XI: The Stories Second Side

-Annabeth-

"Something wrong?" Malcom asked breaking the Athena cabin silence. I just continued to stare at the ceiling. It all feels so sudden. A new war, new allies, old and new foes. We haven't fought a war without Percy. Oh Percy, the wrongfully accused hero.

I walked down the shoreline without purpose. Calming and tranquil waves passed over the rocks. Sand filled the space between my toes as I stared across Fireworks Beach. Percy stood in the distance, setting a crab upright, watching as it hobbled back to the ocean. He even helps animals, truly the perfect hero.

My vision blurred against the sky, and I spun around to head back to my cabin. I'd say hi to Percy but I didn't have the energy to keep a conversation anyway. Peace reigned over the camp after two long wars. Can we finally rest? Finally be free from the grasp of the unknown? No. No peace is eternal for us. We will never be free, instead acting slave to the Greek world. Gods may have grown more attached to our generation, but were still just pawns. In time there will be another war. I faced Percy one last time. I look forward to fighting it by your side.

"Alright," I said to the young boy beside me. "You can get breakfast now little guy, I just wanted to show you that." He smiled widely before running off towards the pavilion. A scream pierced the air. Instinct consumed my body and I was already running towards its location. Half-Blood Hill stood tall, but the barrier did not even stop two little Hellhounds. A girl ran away from them, Violet eyes, blonde hair. Hiking boots plopped against the wet grass like a lemon landing in a cup of water.

I drew my dagger in advance, only to realize I wouldn't make it. I flipped the dagger to hold the tip of the blade and prepared to throw it. Almost leaving my hand, I had to avert the dagger towards the ground before me as Percy slid in front of the Hellhounds from nowhere.

Impaling itself on the ground, I kicked the dagger to the side, letting the girl run into my arms. "Your safe," I mumbled. "It's all ok." Water seeped into my shirt as she silently sobbed. I got ready to help Percy but he had already killed the Hellhounds and began walking back to wherever he came from. Guess he doesn't want to meet the new girl.

I just shrugged and began to walk off, a small girl holding my hand.

"You want me to redesign camp?" I curiously asked the Centaur before me. He just nodded and continued to sip some purple liquid from his cup.

"With wars over, we thought we should expand. Keep campers alive for longer, even building houses if necessary. Before you ask, no we're not turning camp into a town." Our eyes met and I could tell he was serious.

"If we need to keep campers alive," I started. "Shouldn't we fix the barrier first? Or figure out some kind of alternative?" Chiron nodded, setting his glass down on the Ping Pong table.

"The gods stray from the ancient laws in these days. Many want to be involved in the life below. They have a plan which may take some time, but it provides a better alternative than anything we could do."

"And wha-

"Stone wall." Eyebrows raised, I gestured for him to continue. "They plan on making a stone wall surrounding us, which can be armed with weapons from catapults to any other Greek weapon. Realistically, we only need bows though." He paused. "Technically we need not fight them at all anymore."

"Won't they just be twice as angry at approaching campers, or when half-years leave for school?" Shrugging, I could tell what he was thinking. Their monsters, they don't have that much mental capacity. "So that's what drives you to redesign camp? I will have barley and time to see Percy and the others with all your talking about."

"I'm making an offer, not a demand. Your truly our best architect besides herself, and it would be a good way to turn this place into more of a dreamscape."

Was he poking at my Hebris when he said that five years ago? Chiron wasn't one to exploit, but the more I remember it, the worse everything seems to feel. Camp really fell apart that month.

Malcom collapsed onto his bed. "Sorry for dragging you into this, but planning needs two good heads at least." Too tired to respond, he just did a thumbs up on his stomach. Redesigning a camp is exhausting, even just in the planning stage. The door flung open derailing my train of thoughts. Piper stood out of breath, and looking at me. "Jason is hurt," she pants. For a second we both locked eyes staying still, before I bombarded her with questions. "Who did it? How bad is it? Will he live? Is he conscious?"

"You should talk to the man himself," she said. Jason walked into the cabin, a bandage wrapped around his stomach stained with a blood red. Heavily breathing with his hand closed around something. His skin was pale, the face being paper white. A long scrape ran across the sword in his other hand.

"Percy attacked me, I barely survived. He didn't expect me to block his first attack. I stabbed him in his shock. If it was a one on one he would have won, maybe even the two on one I had with Piper. I was lucky to immediately take him out." I opened my mouth but no words came. Thoughts could not form in my head. Emotions bubbled within me, but I was unable to read them.

"Huh," was all I could manage.

"Annabeth, Malcom, everyone," Piper began. "You have to understand, Percy is trying to gain power in the cam-"

"Shut up!" Malcom yelled. That was the worst part. I felt betrayed by the world itself. I couldn't tell If Piper was telling the truth or making a crude joke, but she wasn't charmspeaking or Malcom wouldn't have yelled out. Everyone else in Athena cabin was confused and silent, but all eyes were on me. I could feel them like lasers in my back. "I wasn't always super fond of Percy, but I know what he would and wouldn't do." Malcolm pointed at Jason. "That, he wouldn't do."

An upset expression turned into an angered one as Piper began to glare at Malcolm. She opened her mouth to speak but I used my input. "This is a joke right? I mean he turned down immortality once, so gaining power probably isn't his priority." My reasoning didn't seem to make it through to her. Jason refused to interfere, instead staring at the grass outside the cabin.

"Listen up," Piper began once more. "You don't seem to understand. Trust for your boyfriend blinds yo-"

"Then what blinds me?" Malcom sarcastically interjected. Surprise was my only clear thought. Surprised Malcom stood so boldly for Percy, that Piper made such drastic claims. Extending his hand, my brother sprung from the bed to look Piper in the eye. Somehow it looked like it might get ugly.

Something wet touched my cheek. Then again, and again, and before I knew it quiet tears streamed down my face. Both Piper and Malcom turned to me, effectively stopping the mini-fight.

"So," Chiron began. "The Percy situation." Evasion of the subject lasted a whole day, I couldn't run away anymore.

"Percy," Jason forcefully began. His shirt and bandage were off, the broadsword sized whole in his chest showing. "Attacked me attempting to end it in one blow. At the last second. I used my powers over air to push the blade away from an instant kill. I was still unfortunately hit," he finished gesturing the stab wound.

"I feel as if we need no more proof," Piper stated. "What else could have happened?"
 "That last lines suspicious," Reyna spoke up. The only people in the room were me, Chiron, Jason, Piper, Reyna, Frank, and Hazel. That's what I thought anyway.

"Couldn't agree more," a voice echoed from the shadows. Everyone seemed to jump back, turning to the dark haired figure in the corner. "I heard something bad happened, here, but this outrage is way more serious."

"Let them tell their story Nico," Chiron said shocking him. I could tell this was going to be more of a fight.

My hand traveled to a certain section of my belt. I don't want to think about this anymore.

"Send out search parties we must find him!"

Why did it turn out like this!?

"Camps on the verge of civil war as are the gods."

I don't understand.

"I made a mistake blaming Percy for Bianca's death. I promise I won't make a mistake blaming this on you."

When did the fates decide.

"HIS FATAL FLAW WAS LOYALTY! HE'D JUST ACCEPT DAM GODHOOD IF HE WANTED POWER!"

To turn our happy ending.

"The gods have halted contact with our camp. Dinyosus's location is currently unknown. Artemis and the hunts location also remain unknown."

Into a bullet to the chest.

"I regret to inform you all, Percy Jackson was innocent."