Alright, just this chapter and the epilogue. I had already written this chapter but it got deleted when the computer shut down. Now I'm sad. I hope I still got the emotion in this chapter. You know just for the heck of it while reading this play that sad walking away song from the Incredible Hulk it'll do wonders for the effect.

The entire time I was unconscious I was plagued by dreams. They were always about Annabeth. And she always died at the end of the dream. It was awful, and by the time I woke up I was feeling like crap got off better than I had.

Grover was there. He smiled sadly when he saw me.

"Hey Percy," he greeted.

"Grover…" but I lost my train of thought. "Where am I?"

"Back at camp in the infirmary," he told me. "You've been out cold for two days. How are you feeling?"

"I wish I was dead," I told him truthfully.

"Oh." He mumbled. "Look I know it's the last place you want to be but are you going to Annabeth's funeral? We already had Luke's but for her we figured we'd wait until you–"

"I'll go," I interrupted and got out of the bed I was in.

My gunshot wound was bandaged, and so was my chest, ribs, shoulder, and my various other injuries. I was sore all over and certain movements cause intense pain. I didn't even care. I powered through it until I made it back to my cabin. As soon I was there though, I closed my cabin's door, collapsed on my bed, and cried. I must've cried myself to sleep, because the next thing I remembered was a bleary-eyed Thalia waking me up telling me it was time to go to the funeral.

Nico's POV

The funeral was one of the saddest things I ever put myself through. All of camp was there, as well as Tyson, Athena, Poseidon, and Annabeth's mortal family who had been let through the borders to say goodbye.

Instead of rifle shots, the Apollo cabin fired flaming arrows into the sky. They disappeared into the night sky, and it started to rain. The rain did a good job of hiding everybody's tears. Percy fell to his knees and cried like there was no tomorrow. Thalia pulled me into a hug and sobbed into my shoulder.

I did my best to comfort her, returning the hug.

"She's gone," she sobbed.

"We'll see her again. Her and Luke both. One day," I reminded her.

"You think so?" Thalia asked, her face still buried in my shoulder.

I knew what she meant. Annabeth and Luke had died in defiance of the gods. That could hurt their chances for Elysium. But they were heroes no matter what. They'd make it for sure.

"I know so," I told her.

She looked up at me, then to my lips, and then back up at me. And then…she kissed me. I wrapped my arms around her and her arms wrapped around my neck as the kiss deepened. The small part of my brain that still worked yelled. Your dream idiot! Don't do anything stupid! But that voice was drowned out by the much larger part of my brain that wanted to never leave Thalia ever again.

Even so, I reluctantly pulled away. "Thalia…"

I stab of rejection was in Thalia's eyes as I pulled away. I really cared about her. Hades, I might even love her. So instead of being the voice of reason, I said something else.

"Not here."

She nodded, and since we were at the back of the crowd no one saw us shadow travel to my cabin. And we spent the night drowning our sorrow in each other's company.

Percy's POV

After the funeral, I left camp. I packed as much of my stuff as possible and walked off. I walked past the camp's borders, past New York City limits, past the New York state line. I didn't know where I was headed, or why I was headed there. I just kept walking and walking until I ended up sitting on a dock off the coast of California.

I was stuck without a purpose. Riptide felt heavier in my pocket. Maybe I should just end it all. I fell asleep on the dock that night.

I was standing on the dock as a fierce thunderstorm shook the ground. Thick mist curled around my feet and raspy breathing filled my ears. I didn't have to turn around to know that the reaper himself was standing behind me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, not turning.

"I am wherever death is," he answered.

"I'm not dead."

"No, but thoughts have entered your mind Percy Jackson. To take your own life…you've truly lost all hope haven't you?"

"Get out of my head," I ordered.

A scythe slowly edged forward until the blade was in my face.

"Do you see this blade?" he rasped from behind me.

"I see it," I answered.

"This is the blade that can end your suffering," he told me. "All you have to do…is ask."

I woke with a start. I opened my pack. I was out of food, out of clothes, out of everything. I was stranded in California with no food and no way home. I tried mist traveling. I started to evaporate, but my focus broke and I reformed. Sighing, I hefted my backpack and started walking back. It could take a while.

Channel 2 News

Following the disappearance of demigod terrorist unit, elected official have passed the "Co-Existence Act" which will help to link our world with the world of Olympus.

I'm some random reporter, and this is Channel 2 News.

The Burt Williams Show

Following the attempt to enslave our leader, Congress has foolishly passed the so-called "Co-Existence Act" in a suicidal attempt to combine our two very different worlds. All human-only schools have either been shut down or forced to accept demigods.

With living monster magnets once again attending schools, monster attacks against innocent youths are expected to triple. Part of the new act has boat men added to school faculties to protect pure humans and demigods alike, but I for one do not feel safe with them watching over our children.

Half-Blood TV (commercial)

With new Satyr Securities offices opening across the country on a daily basis, monster effectiveness is expected to drop significantly. Providing protection for mortals and demigods alike, the world at large can rest at ease with Satyr Securities watching over us.

Access Olympus

Demigod hero and savior of the world, Percy Jackson still missing after an extensive search. With rumors ranging from monster attacks to his joining The Pit, nobody truly knows what has happened to him. If you have any information regarding this man, contact us at 1-800-LOST-HERO

In other news, today marks the one week anniversary of the passing of Annabeth Jackson, wife of Percy Jackson.

Neroh turned off the TV, not finding anything that wasn't about Jackson and his victory. He sighed. The Pit had failed to bring down the world once again.

"Anything on?" the little boy asked Neroh as he walked in.

"'Fraid not kiddo. Your daddy screwed up again," Neroh told him.

"When I get older, do you think I'll screw up like him?" the boy asked, hope gleaming in his eyes.

Neroh put an arm around the boy's shoulder. "No way kid. You'll bring Olympus crumbling down for sure."

"I'll be the bestest member of The Pit eber," the boy said happily.

Neroh laughed. "Forget that."

The boy looked shocked and upset. Neroh just smiled.

"You'll be leader of The Pit."

Neroh lifted up the file folder containing details on Operation: Grandfather. The kid had high hopes, but Neroh's expectations were even higher. One day, this small little boy would destroy Olympus. And now that Annabeth was dead, there would be no one around to stop young little Evan Nakamura.

WTF? That's exactly what you guys are thinking right now huh? Alright, tomorrow's the epilogue and then the day after that is the sequel. There's no real reason to put up the TV host questions this time. So just review.