Percy
No. Nonononono. This can't be happening.
"Percy?" I hear Annabeth behind me.
I'm on my knees and tears are streaming down my face. In front of me are my mom and Paul, but they aren't really there. They're in Hades' realm now. The entire living room is trashed, with blood everywhere, but I barely notice it. The war just ended. I was finally going to see my mom for the first time in almost a year. But now...
I hear Annabeth on the phone behind me. "Yes sir," she says quietly into the device. "Percy and I were at summer camp and we just got back. That was when we found..."
I tune Annabeth out. I was never going to hear my mom's voice again, never going to taste her blue cookies again, never again going to be hugged by my mom who loved me no matter what.
I feel a hand on my shoulder and I slowly stand up.
"The police will be here soon," Annabeth says softly. I nod, noticing her cheeks are also wet.
"I could have saved them." I whisper, looking down. "If I had just been here..."
"No." Annabeth says firmly. "Percy, look at me." I look up slowly to see Annabeth's face, her eyes shining with tears. "You can't blame yourself for this. This was not your fault okay? There was no way you could have stopped it, alright?" I nod, not sure if I really mean it.
"Alright," I say quietly and Annabeth pulls me into a hug. We stay like that until we hear the police come inside.
"You ready?" Annabeth whispers.
"No" I say, "but I don't think I ever will be, so let's just get this over with."
She nods, and we head out together to face them.