Annabeth POV
Everything happened so fast that I began moving on instinct alone with one purpose: protect Percy.
Thalia and Jason both lunged forwards to grab me and try to incapacitate me so that Nico could go for Percy. I swiped Jason's arm with my dagger as I kicked at Nico's shins. He stumbled, but grabbed my arm as he went down. Jason was bleeding, but I couldn't tell from where. I pulled my wrist out of Nico's grasp and kicked him in the face. There was a crunch, and a gush of blood came out of his nose.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Thalia move towards Percy, who was still fighting against his restraints. He was growling, drool flinging out of his mouth onto the floor. The chair was shaking and splintering, threatening to break down any second. I scrambled away from the two boys towards Thalia.
"Leave him alone!" I cried, my voice sounding desperate and heartbroken more than it did furious. I crashed into her, and we fell down to the floor. She and I wrestled for control, blades in hand, as Percy roared in the background. Unlike Nico and Jason, Thalia knew my fighting style, and trying to maintain control was wearing me down.
"Just let go, Annabeth!" Thalia yelled. Nico and Jason were getting back up in the corner when I heard a sharp crack behind my head. Their eyes widened, and they scrambled to their feet with weapons held forwards.
"Thalia get out of the way!" Nico screamed. She looked up in time to see Percy free his arm from the broken chair, and swing at her face. She fell off me and slammed into the corner, unconscious. I raced to my feet and stood between Percy and the men trying to kill him.
"Stop it, please!" I cried, lashing my dagger towards Nico and Jason. Percy was untangling himself from the rope on the ground, and it wouldn't be long before he was entirely free.
"Get out of the way, Annabeth!" Jason growled, and lunged forwards. I blocked his first strike, but the second connected with my thigh. Blood pooled onto the ground on my left side, and I felt the world start to spin.
"I can save him..."I choked out, still trying to hold them back. Nico and Jason advanced on me, and my strength started to fade. I closed my eyes, and reached backwards for Percy. If this was the end, then I wanted him to be the last sensation I ever felt. My palm rested on his chest as Nico and Jason raised their swords above their heads. My eyes closed, prepared for the end.
And then I felt it.
A heartbeat.