So, I think this chapter is gonna be a flashback and a little bit of a filler but IT IS VERY IMPORTANT… So bear with me this time and I promise the next chapter will be Percabeth… PINKY PROMISE!

Annabeth was pushed out of the room. Tears bleared her eyes as the boys behind her closed the door, laughing. Her hair was disheveled and her hands red from struggling against the cloth that had restrained her. Her shoulder ached from the hard slap Luke had given her before pushing her away.

Wiping her tears away, and tugging at the knots in her hair she walked, her footsteps sounding from the wooden floor.

Percy, who had been listening attentively for the past hour, had almost gone to sleep beside his position at the door. The sound of quick footsteps woke him up soundly. He opened the door of his room a bit so he could see what was going on outside. He saw Annabeth in her T-shirt and jeans walking around the corner, making her way to somewhere.

Wearing his shoes, he quietly followed her, closing the door behind him gently, and glanced round the corner. She was taking the lift, probably to her own room. Percy looked around wondering what to do. He couldn't use the lift because Annabeth was already in it. He looked around when an idea struck him. He saw the stairs right opposite to the lift and decided to catch her before she could enter her room. He raced down the steps as fast as he could, one floor down. He saw Annabeth go inside the room, opening the door with her keys.

He cursed under his breath, thinking he had missed her. Turning back to go to his own room, he heard the door click. His hopes raised a little and he glanced cautiously around the wall. It was Annabeth getting out of her room with some things; paper, a pen and a bottle? What were they for?

Determined to find out, Percy resolved to follow Annabeth closely.

Annabeth closed the door as lightly as she could and gazed around her to see if anyone was there. No one was around, or so she thought as she missed the shadow of the boy following her. She entered the lift and pressed the button for the ground level.

She reached the ground level and took the door opening to the garden outside. She made her way on the narrow path, leading to the beach. Walking slowly and making as little noise as possible, she walked hugging the bottle and the other things to her chest.

When her shoes met the soft sand instead of the hard rocky ground she sighed. She had reached her destination. Searching for a good rock to sit on as the tide was bound to be high at this time of the night, her thoughts wandered off to Calypso.

FLASHBACK

Annabeth laughed at the joke Piper told her as both of them walked in the beautiful, blue Georgia aquarium. Her smile faded a little as she realized that this was one of the few times she had escaped Luke's clutches. She winced a little as someone passing her bumped into her right shoulder.

The wound still hurt as bad, even after two days. She couldn't shake off the pain her back gave her every day while walking. Calypso walked up next to them.

"Hey, Calypso!" Piper said, as she greeted her warmly. Annabeth smiled at her in way of greeting and Calypso smiled back.

"I'm sorry, Piper, but I saw this incredibly incredible fish out there, and I know Annabeth will just love it. Can I take her with me for a few minutes?"

"Sure," Piper smiled in approval. "I'll be with Jason if you wanna catch up."

Calypso nodded and they set off to find the 'incredibly incredible fish'. Calypso's warm smile faded off and her face turned serious.

"Annabeth, if I ask you this question, will you truly answer?" Calypso asked her.

"Well, of course. You're my close friend. Why wouldn't I answer anything you ask?" Annabeth laughed.

"Honestly?"

Annabeth sighed. "Pinky promise. Cross my heart and hope to die. Now tell me, what is it? Something to do with Leo?" Annabeth smiled a bit and Calypso's cheeks warmed a bit.

"Of course not," Calypso brushed it off. "Annabeth what are those marks between your shoulders?"

Annabeth face turned white. The smile was wiped off her face. "W-What marks?" She asked trying to act innocent.

"You swore. Don't tell lies. What are those red marks?"

Annabeth recovered. "Oh, nonsense, Calypso. What marks are you even talking about? I don't – Ow!" Annabeth exclaimed, grimacing as Calypso pressed the space on her back, not quite hard, but hard enough to hurt.

"I thought so." Calypso said, looking grave. "Now will you tell me?"

Annabeth was in a fix. How could she tell Calypso? She wasn't allowed to talk about it. She looked around as if afraid that Luke would come out and scare her with his sneer.

"Who are you looking for?" Calypso voice startled her out of her trance. Calypso placed her hand on Annabeth's shoulders in a placating gesture. "Annabeth? Is everything okay? Is- Is anyone … abusing you?" She said the words as if afraid of them to come true.

Annabeth was breathing heavily and a tear streaked down her cheek as she thought what would happen if Luke got to know. Would… Would something happen to Thalia or Percy? She looked at Calypso her face in a state of alarm.

Calypso was shocked to see her friend almost in tears and hurried her to the bathroom. Luckily for them, the bathroom was devoid of people, leaving them to their privacy.

"What's happening Annabeth? Please tell me," Calypso said as she wiped the stray tears off Annabeth's face.

"I –I can't, Calypso. Please understand. I… I just can't." Annabeth said, yet another tear making its way down her cheek.

"Why ever not? I can help you Annabeth, really. Please, please tell me." Looking at Annabeth in this state, Calypso almost broke down herself but forced herself to calm down. After much coaxing, Annabeth finally came out with the truth.

"Calypso, promise me, you will never, ever tell this to anyone. No one. Okay?" Annabeth held Calypso's hand as she turned backwards again and again, afraid that someone would see them, or worse hear them talking.

Calypso promised and Annabeth started. "It all began after I slapped Luke in front of many people. He was really bugging me and flirting way too much. But after that he made my life worse than hell." She explained his tortures, how he would tie her up each night and touch her everywhere. "He also hits me with a belt. That's what you saw Calypso. It's the mark the belt gives me after each slash."

A tear streaked down Calypso's cheek. She couldn't speak, couldn't believe that all this was the result of a slap. "I can't believe it."

"It gets worse," Annabeth said, shaking her head sadly. "He threatens me not to tell anyone and if I do, he will do something, I don't know what, with Thalia. It can't be pretty is all I know. He tells me if I breathe a word about this an accident might just happen to anyone of you friends or to Percy. I can't bear if anything happens to Percy or to you guys. I can't have it on my conscience all my life."

Calypso wiped her tears. "Nothing will happen, Annabeth. I promise. I won't say anything. But I really think you should do something about this." Annabeth looked up. "Like, call the police?"

"The police?" Annabeth laughed bitterly. "The police won't even be able to do anything. Luke's dad is so big, he's probably got them wrapped around his little finger. Luke will be out of jail in seconds and then an accident will end the life of one of my friends. It's not gonna work, Calypso." She shook her head sadly. "Don't ever tell this to anyone. Promise me right now. You won't tell anyone."

Reluctantly, Calypso nodded and promised she wouldn't breathe a word to anyone.

END FLASHBACK

Reaching a spot near the rocks, she chose one, and sat down, looking at the dark sky and the waves roaring, only a little softer than her heart.

OKAY THAT WAS AWESOME EVEN IF I SAY SO… Wow! I fell greatly wicked having done that… Till the next chapter… I'm cooking up the most wonderful romance for Percabeth!