AN: Thanks to everybody who read this and my first subscribers. I know that I'm not very good so it means a lot that someone thinks I'm half decent. Hope you enjoy. See you soon. Also I forgot this last time. I don't own Percy Jackson(no duh)

Percy looked at Annabeth and saw a determined look. He knew she meant it. They were getting out of Tartarus. Looking out in any direction Percy saw only red and barren wasteland covered in the sharp glasslike dirt or gravel. Looking back at Annabeth, Percy asked, "Where do we go from here?"

"We need to get to higher ground so we can find our way first"

Percy stood up first shakily before he helped Annabeth up. Although she didn't say so, Percy could tell that Annabeth's leg ankle was bothering her as she put more weight on his shoulder for assistance. Beyond this however, climbing the hill was relatively easy and they got to the top in a matter of minutes. Looking around them the two saw the River Cocytus that they had just fallen into as well as another river that stood out of the landscape in its astounding brightness and this was the River Phlegethon. For the first time since they had fallen the pair also got a clear view of where they were.

They were in Tartarus. It was dark, the shadows seemed to swim and writhe themselves in pain, the ground was sharp, the roof was higher than could even be fathomed, and the air itself hurt to breathe. The two looked at each other if only to prove that their eyesight wasn't fooling them and what they saw was real.

A shriek erupted behind them as Arachne lunged up the hill. As Percy backed up, pulling Riptide out in the process, he and Annabeth's feet intertwined and they fell to the ground with a jarring thud. Riptide bounced out of Percy's hand as a shard of the ground jabbed his hand. Arachne just stood there laughing.

"Did you really think that you could just kill me that easily? You 'heros' are always so confident and naive!"

"We may not have killed you, but we won! The Athena Parthenos is safe and you are in Tartarus!" Yelled Percy.

Arachne screamed as she lunged at Percy. Rolling to his right, Percy pushed Annabeth away and grabbed Riptide. Arachne was still descending on Percy fast but as he rolled over he uncapped Riptide and it extended straight through Arachne. A mixture of dust and black blood slid down the blade and covered Percy's arm as Arachne disintegrated with a pitiful cry.

As Percy lay on the ground catching his breath he heard a muffled crying only a few feat away.

Jumping to his feet Percy yelled "Annabeth!" as he searched to find her. About three feet down the hill Annabeth lay clutching her ankle and it had clearly begun to bleed.

"What happened?" Percy cried

"When Arachne attacked, she stepped on my leg as I tried to slid away and this ground cut into my ankle." Annabeth replied.

Percy reached down towards Annabeth and grabbed her hand, helping her to her remaining good foot. Annabeth draped her arm over Percy's shoulder again.

"We should probably follow one of the rivers. They have to come from somewhere." Annabeth reasoned.

"Which one? Flip a coin?"

"No Seaweed brain we need to pick the right one." Annabeth said with slight amusement in her voice.

Racking her brain for any knowledge of Rivers of the Underworld Annabeth tried to think of anything to help them. Then she remembered that the River Phlegethon kept those alive in Tartarus to be tortured. If that is so then I imagine most important things will be along the river.

"We need to follow the Phlegethon." Annabeth said in a raspy voice

"The Phlemarathon?" Percy mused

Percy took a few steps down the hill towards the river before Annabeth found a rhythm to keep pace. Then they were on a move with a purpose.

It may have been a half an hour or it may have been a day, nobody was to say for sure, but they were now closer to the river than before. They had also been breathing heavily for the entire time and their breathing had become coarse and unsteady.

Annabeth turned towards Percy and rasped "We need to stop."

Percy immediately stopped and set Annabeth down, secretly grateful for the release.

"The door better be close or we'll be dead long before we reach them" Commented Percy in a more solemn manner than usual.

"I think we need to drink from the river…" Annabeth responded before she was taken over by a dry coughing fit.

"You can't be serious! It's made of fire! How are we supposed to keep from dying first?"

"I don't know but we need to try." Annabeth responded before falling to the ground in front of the river and immediately thrusting her hands into it. Percy jumped towards her immediately but she didn't seem to ve in distress so he backed off. She didn't feel like her hands had melted like she expected but instead felt that cold feeling when something is too hot to fully comprehend. As she held her hands up to her face Annabeth was nearly blinded by the brightness of the liquid fire so close. She immediately leaned her head back and poured the fire down her throat. Even though it felt like drinking tea that is 100* too hot she immediately felt somewhat better in that her ankle now throbbed dully and her voice wasn't raspy.

"Hey, Percy it's okay to drink. It'll hurt like Hades but I feel better now."

Without further prompting, Percy shoved his hands into the fire and took a drink. As he did so his eyes lit up with fire that reminded Annabeth of Ares.

"Well that was terrible but at least we can get moving again. How is your ankle feeling?" Percy stated

"My ankle is okay now but I still may need help" Annabeth gave a sheepish look but Percy only nodded. The two both knew that she didn't still need help but neither one wanted to relinquish some grasp on the other for fear that they will be left alone or the other will disappear.

As Percy began to help Annabeth up a familiar hissing sound was heard on the other side of the hill they were resting on.

"Crap!" hissed Percy through his teeth as he realized what the sound was. It was the Empousa and they could clearly hear Kelly arguing in the middle of them.

We need to go the other way!

No it's this way I know it!

Well we wouldn't have to be walking here if it wasn't for you!

Percy immediately laid back down and Annabeth joined him as the two remained perfectly still. Unfortunately the loose ground decided to give way and a small pile of glass like shards tumbled down the hill making a clatter as they rolled.

Immediately the arguing stopped. Silence filled the void for seconds and then minutes.

A loud shriek was was heard by the two from seemingly every direction as the Empousa descended on them and formed a circle.

"Percy Jackson. I have been wanting to kill you but this is just a treat! You coming to me, how helpful." Kelly gloated, still wearing her ripped cheerleader's uniform. "And you brought a friend for my friends." She said lasting slightly longer on the last word. "I would give you a painless death but i don't want to." she said right before the circle closed on the two like a noose.

Pulling Riptide out faster than ever before and uncapping it Percy sliced one Empousa across the chest and speared another. He whirled and brought his blade through the neck of another showering the are in gold dust. Something felt wrong though.

"PERCY!" shouted Annabeth as she was grabbed from behind. She was defenseless and no match for the strength of this Empousa.

Percy froze mid swing and turned towards her scream. "ANNABETH!" He screamed as the Empousa holding Annabeth raked her finger across her neck causing blood to fall faster than it should have as Annabeth's face turned white and she whispered "percy…" falling to the ground with a resounding thud.

Time seemed to stop for Percy as he watched her fall to the ground. This can't be happening. I just got her back and followed her into Tartarus for Hades sake!

Percy let out a roar as he charged towards the Empousa that had just been holding Annabeth moments earlier and threw his sword into the ground at her feet. Running towards her the ground began to rumble gently at first but it was increasing. While the other empousa were laughing she only had fear in her eyes as the son of Poseidon charged at her. Jumping into the air Percy grabbed her by the neck and followed her to the ground landing a knee on her chest and a hand on her throat. As they hit the ground a massive shockwave rolled out from under them with Percy in the center of it all. While the other Empousa were knocked to the ground Percy dug his hand into the neck of the one he sat on even more. Tears began to slide down his face and blur his vision but nonetheless he stood up while everyone else was still finding their footing and, picking his sword out of the ground, looked back at the empousa struggling for breath on the ground. "You don't deserve it this good." he whispered grimly as he drive Riptide through her heart. The remaining empousa and Kelly shook in fear of such raw power and sprinted away in hopes of survival.

Turning back to Annabeth percy fell to his knees. Dragging himself towards Annabeth, Percy looked at her face, still contorted in a scream that could never be heard through her torn esophagus. Blood had begun to pool around her but Percy didn't notice. He just lay closer to her with his forehead on hers and tears running down his eyes that begun to fall on her face. He kissed her forehead whispering her name all the time but there was no response. All strength that had remained failed him as he fell next to her, hugging her close.

The ground shook in sync with the son of Poseidon's sobs for his one and only love. Percy's mind was so full with grief for the daughter of Athena that he could only think of one thing in his sadness.

Alone.

AN: I really don't know how much of my point got across here but I know that I brought myself to tears here. So anyways please do leave a review again. Any feedback or comments are appreciated.