Chapter 28 ~ Annabeth

Chapter 28

Annabeth

I stood on the edge of the new river Percy made six weeks ago. I must say, its beautiful. Campers have started calling it Wise River, shortening the nickname Percy gave me. It made me smile, but then it added to the ammount of pain i was carrying.

Since i got out of hospital i haven't talked to anyone. It might be a yes and no here and there other than that i've been dead to the world. I no longer slept in my tent instead i slept in Percy's. I'm not ready to let him go. Not yet.

I heard rustling and turned. I saw Nico looking at me, his eyes puffy and red. He looked down and shuffled his feet, not knowing what to say. My gaze softened and i walked up to him. Wih out wasting time i pulled him into a hug.

"I know.... its hard....." I whispered.

"How come your not crying then?" Nico asked. That was a good point.

"I have no more tears left...... Its hard, yes, but i can't keep on crying...... i'll always remember him." I smiled and he returned it.

"Right!" I straightened my back and looked at Nico. "As your here you can keep watch while i go diving!"

"What are you looking for?" He asked as i took off my top, i was wearing a two peice swin suit which was grey like my eyes.

"I don't know...." I said walking knee deep in water. "I'll know once i'm down there." I waved good bye and dived under.

I waited for the bubbles to submerge and continued swimming. I don't know why but my gut instincts told me to go to the bottom of the bank. My feet brushed the bottom. It was very merky. After a few minutes the silt settled and i looked at the bank around me.

I was about to swim on when i saw a dim glow. Frowning i swam towards it. i ran my fingers along it, when it came to the end i grasped it and started to pull. It wouldn't budge. I tried again but still no luck. By this point my lungs where burning. Unable to take anymore, i kicked upwards and headed to the surface. My head broke the from the wate and i gasped for air. I looked over at Nico and saw Grover, Mick, the Stolls, Katie, Brianna and her Jason standing there.

"Find anything?" Mick asked. He had my towel slung over his shoulder. I dipped my head under then back up, ridding the hair that stuck to my face.

"Yeah actually i did......" I trailed off then looked at the Stolls. "Do you two think you can help me please?"

"Sure!" They stripped to their boxers and dived in. I swam back to the bottom, them close behind. I pointed to the mysterious subjected and they frowned as well. Trying what i done less than five minutes ago, they tried to pull it free. They had no luck either. I pointed to the surface and they nodded.

"Well thats weird!" Connor exclaimed.

"That thing is like exaclaber! Although thats a myth." Travis shrugged.

"We're," I pointed at the three of us. "Meant to be a myth but we're here." They nodded in agreement.

"So what you find?" I turned to Brianna.

"We don't know.... its stuck and we can't get it free....." I said. This is going to bug me. Connor and Travis got out and started drying off.

"Come on.... Lets get something to eat then come back later?" Grover suggested. I shook my head.

"You guys can.... but what ever it is thats down there is important, and i'm going to get it!" With out saying more i submerged myself back into the water.

I kicked hard and came back to the bank. I gripped the end and pulled. I planted my feet either side of it and pulled again. I moved about five inches. YES! Just a little more Annabeth! My mind was encouraging me. I couldn't do much more, i need some breath. I broke to the surface again, took a few gulps of air and submerged back down ignoring the shouts i'm getting.

Planting my feet once more i pulled. After about ten seconds the object came loose and floated in front of me. Wasting no time, i grabbed it and kicked furiously to the surface. Once i was there i swam to the edge and got out.

I looked at the object i had in my hand. It was covered in silt and grime. Eager to know, i leant over the river and started washing the object.

Soon it started taking form and it took form of a sword. Trying to get the dirt and muck off, i noticed it wasn't anyones sword. It was Riptide!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I stormed into camp. I was still dripping wet and only in my two peice swim suit. Nico left to get something to eat. So my clothes are still by the river. I don't care. All i care about is that Percy has to be close by. I went to Nico.

"Nico i need you to check the underworld and see if Percy is dead!" I almost shouted at him.

"Annabeth i can't! I haven't been able too for a while! If i knew i would say but i don't!" I stormed off to find Chiron.

I found him and Thalia talking. Their eyes landed on me and what i was holding. They both done a double take.

"Annabeth...... how......" Thalia said in awe. Looking at my boyfriends sword. She reached out to grab it but i snatched it away from her.

"Where did you find his sword Annabeth?" Chiron asked. Not Percy, his! They can't even say his name anymore! It disguests me.

"'His' so what Percy isn't important anymore to be called by his name!?" I snarled. They looked at me shocked.

"Annabeth, what-" I cut chiron off.

"Since Percy has been gone you can't talk about him or say his name anymore! he was your favorite student but yet you can't even talk about him with pride anymore!" I shouted. I was causing a scene but i don't care.

Chiron looked at me, Thalia was fuming.

"How dare you say that Annabeth! Chiron loves Percy like his own! Your not the only one finding it hard you know!" She shouted back.

"Shut up!" I spat. "You've barely been around! As for Chiron he treated Percy like dirt once he gott his precious daughter back and forgot about us! He forgot about the family he had! But where is she now?" Silence. "Thats right dead! And to be honest i'm glad she is! She was a bitch anyway!"

"ENOUGH!" Chiron shouted. I glared at him, not saying anything else.

"I admit i forgot about the family i already had Annabeth! But I got my daughter back, only for her to be snatched away from me!" He stared daggers at me.

"WHAT ABOUT ME!" i screeched. "I ONLY GOT PERCY BACK JUST FOR HIM TO BE SNATCHED AWAY FROM ME! NOW EVERY ONE HAS FORGOTTEN ABOUT HIM AND WHAT HE'S DONE FOR US ALL!" tears streamed down my face.

"Well maybe if you didn't interfere like Percy said, maybe he might still be here!" Thalia countered. I stared at her shocked, i can't be she said that. Her eyes widened at what she said. "I'm sorry Annabeth! I didn't mean to!"

"SAVE IT!" I was hurt, sad, distraught, empty and angry. "He's not dead!"

"He is Annabeth! You just can't admit it....." Thalia said in a whisper.

"I can admit it.... i just don't want to believe it! All of you have been saying to me "Give up teres no point!" "He's dead!" you've been telling me this and trying to controll me! But not anymore! I'm not giving up until i find Percy!"

"Annabeth.... calm down..." i turned and saw Brianna.

"I can't! Not until Percy is with me again!" I was crying uncontrollably.

"And we'll find him.... me and you Annabeth..... your not on your own....." She smiled and held out her hand. I took it and returned the smile.

"We'll find him...." She said. "Like you, I'm not giving up either." I nodded, feeling more determined and positive. It ight take a while but like Brianna and myself said:

I'm not giving up.

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SORRY ITS SHORT! SORRY ITS UPSETTING! BUT I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT AND STAY TUNED FOR THE EPILOGUE! I'LL HAVE IT UP IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE PERCY JACKSON OR HEROES OF OLYMPUS CHARACTERS! ALL RIGHTS GO TO RICK RIORDAN!

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LOTS OF LOVE

Tiffani xxxxx