_Annabeth Chase_

_7:43 pm. New York_

Percy rolled his eyes, letting out a long sigh. Quietly, he said, "You think you know everything, and you can do anything, but you can't, Beth."

"I just...I mean…" I sighed, shaking my head. "Why did you kiss me, then? I mean, if always known Percy had a thing for me—er—Grey Shadow, but, it's just, I don't—"

"I'm sorry for kissing you." he whispered.

"I just, I need some time."

I moved past him, going through the door. "Annabeth—"

"Percy, please, I need….I just need to clear my head," I said.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, barely audible as I walk through the door, shutting it tightly.

I made my way out, transforming back to regular Annabeth as I left. For the first time in ever, I ignored the problem at hand. I watched New York City. The horns of cars and other vehicles blared loudly as the late night traffic set in. The city was lit up—every building imaginable. Clubs and bars were probably getting ready for a little later—the night life. It was a Saturday night, so those places would be packed.

New York was the city that never sleeps. That's why I'm a Sleepless Savior, protecting New York City. Hurricane and I, we do this for the people. Hurricane is Percy. I kissed Hurricane. I kissed my best friend.

Damnit, thinking of Percy.

Across the street, a group of teenage boys were joking around, pushing each other into the busy streets. Not too far down, a couple had just left a restaurant, laughing and cuddling together and kissing. Kissing, Percy. I kissed Percy.

Gosh darnit! Why can't I stop thinking of Percy?

Because you liked kissing him. a smaller voice in the back of my head said.

That's ridiculous! I've known Percy since forever…I think.

And what about that crush you have on him?

I don't have a crush on Percy!

But you think he's cute.

Maybe.

And you get super jealous when he's with other girls.

I'm not jealous! I'm just…I don't think those girls are worth of Percy's time.

Because you want all his time.

Shut up! We aren't doing this.

But you did like kissing him.

I'll strangle you.

Then you'll die.

Fuck off.

Can't. You'd be brain dead.

It's not like you were kissing Percy.

Who are you?

I'm part of ADHD.

You kissed Hurricane.

Percy's alter ego.

Not Percy.

I guess that's true.

No! You need to tell Percy about your crush.

That guys getting mugged.

Leave Percy alone.

We should go help him.

That lady's gonna fall over the crack.

We aren't Grey Shadow, no saving lives.

"My head hurts," I muttered.

A man, a tall (handsome—shut up) man, looked at me curiously. "You look troubled."

"Inner turmoil, nothing important." I said.

"Due tell," this lovely blonde guy said. He opened the door to a little bakery, leading me in. I stepped in, sitting at a table. Blonde dude sat across from me, folding his hands on the table.

"I was...at a party." I explained. "In costume, cause it was a costume party. And…I kissed my best friend."

"Guy or girl?"

"Guy."

"That bad?"

"I've known him since we were babies! We've been best friends forever. And then we kissed and it was…it was like sixteen years, down the drain."

"Is he at least hot?"

"Well…yea." I said. "He's extremely hot. But I can't think that, I can't even say that. I'm his best friend. We're like siblings. I live in his house over summer cause I live too far. I'm on a first name basis with his mother. Percy's just my friend."

"You know, it's not like you technically, you didn't even kiss this Percy."

"What?"

"Yeah. You kissed this guy, who was dressed in a costume you like, who you were attracted to."

"No! I totally kissed my best friend! I should've known it was him! They're just the same! And—gah—I hate this! I kissed my best friend and I'm mad! I'm, I'm mad because it was so freaking amazing and I don't know what to do!"

Yes! Love!

Who is this stranger were telling our life story too?

I thought I was the only one who noticed.

So we're just gonna not order cookies!

No.

No.

No.

"SHUT UP!" I yelled out loud. I got up from my chair. "I don't know what you—" I pointed around the bakery, probably freaking out the other people. "You people are doing! I'm leaving! This is—this is INSANE!"

I backed out of the bakery, then ran down the sidewalk. You can't run forever.

We're always here.

We know what's best.

We follow you everywhere.

We are you.

Stop running, Annabeth.

"Leave me alone!"

Maybe you'd be able to get some help.

Maybe Nico might have helped you.

Nico's gone now.

It's your fault.

Murderer.

You should've helped him.

What kind of superhero are you?

Instead of helping him, your busy locking lips with Percy.

Where's Piper?

Probably got sick of you.

Moved schools.

Cause you suck as a superhero.

"Get—freakin'—away from me!" I yelled, pulling at my hair. I felt wings spread, so I flew up and above the city.

Stop running.

It's all your fault.

Take responsibility.

Murderer.

All the innocent lives that are gone because you couldn't do your job.

And you wonder why Hurricane went AWOL.

Just die already.

You'd go to hell.

With other sinners.

Demons.

Murderers.

"Death," I muttered. "Hell…murder."

A loud engine roared, bright lights slowly creeping into my eyes. Death. Go to hell. Die Annabeth.

I grunted painfully as one of my wings—the left one—slammed into the wings of the plane. It felt like nothing. My whole left side went numb as I began losing altitude.

It'll be a better place when your gone.

No one can get hurt because of you.

Everyone will be happy.

I closed my eyes, wishing to be wrapped in the darkness. Then, thin, stringy webs wrapped around me, swing me in a wide arc. My eyes snapped open as a little shriek escaped my mouth, seeing my arms and legs entangled in spider silk. I have an deathly fear of spiders and all things related.

I had no control of my fall, my mind over run with panic. Before I could even do anything, I crashed through a poorly constructed wooden roof, landing in a pile of debris. I groaned, fingering the webs off my body. I could feel the warm blood trickling down my arms and legs. My back stung, probably littered with cuts and splitters.

The clicking of multiple legs sounded through the room. I blinked a few times, taking in the small—now broken—cabin. Far in the room, there was a faint golden glow. I pushed myself onto my elbows, wincing as I pressed down on my wings.

"Annabeth Chase," a raspy, female voice said, bouncing off the walls. "My absolutely favorite."

"Who—how?" I stuttered.

"Deary, you don't remember me?" I shook my head.

A white glow encased her. She was wickedly thin, with pale skin, with stringy brown hair. Her nimble fingers clicked together. The worst part: from the waist down, she was a spider. She had a large spider rump with eight spider legs, moving closer to me.

"Every fear, has its demon. I am Arachne, Queen of the Spiders. You will help me, child."

I shook my head, along with the rest of my body shaking.

"Oh yes. There is one remedial task that must be done before the Crooked One can be returned to us." Arachne explained. "A sacrifice. Spread the blood of a mutant over his casings."

"My blood?"

"Oh yes. Don't worry, it'll be fun!"

I cleared my throat, sitting up. "You know, Arachne, in the myths, your kinda wicked."

"Myths? Wicked?"

"Oh yeah. Wicked—wicked cool." I said. "You're a total badass. You stood up to the gods. Well, at least your namesake did. Your just a copycat."

"Copycat! I am not a stupid feline!"

"Greek Arachne, she did all these cool things. Like, like weaving! She weaved these kickass tapestries, that put the goddess of weaving to shame."

"I-I could definitely be better then a fake-Arachne!"

I smiled wickedly, saying the deal-breaker words: "Prove it."

In the next twenty minutes, Arachne speed-wove my latest masterpiece, guided by me of course. She had used her spider silk from around the room, holding me in place and the ones on the Crooked One's casings, weaving the masterpiece I'd drawn in dust. My master plan was unfolding.

Your too smart for your own good.

Why can't you be like any other stupid blonde?

Useless.

Annoying.

Worthless.

"Leave me alone!" I shouted, pulling on my hair. Arachne snapped her head at me. I smiled apologetically. "Not you."

"Humans, so weird." Arachne muttered.

Finally, she declared she was finished. Slowly, I walked around the structure, inspecting it. I opened my mouth to say something, then shook my head.

"What?" Arachne demanded.

"It's just…I really shouldn't."

"It's perfect! Right?"

"There's just, its supposed to be cross-stitch, then under-stitch. But, in there, it's cross-stitch, cross-stitch."

"Impossible!" Arachne demanded.

"Look, right in there."

Arachne wiggled her body into the structure, getting as far as her oversized rump. "I don't see anything!"

"Whoops," I said innocently. "I guess I must've been mistaken and accidentally on purpose trapped you."

Good job.

At least you can do something right.

Unlike saving Nico.

Yeah.

He's gone now.

And it's all your fault.

Arachne was trying to free herself from the giant pair of Chinese-handcuffs. I smirked triumphantly, looking around the room. The door had been blocked with debris from when I crashed in. The only way out, I saw it, was through the roof. I managed to lift my wings, seeing just how crooked and bent they were, cuts and bruises all along, patches of feathers missing.

"NO!" Arachne shouted, the structure creaking.

My eyes went wide as the floor creaked, cracking. I jumped to the wall as a wide hole taped in the floor. "It's the end of the line, Grey Shadow," Arachne said with a wicked cackle. "One way trip, hard fall."

It was a one way trip. I couldn't get out. Maybe I'd be able to climb out of the cavern. But the walls were unstable, they could collapse. I couldn't fly up. I couldn't even go back to being Annabeth without having something broken, probably both my arms.

At that moment, the chamber groaned, and the cavern ceiling exploded in a blast of fiery light.

A/N: Excerpt From: Riordan, Rick. "Heroes of Olympus 03 - The Mark of Athena." Hyperion Book CH, 2012-10-02T11:46:47+00:00. iBooks.

This material may be protected by copyright.

Had to put that in. The last line is taken from the books, so, yeah. Anyway, this chapter was mostly about how fucked up Annabeth's feeling, it's great. Don't you wish we got darker then it did? Like, this girl had voices in her head, messing with her mind. Crazy bro.

Last chapter was like, absolute garbage. If you can tell, I'm healed now. My throats is a little sore, but it's not that bad. Anyway, I think I'm gonna go and rewrite last chapter cause it absolutely sucked ass. Thank you for all your nice reviews though.

Read and review!

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