Chapter 6: Living a nightmare

Annabeth

Flashback

I've been living my worst nightmare for exactly two days, three hours and 5 minutes. And all that time, I've been scared to death. Why? Because nothing bad has happened to us ever since. Normally, I would consider that to be a good thing, but when you're stuck in Tartarus, it's not. So far, I only figured out four possible explanations for this situation and or the first time in my life, I really hope I'm wrong about something. So, either it's A) We are not really in Tartarus, but somewhere else, B) Every monster down here has returned to the real world or has evaporated. C) Nobody has noticed our presence. D) The monsters are planning a surprise attack and wait for the right moment to strike. Unfortunately, all of this explanations sound either really terrifying, really depressing or even highly unlikely.

On the bright side, my ankle has been healed. Eventually, the light returned and Percy got the chance to inspect my injury and managed to heal it with a bit of nectar he found in his pocket.

"So, wise girl, got a plan?" Percy is pacing up and down impatiently. We just emptied our pockets and displayed everything we have in our possession at my feet. All we got is a little piece of ambrosia, some nectar, Percy's sword Riptide, my knife, a watch, some drachma's and also my mother's coin. It's not much, but it's still better than nothing at all.

"I've been thinking…" I hesitate. I actually figured out a plan, but I'm afraid he's not going to like it. "We need water."

"Water?" Percy sounds troubled.

"I know it's hard for you to summon it out of thin air, especially here, but we'll need it."

"So your plan is to drink lots of water? What's that good for?"

I sigh. Sometimes, he can be such a fool. "No, we need it so we can send an Iris message." I pick up one of the drachmas. We have five in total - five chances to get a message to the world of the living. "Will you be able to do it?"

"I don't know. I…" Percy's voice trails off. Last time he tried summon some water for me to drink, he'd passed out. When he woke up, he'd gotten seriously angry with himself for letting me down. "What if something attacked you? What if it had killed you and I wasn't there to save you?" he had complained. No matter how many times I told him he did not have to blame himself, he wouldn't listen.

I grab his hand. "It will be alright. I can defend myself in case you pass out. It's our only chance, Percy. Maybe, if we contact the others, they'll be able to send us some help." Percy drops his eyes. "I'll try, but…"

I put my finger against his lips, "No 'but's', Perseus Jackson! Let's do this."

Percy sits down and closes his eyes. He concentrates very hard, and I already see some water boiling up. The pool grows larger and larger, but at the same time, Percy's breathing is slowing down. "Stop, Percy, it's enough," I tell him. But he still keeps going. The pool grows wider, while Percy grows weaker. I grab him by the shoulders: "Stop it, Percy! Now! Your killing yourself." When he still doesn't open his eyes, I start to shake him up. "Percy!" I shout desperately. It's appears like he entered some sort of trance. I slap him in the face, but it doesn't work. "Please," I beg him, but it's no use. He faints.

"NO! Percy!"

"You're not able to help him right now," a sleepy voice echoes through the area, although there is no one to be seen.

"Where are you?" I shout.

"I'm right beside you. I'm on your left, on your right, beneath you and above you. I'm everywhere." I look down. I'm sitting on dirt. Wet dirt – but it's still dirt.

Gaea.

"What have you done to him?"

"I just showed you what will happen when you do not behave as I want you to. You see, Tartarus is like a chessboard, and you two are my pawns. I tell you where to go and what to do. And if you do not obey, you will be punished. Oh and don't worry, I'll send some other pawns for you to deal with soon enough. But for now, it's just you and him I'll be playing with."

"What do you want from us?" I shriek. But Gaea's voice is gone. I suddenly notice I'm still holding onto Percy's shoulders. I gently put him on the ground, and splash some of the water he summoned over his face, but it's no use. Gaea's right, he will be out for a while and there's nothing I can do about it.

I'm alone.