Chapter 15: Annabeth
Annabeth couldn't believe it. She wouldn't believe it. After all their adventures, all their quests, he was gone. Tears streamed down her face as she gripped Percy's cold. Lifeless hand. His eyes were shut. He seemed peaceful. The oceans were erupting, as if Poseidon himself was screaming in anguish. Annabeth felt the icy wind on her skin. Looking through the tears she saw the waves crashing into the ridge, just beneath where she was situated. The water seemed to be writhing in agony. Annabeth could see the waves envelope the Queen Anne's Revenge on the beach below. Kissing Percy's forehead she rose to her feet, her knees shaking. Her clothes were splattered with Percy's blood. Around her lay the shattered remains of Riptide. She picked up the hilt, which was also bloody; its glowing trident had faded into cold silver. Suddenly a gargantuan wave crashed onto the ridge. Annabeth felt the frigid seawater cover her. Percy's body was completely submerged. As Annabeth watched on his body faded into the wave. When the water receded, she was left alone on the ridge. Percy and the remains of Riptide had been returned to the sea. Wiping her eyes, Annabeth stumbled to the padlock. She placed the blood-stained hilt onto the lock. A creak echoed from the metal. Annabeth watched as the chains faded away and the doors opened. She stepped into the darkness as the light behind her faded. The doors slammed shut behind her, abandoning Annabeth to the dark.
Spiders had always been Annabeth's biggest fear. The absolute darkness she found herself in was a close second. She drew her blades and paced forwards. In trepidation she edged further into the blackness. Reaching down she left the ground beneath her. It was a cold stone, or at least it felt. Looking up she desperately tried to see something, anything.
"Hello?" she called out in an attempt to establish if she was alone. Silence responded. Annabeth continued to walk forward, or at least what she thought was forward. Her hand out ahead of her, Annabeth moved further and further into the dark. In the distance she could see a glimmer. The darkness wasn't eternal. Annabeth ran towards the glimmer. Slowly it came into focus; the final key. Annabeth grabbed the key and pulled the chest out of her bag. The chest was vibrating now, as if it was alive. She placed the final key into the slot marked The Black Gate of Ares. The chest flew out of her hand. The force knocked Annabeth to the ground. Looking up she saw the chest begin to crack. The lid splintered and blew off. A beam of pure white light erupted from the chest. Annabeth stood up and placed her hand in the chest. The light wrapped itself around her, bathing her in its warm glow. Annabeth felt herself be pulled into the box. She tried to pull her hand away but to no avail. The light wrenched her into the box.
