Chapter 29

Annabeth

It has been about an hour since I was yanked out of sleep and the sun is just creeping up over the station. I glance over at Grover, who's crashed on the cushion near me. I could wake him up, I know that. It's not worth it though; I need to get a grip, god help me; I refuse to drown any longer.

The dream was surreal. When I became aware of myself, I was sitting beside Thalia, on a picnic table. Grover was asleep by Thalia's feet, on the bench where most people would sit. We would resort to this a lot, when Luke or Thalia hadn't worked as much as they normally would, and someone needed some space. Usually it would only be for a night or two, and the breathing room would give us our fix until the craving popped back up. While barren, I had always thought these nights were fantastic, but Luke always got this look in his eye…

The one thing wrong was Thalia wasn't looking at me. She was focused on something to her left, and every time I tried to see around her, she'd shift and I'd be blocked again. I can't remember seeing her head turn, but I do remember suddenly being faced with her electric blue eyes.

"I'm disappointed in you." I was confused, but at the same time regretful, even though I didn't know what for.

"What happened Thalia, what did I do?" She was looking over her shoulder again, but when I stood to try and see what she was seeing, the whole landscape changed to a bleak gray. Startled, I sat back down, and the colors reverted back to normal.

"You promised me that High School would be a fresh start." Her voice didn't sound right, she sounds distant, which she's never, ever been. If Thalia was ever anything, she was vibrant and present when she was around.

"It was…" I start to argue, but my brain was moving slower and slower in that hazy way that you are forced to think in during a dream. I was faced with her bright, piercing stare again, but her eyes seemed to be piercing right through me, as if I wasn't even there.

"You swore that you wouldn't take off again, but yet, here you are… miles away from where you belong." She was starting to sound more alive, but only because she's getting angry. Her eyes narrowed like they used to when Luke would to mess with her hair, except she was so much angrier than I had ever seen her before

"I haven't run. This wasn't about me Thalia, it's not like before." I tried pleading with her, trying to make her see reason. She didn't even acknowledge my answer, but just continued glaring through me.

"How could you lie to me like that?" She shook her head, and blinked once before turning back to focus on whatever was so fascinating behind her.

"I didn't lie to you!" I protested, feeling my emotions welling up, but she didn't seem to care; she stood up from her spot beside me and turned sharply. The wooded park view, which used to be behind her, faded as she walked forward until it was entirely grey. Eventually she was just a speck near the horizon. I tried to move to follow her, but I was cemented in place, I couldn't find the strength to call out and I couldn't lift a finger to change anything.

I woke up shaking and chilled despite the warm temperature of the car. The serenity and the normality around me just seemed wrong after such a bizarre experience. My mind runs in circles, as I dig through all the questions my subconscious had dredged up. I hadn't thought that leaving with Percy would be considered breaking the pact we all made, especially since Thalia disappeared, but now, I'm not so sure I'm in the right.

I find myself curled tightly, with my knees pressed up against my chest and my back resting against the car's frame. The closet window was a little to my right, and unless someone looked from precisely the right angle, they wouldn't be able to see me. The part of my psyche that's an intellectual is telling me that my posture is screaming of vulnerability and worry. The rest of my mind is telling the intellectual to say something helpful or shut the hell up.

The sun creeps a little higher over the complex in front of us, with just a few rays peeking up over the grungy walls. Soon the sun will be high enough to cast strong light into the car, and both Grover and Percy will eventually be forced to wake up. For now though, I'm free to think in peace. I glance down at the duffel bag down by my feet, and apprehensively reach for it. This is a horrible idea; I have avoided even turning my phone on for the past couple of days. I know whatever I see will only trigger unpleasant memories, but the same trait that caused that irritating voice to analyze my posture, is demanding for its curiosity to be satisfied.

The moment I hit the power button, notifications start flashing on the screen, each and every one of them, announcing text messages. I waited out the storm before scrolling down to the earliest one. It's from the day we left, which has surprising only been three days ago now.

"Hey, just checking in 2 see if u r ok."

The next was two hours later.

"I no ur probably 2 busy 2 pick up ur phone so just text me when u get this."

After that, he waited another three hours before trying again

"Ur really worrying me now. I wish u would just text me 2 say that u r ok."

Apparently that's where his patience ended, because the next few texts came in five-minute intervals of one another.

"I new I neva should have let u take off, y don't u just answer me 4 god's sakes!"

"Ur phone beta have died and u beta not be in a ditch somewhere."

"U've neva done this 2 me b4, y now?"

"GROVER?! I stopped by his place 2day, so I'm gonna assume u 2 took off 2gether. What the hell Annabeth?! Is there a reason I'm the only 1 out of the loop on this?"

"I just googled teenage runaway deaths and arrests, I didn't c anything yet, and my fingers r crossed that it'll stay that way."

"U R SCARING THE CRAP OUT OF ME!"

The last text was from yesterday, and he seemed to have calmed down considerably since then.

"I no there must b a reason y u rnt answering so just get in touch with me wheneva u can and tell me that ur ok. I care about u, Annabeth, and I'm worried about u. I'm still pissed u couldn't trust me, but I'm here for u if u need me."

Reading his texts, I feel sick. Malcolm told me that we should keep our phones off as much as possible if something does go wrong, because of how simple it is to track them. I had an inkling something like this would happen from Luke, but I had no idea it would be this bad. Now, I really feel like a horrible person. Glancing around, I see that Percy and Grover are both sound asleep. Before I can hesitate and doubt myself, I grab my bag, and scribble down a note on a napkin and place it on they grey backseat near where I had slept.

There's a slight breeze as I step outside and I hurry towards the dingy building. It's warmer inside, but I still rub my arms slightly as I make my way through the shelves. Five Hour Energy drinks and Slim Jims are incredibly affective at creating a convenience store atmosphere. The cashier looks bored out of his mind and just completely done with this job, and I tentatively step up to the counter in front of him.

"Hello, um I was wondering if I could use your phone, I need to make a call." He doesn't look up from the riveting crossword puzzle he's captivated by, but hands me the wireless land line. Stepping away from him, I walk towards the deserted souvenir section of the store. I punch in the number I know by heart, but the comforting action does nothing in the way of real comfort. I hold the phone up to me ear as I listen to the dial tone, and take one long steadying breath.

A/N: Hey guys! I hope we're all enjoying this lovely September, this is my personal favorite story that I'm writing and I'm really pushing myself to update as much as possible. It's likely my updates will speed up in the next couple weeks, but a little encouragement goes a long way.

PS: Any analyses of the dream sequence would be very intriguing for me to read so I know if I got my point across, leave your interpretations and thoughts.