Hello Readers!

Here is the next chapter. The flashback begins here and this chapter is crucial to the turn of events ahead. Let me know what you thought of it in the reviews.

Happy Reading!

Two and a half years ago...

The dark sky lit up as the blanket of clouds unveiled the Moon. The ball of serenity proliferated the radiance near and far, instigating a scenery of aesthetic beauty. Annabeth leaned forward on the railing of the estranged balcony, closing her eyes and taking in the spectacle of nature, drowning out the clatter of the party she was dragged to.

Her grey eyes glittered silver in the light. She looked absolutely gorgeous clad in a grey sleeveless neckline top that had ruffles at her left shoulder and a black skinny ankle jeans with black wedges. She wore her hair in a French plaited pony tail.

Annabeth considered dressing well and smart necessary since the first impressions are important. She wasn't a fan of heavy couture but always dressed elegant and classy.

"What is a lady like you doing out here, away from the party?" The voice pulled Annabeth back to the chaotic party she was desperately trying to keep away from. She never was a party person. But Piper couldn't digest the fact that Annabeth preferred to stay home alone and read a Jane Austen than turn up at these things to get hooked up or wasted. Annabeth was not an alcoholic drinker, she would gag at it's mere smell and hooking up was not something she wanted.

She knew better than anyone that these 'temporary' things might excite at the beginning but eventually can mess up a lot. She had tasted enough of temporary things in her life and wanted no more of that.

Annabeth glanced at the brunette man walking up to her. He had light blue eyes, sharp features and a strong jawline. His sly smirk and hungry glint in eyes were enough to warn Annabeth to stay away from him.

She pulled her hands up to her chest and folded them, covering her bosom in an intimidating manner and stood straight, looking up at the sky and not at him and replied in a serious tone,

"Not interested in all that chaos."

"Well too bad." He said and stood uncomfortably close to her causing her to shift away.

He leaned on the railing and offered her the glass of drink.

"No thanks. I don't drink." She replied, causing him to raise his eyebrows in surprise.

"That's rare. But once in a while, it isn't a bad thing. Try it out once." He said extending his hand with the glass towards her.

"I don't want to." She replied.

"Okay. Then let me get you a soft drink or a soda" He said shifting nearer to her, cornering her at the square end of the balcony.

"No, Thanks. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to find my friend." She said quickly turned back and walked into the hall trying to find her friend.

She found her by the bar, flirting with a brown haired guy. She settled in the bar stool beside her brunette friend and tapped on the bar table, waiting to catch her friend's attention.

Fortunately, the guy's phone rang and he excused himself to take the call and Piper turned to her smiling.

"Can we leave now?" Annabeth asked her exasperated.

Piper sighed. "I give up. I can never get you to enjoy a party , can I?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes as Piper continued. "Seriously though, how can you not like a single guy out of so many here. All of them are high profile professionals and most of them are good looking."

Annabeth just shrugged and said, "Not what I am looking for."

"Yeah. Whatever. I'll just go tell Ben we are leaving. I can't disappear just like that. I'll be right back. Till then..." Piper paused as she stood up and said to the bartender,

"Excuse me, a Virgin Mojito Mocktail to the lady here please." And turned back to Annabeth, "Have your 'non-alcoholic' drink and keep yourself engaged."

Annabeth stared at the figure disappearing into the crowd and turned to the front, glad to be able to leave soon.

But again, the man from the balcony plopped on her adjacent stool and put his glass down.

"I'm Mark. Heir of Parkinson Industries." His tone dripped of conceit.

Annabeth stared at him and replied just as her drink was kept on the table by the bartender, "Annabeth" .

She took a sip of the drink trying to ignore the man beside her who didn't seem like one to give up easily.

"So Annabeth, what do you say we go to my place tonight?"

Anger and annoyance rose in Annabeth's throat which she tried to gulp down with the drink.

"Sorry to disappoint but if you didn't get the hint before, I am not interested in you. " She said to him in a condescending tone hoping the thick head would stop bothering.

But that didn't seem to budge the guy.

"Come on. Don't play hard to get. It would save time which we could use better" He said leaning towards her causing her to lean away and put her hand up stopping him. He reeked of alcohol.

"Ugh. Gross." Annabeth covered her nose with her index finger and turned back looking for Piper. Where the hell is she?

As she turned ahead, she thought she saw his hand move swiftly across her, causing her to frown. She looked at him who again winked at her.

Irritated, she took the drink and gulped it down at once. As she drank it, she could see him smirking from the corner of her eyes. She put the glass down on the bar table and stood up to search for her friend again.

Mark caught her hand and said, "Wait! Where are you going babe?"

"Let me go." She said as she jerked her hand to loosen his grip and unclench his hand. But he had a strong grip.

Suddenly she felt dizzy. Her vision was blurred and she felt light, as though she was floating on a cloud.

Mark pulled her in, causing her to crash onto him face first and she caught the stool beside her for support closed her eyes trying to focus her sight. She felt two muscular arms snake around her waist. She struggled against the man who was now hugging her but she was not strong enough. She felt his hot breath against the crook of her neck that startled her and she gathered all her strength to push the man away and slapped him hard.

People around them stared as Mark clutched his hand on his left cheek. Then, Annabeth felt two hands on her shoulders as she turned to look at the new intruder. Thankfully it was Piper.

"Annabeth? What happened?" Piper straddled her as she tried to keep Annabeth steady on her feet. She looked at the man in front of her fuming, with a hand on his cheek and back at her best friend who could barely stand.

Her eyes widened as she put the pieces together but she refrained from any harsh step. She recognised the man in front of her and knew any quarrel with him would mean great trouble.

So first thing, she had to get her best friend out of his sight and to safety.

"Let's get you home" She whispered to her tipsy friend and took her to the lift. She dialled her chauffer Argus to come to the gate quickly.

The lobby was not very crowded fortunately and she led her friend to the gate where Argus was ready with her car. As soon as he saw them coming, he got down the car and rushed to open the car door.

"Argus I need you to take Annabeth back to my apartment safely and stay with her."

Argus was a fifty two year old man. He had been working for Piper for long enough that he was not just her employee but a friend and she trusted him completely.

He nodded and asked, "Sure dear. But you?"

"I need to take care of something here. I'll call a cab or hitch a ride with someone else."

"Okay." Piper watched as the car disappeared into the dark and proceeded back to the party. It was time for some damage control.

Annabeth couldn't decipher what was going around her for a while. She felt lightheaded. Slowly she opened her eyes to see the road lit yellow by the street lights.

She turned to her left and saw Argus driving.

"Argus! Where are we going?" She squealed in a much un-Annabeth way.

Argus glanced at her, not taking his eyes off the road. His eyebrows were scrunched with worry. He would have never imagined Annabeth in a position as this. She was the most responsible person he had ever known.

"Getting you back home dear"

"That guy was irritating me and misbehaved with me. So I slapped him hard." She swung her hand wildly in air. "SNAP"

She laughed hard and said in between. "You should have seen his face"

As her laughter subsided into giggles, she asked in a high tone,

"Where is Pipes?"

"Still at the party. She had something to take care of."

"We left her alone? No. Turn back. I want her with me."

"She will be back soon dear. But let us get you home first"

"No. No. We went together, we come together." She insisted, shaking his arm.

"Annabeth. Be a good girl. Sit quietly" He scolded her in a stern voice.

Annabeth retreated back to her seat and fiddled with her seat belt. Then suddenly out of nowhere, she went for the steer wheel and turned it, causing the car to swirl.

"ANNABETH" Argus screamed as he gained back control over the car and steadied it.

"Don't do that. Sit quietly. Piper will be back." He scolded her again and sighed.

Suddenly out of nowhere, two headlights beamed bright in front, blinding Argus. He swerved the steering wheel and applying brakes, trying to prevent a crash but didn't miss the impact fully.

The truck crashed into their car on Argus's side. The car toppled thrice and halted a few feet behind. The air bags had opened, keeping Annabeth and Argus from dying. Annabeth had hit her head hard on the ceiling Her body felt numb and she felt blood trickle down her left cheek. She was barely conscious to see another damaged car beside the one she was in.

The truck's head lights blinked a few feet ahead. It must have been a three way crash. She blinked a few times to see if she could make out anything. Suddenly, the car beside her blasted. The flames leapt high into the air. Annabeth could feel it's heat on her face as her vision blurred and darkness took over.

So folks that was it! I know I said Percabeth will begin but this chapter is the beginning and important for the plot ahead. Hope you liked it! Don't forget to review!

See ya next time everyone!