Even before the invasion, I was having a terrible day. I had already failed an exam, (which by failed, I mean I got a 95. I know, take away all my books, right?), my mom, who is the goddess Athena, visited me and told me that the construction for the new Olympus was failing. I'm the official architect of Olympus, by the way. So, I had to go up there, reorder and redesign it, get a new construction crew, and then break up a fight between Ares and Aphrodite about something stupid. Then, there were the attacks at camp. A Hocus Bull, to be exact. 

"We have barrier action!" 

My brother Malcom shouted from the patrol arena. I grabbed my knife and ran out, meeting my boyfriend Percy halfway. 

"Distract him for me. I have a plan." I told him while running. He smirked.

"What's new?"

 I rolled my eyes. "Just do it, Seaweed Brain." "You got it, Wise Girl!" I charged the Hocus Bull, which was my first mistake. "Hey, ground beef!" I yelled. It looked at me and let off steam. "Yeah, I'm talking to you! You know, the gods should have named you "Old Man Bull." You're like, what? 10 eons old? Dang, dude. Your old!" Being a daughter of Athena, I considered my best weapon to be my wits. That was usually true, but as if Hera was reading me, the Hocus Bull charged. I jumped and grabbed it's horns, the rest of the camp watching in horror. 

"Very smart, Annabeth Chase. Not smart enough, though." 

I could have sworn the Hocus Bull talked in my mind, but I didn't have time to think about that. I caught Percy's eyes, knowing that I couldn't hold it off much longer and mouth, "Do it." Percy grabbed a rope and pulled at one of the bull's legs. That was the next fault in my grand plan. The Hocus Bull bucked and I slammed into it's horns, screaming in pain as I plummeted down. "Annabeth!" Percy yelled, sprinting to catch me, but he was a few inches too slow. I hit the ground with a thud. "Annabeth!" I hear Percy cry. I had to fight to keep my eyes open. "Stay with me, Wise Girl." I smile weakly at him. "Build me something, will you, Seaweed Brain." My eyes start to close. "No. No....SOMEBODY GET A MEDIC!" He yelled.

"Percy, she's go-."

An Aphrodite camper started to say. "Don't!" He screamed. I feel myself being lifted into his arms. "You're going to be okay, Annabeth. You have to be okay."

I had to fight to keep my body from shutting down. I couldn't open my eyes, so I was focused on keeping my hearing. 

"Percy, you can't stay. You have to leave."

The camp director, Chiron orders. "I'm not leaving her!" I hear Percy cry. "I know you want her to be okay, but there is a slim chance she will survive. Even if she does pull through, something will go wrong. She may be paralyzed. She could lose her sight. The possibilities....I'm sorry, Percy but you need to prepare for the worst." I wanted to wrap Percy in a hug. I wanted to tell him that I'd be okay, but I didn't know that. Right now, I was unconscious, fighting to keep my senses. "Just let me stay, Chiron. I don't want her to be alone." Chiron sighs. "Very well." I felt Percy's hand go into mine and for the first time in the hour, I wasn't afraid. Chiron's hand goes to my wrist. "Her heart rate is way too low." He muttered. I attempt to squeeze Percy's hand. "I think she can still hear." Percy said. "How can you tell?" "She squeezed my hand. Watch. Annabeth, favorite architectural building. The Pantheon or The Gateway Arch. Squeeze Chiron's hand for the Gateway and mine for the Pantheon." I squeeze Chiron's hand. Percy knew me too well. "Well Annabeth, you might make it after all. Percy, keep her steady. This is going to hurt." I feel Percy's hand on my shoulder. "I'm right here, okay? You've got this." I feel a needle go into my side. I needed the pain to go away. It hurt like nobody's business. "Hey, focus on my voice. Breathe, Annabeth. Don't lose your ground. You can beat this." 

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

Chiron finished after a while. "She'll wake up soon. The consequences I told you about won't arise until much later. In truth, this is her peaceful state. By Friday, she'll be in excruciating pain, so treasure your time." 

A few minutes later, I slowly open my eyes. "Hey, Wise Girl." Percy murmurs. "Seaweed Brain." I respond weakly, moving my fingers around in his hand. "How are you feeling?" I attempt to position myself to face him. "Don't move. That will hurt really bad." I wince. "Yeah. Uh, dizzy and I feel like I got run over by a truck, but I'm fine, I guess." He smiles. "You know you scared the heck out of me." I lock eyes with him. "You do it to me every day. I figured it was time to get even. Look, I heard what Chiron said. No matter what happens, know that I am forever grateful for the greatest five years of my life." He pulls my hair behind my ear. "Don't talk like that. You'll be fine." I wince. "I don't know. I can already feel it. I'll try my best, but I doubt I'll make it. If I don't see you again, I'll see you in Elysium one day, Seaweed Brain." "No. Annie, don't go!" I squeeze his hand. "Tired." I murmur, my eyes closing. "Okay. I'm not going anywhere."

I must have slept for a while because when I woke up, it was dark outside. Percy was asleep in the chair, holding my hand. I smile. He still drooled when he slept. I try to turn over, but that resulted in the worst pain ever. Now, I don't usually cry, but it hurt so bad that I had to. I rested my head on the pillow and let the tears fall. With my luck, Percy woke up. "Hey, what's wrong?" He whispers. I sob, "I-it hurts. I tried to move and it hurts!" "Do you want some ambrosia? Nectar?" I shake my head. I already had too much of that. Ambrosia and Nectar were the food and drink of the gods. Too much of it, and we exploded. Literally. "Alright. You want to turn over?" "I want to see the stars." I admit. He laughs quietly. "Okay." He goes and opens the window then picks me up. I smile softly at him. "Don't give me that smile. It's too adorable!" I laugh the best I could. "They're beautiful. Wait, is that Zoe's constellation?" Our friend Zoe Nightshade died fighting her father, Atlas a few years ago, and being the luetienet of Artemis, she got a star. "I think so." "I wonder if I'll get a constellation." I say. Percy turns to me. "If you hint at your death one more time, Annabeth Chase, I swear I'm....." I smirk. "You'll what, Seaweed Brain? Break up with me?" He rolls his eyes. "You are so complicated." I cough. Oh, my gosh. That hurt. "You okay?" Percy asks worriedly. "Yeah. Everything hurts, though." He sighs and studies me. "You sure you don't want anything? Not even Tylenol?" I yawn. "I think I'm good. What time is it?" He looks at his watch. "4:43 AM." I close my eyes. "Good night, Wise Girl." I fall asleep and don't wake up for a long time.