Annie's PoV

Dream

I was on top of Half Blood Hill. Annabeth was sitting by Thalia's pine tree, and Reyna walked up to her. "Do you think they will be okay?"

Annabeth shook her head. "Hopefully they come out alive, but no. They won't be okay." She was crying silently, and Reyna pulled her into a hug.

"They're strong. They'll be able to make it, and we'll be there for them." Annabeth nodded, and the scene changed.

Ryan, and I think that was Butch, were sitting at the empty fire pit. They looked like they hadn't been eating. "He'll be okay. I'm sure of it." Ryan was saying.

"I hope so. I know Annie will try anything to get back too. She'll be back." Butch replied.

Ryan nodded and pulled out a basket of strawberries. "I was planning on asking her out when she gets back. Now..."

"Hey, she'll be back. Good luck man." Butch said.

Ryan gave a half smile. "You too."

The scene changed.

A girl with red hair, Esra, was talking to Thalia. They were sitting alone in the Artemis cabin, and Esra looked nervous. "... so I have only a few days left to live. I just want to live long enough to tell Ari that she has been a great friend, but every time the camp tries to IM her, she ignores it!" Esra was explaining.

Thalia nodded in thought. "I think I know of a loop hole in the curse. It might at least buy you time, but you wouldn't be able to fall for boys."

Esra nodded. "Good thing if I fall for anyone, it will most likely be a girl." For some reason, she blushed and looked away. "But I don't think I could do what you are suggesting."

"Why not?" Thalia asked.

"I... I'm genderfluid. I identify as a girl most of the time, so I just stick with she, her, hers pronouns, but I have felt like a guy occasionally." Esra said.

Thalia smiled. "I'm sure it'll be alright. You aren't interested in doing anything right?"

She shook her head. She was about to say something, but the scene changed again.

Ari was talking to a little girl I didn't recognize. They stood in front of two empty thrones.

"My head hurts all of the time, and I'm starting to feel like I've forgotten something, but I don't know what! Do you know anything that could help?" The little girl asked, clutching her head.

Ari looked worried. "No, I don't. I'm sorry." She bent down to be eye level with her. "You know that boy I met and brought here?" The little girl nodded. "We're going to Elysium for a little while. Would you like to come with us? We might be able to find someone who was a doctor." The little girl nodded again. Ari smiled. "Great. Could you get me a soda before we go?"

"Of course!" The little girl said happily. She ran out of the room, and the scene changed one last time.

Will was being dragged by two cyclopes. He had a nasty cut on his forehead, and he could barely walk. A humanoid figure came out of the darkness that seemed heavier than what we had been traveling in. "We found him wandering around the Phlegethon, my lord," One of the cyclopes said.

"Ah, Will Solace you made it!" The humanoid figure said in Tartarus's voice. Oh boy.

Will looked furious. "You can't just rip a hole in the fabric of the universe because you were pissed that I wouldn't cooperate! You promised Nico wouldn't get hurt!"

"I promised he wouldn't get hurt if you cooperated," Tartarus chuckled.

"How was I supposed to cooperate? You wanted me to trap the gods' powers in a stupid jar! You know what, take your stupid jar, you anemic loser!" Will threw a small empty baby jar that he pulled from his pocket, and it shattered against the ground. "You have me now anyway, so let Nico and the others go. Now!"

Tartarus laughed. "I don't want you, you puny demigod. I want to destroy the Olympians! Now I have a chance to do so with or without your help. Come with me." The cyclopes dragged a struggling Will after Tartarus. They walked a few yards before Tartarus stopped in front of the most terrifying thing I have ever seen.

A horde of monsters, a hundred thousand at least, stood in front of a gaping hole. The hole wasn't in the ground though. It was a few feet in the air. It stretched about a hundred feet tall and two hundred feet wide. The hole looked like the blackest void I have ever seen. it was so black, it seemed to bleed the different colors that made up the shade. The rift, I realized. it was a literal hole in the fabric of the universe, just like Will said.

To the left of the monsters and in front of the hole was a cage made of the same darkness. A pale man with oily black hair stood up and went to look through the bars of the cage. His eyes widened in shock when he saw Will. "Will? What are you doing here? Where is Nico?"

Will's eyes began to water. "Somewhere down here. I don't know. I'm so sorry."

The man glowered at him with Nico's intensity, but it was a hundred times worse. "What have you done? Did you betray my son?"

Will shook his head frantically. He turned to Tartarus and shouted, "Let him go! Let them all go! I'll listen next time I swear! Please just don't hurt Nico!"

"It's too late, foolish demigod," Tartarus cackled.

"Then thank you for taking me here," Will said quietly.

"What?" Tartarus asked in confusion. Will took a deep breath  and ran toward the rift. "Get him!" Tartarus screeched.

"Annie, wake up!"

I sat up so fast, I hit my head on Gab's nose. "Ow!" Ze complained in protest.

I looked around frantically and spotted Nico eating a plate of pancakes next to Bob. He had looked up and was about to say something, but I cut him off. "Will's in trouble. We need to go. Now!"

Dun dun duuuuun! Another cliff hanger just because I love you guys. I won't be able to update any more tonight, so I hope you guys have a great day!