camps and Olympus. He gravely reported that there has been no sign of Skander but assured us that Mona is their best hunter and would no doubt find him. Last night, Mother appeared in my dreams last night and told me that the monsters have been messing up their domains to keep the Olympians divided leaving her, Hera, Hestia and Aphrodite to discuss possible battle strategies. Unlike the past wars, the gods had been confident that we, demigods, will always prevail to save them even if it meant that we would risk our lives. This new war changes all of that. Mother had finally admitted that the gods had been so long in power that they couldn't live without it and feel threatened once someone lower than them shows great power despite being human. I asked her if she was talking about Percy and she sadly wept, saying that it had been a huge mistake of theirs to throw someone as loyal and brave as Percy. She didn't even bother to ask how I knew his name but rather told me that rest assured they will bring Percy back from Tartarus. That was when I told her what Nico told me the night camp was attacked. Percy has been missing and nobody knew about it or for how long now. Has he managed to escape? If he did, where did her go? Did he move to Canada where there are no gods or monsters? I couldn't ask anyone or go there myself to check after all that we've been through these past few weeks. Is he safe? Does he remember me? Does he remember any of us? Why hasn't he called or sent a message or something? Nico almost told the campers about this but I told him to wait. If we told the campers that Percy had been missing, will they have the will to fight? Or will they feel discouraged that the only person everyone has looked up to was nowhere to be found? Will they be angry that he never bothered to return to camp to help us fight this war?

Questions… So many questions were on my mind like a plague. Will any of these questions will ever be answered? I sigh as I slump back into my seat at the Big House. We had been discussing, or rather – arguing, about our strategies. Children of Athena are best at strategies but everyone has been agitated since more and more campers had been sent to the infirmary. Chiron tried to calm everyone but it was simply uneasy when everyone's thinking the same thing: this war might be our last. We're praying for it to be in a good way, but the odds aren't exactly in our favor.

"Greece to Annabeth… Hello?" I looked at Thalia as she tried to wave her hands in front of me.

"I'm sorry. I just have a lot of things in my mind. What was the question?" they all slumped back to their seats

"We all wrapped up the meeting a few minutes ago. We're the only ones here." Thalia said as she extends her arm as if she needed to prove her statement.

"I'm sorry. I just… have a lot of things in mind, that's all." I said, defeated.

"Well no sphinx, Miss Chase! Come on! I'm starving!" Thalia stood up and started pulling my arm. I rolled my eyes and stood up as well, letting her take the lead to the dining pavilion.

"What do you think will happen to us after this war?" Thalia asked as we walk towards the pavilion.

"I don't know. I'd like to believe that there's still hope. I mean, the prophecy did say that a savior will be the salvation of us all. I think that's the only reason why everyone still wants to fight. To figure out the last piece of the prophecy." I said, trying to sound confident but Thalia wasn't buying it.

"I know who that savior is, Annabeth. You do too. Deep down we both know he's not coming." I stopped at her words, sat down and I wept. For three months I had to hold this all in and now I am letting it all out. Campers nearby were looking at us right now but I didn't care. I just had to let it all out.

"Annie, what's wrong? Why are you crying like that?" Thalia asked lowering herself as she wrapped me in a tight hug.

"I remember everything Thalia. Everything! How we were called to Olympus, how he accepted his fate like it was some sword, how we said our final goodbyes… Everything, Thalia! For three months I held it in because I didn't want to completely lose my memories of him. And now… Now he's missing in Tartarus and no one knows where he is! EVEN THE GODS! Can you believe it, Thalia?! NOBODY!" I said as I started kicking and screaming like a little girl who couldn't have her ice cream. I need Percy now, more than ever.

"Annabeth," I calmed myself down and wiped away the tears on my face. I turned around to see my Mother standing with her arms wide open. I ran into her arms and cried some more.

"I'm sorry you had to hold it in, my child. I'm truly sorry," Mother said in a calming voice as she pats my back lightly. "Chiron, gather 'round all the children. I have news that I wish to share with all of you."

- Line Break -

"What do you mean 'Percy's missing'?! He's dead?!" Clarisse shouted. This caused an uproar with the remaining campers but mother stood firm and unnerved.

"Children, silence please! Let Lady Athena explain!" Chiron shushed abruptly.

"I think it's better if the son of Hades explains this to all of you. After all, he has risked his life to find Perseus." Mother nodded at Nico who was sitting awkwardly beside Will. He looked at everyone before Will shoved him in front causing him to almost trip and fall. A few campers started laughing but was shushed once again by Chiron.

"Uhm, I…" Nico started. He isn't much of a talker but as soon as he laid his eyes on me, I nodded back to assure him that it was all going to be okay.

"The reason why I was gone for almost three months was because I wanted to find Percy after I heard about the prophecy. I mean, let's face it, every single one of us here is thinking about the same thing. Percy is the savior that the prophecy is talking about. I mean, who else could it be? The soldiers? I know it's not an easy task to be back in Tartarus but I did it because I knew Percy would do the same. I just never told anyone because I couldn't risk your lives even if I knew you'd want to volunteer. I couldn't ask Annabeth because every night it breaks my heart hearing her scream every night because of the nightmares that place brings. I couldn't let anyone else go through that same experience she, Percy and I share so I went and searched for him for months. I almost never made it back, too, if it weren't for my father and Queen Persephone. He wasn't there. Every monster I encountered said the same thing… If Percy was there, they'd be having a grand time right now. Not a single monster encountered Percy since he was sent there, not even Nyx." Gasps were heard from the campers. It's not easy to beat the Primordial Queen of the Night let alone to ask a question about a demigod's whereabouts.

"Lady Athena, where did you send Percy?" asked the Stoll brothers. It has been a while since I heard from them again.

"I'm afraid that we really did send him to Tartarus. It's been bothering me since the son of Hades reported it to the council a few days ago. Father might be the king of the gods but he has his restrictions, too. He couldn't send Perseus anywhere without the help of his siblings or children." Mother answered and that's when it hit me…

"But there is someone else who is capable of doing anything… Like, let's say, interrupting one great demigod's demise?" I said, causing everyone's eyes to widen.

"It's impossible! Lord Chaos has already said that Perseus isn't part of his army. Why would the Lord of Creation lie to us?"

"Because all will be revealed in time." We all turned our heads to where the voice came from. Lord Chaos was standing near the campfire, smiling with a hint of smug on the upward curl of his lips.