Heya people :D

Okay, I'm sorry this chapter is really short but the next one kind of makes up for it. Don't be mad!

I don't really have much else to say… so enjoy!

Uninteresting White Fluff

After the initial shock of being unable to communicate with anyone, I realized how boring this place really was.

All it was was fluff. Uninteresting white fluff.

I wandered around for a while, searching for some means of activity, but I soon gave up, seeing my tries were worthless.

There was nothing here. Absolutely nothing.

A low hum of voices whirred in the background, just out of my concentration. They were loud enough for me to hear, but not interesting enough for me to listen.

Something about being 'In a critical but stable condition' and 'Big changes happening in very small ways.'

If you asked me, that made no sense at all. And I was a child of Athena.

It was strange, walking in this world.

I wasn't really moving. No, it was more like gliding. If I wanted to go somewhere, I'd just have to think about it and I was gliding across the clouds. I wasn't even moving my feet.

I wondered if this was what death felt like.

I'd seen the underworld before and this was nothing like it. It couldn't be hell. But then what was it?

I was lying flat on my stomach, lacing my fingers through the soft fluffy texture of the clouds.

I was subconsciously searching for an interesting conversation. Scanning the sounds for some helpful advice. Something that would help me get out of here.

I was never one for freaking out and having a panic attack. No, I should stay calm and try and figure out a plan to escape this...

This what?

What would you call my cage?

This nothing.

So far today, the only helpful information I had been given was from Lyra.

She was the only one who talked to me. The only one who really believed I could hear her. The others just muttered in the background. They probably thought she was crazy.

"It's been a week now, Annabeth." She'd told me earlier, much to my surprise.

It didn't feel that long, I couldn't have really been sitting here that long! Sure, it felt like ages to me, but I was on a cloud with nothing to do! It would seem like ages.

Then again, I had been sleeping a lot. Slowly drifting in and out of consciousness.

"You've gotta wake up." It had sounded like she was whispering, "Everyone's freaking out! It's not the same without you here. You keep everything under control! But..." She had trailed off, "I get why you're not. If I were you, I wouldn't either. I would want things to be sorted out for when I woke up. So that's what I'm going to do." She'd said matter of factly.
"I'm working on Percy for you. He'll talk to you and then you'll want to wake up!"

NO! , I'd almost screamed, before I remembered my screaming wouldn't help anything.

I was still isolated.

She was right in a way.

The person I really wanted to talk to was Percy. I mean, I'd listened to Thalia, Grover and a few of my other friends ramble on about how they hoped I could hear them, and if I could then I needed to wake up. It had gotten pretty boring.

Percy, well, I hadn't heard from Percy yet. Everyone was saying how distraught he was, but if he was so upset, why hadn't he talked to me?

It had been a week, after all.

"Annabeth?"

I bolted upright, my heart skipping a beat.

Darn, he had amazing timing.

"Annabeth? Can you hear me?" Percy asked, sheepishly.

It was silent for a moment - he seemed to be waiting for an answer.

I felt the sudden urge to reach out and smack him.

What did he expect? 'Why yes Percy, I can hear you. Too bad I'm in a coma and can't reply!'

"Stupid question." I heard him mutter.

Yeah.

"So, if you can hear me, I uh..." he trailed off.

That was definitely the ever awkward Percy I knew.

"I'm sorry."

I sat there, speechless as I stared up at the sky. It was weird, I'd taking to staring above me when I was listening to someone. It was like I expected a hand to materialize out of the sky and pluck me out of this hellhole.

But he'd said sorry. He'd actually said sorry!

"I'm sorry for everything. Sorry that you're in a coma, sorry that I stood there dumbstruck when I could have saved you..." He paused, "And, well I just thought you should know that. That I'm sorry. Really, really sorry."

Tears sprung to my eyes and I didn't even bother to brush them away. Who was going to see me? I was on a cloud for Hades sake!

There was some kind of shuffling in the background and I strained to hear his next words.

"Uh, Annabeth? I've got to go now, sorry. There's some sort of problem down in my Dad's kingdom so I better go help."

No Percy, please don't go! Percy!

"So, uh, bye then."

And he was gone.

I screamed, thrashing against the soft white cloud.

"Let me out!" I yelled, pulling apart cloud, only to reveal more cloud underneath.

Why was I here? What had I ever done to deserve this?

"Percy!" I screeched to the vast emptiness, "Help me!"

No one replied.

"Anyone? Thalia? Grover? Lyra? Anyone!"

Nothing.

And as I collapsed defeated onto the soft cushiony base of my prison, I felt a sensation I'd not experienced for a long time.

I was scared.

Because now, I was well and truly alone.

Not my best chapter, I know – but don't stop reading! The next one is good, it's just a but long…

I cannot say thankyou enough to everyone who has reviewed and added my story to their Story Alert. I don't really know how to thank you guys so…uh…have a virtual cookie!

I will upload the next chapter later today so… bye for now!

Purpleblob :D