Hey guys! Sorry for um… That. You know, that. The last chapter. The ending, specifically. So Imma go ahead and try to lessen your pain… and then watch Star Wars later on. (My uncles's a fanboy. He forced me to join his fandoms. Oh, wait… forced. I think I just made a pun. XD Get it? Force? Star Wars? Ok, imma stop now…)

Chapter 32

Annabeth squeezed her way through the front line of the massive crowd, being led by Thalia. Many townsfolk had gathered by the outer gates as they heard the dreaded ringing of the bells. But they let the physicians and reinforcement soldiers stand up front to do their jobs.

Thalia pushed a stout old lady out of her way and tugged Annabeth forward. They stumbled, nearly face-planting on the floor. After a few short breaths, they both looked up, gaping in horror at the scene before them-

Bloodied bodies partly clad in iron were being laid down on the ground by their much healthier comrades, physicians rushing to aid them. Even a few townsfolk dribbled from the massive crowd to greet their heroic loved ones, either by thanks or by tears. Some soldiers were still dragging wounded friends across the plains, hoping beyond hope that they were still alive, that they would make it. Some even crying out in vain.

Annabeth's eyes scanned the chaos before her, trying her best to ignore the pained screams of the people among it. But all the blood and tears she saw made her feel immensely uncomfortable. Her stomach twisted into a knot and she didn't know whether to throw up or break into tears. She felt like doing both.

She was about to look away when she heard Thalia inhale sharply beside her, gripping the princess's hand so tightly it hurt.

Annabeth looked up, following her friend's gaze. And she saw it- two soldiers hauling another in between them. They three could go no further and collapsed just at the edge of all the chaos. One took off his helmet to reveal messy damp blond hair and a pair of sky blue eyes filled with panic. Even from a distance Annabeth recognized Thalia's brother- Jason Grace, staring in horror at the bloodied soldier beneath him.

From where she stood, Annabeth could only see a mop of messy raven-black hair. But she knew in her hear that it was without doubt none other than Perseus Jackson.

Her stomach dropped, her heart crawled up her throat. Oh gods, no, This can't be happening…

She bolted forward, Thalia stumbling behind her, trying to catch up. She weaved through the crowd of soldiers and townsfolk, keeping her eyes locked on the trio. As Annabeth ran, she saw the third one take off his- er, her helmet. It was Clarisse LaRue, the general's daughter. Her shoulder-length brown hair was tied back in a red bandana, her leather gauntlets were covered in blood. Percy's blood.

Annabeth finally reached them. She dropped down to her knees, not even bothering to stop. "Oh gods…." She chocked, tears starting to form in her eyes. Her hands flew to her mouth as she let them drip down her cheeks one by one.

His messy black hair was disheveled, as usual. He had a bruise by the side of his head and blood leaked out the corner of his mouth. His eyes were closed, dark rings evident around them. His chest barely moved, lifting up and down weakly. There was blood running down from his sternum, just below the heart. Whatever struck him, it missed, barely by an inch. But it wounded him- deeply.

Annabeth took his head in her lap, not caring about the blood on her clothes. She felt the warm, sticky liquid oozing out of the back of his head as well. The panic rose in her chest as she tried not to scream. Jason and Thalia were struggling to stop the blood flow from his sternum, and Clarisse was yelling for a doctor and a cot or a stretcher.

That's when Annabeth realized he was mumbling. Soft, uncomprehendable whispers. But she was able to catch one word that he repeated over and over above the rest of his slurred words: "Annabeth…"

She felt a sharp pang in her chest. Even now Percy thought of her…?

"Annabeth…? Anna… ugh…Annabeth…" he mumbled.

"He's been that way ever since he got stabbed." Jason said. His voice was calm, despite the obvious fear in his eyes. Kronos stabbed him and managed to push him back as well. His head hit a rock. I… I couldn't get to him in time."

"I'm going to kill him." Annabeth growled. "I'm going to kill that... that little son of a-"

"Can't," Jason cut her off before she could say anything else. "He beat you to it. Kronos is dead. Percy killed him."

She blinked, her frustration and worry dying for just a moment. "Really?" she asked. Not because she didn't believe him, but because she was thoroughly impressed.

"Yeah." Jason said, managing a small grin. "It was cool, apart from, you know, this…"

Percy suddenly let out a fit of coughs, sputtering more blood out of his mouth. Annabeth held his shoulders, trying to keep him steady.

"Hold on ,Seaweed Brain." She muttered. "Hold on, for me. Please…"

"Annabeth…" he groaned out before the coughing stopped. His pulse was fading, his breathing was starting to cease.

"No!" Annabeth cried, her tears increasing. "No, no, no, no, NO! Percy!"

Her vision blurred from her tears, but she didn't dare let him go. She didn't dare take her eyes off him.

She could just make out a man kneel down by her side, carefully wrapping some cloth around Percy's wound. He was carried off in a cot made of bamboo sticks and a sheet of cloth, and Annabeth followed, her hand never leaving his.

Darkness… It surrounded him. It was everything he could see.

It didn't suffocate him, nor did it make him feel cold. In fact, physically, he felt nothing. It was as if he'd lost his sense of touch. But inside, he felt… empty. He felt like he was supposed to remember something he couldn't recall.

A surge of panic washed over him. He remembered nothing. He couldn't remember anything about his life. No memories came back, nothing. He couldn't even remember his name, who he was…

Who was he…?

He was panicking. He wanted to cry out, but his throat wouldn't cooperate. He tried to move, grab out for something, but limbs failed him.

Please, please, please…he thought. Just let me feel something… anything!

Just then, he heard a voice. It was a woman's voice. A voice so familiar and comforting, he barely noticed the pain and worry in it.

"Hold on for me. Please…" A sob. He could just imagine the tears rolling down her cheeks, her stormy grey eyes shining brightly from them. Her golden hair in a mess around her face, but he still thought she looked beautiful.

He realized that he could actually see her. Annabeth… that's her name…

In an instant, a sudden wave of pain wove through him. His feet were sore, his knees felt broken, he felt like there was wad of lava digging into his chest, his throat felt like it was closing up as if there was a burning rope tied around it, and his head…. His head throbbed so much. He was starting to regret his earlier wish.

There was a sudden jolt in his chest, like the ball of lava was trying to expand inside and incinerate him.

He cried out in pain. His voice was hoarse and he felt a warm, sticky liquid dribble down the side of his mouth.

Screams and sobs filled his ears, voices filtering through the ringing in them.

"Percy!" one of them called out.

Percy… Was that his name? He thought so, but then another surge of pain caused him to cry out again.

He tried opening his eyes again. His vision was blurred from all the pain. He could make out several figures hovering over him. The background, the sky was moving… no wait, they were moving.

What was his name again …? Per-

Another wave of pain, this time from the back of his neck.

Through his blurred vision, he could make out golden curls… a halo around sparkling grey. For those three seconds, just those three short seconds, his vision cleared. Suddenly he could see everything in high definition. Annabeth, the girl he loved, was weeping right next to him. He could make out a blond boy with blue eyes… Jason. Next to him was a girl with dark hair… Thalia, his sister. Opposite of her was Clarisse in her red bandana. And then there was the doctor from the barracks… Chiron.

And then there was him. Perseus Jackson. He remembered. He remembered everything now.

And then he plunged back into the darkness.

Review! Tell me what you want to see next! :D