Δ LITTLΣ βIT LΩΠGΣR

Annabeth pulled the blanket back. There lay a pale girl, her face emotionless, her eyes closed. Annabeth touched the face of the pale girl, feeling the cold touch of death take hold already.
Piper was dead. Annabeth couldn't wrap her mind around this.
Quickly, Annabeth pulled the blanket back over Piper's face. Her hands were shaking slightly and she clasped them together.
One of her best friend's were dead. Annabeth stood there, feeling empty as a hollow shell. What was the difference in Piper's death? Annabeth had seen probably hundreds of Demi-gods die! Why would this one death make such a difference?
One of her best friend's were dead.
Annabeth heard quick footsteps behind her and she turned her head to see Hazel rushing to Annabeth, Frank in tow behind her. Hazel was quick to meet at Annabeth's side. Carefully, Hazel pulled down the blanket to expose Piper's face.
A loud gasp was emitted from Hazel. "Is she- is she?" Hazel stammered. Annabeth settled a hand on Hazel's shoulder. "She's dead." Annabeth confirmed.
A hand flew to Hazel's mouth. Gut-wrenching sobbing noises were escaping from Hazel. Slowly Frank turned Hazel so he could engulf her in a hug.
The three of them all stood there quietly, mourning. For their friend Piper.
Annabeth finally kneeled down next to Piper and stroked Piper's face, gently moving the hair out of Piper's face. Her forehead wasn't as cold as Annabeth had expected it to be.
"Sleep well, Piper." Annabeth whispered softly.
That is when Piper's eyes shot open. Annabeth shot back, eyes wide, mouth hanging open. Piper sat up slowly, her once pale face slowly gaining the rosey hue back to it.
"Did I just die?" Piper rasped out. Annabeth's mouth remained hanging wide open as she nodded. Annabeth could hear the surprised gasps throughout the camp.
How? Annabeth thought as she stared at her best friend. Piper seemed to be looking around.
"Where is Jason?" Annabeth rose to her feet, smiling now.
"At his cabin with the boys." Annabeth said, her smile growing into a full grown grin. "I'll go get him for you." Annabeth said as she maneuvered around Hazel and Frank. She raced out of the infirmary.
One question nagged at Annabeth's mind though. How is Piper alive? Annabeth mused over the question as she raced to the cabins. Her feet were hitting the ground as fast as her heart was beating.
We closed the Doors of Death two years ago! Annabeth thought furiously. It didn't make sense, when things didn't make sense to Annabeth it frustrated her greatly. As a Daughter of Athena, she felt as if she was suppose to know this and understand why this was happening.
For once, she didn't know, but didn't mind. Her best friend was alive and that was all that mattered.
Annabeth could see Jason's form on the steps of the Zeus/Jupiter cabin clearly now. The smile on her face broadened even more right then.
"Jason!" Annabeth yelled cross the remaining ten feet of distance. Jason looked up at her. Tears were running down his cheeks and his eyes were red and puffy.
"Jason!" Annabeth called again, slowing her pace.
"Piper wants to see you." Annabeth said innocently. Jason looked up at Annabeth, a bewildered look on his face.
"But she's dead." Leo argued.
"Not anymore!' Annabeth said excitedly. Jason's mouth dropped open. The poor boy gaped at Annabeth like a fish. Jason wasted no time. He jumped to his feet and ran in the direction of the infirmary.
"She is alive?" Percy and Leo said at simultaneously.
"Yes!" Annabeth squealed excitedly. Dylan squealed back at her. Leo wasted no time. Leo took off after Jason.
"Wait for me man!" Leo yelled.

*

Since Annabeth and Percy no longer lived at Camp Godly, the two of them had to stay in their godly parent's cabin. Annabeth took Dylan with her for the trip, the Hephaestus kids were even kind enough to make Dylan a crib.
Later that night Annabeth carried Dylan over to his first campfire. Before they had moved, Annabeth and Percy didn't want Dylan being out that late. Now, they would only be here for a few days, it seemed right that Dylan would be able to go to at least one campfire.
Annabeth quickly sat next to Percy and Piper. Where Piper quickly thrust her arms out for Dylan. Annabeth chuckled and gave Dylan to Piper. Piper began to play with Dylan by poking his belly and playing peek-a-boo.
"Annabeth, look at the log." Percy said. Annabeth caught his eyes and smiled, the fire had added a nice low glow to it. Annabeth quickly looked at the log so Percy wouldn't know she was staring at his eyes. She smiled at the discovery Percy has made.
There on the log was etched into it, "P+A". Percy had put if there on the log that he had proposed to Annabeth.
Annabeth snuggled closer to him and smiled. She felt safe, safer than she had in a really long time. Maybe even before she met Percy. For once her stress and worries melted away. She smiled as Dylan laughed from Piper poking him in the belly.
"He slashed to the right and hacked-hacked-hacked-hacked to the left." The camp sang around the fire.
That is when it hit her out of no where. Usually, Annabeth got a gut dropping feeling that reminded her going down a hill on a roller coaster.
However, this was worse.
Annabeth immediately felt the darkness closing in, the feeling of falling back into Tartarus. She had to warn Percy!
She squeezed his hand that was intertwined with hers. Percy looked at her, with a smile and loving eyes.
"Now." Annabeth whispered. She hoped to all of the gods above that he wouldn't be a seaweed brain at the moment and understand what was wrong.
"What?" He said, sounding like a seaweed brain. Then she saw the horror on his face as they locked eyes. Annabeth knew her eyes must've been darkening by then. Percy said something, but she couldn't catch it.
Then he was gone, and she was falling into Tartarus, without Percy. Annabeth fell as things - axes, swords, knives - stuck out jabbing into her. Annabeth screamed out in pain.
Why? Annabeth thought as arrows buried themselves into her skin. Spears going straight through her. Annabeth began to cough violently and felt blood land on her face. The warm liquid oozing down her cheeks and dripping off.
Be strong Annabeth. She told herself. Be strong, this is not real. You went through what was real and it's not this!
She felt heat under her back and felt it grow hotter and hotter as she neared the bottom. Annabeth yelped as she landed on the ground. She looked around at her surroundings. She had landed in a pit of fire.
Annabeth stood up and suddenly found her self bound to a pole. Annabeth yelped in surprise. She could hear something approaching her.
It was Percy. He was lighting a match with an evil grin. Annabeth looked down at her feet and gasped. She was surrounded by sticks, bundles of them. Annabeth gulped as she looked back up at Percy. Annabeth was being burnt at the stake.
Annabeth screamed. She screamed at Percy, begging for Percy to put the fire out. Annabeth felt tears fall, the smoke stinging her eyes.
Something with talons wrapped his fingers around Annabeth and threw her to the wall, her shirt left in shreds. Annabeth's stake suddenly gone.
Make it stop. Annabeth begged the gods in her mind.
Percy laughed at her, as if her misery delighted him. The creature with talons came closer, a whip in his hand.
"Percy!" Annabeth screamed, crying. The ship sunk into her back, tearing flesh off as it pulled out. Annabeth touched her back tentatively only to feel her back heal itself. More room to whip her.
She heard crying. The shrill crying of a baby. Annabeth struggled to see a baby being tortured by creatures similar to the one hurting her.
"Dylan!"
Dylan cried out. The creatures laughed at Annabeth and Dylan. They laughed even harder when they saw Annabeth's face when they threw him into the pit of fire.