Chapter 36 Be strong

Malcolm's POV

After Annabeth left the cabin I got everyone started on our tasks then went to find my sister. She was on Half Blood Hill with her back against Thalia's Tree, her head buried in her hands. The dragon's head rested at her feet as if he were a dog trying to offer support. I stopped a few feet away and watched them, waiting for her to sense my presents, after a minute past she looked up. Her stormey eyes were red rimmed, she didn't say anything when I moved to sit next to her, though if her eyes could kill I'd be dead with the way she looked at me.

"Annabeth."

She remained silent.

"Annabeth, what's wrong?"

In a barely controlled tone she snapped,

"Leave me alone.. please."

After a deep breath she added,

"Sorry Malcolm, I just need some time to think."

Normally I'd obey her wishes, but this time was different, she was struggling to keep herself in check, but no one can be strong forever. Besides I knew from experience if she didn't let the storm break up here, she would lose control of it, and it would come out full force at a bad time in the wrong location.

"If you tell me I can.."

She cut me off.

"Help? no Malcolm, NO ONE CAN HELP. NOT YOU NOT CHIRON NOT THE GODS. We're on our own so Stop asking."

Her voice was charged with anger, though it trembled on the last sentence making all the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It was never a good idea to push someone like Annabeth when they were scared and angry. She was near the breaking point and all my instincts told me to shut up and leave, but it was better she took it out on me instead of some careless individual. Careful to keep my tone even but devoid of sympathy, I said,

"I'm not asking, tell me what we're preparing for."

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO DEMAND I TELL YOU ANYTHING. YOU ARE NOT A COUNSELOR."

"No, however I was the acting counselor for the cabin all last year. I organized the camp's defense while you were away, I was the one who arranged the meeting with the Romans while you were in Tar.."

"DON'T SAY HIS NAME!"

"Why not!?"

"BECAUSE NAMES HAVE POWER!"

"That's never stopped you before! Why is it stopping you now? What is happening!? Tell me!"

"BECAUSE HE IS RISING AND WE CAN'T STOP HIM."

She was shaking as tears began to roll down her face.

"I'M.. WE HAVE TO BACK DOWN THERE AND WE AREN'T COMING BACK. HE IS RISING JUST TO KILL US. WE CAN'T STOP HIM WE ARE GOING TO DIE DOWN THERE. AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU OR ANYONE ELSE CAN DO ABOUT IT!"

She buried her face in her hands letting out a sob of terror, as she leaned forward until her forehead touched the grass, her body shaking. My mind was numb but I felt myself moving to comfort her almost unconsciously. Slowly my brian started to compartmentalize as I got my sister to lean on me, allowing her to cry on my shoulder. Part of me was focusing on her calming her down, the other working through what she told me. Tartarus was rising, She said He wanted them dead, I assumed that meant Percy and her. If that was true… then what she had said about going back must mean going to fight him or it's some kind of sacrifice. Though I don't know how you could fight something like a bottomless pit, which would mean, I pushed that throughout away. Annabeth had calmed down more or less so gripping her shoulder's I held her at arm's length.

"Annabeth."

I tried to say her name as gently as I could, but she didn't respond except to look at me.

"I know this sounds like a death sentence but is there any chance you could succeed?"

She hesitated for a long time be for saying,

"Yes. But its.."

I healed up a hand to stop her,

"Annabeth, it doesn't matter how small or great the chance is, you have one which means you can succeed."

She shook her head,

"Malcolm, I don't think you understand what the odds are. The chance is so small it may as well be impossible."

"Then with your record you have almost nothing to worry about."

I pointed over my shoulder,

"Who found that statue single handed?"

"Me."

"Who faced Arachne and won? Who held their own against Kronos with just a knife and an injured shoulder?

"Me."

"Who led a successful quest through the labyrinth? Who figured out how to communicate with us from the deepest part of the underworld?"

"…me."

"Exactly, now if there is one thing you're good at it's doing the impossible, so what I need you to do is do it again. You're not alone, you have Percy and I and, everyone else, we will help you do the impossible again you just have to let us. All you have to do is be strong. Sometimes you have to ask for help, don't give up, fight like you always do. Can you do that?"

She took a shaky breath,

"Yes, I can do that."

"Good, so here's the plan. I'll take charge of most of the cabin responsibilities so that way you can focus on the important things."

"Sounds like a plan to me, thank you Malcolm. I don't know how I would run the cabin without you."