Hello!
I'm so sorry for not updating! This was hard to write for some reason. Probably because it's actually happy.
Enjoy!
Annabeth knew there was hope. She knew that in her heart.
But it didn't help Percy's situation.
He was getting worse, and worse, and, you guessed it, worse. His pain attacks were becoming more and more frequent, sometimes reaching ten times per day.
They were at the half way point: half a month until the cure was ready. Half a month until Percy faded away.
It was a race. A race to see who would prevail: life or death (figuratively speaking). Love or hate. Future or destruction.
She brought herself out of her thoughts and looked around. She was standing on Percy's front porch, ready to knock on the door.
Could she hear grunting inside?
She hoped not.
She knocked.
No answer.
She sighed. She tried again, but still no one answered. She sighed again and tried for a third time.
The third time was the charm.
A very disgruntled looking Percy opened the door. His eyes were bloodshot and his cheeks were raw. His teeth chattered.
"Come on in," he said.
"Why didn't you let me in?" Annabeth asked, even though she knew why.
"I, um, wasn't wearing anything," he said sheepishly.
She sighed. "Percy, we both know that's not true. First of all, we had three kids."
Percy turned a bit red.
"Second of all, I heard you grunting."
He sighed. "Fine. I was having a pain episode, so I didn't even hear you. Happy?"
She smiled. "Yes."
Percy smirked. "Oh, yeah?" He gave her a look that made her shiver. "I can make you very happy."
She smirked. "Oh? How would you do that?"
He started slowly walking towards her. "Oh, that would ruin the fun."
"I don't do fun, Seaweed Brain."
Their faces were inches away from each other. "I think you do, Wise Girl."
She traced her finger along his face. "What kind of fun do you have in mind?"
"This."
And he started tickling her to death.
"SEAWEED - BRAIN!" Annabeth gasped between laughs. "STOP! I CAN'T-" She couldn't even finish her sentence, since she was laughing too hard.
"I'll stop if you go swimming with me," Percy said, stopping for a moment.
"Ugh, why would I - FINE, I'LL DO IT! STOP, P-PLEASE!" she shouted between giggles. "PERCY!"
He finally stopped. "Yeah! Let's go swimming!"
She laughed. Then she slapped him in the side.
"What was that for?" he asked.
"Shut up."
"Yes, ma'am." He gave her a play salute.
Annabeth changed into her swimsuit, which was a gray one piece with a sea-green owl on it. When she got outside, she caught her breath.
There was an Olympic sized pool (as in the athletic competition, not the immortal beings). It had water slides, diving boards, a wave pool, and a branch-off hot tub. The water was clear blue. It looked amazing.
Suddenly she was in the water.
A pair of playful hands reached out and tickled her slightly. Though she was underwater, she could breathe somehow.
"Percyyyyy," she said exasperatedly.
He kissed her, and suddenly she was sixteen again, in the lake at Camp Half-Blood. It was absolutely perfect.
They broke apart and swam to the surface. She didn't have to tread water since Percy was buoying them both up.
"I almost wish we would've died sooner," Percy said.
Annabeth tilted her head. "Why do you say that, Seaweed Brain?"
He laughed. "This place is incredible! Who knew Elysium could be this nice!?"
At that comment, Annabeth started to laugh. Then she couldn't stop. She doubled over in the water, clutching her stomach.
Percy just stared. "What's so funny?"
She forced herself to calm down enough to talk. "This isn't Elysium."
Percy was even more confused. "What?"
She just laughed even harder, making Percy more confused than ever.
When she finally spoke, it was between laughs. "This-is - The Isles - of - the - B-Blest!"
"Wait, what?!" Percy yelled.
She finally calmed down. She spoke with a complete poker face. "The judges of the Underworld decided that we were worthy enough of the Isles of the Blest without being reborn."
Percy's face broke into huge grin. "No. Freaking. Way."
"Yes way," Annabeth said, grinning. "And do you know what else?" she added, getting really close.
"What?" he whispered.
"Revenge."
""Wh-"
And she tickled him to death.
Their laughter echoed around the yard, filling it with life and hope.
There was hope. Hope for them to get through this. Annabeth knew that in her heart.
And she knew that there was no hope for Percy to escape her tickling.
777 words. Pretty short.
I hoped you you guys liked it! I tried to add something upbeat before we get to the really depressing stuff.
I'll update when I have 145 reviews.
Goodbye! R&R!