Chapter 9

So I Really Need To Kill This Dragon

"I think that I should just kill it."

"You're crazy! It will kill you!" Annabeth screamed back, though I wasn't screaming.

We had been in a Smoke for a couple of days now. And I had come to the brilliant conclusion that there wasn't some plan or a list that we could make up and that I just needed to try to kill it.

Annabeth didn't agree.

But she knew that I was right. We had talked to a lot of people in Smoke and they all said the same about the problem; it was just a dragon. He didn't do anything special, just kill. So that was what I needed to do.

I walked up to her and tried to hold her hands but she pushed me away. "No! You're just going to get yourself killed! There has to be another solution then sending you alone in that swamp!"

There was one slight problem that would make it more difficult to kill it; the dragon lived in a swamp and it only came into the village at night. But if I killed it in the village they were stuck with the corpse of the dragon and if I couldn't kill it it would get angry and kill all of us.

"It's the only choice we have, Beth! Maybe it's a simple solution."

Annabeth stared at me for a minute before she stammered out. "I, I, just need some time alone now." And she walked out of the door.

I wanted to follow her, but I knew that that would only make things worse. So I sat down and just waited for Annabeth to come back.

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"Hey." I mumbled as I woke up to Annabeth walking inside.

We were staying at the mayor's house. But he was really busy so we never actually saw him.

"Hi." Annabeth said back to me and sat down next to me on the couch that I had been sitting at since she walked out.

"I'm sorry that I walked out."

"It's okay, I get it. I'm just glad you're back."

Annabeth nodded and leaned against me.

"I thought about what you said." She mumbled and I rubbed my hands softly up and down her arms. "And you're right. I think that that is the only solution. I thought of all the other scenarios that could happen and in this one we have a chance."

"Thank you for believing in me." I told her and kissed her hair softly. "I love you." Annabeth whispered and began to fall asleep. "I love you too." I whispered back.

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"I have some bad news for you." The mayor told me as I had just told him about my plan. "One of the ministers sent me this message that every person could only use three bullets. And the only chance that you would have to kill it is with a gun."

I didn't know what I wanted to do. There were multiple options. I could run in and let the dragon just kill me. I could storm back to Wiss and scream at Athena for being so unfair. Or I could just breathe in and out.

I was still deciding what the best option was when Anabeth walked in and the mayor explained everything to her.

But it was all very vague to me. And I felt like I was underwater.

Until I was brought back with a snap and I could see Annabeth's finger before my head. "You zoned out." She stated.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I found out that I can only have three shots at killing something. And I've never shot before." I admitted.

"I can teach you." Annabeth said in a matter of factly tone.

"You can shoot?" At this point the mayor left, having more important things to do than to hear Annabeth's gun story. I, however, was very much interested in it.

"Duh. The place where I grew up is called Waepenfield. Of course I know how to shoot. Everyone there knows." Annabeth grabbed a gun and walked up to me.

"Come, we're going on a walk." Annabeth shoved the gun in my hand and walked off.

"Wow." I mumbled and quickly followed her.

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"Okay, since we apparently can't use bullets we have to use paper wads. I'll show you how to load it." Annabeth showed me and gave it to me.

"Now try to shoot. Just hit the tree." We had pointed a goal on a tree and I'm afraid that it was hopeless.

And I was right. I was just downright terrible. But Annabeth didn't give up and I wasn't planning on so either.

And even if I was on the edge to do that. Annabeth would practically drag me back and shove the gun back in my hands.

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"You did it!" Annabeth screamed excititly. I had finally hit the main goal on the tree. It was two weeks later and we had only practiced. Since I had only three shots I couldn't mess it up.

"That cost us only two weeks of our life." I said, sarcastically. Annabeth kissed me on the cheek. And it gave me some satisfaction that Annabeth had to tiptoe to do that.

"Now we can practice on moving objects. The dragon isn't going to stand still. And wait for you to shoot." Annabeth told me sternly while grabbing a ball? I don't know what she was planning with that.

Until Annabeth suddenly threw the ball at me, unexpectedly, and it hit me in the face.

"Why?" I shouted as I grabbed the ball and held it. I wasn't really eager on giving Annabeth her murder weapon back.

"We can practice with this. It would be cruel to shoot birds."

"You're going to be the death of me." I groaned out and loaded the gun.

"No. The dragon will be if you can't shoot on living things."

"There's no fun with you,'' I muttered." In return I got another ball at my face.

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"I'm not going to shoot you!" I screamed at Annabeth. I'm afraid that she had gone mad in Smoke.

"Oh yes you are." Annabeth walked up to me and had big eyes. Yes. Definitely crazy.

"You can hit the ball from whatever point I throw it." That was right but it had cost us three weeks to practice for me to hit a moving object.

"That doesn't mean that I should shoot you now! You're my girlfriend! I'm not going to do it!" I shouted again. Trying to make my point, but Annabeth wasn't really getting it.

"I can handle a scratch. And it are only paper wads. I'm going to stand at a distance and run and you just need to hit me."

I laughed hoping that she would hear for herself how crazy it sounded. But when Annabeth looked at me expectantly and I realised that she wasn't changing her mind. And neither was I. I was not going to shoot her. To try at least. I would probably fail a hundred times before I could even hit her.

It sounded so wrong. Shooting my girlfriend? Hit Annabeth?

I shook my head silently and looked straight at Annabeth. "No. I can't do it. I'm not going to."

"Come on." Annabeth got an angrier tone. "You just-" Annabeth grabbed both of my hands. But I could sense that this wasn't going to be a nice gesture. "grab the gun-" She shoved the gun in my hands and adjusted the gun in the right position in my hands and had her hands over mine on the trigger. Meanwhile, Annabeth's tone got harsher and harsher.

I don't know what you need to do to be a good boyfriend. Apparently not wanting to shoot your girlfriend is a big no no.

"put it against me-" I got on on what Annabeth was doing and my eyes grew wide. "No, no, no. Annabeth don't! I'm serious!" I tried to get my hands off the trigger but she put the gun against her arm.

"I'm afraid that this is in fact going to hurt. But it will be worth it." She muttered to gritted teeth and I yanked the gun away. And dropped it to the ground.

"I'm not going to shoot you!" I screamed and began walking away.

But then something happened that I hadn't expected. It shocked me and I kind of felt betrayed.

The throbbing of my head and back didn't go unnoticed by me and I slowly turned around.

Hurt flashed my eyes because I wished that it was somebody else. Even though I knew it wasn't possible.

Because there on the grass field a couple feet away from me stood Annabeth with the gun in her hands. 

A/N 

Sorry for the short chapter, but I thought that this was a more powerful ending.