𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐋 𝐃𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑, percy jackson

CHAPTER 21! he wondered if cherry was just as pretty, covered in gold

the girl almost screamed.

thunder cracked, haunting the girls senses, which only horrified her further.

"oh my god, what is that! grover!" cherry yelled, latching onto the boy beside her.

"sorry." percy apologized to the being he almost bumped into.

"they can't hear you. this must be asphodel. i read a book about this place." annabeth kneeled down, and slightly pulled up the bottom of the dress, to reveal something strange.

"is it a person or a tree?" cherry questioned, staring at the roots.

"souls here are bound by regret. haunted by choices they made in life. or never made." annabeth explained.

a loud roar, comign from cerberus, erupted from somewhere in the forest.

almost all of them took off on a run.

grover's hand was in cherry's, both clinging onto the other as if they were the only reason for life.

finally, they made their way into a deeper part of the forest.

cherry looked to her side.

"annie?" she questioned the air.

"annabeth!" percy shouted at the forest.

"guys!" the girls voice called, from where they had just been.

the trio ran back to where she was.

annabeth was stuck in place.

she was standing, roots wrapping around her ankles, keeping her in place.m

percy tried to rip them off.

"i already tried. it's too strong." annabeth shook her head.

"how did this happen?" grover questioned, with a frown.

"some kind of regret, right?" percy caught his breath.

"but what do you regret?" cherry looked up at her friend.

the girls face was blank.

cerberus would only get closer.

"it's okay. go. i'll distract the dog and buy you guys some time." annabeth suggested, looking back.

"no! what is it with everyone sacrificing themselves?" cherry frowned, shaking her head.

percy strained, trying to yank the wood off even harder.

"percy! this will work. i'll be okay. i trust your dad. you can do this. i know you can." annabeth held up her pearl.

"at least let me stay with you." cherry begged.

"please don't be stupid." annabeth pleaded with the girl.

cerberus growled.

this time, it was louder.

tree branches cracked under its feet.

"run. now!" annabeth demanded.

cherry's arms wrapped around her friend.

"i'm gonna- i'm gonna get you out, okay? i promise." cherry's hands rested on her shoulders.

annabeth nodded.

the red-head took off, trying her best not to look back.

grover kept an eye on her, hoping she wouldn't turn and run back.

when they were at a safe distance, cherry stopped.

a light glow took over the place annabeth had just been standing in.