chapter 15:
                             asphodel forest

                                  

                                  𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
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The group of teens stood panting at the edge of the cliff after their incident with the Cerberus. "You know this place isn't bad, you know besides all the creepy dead things" Asteria gestured around

The group turned around "Hades Palace" Annabeth explained "That's where he'll be keeping the master bolt" Percy told them - Asteria raised her eyebrows at the news.

"And your mom."

Grover started panicking "What?" They asked confused "My pearl. I lost my pearl" Asteria groaned "The first thing i told you was don't loose the pearl!" She ran a hand through her hair

"I think its in- the dog" Grover stuttered recalling where he recently was "In the dog?" Asteria cringed at the thought - they got distracted by rumbling in the distant "What ate we gonna do?" The group was equally confused on what to do in such situation "I dont know."

"But if we don't move, it is not gonna mattter."

The group followed Annabeth down a short hill "You seem nervous" Asteria whispered towards Percy, they're hands brushed slightly. "I am." He told her

Everything was all foggy - Asteria had no idea where Annabeth had led them "We can't ignore this." Grover admitted, Asteria was confused on the conversation topic she was too involved in her own thoughts. "Stop."

"The four of us, plus your mom, is five people and only four pearls." Grover explained the math "Someone is staying behind" Asterias breath hitched hearing this "And it should really be me" Grover sacrificed "Grover! No shut up" Asteria didn't want to hear Grover trying to sacrifice himself

"It wasn't your fault" Percy automatically snapped "And even if it were, you're not getting left behind" His attitude was harsh, as he handed Grover the pearl "Period." He told him, as Asteria held back her laugh "You're both crazy" Is what she managed to spill out

"After we get the bolt and stop this war, you guys are leaving, with my mom."

"Seriously? You're just gonna abandon us like this" Asteria crosses her arms in disagreement "What about you?" Grover was also against his idea "Wait Percy. What about you?" It was clear he was dodging the question "Ill figure something out" Asteria quickly cut him off "Figure something? more like you're sending yourself on a suicide mission!"

The group suddenly came to a halt "Is it too late to turn back?" She whispered as Percy stepped in front of her "Sorry" Percy apologized since the group clearly interrupted something "They can't head you" Annabeth informed "They?"

"There's more!" Asteria whispered loudly "Actually what's the point of whispering, what the fuck!" She said loudly- the group looked around seeing more of them "This must be Asphodel, i read a book about this place" Asteria scoffed slightly

"Okay seriously what is wrong with you guys today!" Asteria spoke as Annabeth approached them, Annabeth lifted up a cloth revealing roots "Souls here are bound by regret. Haunted by choices they made in life or never made"

Asteria flinched at the sound of the Cerberus roaring, Percy grabbed her hand as they all began running "Wait!" She tried to stop them as she quickly noticed the missing girl, but they're were to busy running "Annabeth!" They finally noticed coming to a stop "I can hear her!" Asteria panted

They continued shouting for eachother until they eventually found her - Asteria gasped quietly "We've got a problem here." Annabeth was stuck - The teens tried to remove it with their bare hands but it was no use "How did this happen?"

Grover started asking questions and it was clear Annabeth was uncomfortable "Go. I'll distract the dog and buy you guys some time" Asteria refused to let her as she continued to pull "This will work, ill be okay" She reassured after telling them to stop "Asteria one of my biggest regrets is always how i treated you" She admitted before mouthing to run

Asteria felt a strange feeling hearing Annabeth speak that way towards her "Run!" Annabeth told them "Don't let go!" Percy told Asteria as he reached for her hand - they looked back seeing the ethereal disappear

𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣
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                                    ❥༄     ─

𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐢 ⸻ speaks
im so so so sorry this is short, im trying my hardest to post updates, ive been so mentally drained lately.