Annabeth

I stand at the edge of a deep chasm. It's dark like the face of Night, and I can tell because I have seen her face. I shudder, remembering the experience. Downwards, there's pitch black darkness and I can't see more than an inch into the pit. It's revolting. I start backing off from the edge, slowly. But as I turn around, I hear his voice.

"Help me. Get me out of here"

The voice is laced by pain more than fear. And it washes over me, taking hold on every inch of my skin, and I want to do something, anything and everything to save this man.

I shake myself awake from this trance. This isn't me. I don't take any rash decisions just because I am feeling something. I am Wisdom's Daughter. Brain over emotions, always. Still, I feel extremely drawn to the man in the pit. I sigh.

"You have to go in, you know."

I look up and see my mother hovering above me. Same regal look, same commanding expression, but her grey eyes were sad, like she knew how this was going to end and it wasn't any good.

"You have to save him. You're the only one who can. You're the only one who knows how.", she said.

After having faced almost all sorts of adversities in her demigod career, Annabeth knew better than to ask why she was the chosen one for this task. So she asked the next sane question.

"Who is this man in the pit? And how can I save him.", she asked.

"He's a demigod, wronged by his parents and wronged by the gods.", her expression was pained. "He has been sentenced to slow death for a thing that wasn't his fault. For years, he has prevailed. But now he's getting weaker. And he can't last any longer."

"Unless I help him."

"Yes, child."

"But why is he so important?"

"Because the fate of the world depends on him. Because he's part of a prophecy. And he can either save the reign of the gods, or destroy it."

Annabeth was disappointed, but not surprised. She had gone through this before. It shocked her that the end of the world, as she knew it, didn't shock her as much as it should have. She had become quite resilient in these past years. She was sure nothing could shock her anymore.

"What's the prophecy?", she asked.

Her mother repeated,

"Dark chasm rises on the longest day

The Earth starts to swallow the sun

Reach the place where the wronged stay

Free from chains, the slaved Eridian

When Wisdom shines the light on Fire

Then the lost one Death acquire"

She stood extremely still and then asked, "Do you think the Dark Chasm that this prophecy talks about is..", Annabeth stopped and swallowed, hard. "Tartarus?"

"One can never be sure, but I believe it is Tartarus.", replied Athena.

Annabeth didn't want to ask the question. It wouldn't help. It would just make things more difficult. But she had to know.

"Is this happening because of what happened on the Doors of Death at the time of the Giant's War?". Her voice trembled. "Is this because of Percy and me?"

"It had to happen some day or the other, my child. You just speeded it up. Tartarus is boiling for millennia, getting more riled up day by day by gods, mortals and its own monsters. It was destined to be awake some day or the other. You need to know that none of the gods hold you or Perseus responsible for this.", assured Athena.

That didn't mean Annabeth didn't hold herself responsible. If she would have handled things in a better manner, then maybe, maybe this wouldn't be happening.

"You can still help", said Athena, as if she knew what Annabeth was thinking. "You need to help this demigod. You need to give him strength and guide him on his journey."

"Then I will.", said Annabeth, looking at the chasm, preparing to go in. But as she's about to, she hears another voice.

"No Annabeth, don't go". She turns around to find Percy standing on the upper edge of the chasm, looking down at her. His sea-green eyes, painful and scared, pleading her to not leave him.

"Its okay, Percy. I am just helping a friend.", she reassures him. "It'll be alright"

She looks at her mother for reassurance, only to find her downcast eyes and forlorn expression. She looks at both of them quizzically, not understanding what she was seeing.

"There's something you're not telling me, mother.", she said.

Athena's eyes were gloomy grey. "You have to choose, child."

Annabeth's eyes widened. What a load of horseshit.

"I don't need to choose anything. I'll be back for you Percy, I promise.", she said looking at him. She turned around and jumped into the pit. But not before she heard Percy's distraught cry, like the breaking of his heart, shouting and crying her name, getting reverberated in the confines of the pit, like howling.

Annabeth woke up suddenly and hit her head on the upper cot. She had to use a new one as her previous spot was occupied by new arrivals. She shivered and wound her quilt tightly around her. Luckily she didn't cry this time. The last few times she had the same dream, she had always lost it. Listening to Percy like that always broke her.

It still hurt that she couldn't tell him the entire truth. All she could tell him was that she had to go to the camp urgently and alone. He didn't even know she was going on a quest. He would completely freak out if he did. And that's why it was for the best that he doesn't know. She'll leave for the quest and be back in no time and none of that 'choose' shit will happen.

At least that's what she kept telling herself.

She looked around to see that almost all her cabin mates were awake. From the small window near the back of the room, the smell of morning breeze and fresh strawberries wafted in the cabin. It was a beautiful day. And the camp a beautiful place. And she was leaving in about an hour.

'Great life, Annabeth', she thought to herself.

She had packed all her essentials the previous night and all she needed now was monetary supply from the Camp Store and some food.

She got up from the bed, showered and went towards the Dining Pavilion with her Cabin mates.

She was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't even register what she ate, and she would have remained sitting where she was if Nico hadn't come up to her.

"Hey Annabeth, you well rested?", he asked.

"Huh, Hi Nico. Yeah I am fine. You're fine?", she replied.

Nico smiled. "I am doing okay. But I asked if you were well-rested or not? You're looking a bit lost."

"No, I am okay. Just... Nightmares. Where's Will?"

"He's gone to the Infirmary to stock up on medical supplies. He asked to meet up at the Pine Tree in 15 minutes. Chiron and Argus will be there."

"Okay, I'll just go to the Store. I need some money."

"I'll come with you."

They walked together to the Camp Store and asked the Cashier for their quest fund. They got 600 dollars and 30 golden drachmas. Nico divided the lot into three plastic bags. He gave one to Annabeth and kept the other two for himself and Will.

They started walking back towards the Cabins and were quiet on the entire way. Annabeth knew she had to break this ice. So she ventured.

"You and Will really look happy together."

Nico smiled. "He's made me a better man. I am glad I decided to stay here and give it a shot."

"I am glad for you too.", she hesitated. " Look, I don't want anything bad happening to any of you. You should know that. You have found happiness after so long and I don't want to come in the way of that, again"

"Don't worry Annabeth. I never held anything against you in the past. And I still don't. It took me some time to come to terms with things but now that I have, I am glad to be where I am. And you should know that you have been very cool about this since the start and I appreciate that. And I promise I'll try to keep all three of us out of trouble.", Nico smiled reassuringly.

Annabeth returned his smile as they reached Cabin 6. "I'll get my stuff and meet you at the top."

"Sure", Nico replied.

Annabeth went inside and collected her items. She looked around her cabin, took a deep breath, and left for the Pine Tree.

She reached the summit before anyone. She touched the Pine Tree, nuzzled it's protector and closed her eyes, trying to take it all in. At the sound of hooves, she turned around to find Chiron smiling at her.

"I remember the first time I stood here, sending you off to your first quest." He said wistfully. "Although now you are a grown woman, I admit I still feel the same jitters and I am as scared as I was before."

Annabeth smiled, tears in her eyes. "Don't worry Chiron, I'll be back soon." She had no idea if she was reassuring him or herself.

She saw Will and Nico coming up beside Chiron, waving at someone standing behind her. She turned around to find Argus waiting to escort them to the city. He winked his 100 eyes at her.

"Hope to see you soon, Chiron", said Will.

"And you, my dear Healer. Take care of yourself and others.", replied Chiron.

"Don't worry. We'll be fine", assured Nico.

"And I hope you all return successfully." Chiron looked at us, smiled and trotted back to the base of the hill before we could see him crying.

"So, where are we going, Will?", asked Annabeth.

"We are going to visit a secret-keeper. He's a recently turned minor-god. He might know where our demigod is or he might know someone who knows something. But beware, he's a son of Hermes and is as deceitful as him.", replied Will.

"Who is this man? And where do we find him?", asked Nico.

"His name is Autolycus and he calls himself the Master of Thievery. And as to where we can find him, I have the address.", replied Will

"So we are going to ask for help, from a thief, who's a minor-god and more shadier than the entire Hermes Cabin combined. Super.", said Annabeth.

"Aren't we in for a ride, Annabeth?", smiled Nico.

"Oh, we most definitely are.", replied Annabeth and they sat in Argus' Van, leaving the camp and it's boundaries rolling in dust.