Looking up, she saw grappling lines shoot from the Argo II and wrap around the statue. One lassoed Athena's neck like a noose. Leo shouted orders from the helm as Jason and Frank flew frantically from line to line, trying to secure them. Nico had just reached the ladder when a sharp pain shot up Annabeth's bad leg.

ANNABETH

Get to the ship, my body told me before the pain could become so unbearable I'd be unable to move. I stumbled to the ship.

"What is it?" Percy asked. For the mean time, I ignored it. Get to the ship, get to the ship.

I felt like I was on a treadmill. My legs forced me forward, but I wasn't moving forward. A jolt of panic and adrenaline came over me as I tried to move faster towards the ship, but I wasn't moving.

Before I could even begin to question it, my legs swept out from under me and I fell. My arms weren't quick enough to try and catch me.

"Her ankle!" Hazel's voice sounded muffled as I tried to hear through the pain. "Cut it! Cut it!"

I furrowed my eyebrows—I couldn't have heard her right. Cut my ankle?

I looked to Percy, who didn't understand what Hazel had said either. Then something yanked me backwards, dragging me toward the pit. I yelped and tried to hold onto the ground and climb it to stop me from moving back, but it wasn't working. Once Percy's arm grabbed mine, I held onto him, hoping it would be enough for me to stop being pulled.

Apparently not.

The momentum carried him along with me.

"Help them!" Hazel yelled.

Nico was hobbling in our direction, and Hazel was trying to disentangle her sword from the rope ladder. The others were too focused on the statue. I doubted they could even hear her.

I sobbed as I hit the edge of the pit and my legs went over the side. I realized what had happened. I was tangled in the spider silk.

I should have cut it away the minute I could. I should have told Percy to cut it when I had the chance. This should have never happened if I had just listened to myself when I wanted to cut it. I thought it was just loose silk, but with the entire floor covered in it, I hadn't noticed that one strand was wrapped around my foot, and its end led into the pit. Something heavy had fallen into the pit, and whatever it was was pulling me down with it.

The adrenaline I had felt was starting to subside at the worst possible time. My body ached, begging for me to relax and rest, and before I could fight it, I had slipped over the edge.

My body slammed into something, and my shoulder screamed at the abrupt stop. I looked around and I saw that I was dangling over the void, with nothing but Percy keeping me up. Percy, who seemed to struggling keeping himself up as well, held onto a ledge fifteen feet below the top of the chasm.

I had read quite a bit about blackholes, and how if you would ever be sucked into one, you'd probably feel like you were being stretched as you were going through it. I couldn't help but compare this to what I read. Percy was pulling me up by keeping a grip on my wrist, and whatever was falling into the pit was pulling me down by the ankle.

No escape, said a voice in the darkness below. I go to Tartarus, and you will come too.

I could have sword I heard it in Arachne's voice, but I wasn't sure if it was actually her or if it was just me.

The pit shook, pulling me out of my thoughts and back to the situation at hand. I could see Nico reaching towards us, but he was just too far away. I could hear Hazel yelling for the others, but I doubt they would be able to help now.

The pull from my leg got stronger and stronger, and it took almost everything in me to keep from screaming.

Whatever voice I heard, real or not, was right. There wasn't escaping this. I was too far down to be saved. Percy needed to let go of me to reach Nico. It wasn't too late for him. The group didn't need to lose him too. Just me.

"Percy," I pleaded, looking up at him. I could see him trying so hard not to let me go. I wouldn't be surprised if the pain I felt in my ankle was the same pain he felt in his shoulder. "Let me go." It wasn't too late for him. He could still be saved. "You can't pull me up. Please just let me go."

I could see in his eyes that he agreed. He couldn't pull me up.

"Never," he replied, and I knew it wasn't because he thought he could save me. I had to think, and I had to think. I had to make him let me go before he was going to do what I was thinking he was gonna do, or before he realized what I was going to do.

"Nico!" I screamed, surprising Percy. "Nico, you have to go to the other side, okay? Promise me you'll do that." I said. I looked at Nico, who nodded. I knew he could hear me. I just hoped he could hear what I'd say next. I looked at Percy. "And-and promise me that you won't let Seaweed Brain here do something stupid!"

"What?" Percy asked. I let go of his wrist and twisted my arm around it. I pinched the back of his wrist between my fingernails, forcing his reflexes to let go of me. As soon as his grip loosened, I let go.

And I fell.

I could see Jason, coming to the rescue and helping Percy up. I could see Percy struggle and fight to follow me. But I decided to focus on the sunlight above me. I didn't know when I'd see it again, or if I would ever see it again, and a part of me found contentment as I bathed in it. The light.

A small smile found its way to my face as relief washed over me. I didn't feel any pain. While I hated not knowing happiness, I knew one thing was for sure.

Percy was safe.

I saved him.

And that was enough.