Chapter 7: Annabeth's POV
The next morning, I didn't want to get out of bed. There was no point, but if I'm going to be the head counselor of my cabin, I have to continue my job. I got up, changed, and to my surprise, everything was organized and cleaned.
"Wow, guys you didn't have to," I called out to my siblings.
"Well, we know it's been rough so we let you sleep while we cleaned up the place," One of my sisters said.
I looked around and everything was cleaned up and tidied up. If the cabin could sparkle, it would, because it was so clean. Even under the bunks, everyone's trash was cleaned along with their clothes and books. Even the gum wads.
When I examined the bathroom, it was cleaner than it ever has been. The mirror was shining in the light, the curtain for the shower was brand new, and there wasn't a single water stain in the sink, toilet, or shower.
I went back out to where my siblings were standing.
"Guys, this cabin is the cleanest one I ever saw," I expressed, "What time did you guys get up?"
"About 5 am, but no need to worry, Annabeth. We wanted to," One of my brothers said.
"You guys are amazing!" I cried and hugged each of them. I was glad someone wanted to make me happy after his death...I just need to go to breakfast and then to Sally and Paul's apartment.
My siblings noticed my expression turn to sadness, "You're thinking of him, aren't you?" One of them asked.
"Yeah, I just don't know what I should say to his parents," I admitted.
"Just introduce it slowly, like putting a goldfish in its new tank," One of my siblings suggested. "You don't want to put the fish in the water all of sudden, but put it's the bag in the water and then let it out later."
"Thanks, I'll try that, Sophia," I said, "Now let's get to breakfast!"
Everyone cried in agreement and we filed into the dining pavilion. Everyone else was there eating their breakfast and Nico came over to me when I was going to put my plate away.
"Hey, are you okay?" Nico asked, which surprised me.
"I'm doing better," I said. "Why are you asking?"
"I just wanted to know. I know that it's rough, and I know I don't seem to care for other people's feelings, but I just wanted to make sure you were okay," Nico explained.
I was surprised at this, he never showed any interest in anyone's life, not even Will's life.
"Oh, well, thanks, Nico," I said.
Before I could walk away, Nico grabbed my hand, which made him blush, "Sorry," He released my hand, "I just wanted to ask something before you left."
I don't understand what he wanted, if it was to ask me out, he has his boyfriend, and I'm not ready to date, "What is it?"
"Do you want help telling Sally and Paul?" He asked.
"Nico, really I can handle it," I insisted.
"Are you sure?" He asked.
"If you want to tag along, I guess it's fine, but if any of us get sappy, don't laugh," I said.
Nico seemed to smile, but it quickly faded. He shifted his feet.
"Want to go now?" I asked.
"Yeah," Nico agreed, "then you can hang out with Sally."
We walked up Half-Blood Hill and took a car to Percy's apartment. I drove while Nico sat in the passenger seat, fiddling with his skull ring. I drove through the rainy weather until I reached the apartment complex.
I turned off the engine and sat there. What should I tell them? Usually, when I come over, I bring him.
Nico looked like he was trying to read my thoughts, "Ready to go in?"
I nodded and unbuckled my seat belt and Nico did the same. I opened the driver's door and left the car, and closed the door behind me. Nico was already out by the time I made it to the sidewalk. I held my sweater closer to me as the rain-soaked through and the wind chilled me. Nico seemed unfazed by the rain with his aviator's jacket.
I came up to the front door and rang the bell.
"Hello?" A woman's voice came over the speaker.
"Hello, Sally," I said, "It's me, Annabeth."
The door dinged, singling it was open. I grabbed the handle and pulled the door open, holding it for Nico. We went up the stairs until we reached Sally's floor. I knocked on the door and Sally answered wearing her blue apron.
"Annabeth!" She cried and hugged me. "Who's this?"
"This is Nico," I gestured to Nico.
"Hello, are you Percy's mom?" Nico asked.
"Uh, yeah?" Sally had a confused tone in her voice.
"We have something to tell you, and could you get Paul?" Nico asked.
I wanted to punch Nico for being so direct, but I guess it has to be done.
"Paul, honey!" Sally called down the hallway.
Paul came out of a bedroom from the far end of the hall, "Yeah?"
"Hi, Paul," I said.
"Oh, Annabeth, hello," Paul said.
"Can we talk?" Nico interrupted.
"Uh, yeah," Paul replied, "What's up?"
I led them to the living room and we sat down on the couch. I played with my jeans.
"So, why do you guys need to talk to us?" Sally asked, "And where is Percy?"
"That's why we're here," Nico said.
Paul and Sally shared worried looks.
"When Percy, Grover, and I were reducing some more campers from a school, and some Furies attacked," I said, tearing up, "And I was about to get attacked by one, and Percy took the damage," I started to cry, "H-he killed that one, b-but the others attacked him at once." Sally looked like she was on the verge of crying, which made me not want to continue, but I took a deep breath, "And they made him drop his sword and himself to his knees. That's when one of the others k-ki-killed him," I finished.
Sally cried into Paul's shoulder, while he hugged her, clearly trying not to cry. I was already sobbing, trying to control myself, but I held my knees up to my face and cried into them. Nico looked uncomfortable, and his eyes were red as if he had been crying.
Sally saw me sobbing and came to hug me, "Annabeth, what are we going to do?" She whispered in my ear.
I just hugged her and cried into her shoulders, I didn't want to let go. I wanted to stay there, hugging her. She was going to be the closest I could get to Percy again.
Paul rubbed Sally's back and Nico was standing awkwardly next to him.
"Annabeth, do you want me to leave?" Nico asked.
I nodded, I don't know why I did, but I just wanted to be alone with Sally.
Nico shadow traveled out and probably back to camp, while Sally and I cried into each other's shoulders.
Paul walked out of the room. I don't know what he's doing, but I was grateful.
"S-Sally, I don't know what we should do," I managed.
She hugged me tighter, I could barely breathe, but I loved it. She pulled away and held my shoulders, "Annabeth, we can still do things, he risked his life for you, he wanted you to survive."
"But I want him! If anything, we should've died together!" I cried.
"I know, I know," She hugged me again. "Just remember," She wiped a tear from my cheek, "that he loved you."
I stood up, "I'll try, and thanks for letting me cry, I needed it."
"Yeah, no problem, you can come over whenever you need it, just call first," Sally said and stood up.
We hugged one last time, and I waved goodbye to Paul. I headed back to the car and started it. As soon as I turned on the radio, and Change by Carrie Underwood played. I listened to the song as I drove, it changed as soon as I stopped at the second stop sign. I wiped the tears from my eyes and kept driving in the rainy weather. Once the songs stopped playing the news came on.
"Today we found blood in Wilderness School. It looked like the body was taken outside. When we found the spot, the body was there, a young man about 18 was laying on the ground, soaked in blood and rain. He had horrible scratches and a nasty wound through his chest. The medics told us there is no way he survived that attack," The newswoman said.
"Many police and medics came around the school to investigate, we have yet to find any evidence of who or what killed the boy," A newsman said.
Another song came on, I listened to Battle Scars by Paradise Fears until I reached Half-Blood Hill.
I stopped at Half-Blood Hill and climbed the rest of the way, making me think of when Thalia, Luke, Grover, and her were coming to camp.
I went to my cabin and shut the door behind me. Malcolm looked up from his book.
"Annabeth, how'd it go?" He asked.
I sat down on my bunk, "Let's see, crying." I wiped a tear away from my cheek.
"Alright let me re-phrase the question," Malcolm said, "How are you?"
"I–," I couldn't tell him I was okay, I knew I wasn't. I didn't want to be like every girl. "I'm not great," I admitted. "I miss Percy with every breath. I didn't mean to break down in front of everyone at Sally's apartment, but I couldn't handle it."
Malcolm put down his book and came over to my bunk, "Annabeth, I'm glad you told me this." He hugged me, which he seemed uncomfortable doing so, but I took it. "Do you need time alone?"
"It's fine, Malcolm," I managed. "I have to get over his death, I have no choice, but to."
"Annabeth, you don't have to get over it, you just need to take a deep breath and face it. You're not alone, not like with the Athena Parthenos. You have friends here, who can help," Malcolm said. "You have us, your siblings, Reyna, Hazel, Piper, and many, many others, all of us are here for you."
I stared at the closet, where I kept everything, including emergency supplies, that included a rope, ambrosia, nectar, a few daggers, swords, extra pairs of clothes, extra money, and such.
I wondered if any of that could help me in this situation. Clothes, no, money, maybe, if Hades liked that, ambrosia, uh I don't think that could work on a dead body, sword, hm maybe, a dagger, unlikely, a rope, maybe, if I want to take an adventure. Nectar won't do much for me, not with a dead body on my hands.
Malcolm looked at my closet, "What are you thinking?"
"Just what could I use to solve my problem," I casually said.
"Uh, I don't think anything in that closet could help you," Malcolm said.
Maybe something can, just maybe I thought. "How can you be sure?"
"Annabeth, ambrosia, and nectar can't fix this," Malcolm insisted.
"I guess not," I said, still looking at my closet. What if something in there can help me and Percy? Happen if I could see him, hold him, or even kiss him again? Is it even possible to do that?
Malcolm stood up and brushed off his pants, "Well, see you later, Annabeth, and remember he saved your life, Grover's, and two others. So don't you dare say he didn't."
"I wasn't going to, I just want to see him again," I said.
"I know, Annabeth, I know," Malcolm said.
He walked out of the cabin leaving me alone to my thoughts. I stood up and opened the closet door, eyeing everything in there. I looked at the swords, daggers, and rope and again and again. I picked up the rope and a sword. I looked around and found no one. I left the cabin and headed out to the woods, and went in far, so no one will find me, not for a long time.