It was dark.

Really, really dark.

The scent of sulfur and blood wafted through the air.

Annabeth wasn't sure where she was, or how she got there, but her natural instinct told her something was off.

As far as she could tell, she was alone.

Alone.

The word quickened her heart beat.

Annabeth had been a fairly independent individual not too long ago. But ever since Tartarus, Annabeth liked to keep someone (preferably Percy) by her side.

Her calculating grey eyes went from side to side, but it was no use. Years of training and hardship, as useful as they were, did her no good when there was no way to see.

Helpless was a good word for it. Now she knew what her enemies felt when she wielded her Yankees cap.

"Hello?" she called into the blanket of darkness. She knew it was a bad idea. You should never make the first move when you were at a disadvantage, metaphorically or not.

But what harm could it do? She was getting nowhere anyways.

"Hello?" She raised her voice more this time. "Where––"

Incoherent mumbling drifted into her field of hearing. It sounded faintly familiar, but the words were too muffled for Annabeth to pinpoint it.

As it got closer, she crouched apprehensively. "Who are you?" As an afterthought, she added, "Where are you?"

A black silhouette entered the corner of her vision. She whipped around, her mind already running through the possibilities of what it could be.

The moment she laid eyes on the ugly beast, she wished she hadn't.

"Hera?"

But she didn't receive a response. At least, there was no response to her question.

Hera gave her a mouthful, throwing a hurricane of words at Annabeth at such a rapid pace, she was only able to catch a few words.

"Take––"

"Forever––"

"Gone."

Annabeth shook her head, covering her ears. "Hera! What is going on?" she screamed over the whirlwind of words.

Annabeth blinked, and Hera materialized right in front of her.

"Suffer––"

"Love––"

"Gone."

A strong, chilling wind pushed Annabeth to her knees, urging her hair out of its ponytail. She'd never been in a tornado, but she had imagined it feeling like this.

"Hera, stop!"

And just like that, everything came to a halt. It was as if time froze.

As confused as Annabeth was, it wasn't hard for her to make out Hera's next words.

"Percy. Is. Gone."

As realization hit her, Annabeth yelled a strangled, "No!" She sat up in her bunk in cabin 6, tears falling freely from her eyes.

Annabeth buried her face in her hands. She was past the point of trying to stifle the sobs anymore, it was no use.

So she cried.

And cried.

Until one of her half sisters (or brothers) woke up and rushed to get Percy from the Poseidon cabin––though in her state, Annabeth had no idea what was going on around her.

Percy was wide awake when he walked into the Athena cabin. He told the other campers to go back to sleep.

Then he scooped Annabeth up onto his lap. He let her cry a little longer––he had learned it was better to get it all out first––stroking her soft, blonde tendrils of hair.

"Shhh. It's alright." Already knowing what had gone on in her dream for the most part, he whispered, "I'm right here. We're fine."

Annabeth shook her head into his chest. "It's getting worse," she mumbled.

Percy caressed her knuckles. "I know. We just need time. It'll go away. It's not real."

Annabeth took a deep breath, more angered now. "This is ridiculous," she whispered.

Percy shook his head. "Tell me about it," he deadpanned. Then he planted a kiss on the top of her head. "Just relax."

So Annabeth released her tight grip on his shirt and took a few slow, deep breaths. Before she knew it, she was falling to sleep.

Alarmed, she forced her drooping eyes open. She did not want to fall victim to another nightmare.

But...

Percy was there. She'd be fine. He'd chase (Ha! Chase. Get it? I'll leave.) the nightmares away.

"Night, Seaweed Brain."

"Night Wise Girl."

Annabeth drifted into a dreamless sleep, her cabin mates inwardly awwing at Percabeth.

Okay.

How many times shall I say sorry for the lack of updates?

I'll save you from the boredom of my infinite apologies by saying, I am so dam sorry.

Ah. We're all good now. Pjo puns fix everything.

This oneshot didn't make up for the wait, I honestly don't even know what I was thinking writing this.

I want to say I'll be writing a Grover, Juniper, Percy, and Annabeth double date oneshot next, but I can't promise anything. I write whatever my hand puts on the paper.

Anyways, I really do appreciate all the support for this book. I was going through the earlier chapters, and they're honestly really sucky. I've been editing them (*cough* spacing out the paragraphs *cough*) the past few days, and just internally cringing.

But they were so fun to write! So I love them. And I'm so happy I'm able to share these with you <3

Wow. What a mood XD

Alright. I'll shut up now.

Lots of love! Peace out in demigodishness and all that!

~ Grace 💙💙💙