Hey everyone, I have returned!

So, how should Gabriella find out that she's a demigod?
a) she gets attacked
b) Percy or Annabeth tells her
c) she figures it out for herself
d) her father tells her

The poll is on my profile, please vote! I could really use your help!

Oh, and feel free to PM me any ideas if you have some, I really appreciate it!

Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or Heroes of Olympus all rights go to Rick Riordan. :(

CHAPTER 4

I was cold.
Too cold.

Darkness surrounded me like a blanket. Suffocating me. Closing in. A tearing feeling, like claws ripping at my chest. A piercing scream split through the silence as sharp as glass.

The pain.
The fire erupting in my head, tearing my head apart.

I saw the light. A flicker of heat in the murderous cold. The claws still tearing at my back, blood dripping down my spine. Pain. Hurt. Distress. I open my eyes and try to move my feet. They were numb, dead to sensation and I stumbled.

I couldn't move; I was stuck to the floor. I turned my head, trying to catch a glimpse of my attacker but to no prevail. I was blind. My heart beating in my chest was the only indication that I was still alive.

But not for long.

The light was gone. And its absence left me with the ghost of the little warmth that that light provided.
it left me alone
i was alone
alone with no hope
alone with no courage
alone

I was falling

I was cold

I was alone

I couldn't remember what it was like to be warm

I was bleeding
I was dying

I
was
alone
gone
cold
Gone…

I sat up in a rush of panic and distress and found myself in a pile of leaves. I was surrounded by trees that were clad with leaves the color of gold and every shade of red and crimson and every hue of yellow. The sun shone through the canopy above, sending liquid light down in ribbons of heat. I looked around and held out my hand to catch a stray leaf. It dropped into my waiting hand; One happy day for every falling leaf you catch. I stood up and brushed myself off and begun to take in my surroundings.

I looked to my right and saw a girl with jet black hair. She was wearing silver jeans and a silver parka and her eyes were shut in sleep. She radiated power. In-human power. Her hand rested on a circlet, like a tiara, and a strung bow and a quiver of arrows. On the other side of her sleeping form was a boy. His skin was pale and he looked young, about fifteen, but people always look younger in sleep. His body swam in a black aviator's jacket that was about two sizes too big. He barely moved or breathed, as if he was on the border between the living and the dead. On his finger was a ring in the shape of a skull. Rubies were embedded in the sockets of the eyes, starring out at me in a way that was not possible for any human to accomplish.

Shivering, I turned away from the boy and turned to my left. I jumped in surprise as I recognized the sleeping form of Percy Jackson. Even in slumber he seemed alert, prepared for attack. His eyebrows furrowed together as he mumbled something under his breath. He shivered and rolled over. His T-shirt was orange, once bright but faded by continuous washing. The right sleeve was torn and the side was stained with what I prayed was Kool-Aid. There was writing printed on top of the dull orange color which I read as three simple words: Camp Half-Blood.

I felt no recollection of ever seeing those words before, but I felt a connection, like it was a coded message that I didn't understand.

A single name formed on Percy's lips: Annabeth. He whispered her name over and over again, as if chanting that word would somehow bring her to him.

A noise behind me made me whip my head around, searching for the source of the offending sound. I saw nothing but the golden leaves twirling around in the crisp Fall air.

I took a step forward. Cautious. Alert. I took another step. And another. There was no sun now. Just the empty promises of the night.

I worked my way through the trees, pushing branches out of my path, my feet scuffing against upturned tree-roots and fallen leaves.

Stop. A voice in my head commanded me. I obliged and stopped in my tracks. I turned around in circles, searching for the source of the speaker.

The wind. A gust of it attacked my body like frozen knives, pricking and scraping at my exposed skin. I gasped as frost began to form on the back of my neck. I tried to call out. Call out to Percy. Call out to someone. Anyone. But the icy gale stole my screams before they were even formed.

I turned around, looking for the sleeping bodies of Percy and the boy and the girl, but they were not there. In the distance, I heard mangled screams loud and shrill enough to wake the dead. I tried to run but an unknown force held me back.

Stop. The voice repeated its command. You stand alone. Alone. The word stuck out from the others and rung in my ears like it had hidden meanings. And not in a good way.

You are power. You will stand down. You will not fight, else those closest to your heart will pay for your mistakes.

My heart raced as the voice took over my mind, penetrating my thoughts until there was nothing else. Destroying all independence. Taking away my one freedom.

Sleep
the voice ordered me
Don'tfight
i couldn't fight

It was my voice
Torturing pain
screams echoed through the silent forest
Help
this time, the screams were mine
Please
begging for it to end
I
can't
hold
on

Well, again, thanks for reading and please remember to review!

Luv ya! (Though not as much as Percy LOL)