*Annabeth PoV*
"Run Annabeth!"
"Find the exit!"
"Over here!"
"Don't go that way!"
Running, running, darkness, that's all I could see. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew these were hallucinations, but they felt so real. When logic and fear are put on the same playing field, logic hardly wins. I was back in my ten year old body running through the endless Cyclops cave. Separated from the only true family I'd known for the past few years, I was traveling through the darkness. Alone. So many voices. They sound like my family but it can't be them. Where am I? Where's Luke? I need Luke.
Suddenly I stumble into an open room, bigger than the other one's I'd run into. Bones were everywhere. Bones, old carcasses, and skeletons that are far to recognizable as human were just strewn around carelessly. Everything is still so dark, but large fires were lit in the corners of the room and one massive bonfire was blazing in the center. In the far corner Thaila, Luke, and Grover laid bound and gagged. Luke was unconscious with a gash across his forehead that was covered in dried blood. Thaila and Grover didn't look much better. Grover had bruises all over his face and Thaila definitely had a broken arm. I crept behind a hanging carcass, trying my best to stay out of the sight of the looming monster. My young heart was beating out of control as I gazed upon the hideous creature that was holding my family captive. It had to be at least twenty feet tall, dressed in a ragged tunic with dirt and mud caked all over. The most terrifying thing of all though was his one yellow eye that could paralyze you with fear.
"This Cyclops is going to be eating well tonight!" The thing lumbered over to were a few sheep where huddled in the corner. He grabbed one by the legs and hauled it over to the fire. I knew I should have looked away, but I couldn't. Before I knew it the sheep was dead and being skinned, the wool being set aside for further use. I let out a soft shriek when the Cyclops killed the sheep, thankfully to quiet for him to hear. Thaila did hear me though, and her head shot up in my direction. She caught my eye and a flicker of hope sparked through her eyes. It was gone as fast as it came though when she realized how hopeless the situation still was. A spike of anger flooded through me. I was not the little seven year old anymore. I can help.
You can't do it. You're nothing but a stupid little kid, not worthy of being my daughter. Somehow, I knew it was my mother speaking. This is not how I remember that night going.
"Oh little Annabeth. I know you're in here! You can't win. You can't help your friends. Give up little girl." In my heart I know the monstrosity is right. Tears crept down my face as I realized there is no way I can help my family. I start to back up, trying to find the exit. Maybe get help. I didn't see the skeleton behind me until it was to late. I was backing up to fast, falling to fast. It's over. It's all over. The huge Cyclops lumbered over, leaning over me. Its rancid breath overwhelmed me, blackness was threatening to take over.
"There you are. Dinner is here for Cyclops!" Death was close and all hope was gone. The last thing I saw was the monster take me over to his fire pit. Fire was engulfing my body. A blood curdling scream escaped my throat, then nothing.
*Percy PoV*
Night had fallen over the camp. Most of the campers had gone away to their cabins, probably to dream happy dreams. Or as happy as they can be for a half-blood. However, not me. Annabeth had only gotten worse over the few hours that the hallucinations had taken her over. Sometimes she would stop thrashing, sometimes she would scream as loud as she could. Sometimes though, she would fall silent with only tears seeping out the corner of her eye. Those were the worst times. I would rather face a thousand fears then see her fight hers alone. And there was nothing I could do. Mr. Chiron and Mr. D were off to Olympus to retrieve Athena and hopefully to convince her to come to camp. If she wouldn't I would go myself. Honestly, at this point I think she would rather deal with Mr. D.
"What is taking them so long!" I started pacing back and forward next to Annabeth's bed. "They left hours ago."
"Relax, Percy. They will get the Lady Athena and bring her. Then they will save Annabeth. It will work," Thankfully one of the Apollo camper stayed with me. If he wasn't' here I would have gone crazy by now.
"Perce, you look awful. Seriously go back to your cabin. Get some sleep. I'll look after her. Besides, its not like she's going anywhere."
"Not. Funny," I felt myself go stiff, my teeth clenched.
"Wow, bad choice of words. Sorry, not what I meant," He turned away to work on another patient. What seemed like hours later, I heard a loud pop followed by the smell of wine and grapes.
"So what is so important that you dragged me all the way down from Olympus to handle!" I heard Athena arguing outside the infirmaries doors. Had they not told her?
"Like we said it is so important that only you can solve it. Please just step inside the door. We didn't want to tell you on Olympus because we didn't want to make you…. Angry." Well crap.
"What could possibly make me angry to the point where you couldn't te- HOLY HADES WHAT HAPPENED TO ANNABETH!" Of course at that moment Annabeth went spastic.
"Elliot! Help me hold her down!" I called to the Apollo kid. I grabbed her arms while Elliot grabbed her ankles.
"What did you guys do to my daughter!" Lady Athena raced over to her daughter's side, placing her hand to Annabeth's forehead.
"One of the campers here poisoned her with the Spider from Hades. And we don't have the antidote," Chiron explained carefully.
"You are telling me that my daughter was poisoned with the deadliest poison in the mortal and divine world and you don't have the antidote. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN AND WHERE IS THIS CAMPER."
"The camper will be dealt with seriously and there is only one antidote that we know of. You have to show her your true godly form."
"You mean to tell me that the only way to save her is to show her my true self that will burn her from the inside out. Am I the only sane one here!"
"It worked with Alisagius when he was bitten,"
"Yes, but he knew what he was getting into. His godly parent Apollo explained it to him. Did you tell her what was going to happen before she collapsed? Or will she go into it blind."
"She is going into it blind. Very blind. But it's her only chance." After listening to this bantering I couldn't stay quiet any longer.
"Listen, Lady Athena. I don't like this any more than you do. But please understand she doesn't have any other option. It's either this or she dies in less than two hours. Please, we have to try."
"Well please listen to me, Percy. As much as I strongly dislike you, Annabeth is going to need you. Don't let my daughter get lost. So Chiron. How are we supposed to wake her up? She must be conscious for this to work."
Chiron spoke up, "I have already thought about it and created a concoction that will make her conscious for three minutes only."
"Is that long enough to burn all the poison away?"
"We will see. Elliot, please grab my concoction that is on that shelf over there. The blue one with the green liquid inside. Yup that one. Bring it over here and then please step outside. Same with you Percy. I can't risk you guys getting hurt over this."
"Forget it. I'm not leaving," I sat down in the chair next to me to make my point.
"Yes you are. You are far to important, and if you look at Athenas true form it is automatic death for you. There is no chance since you are not her son."
"I will not leave Annabeth. It's not going to happen."
"Percy, we don't have time to argue! You are not staying!"
"Yes I am!" And with that I grabbed the concoction out of Chiron's hands and gently gave it to Annabeth. Once she drank it, her eyes fluttered open, but they were bloodshot and a pale grey. Almost white.
"Darn it Percy! Ok just shield your eyes! Athena now!"
"Percy, what is going on?" Annabeth croaked the words out, then started coughing. What was most unnerving was the red blood that she was coughing up.
"Just look at your mother. It will all be ok." I kept my eyes on her as the light got brighter and brighter. The temperature of the room rose twenty degrees in five seconds, making me break out into sweat, but I refused to leave Annabeth. She gazed at her mother in wonder and fear, and I was almost tempted to see what she sees. Then she gasped and her eyes rolled into the back of her head.