Annabeth

Annabeth sat on the bed in the Big House, feet up on the frame, face in her hands. Her eyes were closed and she just simply sat there. The army was spotted terribly close to camp. The lookout party, which consisted of Will Solace and Lou Ellen had informed everyone. Campers were now just nervously sharpening blades, counting arrows, and mentally preparing themselves for the battle to come.

Annabeth let a loose breath out. With her fingers, she rubbed her eyes, trying to ignore the shaking.

"It's fine it's fine it's fine." She muttered to herself. She hadn't fought in a battle in a long time. Horrific images raced through her mind. Thalia being killed trying to protect her, herself being kidnapped on top of a cliff in the cold, Zoe dying while looking at the stars, Silena, dying under the New York sky, Ethan being stabbed by Kronos himself, Luke finally revealing his Achilles Heel.

But the memory that kept flashing through her mind the most was the last time an army had invaded Camp. They came through a secret entrance in the Labyrinth. She had seen several of her friends die that day.

"It wont be like that." She consoled herself. During her time as Silena, some of the comfort she managed to achieve was telling herself that all of the terrible things that had happened to her would never happen again. She had reached the peak of "terrible life". Never again. She would keep telling herself that. Never again.

Now she was right back where she was a year ago. Back in another battle. Annabeth felt tears burn in her eyes. She furiously tried to rub them away. Everyone was already worried about her, no reason to give them more.

Suddenly the door opened and Annabeth flew to her feet, thinking the army had already arrived, but was taken aback. Standing in the doorway was Grover Underwood.

"Hey." He gave a sad smile. Annabeth rushed forward and threw her arms around his shoulders. He smelled like the trees and hugged like he had hugged for years. She took a step back and looked into his eyes. They were sad, but also relieved.

"How do we keep getting ourselves into this?" She whispered, giving a breathy laugh.

"This will be the last one." Grover looked down.

"Can you promise that?" Annabeth sat back down on the bed. Grover walked over and sat next to her, letting the conversation drop. He put his arm around her shoulder and she leaned into him.

"Where were you?" He broke the silence.

"I... needed space. From everything." She sighed.

"I lost him too, Annabeth. You could've come see me." Grover looked at her, grief in his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I just... couldn't see anyone. I had to leave. Do you understand?" Annabeth asked. Please let him understand.

"Of course I do. I've just missed you. I lost my two best friends after the war. Do you understand?" Grover looked sad.

"I'm sorry." Annabeth repeated.

"Hey." Leo came in suddenly. Grover and Annabeth looked up at him.

"Sorry." Leo noticed he interrupted a moment. "They're trying to break down the barrier now. It's taking less time than we predicted."

Annabeth felt fear rise in her throat. Grover stood and offered her his hand. She took it and was lead out of the room. Her vision felt detached from herself, as if she was already reliving the memory of today. It won't be like that. It won't be like that. It can't be like that.

Her breathing was already shaking and she tried to focus on Grover's hand in her's.

"Please don't die." She turned to him quickly.

He turned to her. "You better not. And Annabeth? If you can't fight today, run."

Annabeth nodded tearfully and turned towards the barrier. She watched the monsters finally break the magical seal that had kept them safe all these years and charge down the hill. Gripping her drakon bone sword, an item she had hidden under her bed in Seattle, she stared down the enemy. No body would die. She couldn't survive if one more person died.

Charging with the rest of the campers, she gave a war cry. She quickly lost sight of Grover and Leo, and she was on her own. Their goal was to try to keep the fighting in the field and away from the cabins as much as possible. Less damage the better.

She encountered her first monster, a cyclops. Apologizing briefly to Tyson, she paired his strike and forced his sword up. Leaving his chest exposed, she swept her blade downwards and through his midriff. One down.

She saw in her peripheral vision an emposia coming at her. She side steps and avoided being cut in half and dropped to her knee. She cut through the legs of the monsters, turning away from the exploding dust.

Years and years of training came flooding back to her in an instant. She was suddenly reminded the way she was raised. She wasn't just a person, she was a fighter. She paired another strike when she saw the line of campers being pushed back. The incredible number of monsters rushed and Annabeth stumbled back towards the cabins. Their strategy was failing. It was every man for himself now.

She cut through another monster when she heard a voice rang out. "Is this Annabeth Chase? Finally out of retirement I see."

Annabeth turned and located the voice. A cocky monster stood leaning on his sword, not even engaging in the on-going battle.

"And who are you?" She gasped out as she exchanged a series of sword moves with a monster to her right.

"I'm surprised you're here." He ignored her question. Annabeth rolled her eyes and tried to move towards him to fight, but was stopped by the efforts of a different monster. She thrusted her sword into his chest before finally turning back to the cocky monster.

"Why's that?" She finally was able to catch her breath. The other monsters had given her a wide birth, clearly thinking she was fighting the one in front of her.

"Well what with lover boy and all." He grinned at her.

"What happened with Percy does not change the fact that I will defend this camp until my dying breath." Annabeth frowned. The monster in front of her blinked in confusion, the burst out into laughter.

"Oh! You don't know!" He laughed.

Never let the enemy know you are at a disadvantage, especially a mental one. Annabeth's strategic knowledge was warning her.

"Of course I know. That doesn't change the fact that I am about to kill you." She lied, but her ears were ringing. Know what? She raised her sword and pointed it at his chest.

"Actually, I think it changes everything." He grinned, clearly not buying her lie.

Annabeth rushed forward with an attack. He paired her strike and forced her sword up. She countered it by swinging her blade out of his reach. She positioned herself in a stance that had her defended. She lunged forward again, trying to catch his side, but failed. He seemed to be playing games with her, not entirely interested in actually fighting her. Annabeth became frustrated and screamed as she tried yet again to catch him off guard.

"You don't want to kill me." He laughed, eyes deranged.

"WHY!?" She demanded, sick of his laughter. She swung her sword, an impulse move. He had her corned against the wall of the Hermes cabin. She was breathing heavily, wondering how quick it would be to just die.

"Not when I know where he is." He smirked. The mention of Percy made Annabeth's blood grow hot. Despite the fact that she was cornered and had no where to run, she continued fighting.

"I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE HE IS BECAUSE IT WAS PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT PUT HIM THERE!" She screamed, refusing to let any emotion other than anger through. A year of anger had filled her up from her feet to the tip of her sword. She swung and he caught her wrist, pushing it against the wall. She struggled against his grip, but she was unable to move. She tilted her head up and prayed for a quick death.

"Don't you want me to tell you where he is?" He asked quietly, his mouth too close to her face. He stared at her with envy and arrogance and for a split second, he let go of his guard. For one millisecond, he was talking instead of fighting. Annabeth used that millisecond to pull out a concealed knife and stab it through his stomach. He gasped and stumbled backwards. Annabeth was release from the wall and knelt next to his fallen body.

He gasped as sand pooled over his lips. He seemed to be mouthing something in his final moments of life. Curiosity getting the better of her, Annabeth tilted her ear over his mouth and heard what he was trying to tell her.

"He's here." And then the monster finally dissolved completely into dust.

Sitting up in confusion, Annabeth looked around. Then, someone caught her eye.

Percy Jackson was standing on top of the hill.

Please review!