I'm just going to let you read right now.

Annabeth

My heart was pounding out of my chest, like it was trying to jump out to him. He was right there, right there.

Oh, my gods. He looked up, and was gazing right at me.

"Leo, stop the ship," I said, my voice slightly cracking.

"What?"

"You heard me. Keep us right where we are."

Leo grabbed his controller and yanked up. The boat shuddered, and the oars stopped rowing air. The ship abruptly stopped sinking.

"Terminus," I said, trying to keep my voice level, "there's no rule against hovering over New Rome, is there?"

The statue frowned. "Well, no..."

"We can keep the ship aloft," I said, using all my self control not to stare at Percy. "We'll use a rope ladder to reach the forum. That way, the ship won't be on Roman soil. Not technically."

Terminus dramatically pondered this, and I wondered if he was scratching his chin with imaginary hands.

"I like technicalities," he admitted. "Still..."

"All our weapons will stay aboard the ship," I promised him. "I assume the Romans - even those reinforcements marching toward us - will also have to honor your rules inside the Pomerian Line if you tell them to?"

"Of course!" Terminus said, puffing up what he had of a chest. "Do I look like I tolerate rule breakers?"

"Uh, Annabeth..." Leo said. "You sure this is a good idea?"

I closed my fists to keep my hands from shaking. A bitter cold feeling washed over me, like someone knew I was making a bad choice. But Percy...he was so close. I had to reach him.

"It'll be fine," I said. "No one will be armed. We can talk in peace. Terminus will make sure each side obeys the rules." I looked at him. "Do we have an agreement?"

Terminus sniffed. "I suppose. For now. You may climb down your ladder to New Rome, daughter of Athena. Pleasetry not to destroy my town."

Percy

I saw Annabeth fly backwards and smack the railing and I tensed, ready to jump forward and catch her. She stumbled and caught herself on the railing, and my heart was screaming for her.

"Oh, gods, what's happening?" I muttered.

"What?" Frank asked.

"Nothing."

Terminus suddenly appeared on the deck, and I saw Annabeth negotiating with him. She turned away from him, and looked over the railing, scanning the crowd.

She saw me.

I was frozen to the spot. I had no idea what to do.

She paled, staring at me, longing etched completely her face. Something called her attention, and after a few more seconds of just drinking in her presence, she turned away.

I almost let out a moan.

A comforting arm went around my shoulder. "Percy, are you alright? You look...strange." The voice sounded like it was at the end of a tunnel, and I had no idea who was talking to me.

"Annabeth," I moaned.

"I think he should sit down," a worried voice said.

I felt hands try to push me down, but I resisted. "No. No, I need to see her."

All of the months of confusion and my bitterness towards it was completely washed away the moment I saw her face. When I saw her again, I felt whole.

A rope ladder was flung over the edge of the boat and it dangled in the wind. Annabeth poked her head over the side and looked at me. She then turned around and almost slid down the ladder she was descending so fast. When her feet touched the ground, I surged forward numbly, my arms open.

"Annabeth," I whispered.

Tears streamed down my face, and I could hear people screaming my name, but I ignored them.

But, before Annabeth could turn around, before she could fully look at me, something slammed into me from behind.

I collapsed to the ground, stunned. Realizing what was happening to me, I began struggling with all my strength.

"No! No!" I was screaming, begging for someone to see me. I couldn't see who my attacker was, and no one turned to help.

So close, I had been so close.

"Percy?" I heard a distant voice cry.

Before I could respond, something hit me on the head, and my vision went black.

Annabeth

I looked over the side of the boat, and saw Percy staring at me, his mouth open, eyes shining.

Tears came to me eyes, and I ran forward and yanked the rope ladder from Leo.

"Hey!" he said indignantly, but I didn't care.

I threw it over the side, and looked over to Percy again. The two kids were trying to talk to him, but he ignored them. He looked frozen to the spot. And then he started to move towards me.

I climbed down the ladder as fast as I could, crying freely.

Just as my feet touched the ground, I heard a boy screaming.

"No! No!"

Whipping around, a crowd just stared at me wordlessly. I didn't see Percy anywhere. He was gone, vanished.

"Percy?" I cried.

Nothing.

No! Where is he? He was right there!

I lurched forward, shoving my way through the staring crowd, tears flowing down my face. How could this happen? What happened to him?

Suddenly, a panicked voice ripped through the silence.

"Annabeth! Look out! It's a tr-" It choked off.

I turned around just in time to see the end of a spear come flying towards my head.

Please don't kill me! I won't let a cliffhanger like this destroy you! I'll update as soon as I can, I promise. Everything will be explained soon.

Ugh, I'm just so mad right now. I love writing stuff like this, but it still makes me mad how the events turn out. This, my dear readers, is an English Grammar term called tone. Little lesson for you.

Okay, I'm leaving now.

Bye.

~littlebitclever

I almost forgot. Cover art credit goes to burdge-bug of DeviantART. The piece is called Hazy. She is also credited for doing the art for the cover, Missing. That one's called Get Up.