A/N Hello! Thank you so much for all the reviews! And all the follows and favourites! 63 follows! Wow, thank you so much! I can't believe that many people have followed my story! The reviews were truly wonderful, and thank you for taking the time out! This chapter is, unfortunately, sort of a filler chapter, although it is quite important anyway. It's in Annabeth's POV! Its very short, but I needed to update. Sadly, a few people un-favourited, and I feel that it has something to do with my very infrequent, awful updates. I'm so sorry! I have just had so much WORK. My teachers are cruel.
Anyway, please enjoy and review!
Annabeth's POV (present time)
"Chase…"
"Chase, wake the hell up!"
"Annabeth!"
My eyes fly open. What happened? There are so many people around me, and my head hurts. It hurts so much. Everyone is just a smudge of colour against a blue, blue sky. I want to close my eyes, just sleep, and never wake up.
I shut my eyes, and instant relief washes over me. I don't have to worry anymore. About Nick, about Percy…
Percy. His face flashes in my mind, his dazzling green eyes and infuriating, beautiful smile. Oh, Percy. Where are you? I smile at him, and somehow he smiles back.
Am I dreaming? Am I dead? What happened?
I sit up and immediately regret it. The whole world spins and tilts before my eyes and bright spots of light wink at me. But I squeeze my eyes shut to regain my composure, and then force myself into a standing position. I fling out my arm for balance as I sway to the side, and my hand connects with a hard, muscled arm. I grab onto it, and reopen my eyes.
A huge group of people are gathered around me, some staring at me curiously, some anxiously.
I look around for a familiar face.
"Annabeth?"
I look to my right, look at the boy whose arm I am holding. I stare into his eyes – they're so green… but I know better. Somehow, I know better.
I see him in a different setting, quite similar to this one, although not similar at all. He is gripping my arm, and we are moving, everything behind us a blur. There is screaming and shouting. He is saying something, and I reply. I know he does not like what he hears. A burning fury emanates from him, and his eyes glow bright gold. My heart drops, and I feel an unexplainable panic rise up inside of me. I try to apologise, I try to say something. And he raises his sword handle and lands a powerful blow to my head. I remember the vague remnants of a sickening, blinding pain, and then I can remember no more.
I blink my eyes, trying to forget that memory, trying to forget the way his eyes shone with that terror inducing fury.
"Get away from me." I whisper.
I let go of his hand as if burned, and anger flashes momentarily in his eyes, and again I catch a glimpse of that golden fire. However, it disappears before I am certain I even saw it.
I turn to face the crowd; spotting a face which seems to be almost floating above everyone else's. Chiron. I breathe a sigh of relief, and move towards him.
He regards me with confusion and fatherly worry on his face.
"Annabeth. How are you? Whatever happened to you back there?"
"Back where? What happened?" I ask him, shaking my head, feigning bewilderment. Of course I know what happened. I can remember now. But I don't want to face Nick like that again.
"During the chariot racing of course. You and Nick were on the same chariot, quite close to winning. But you seemed to be having some sort of argument, and fell behind. Next thing we knew, Nick was right at the front, and you were nowhere to be seen; until Piper found you lying here with blood pooling all around your head."
I reach up and gingerly touch the back of my head. Intense pain clouds my eyes, and I let out an involuntary sob. My fingers come away sticky with blood.
Chiron looks at me with sympathy.
"Come, child. We'll sort you out."
Chiron hands me some ambrosia.
"Eat. It'll help."
"I know. Thanks." I reply.
I don't want to eat it. Because I feel sick. I feel sick with complete and utter guilt.
All those times Percy told me about his suspicions of Nick, how he didn't like him, how something was wrong. But I brushed it off. I didn't listen. And now Percy's gone, and I nearly died.
I feel a hot tear trickle down my cheek, and turn my head in pretence of looking out the window, in order to wipe it away.
I hear the clip-clop of Chiron's hooves and know that he's gone. I fall backwards onto the soft bed and close my eyes, not wanting to think anymore; the soothing healing of ambrosia already working its way through my veins.
A/N Thanks for reading! Remember to review, favourite, follow and all that stuff. Thank you so much! :) I've decided to sometimes do a question of the day. I want to see if people respond, so if you can, please answer! :)
QOTD: (start off easy) Who is your favourite character in the whole series (including HoO)?
AOTD: I can't choose one, so it HAS to be Leo and Percy. I love them both so much!
